Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 14–25°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Lyon7 AM CEST Rain14°C Valence8 AM CEST Cloudy15°C Avignon9 AM CEST Rain18°C Aix-en-Provence9:30 AM CEST Heavy rain18°C A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume10 AM CEST Cloudy19°C Nice11:15 AM CEST Partly sunny25°C - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 15–26°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Lyon7 AM CEST Cloudy16°C Valence8 AM CEST Cloudy15°C Avignon9 AM CEST Cloudy16°C Aix-en-Provence9:30 AM CEST Partly sunny20°C A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume10 AM CEST Partly sunny20°C Nice11:15 AM CEST Mostly sunny26°C - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 13–24°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Lyon7 AM CEST Sunny13°C Valence8 AM CEST Sunny13°C Avignon9 AM CEST Mostly sunny17°C Aix-en-Provence9:30 AM CEST Sunny18°C A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume10 AM CEST Sunny18°C Nice11:15 AM CEST Sunny24°C - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 14–20°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Lyon7 AM CEST Partly sunny14°C Valence8 AM CEST Partly sunny14°C Avignon9 AM CEST Cloudy18°C Aix-en-Provence9:30 AM CEST Cloudy18°C A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume10 AM CEST Cloudy18°C Nice11:15 AM CEST Heavy rain showers20°C - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 14–19°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Lyon7 AM CEST Cloudy15°C Valence8 AM CEST Sunny14°C Avignon9 AM CEST Cloudy17°C Aix-en-Provence9:30 AM CEST Cloudy18°C A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume10 AM CEST Partly sunny16°C Nice11:15 AM CEST Mostly sunny19°C - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 15–20°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Lyon7 AM CEST Rain15°C Valence8 AM CEST Heavy rain15°C Avignon9 AM CEST Cloudy17°C Aix-en-Provence9:30 AM CEST Cloudy16°C A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume10 AM CEST Cloudy16°C Nice11:15 AM CEST Cloudy20°C - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 9–17°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Lyon7 AM CEST Mostly sunny9°C Valence8 AM CEST Cloudy10°C Avignon9 AM CEST Partly sunny12°C Aix-en-Provence9:30 AM CEST Partly sunny11°C A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume10 AM CEST Mostly sunny12°C Nice11:15 AM CEST Partly sunny17°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Lyon (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Lyon, FranceStart 174 melevation
- Valence, FranceKm 101 · 1 h 134 melevation
- Avignon, FranceKm 220 · 1 h 59 min 31 melevation
- Aix-en-Provence, FranceKm 296 · 2 h 36 min 208 melevation
- A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, FranceKm 328 · 2 h 55 min 393 melevation
- Nice, FranceKm 472 · 4 h 16 min 14 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Lyon, Aix-en-Provence and Nice.
| Month | Lyon Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport station · 235 m | Aix-en-Provence Marseille Airport station · 9 m | Nice Nice Côte d'Azur Airport station · 4 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 7° / 1° | 12° / 3° | 13° / 5° |
| Feb | 8° / 1° | 13° / 4° | 14° / 6° |
| Mar | 13° / 4° | 16° / 7° | 16° / 8° |
| Apr | 17° / 7° | 19° / 9° | 18° / 11° |
| May | 21° / 11° | 24° / 13° | 21° / 14° |
| Jun | 25° / 15° | 28° / 17° | 25° / 18° |
| Jul | 28° / 17° | 31° / 20° | 28° / 21° |
| Aug | 27° / 16° | 30° / 19° | 28° / 21° |
| Sep | 23° / 13° | 26° / 16° | 25° / 18° |
| Oct | 17° / 10° | 21° / 13° | 21° / 14° |
| Nov | 11° / 5° | 16° / 8° | 17° / 10° |
| Dec | 7° / 2° | 12° / 4° | 14° / 6° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): LYON ST EXUPERY, FR (FR069029001, 235 m); MARSEILLES MARIGNANE, FR (FR000007650, 9 m); COTE D AZUR, FR (FRM00007690, 4 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for France rather than repeat them.
- France · Bison FutéBison Futé traffic
Check the official forecast from Météo-France and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Lyon to Nice with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Lyon to Nice?
472 km (293 miles), about 4½ hours of driving without stops, by way of A7 and A8. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
A8 near Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, at 393 m (1,290 ft). It comes at km 328, about 2 h 55 min of driving after you leave Lyon.
How cold is Nice in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (4 m), averages a high of 13°C and a low of 5°C in January (1991–2020 averages).