Avignon to Paris

On the high speed trains in France, you must reserve in advance. You have no choice on that point.

Not only must you reserve in advance, but the lower priced tickets sell out early. Tickets go on sale usually 90 days in advance.

Are you concerned that you could get held up at the rental counter? That would be something to consider. You may want to return the car a tad earlier, or will you be driving that morning? You need to reserve for TGV, as others have said, sooner rather than later if you can. 2nd class will do fine. The station is new-ish and modern, car rental very nearby. Have you looked at capitainetrain.com?

On our way from Lyon to Paris we stopped off for a few hours in Beaune for lunch and a few sights. We got in to Paris about 20:30, well worth the pause if you have not been. There is a convenient spot near the station in Beaune to drop luggage for a bit, post back if you need that.

Turn in your car the night before and take the shuttle train back to the centre of Avignon for the evening. Better to spend a few extra euros on the shuttle fare and then relax about your morning departure.
To understand how the TGV system works, www.seat61.com is the source of all train knowledge.

Thanks to all for the useful info -- and especially for the seat1.com web site. Very helpful!!

OOPS! I meant seat61 web site. I would recommend that to anyone with euro train questions.

One thing that can be confusing about the high speed (TGV) train system in that part of France is: some of the cities have a separate TGV train station, on the edge of the urban area; and then the "old" train station that's located in town. If you don't know this, you may end up at the wrong station.

As was stated you have to book the TGV in advance with a reservation. Dropping the car at the station in Avignon is fast, easy and a short walk to the station. The station is new and modern and spending a little time there is not terrible so I would arrive at least an hour early. Just make sure you get on the train to Gare de Lyon and NOT a train to the city of Lyon. If they change tracks the announcement will be in French.

They do sell TGV tickets in the station, but full fare is expensive and these reserved trains can sell out.

Yes, a lot of people in this thread are going too far. It is very unlikely that there will be no seats available at all on a TGV train if you wait to buy your ticket until your departure (except possibly on summer weekends or around public holidays), but the ticket will be very, very expensive. It's possible that the cheaper fares may already have sold out, though, as there are only a limited number at the lower prices.

We had NO problem picking up our rental car at the Avignon TGV station (outside of Avignon, not the possible TGV stop in the town of Avignon . Make sure that you know the difference between the two possible stations.) The car rental people are 100 feet from the station, and efficient, and it is very easy driving to the TGV station outside of Avignon.

Buy your train ticket ahead of time, verify that your rental agency has an operation at this location, and plan on dropping your car off at least 45 minutes before your train arrives.

Thank you all. Everything is now set. Off to France for a month on Monday. YAY!!!