Driving from Brugge to The Loire Valley

The most direct route from Bruges to Amboise takes you around the Peripherique in Paris. It is quite a stressful experience if you are unused to heavy traffic. It might make sense for you to rent your car in Bruges/Brussels, then drive to Normandy and then onto Amboise. We made the same trip from Bruges to Bayeux with a stop in Honfleur, a day at the Normandy beaches with the night on Mont St Michel, then a stop in Dinan on the way to Amboise. Everything deserved more time, but it was a great trip.

Not sure if you are thinking about returning the car to Brugge but if you’re not, investigate if a surcharge applies for hiring in Belgium and dropping off in France.

We travelled a similar route a couple of years ago and did it in three parts – train from Brugge to Arras (France) then hire car from Arras to Giverney (Monet’s garden) then next day onto Blois. Your trip is quite doable in one day, allow say 3 hours for the train trip another 4 for the car.

Remember to check the office hours for the car hire – we got caught by arriving at lunch time and had to wait an extra hour but it did give us time for lunch.

As has been mentioned the route does take you around Paris but as long as there are no hiccups on the road you’ll be fine

It is easy enough to stay on the outer ring road around Paris - just avoid rush hour.

You might compare the cost of an international rental/drop fee to the cost of picking up in Lille, France, plus a train ride there (train ticket probably only $15 per person but train route includes one connection).

You can drive via Paris, but if you like avoiding the place the alternative is Lille – Amiens – Rouen – Le Mans – Tours / Amboise. It’s about 100km longer and think a bit more expensive with toll, but way more relaxing as most part of this route is almost empty (lesser trucks, lesser risk of traffic jams, a delight). However Rouen is not directly easy to drive through, but driving over Pont Gustave Flaubert (via A151 and A150) makes it well doable. Rouen is a nice place for a stop or a bit more south Le Bec Hellouin along the A28 toll road.

Early June I have done this trip in opposite direction, but started in Angers and is well comparable.

If you remain in France with your rental car and to avoid a hefty drop off charge you can first take the train to Lille and pick up your rental car there, or take the TGV for instance all the way to Tours. Comparing the costs makes sence as Laura states, considering driving such a long distance is not directly a pleasure.