Avignon to Normandy

The ViaMichelin.com site will be very helpful to you in planning your driving trip. It will help you estimate driving times and miles, which will be important, and will suggest stops and sights.

You'll be driving roughly 90 or 95% of the entire south to north distance of France, from Avignon to Bayeux.

On the way north, you may want to stop at Lyon, and then head northwest to the Loire Valley. Amboise is a popular place to sleep in the Loire Valley.

Then from the Amboise area, you'll drive north to Mont St. Michel. And then head east to the Bayeux/D-Day Beaches area.
And finally back to Paris.

The above is one way to do the trip, of course different travelers will have their own personal preferences of how to do it.
One alternative to the above would be to initially head west-northwest from Avignon to the Dordogne area, instead of going directly north to Lyon. And then north from the Dordogne to the Amboise/Loire Valley area.

Sounds like a great road trip. Happy Travels!

Ah yes, we Americans: "Thinking of renting a car in Avignon and driving up". We're just programmed to drive where we need to go, whereas in Europe you can take a train almost anywhere in comfort and style.

I love the website rome2rio, plug in your two destinations and you'll get many different travel options involving trains, buses and cars. And be sure to figure in the cost of gas (or diesel) when renting a car.

YES!! I was just thinking that we should simply take a train in Avignon to Bayeux (?) and get a car there instead. Thanks.

If you have several days for the drive there are wonderful things along the way. We have stopped in Semur en Auxois on such a trip and in Auxerre, and near Avalon at a wonderful little Inn and in the Loire. But we built in time to enjoy a few stops on the way. If your goal is to get from Avignon to Bayeaux, take the train. You can see some of your stops in my photo journal: https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/normandy/

We had 5 nights which we split between MSM, Honfleur and Bayeux. I definitely think it is a good idea to stay on the Mont -- we had dinner there and then returned the next morning. I thought seeing it at a distance would be best -- but if I had to do it again would stay on the Mont. On the other hand, it is amazing at night at a distance.

We did the all day Overlord tour of the American beaches (they have one for the British/Canadian beaches too) on our full day when we were in Bayeux for two nights. the Tapestry lives up to expectations too -- amazing. And don't miss Etretat when you are in Honfleur.

Thanks for all the great information. Looks the best idea is just to take train from Avignon. Then rent a car, drive around, return car and train back to Paris. Plan so far train from Avignon. Stay Bayeaux for 2 nights; Mount St Michele for 1 nights; Honfleur for 2 nights and back to Paris. Any direct trains (no changes) to Normandy from Avignon. I could not find any. Also, would need to pick up car at train station, preferably. Lots of ideas of places to stay in Bayeaux in this forum. But, still would appreciate suggestions of places ON Mt St Michel and Honfleur. Thanks, Gladys.

Gladys, you would avoid a little doubling back if you went MSM > Bayeux > Honfleur. And there are two bonuses from this:

1. You can return the car in Rouen and see the historic center before taking the train to Paris
2. There is a direct train from Paris to Rennes (near MSM) from Avignon, no transfers, 5h30.

In any case, I think your plan sounds pretty good. Have fun!

You can catch a direct morning TGV from Avignon TGV station to Rennes, then connect by bus to Mt St Michel (reflected on train schedules) or you can train from Avignon to Bayeux with two connections. Schedules and routes vary depending on your travel date; some in spring are re-routed due to construction. How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it. Be sure to view details to see where the connections are. I'd choose routes that don't go via Paris, since you also have to cross town to a different station if you transfer in Paris.

Thanks!! Reading all this great advice, we might just forget about car. Will take train from Avignon to Rennes. Then public bus and shuttle to MSM for 1 night. Then, train to Bayeaux for 3 nights (one day for tour of DD beaches) and train back to Paris. I guess that the buses run frequently to MSM? Do we get tickets ahead of time for bus? On train website?? By the way, all of this because we could not get into the France RS tour that we wanted!!! So, we just changed all plans and will wait for next year for RS tour!!!
I am a bit intimidated with all these trains and buying train tickets---looked at the train website and need to do it again calmly. Thanks, Gladys.