Driving out of Paris from CDG on Sunday evening

You will not be going out of Paris. Charles de Gaulle Airport is outside Paris, which is presumably why you chose it as your car pick-up point.
However it is on the opposite side of Paris to Bayeux. You will either have to go (partially) back into Paris, or loop north. I would recommend picking up your car somewhere on the western side of Paris.

See route here: https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Routes?departure=95700%20A%C3%A9roport%20Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle%2C%20France&departureId=31NDMwcjQxMGNORGt1TURBNU5EYz1jTWk0MU5EZzROUT09&arrival=14400%20Bayeux&arrivalId=31NDI5Y3ExMGNORGt1TWpjMk5ETT1jTFRBdU56QTFOVGM9

Thank you. I am flying into CDG from Edinburgh so that is why I am renting the car from there. I would have preferred another location, but that is how it is working out due to scheduling constraints. Just wondering what to expect in terms of traffic going outbound away from CDG.

I think you should go ahead with your plan. I’ve done the very same thing on several occasions. Traffic across the north side of Paris will be heavy, but it isn’t any worse than what you would expect around a major US city. You’ll spend far more time trying to take transportation into the city to get to a car pick up on the west side. Traffic around Paris is always heavy — around the clock — but it isn’t anything to be afraid of.

Bruce

I agree with Bruce. You will not be entering Paris at all on this drive but if you go the most common route you will probably have slowdowns near Saint Denis but the rest of your trip should not be too bad. The time that you will spend getting to a point west of Paris to pick up a car assuming any rental car places are even open late Sunday afternoon would be better spent getting on the road. And if you have a GPS system that monitors real-time traffic and the traffic is really awful, the system will reroute you.

all points above are valid.

I will say that my experience is that traffic returning to Paris can be fairly heavy on Sunday late afternoons. I've never been caught up in it because I've always been going the other way but certainly seen the headlights and red lights on the other side and glad I was heading outbound.

Traffic is almost always bad in and near Paris, so just go ahead and do it. I've driven out of CDG on this route. Be sure your look at the best route in advance on Google Maps and even use Google Streetview to get familiar with some of the major interchanges. Near St. Denis, be sure to take the A86 bypass, rather than heading towards central Paris. Also, be sure to have euros for the autoroute, since US credit cards may not work at the toll machines (look for the lanes marked with green arrows--these machines take cash and credit cards so you can try using your card first). Bon voyage!

Thanks to all of you for the helpful information! Based on what you've said, I wouldn't rule out driving out of CDG. I did discover another alternative which would put me in Bayeux earlier, but would require renting car out of Gare du Nord at about 3:00 to 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon instead of CDG at 5:00pm. I've looked at the route out of Gare du Nord, and it doesn't seem terrible, although I know it is within the city. The choice is between a flight to CDG arriving at around 4:30 or the Eurostar to Gare du Nord arriving a 2:47 pm. I'm actually beginning to lean toward the Eurostar at this point, but would value your additional thoughts and expertise regarding the drive out.

The drive out from Gare du Nord, assuming that no roads are closed for whatever reason, is not complicated. Here is how I do it. I am assuming that you exit the station on Rue Maubeuge. At one point you could make a right there but last time I was there it as left turn only and you follow the road around the hospital then you get to Boulevard de la Chapelle where you will have to turn right. You could then do like we do and follow Boulevard de la Chapelle to Rue Marx Dormoy which will turn into Rue de la Chapelle or maybe it's Avenue and get you to the Peripherique. A friend who lives in Paris knows where to turn on Boulevard Barbes so he can turn around and head west and then he turns right on Boulevard Barbes and follows that that north to the highway. Along the way at Rue Ordener, Boulevard Barbes has a name change and you stay on it by picking the middle road that is a slight left of the ones that come together at that spot.

I.d pick up at Gare du Nord. The heavy traffic is flowing toward the city and region tht time of day on a Sunday, while you are going out.

Have you looked into the EuroStar to Lille and if it’s closer and easier to drive from there? And what would be the rental car availability on a Sunday at the Lille station?

I rather like Bets's idea of Lille Europe. It is shorter on the train, but usually the same price as the train to Paris, but around an hour more in the car, and you do get the thrill (and cost) of the Normandy Bridge. As you come over the bridge you pass Honfleur, a good stopping point. I've driven that route and found it pleasant.

There is a Hertz (and probably others) right in the station. Well signposted, on the level above the tracks or it may be one more up. I don't know their Sunday opening hours. I've never used them, I just see the signs as I go through.

Thanks to everyone for responding with all the helpful suggestions. After reviewing all variables, but mostly scheduling, we have decided to stick with the original plan to drive from CDG. I particularly like the idea of Eurostar to Lille, and may try that on another visit. Thanks again to all!

In case the A1 to Paris is jam-packed a good alternative can be taking the N104 / N184 freeway just north of CDG to the A15 near Cergy-Pontoise. Follow the A15 some 10km in direction Rouen and exit to the D28 for driving to Meulan-Les Mureaux and there follow signs A13 for going to Normandy. This route is 10km longer as driving along the A1 and A86 but usually way lesser busy and will take lesser time. But ask the rental agent if this is worth doing at the time you arrive.

In case you will take the A86 best is to exit to the A14 near Nanterre and so avoiding the expensive duplex toll tunnel section of the A86 where it intersects the A13.

Thank you, Wil. I had actually considered that route, and will see how things look on the day of the trip. I appreciate all of the great advice from everyone and I'm looking forward to a successful drive to Bayeux.