Best ferry routes from Dover to Le Havre
From Dover, Le Havre is a three-hour drive after the Calais crossing, even though no ferry sails from Dover to Le Havre itself. Dover to Calais gives you the most sailings, then it is the A16 and A29 along the coast. If Le Havre or Normandy is the whole point of the trip, Newhaven to Dieppe lands you only an hour and a half away, and Portsmouth to Le Havre takes you straight there.
Routes
There is no direct ferry on this route. To reach your destination, these are the crossings we recommend instead.
Our experience
We have sailed Dover–Calais with every operator on the route. P&O Ferries stood out for us: competitive fares, modern ships and plenty of clean, comfortable space inside and out on deck. For most travellers heading to France, it’s usually the quickest and best-value way across.
Who sails the alternatives
Dover–Calais is served by P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries, with frequent crossings throughout the day. For a more southerly arrival in Normandy, DFDS operates the Newhaven–Dieppe route.
Map with suggested Dover – Le Havre ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from Dover to Le Havre, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Driving from Calais to Le Havre
From Calais, the drive to Le Havre takes around 3 hours via the A16, A28 and A29. The route follows the northern French coast before turning inland towards Normandy. From Dieppe, the onward drive is much shorter, at around 1½ hours.
Still weighing up your options?
We have crossed the Channel to France more times than we can count, on most of the routes and with most of the operators. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.
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