The first question
Ferry or drive around Bordeaux
There is no bridge between the two banks. Here are both journeys side by side with the waiting time included, because that is what changes the answer.
Door to door the ferry is about 50 minutes and the drive 1 hr 15 min. The saving is therefore around 25 minutes, not the hour the map implies. In exchange, the crossing costs €31 in high season where the road costs only fuel.
| By ferry | By road | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 4.5 km of water | 79 km of road |
| Journey time | 20 min crossing | 1 hr 15 min driving |
| Waiting | 30 min before departure | None |
| Door to door | about 50 min | 1 hr 15 min |
| Cost, one person | €31 in season, €19 in winter | about €10 of fuel |
| Cost, two people | €37 in season | about €10 of fuel |
| Departure times | 5 to 9 sailings a day | Any time |
| Weight limit | 3.5 t | None |
| Tolls | Not applicable | None |
Why the gap is smaller than it looks
The map is misleading: 4.5 km across against 79 km around looks like an open and shut case. But a ferry is not a tunnel. It leaves at fixed times, and the half hour you are asked to arrive early is part of the journey.
Twenty minutes of sailing plus thirty of waiting is fifty minutes. Against 1 hr 15 min of driving the ferry still wins, but by about a quarter of an hour. Arrive ten minutes late and the comparison reverses completely.
The fuel calculation
79 km at 7 l per 100 km is roughly 5.5 litres, about €10 at current petrol prices. Redo it with your own consumption: an economical diesel comes in under €7, a large vehicle goes past €14. There are no tolls on this route.
On cost, then: alone in a car the road is cheaper. With two of you the gap narrows. Out of season, at €19, the ferry becomes competitive as soon as there are two on board.
Three times the road wins
- Your vehicle is over 3.5 t. There is nothing to weigh up; boarding is refused. Weight limits.
- You arrive less than 30 minutes before departure. You risk missing the sailing, and the next wait wipes out the saving.
- It is winter and the timing is awkward. With 5 sailings a day the next departure can be hours away. Check the grid for your date.
The third option
If your route runs further north, the Royan to Le Verdon ferry crosses the mouth of the estuary and takes the vehicles Blaye refuses, lorries and coaches included. It does not replace this crossing, it crosses somewhere else. Comparing both Gironde ferries.
Common questions
Does the ferry actually save time?
Yes, but less than the map suggests. The crossing is 20 min, but you are asked to be at the ramp 30 min early, so about 50 min door to door. Driving takes 1 hr 15 min. The real saving is around 25 min, and it vanishes if you miss the sailing.
Is the ferry cheaper than driving?
Not in high season on your own. A car and driver is €31 against roughly €10 of fuel by road. Out of season, at €19, the gap closes sharply.
When is driving the better choice?
When your vehicle is over 3.5 t, when you reach the ramp less than 30 min before departure, and in winter as soon as you miss a sailing. With 5 a day, the wait can exceed the drive.
Is there a bridge between Blaye and Lamarque?
No. There is no road bridge on the estuary between Bordeaux and the ocean. The first crossing upstream is the Pont d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux, which is why 4.5 km of water becomes 79 km of road.
Sources
Updated : September 2026