Day trip to Swiss Alps from Colmar

Looking Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the Deutsche Bahn train schedule link and tips for using it. This is one-stop shopping for schedules in Europe, though it won't sell train tickets for this region. You can request a schedule from Colmar to Muerren or Wengen (each 4 hours one way), or all the way to the top of the Schilthorn (5 hours) or Jungfraujoch (closer to 5.5 hours). View "details" to see the suggested connection points, 4 - 5 easy connections in each direction.

That is too far for just a day trip to Lauterbrunnen valley and then up. You might just stay a couple of nights.

I think it would be a very long day unless you added some overnight time. While it wouldn't be exactly what you're describing, you could much more easily do a day trip to Basel, Switzerland, or Freiburg, Germany.

Another option - Hartsmannswillerkopf in Wattweiler is very interesting for WWI history; you can walk through remains of trenches, and there are also some hiking trails in the mountains that share the same parking lot. The Haut-Koenigsbourg castle also gives you that "up in the mountains" feel and is a fun experience.

Thanks everyone! We're still going to think about this before making any decisions. I'd really like to make Switzerland work if I can. Google maps says 2 1/2 hour drive from Eguisheim to Lauterbrunnen. So approximately 5 hours of driving for the day. Spend 6 hours sightseeing.....if we left at 6 or 7am, arrive by 10am, sightsee until 6pm and then drive back, it would be around 9pm. I agree, it's a very long day, but I think it would be worth it as long as the weather cooperates! A big IF for sure! I won't rule out other options though! One of those options being staying over for a night. But since we've already paid for our other accommodations, I don't think my husband will want to do that.

If you really want to, you could make it work. You could leave it till the last moment depending on the forecast. I think you should leave even earlier than 6am. Random dates show a 5:47am leaving Colmar, arriving in Lauterbrunnen at 9:25 am. And yes, while it does appear that the train takes longer than the car, think of it as enjoying the great swiss trains, relaxing while you get there, and not being ever stuck in traffic.

Coming back you could take the 17:32 in Lauterbrunnen, arriving in Colmar at 21: 11.

You would have time to do a hike from Mürren or Wengen.

If you have a car, yes, viamichelin says 2 1/2 hours, but you will be fighting Basel and Bern commuter traffic, and you MUST stop at the border and purchase a 40 CHF vignette for your car and attach it properly to the windshield. That little chore is bound to cost you 1/2 hour.

"As long as the weather cooperates" -- we were in Mürren for four days in September 2016, three were gorgeous and the fourth was fogged in with little view of the mountains. Would be disappointing if that was your only day.

Laura B beat me to it. Whether you go by car or train, don't waste your time doing this long trip for one day if you don't have good weather. Look at the weather forecast, as well as webcams on these pages:

https://www.bergfex.com/muerren-schilthorn/webcams/

https://www.bergfex.com/jungfrau-grindelwald-wengen/webcams/

https://schilthorn.ch/en/Infos/Live

Thanks everyone! I think we'll play it by ear and decide once we're there. At least we know what to expect now and have a better idea of driving times.

Stay the night in Switzerland! You’ll love it so much that you’ll regret not staying one night - honestly it’s be worth paying for two hotel rooms for that night (so you don’t have to pack up your room in France). We did Colmar and Mürren for a week and it was the best, but I have no idea how you make it work as a day trip. You have to park car and then take several trains into the mountain so you’ll kill an hour or so waiting for transfers and you’ll kick yourself if you don’t stay longer. It’s heaven

If you are staying in Alsace and Luberon, could not the Alps be a one night stop on your way between the two?

If you must see the Alps, Annecy, France, is less than 4 hours one way (warning: the fastest route goes through Switzerland).

For "some nice scenery" closer to home base, The Jura, Vosges, and Black Forest are nearly next door. These mountains are to the Alps as the Appalachians are to the Rockies.