If you've not got much experience of driving in France and you've got 3 - 12 yr old kids in the car I'd suggest you do this first bit of the trip on the main roads.
Getting stuck on a back road where none of the villages show up on your map, it's hot and the kids are fractious doesn't make for a relaxing time and it's easy to do in France. Add in shut garages when you're low on fuel and you could be one step from the divorce courts. Get to the campsite, get the kids in the pool and you can chill out.
When we went touring with the kids their requirements always set the agenda. A maximum of around six hours a day in the car with frequent stops and a long lunch. It's not what we would have chosen to do but generally my wife doesn't continually ask me "are we there yet?" or start throwing melted chocolate around the car because she is hot and bored. Maybe I'm just lucky!
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