help navigating Paris to Normandy & return to Paris .

Several years ago, we rented a car and turned it back in Caen, before taking a train to Paris. That worked well, as we also went to the Caen Memorial Museum for its thorough WW II collection.

Trains between Paris and Caen depart Paris from the Gare Saint-Lazare station, so you’ll want to get yourselves from the airport to Saint-Lazare. You could take a combination of trains to eventually reach Saint-Lazare from the airport, but the four of you sharing a taxi directly from Charles de Gaulle to Saint-Lazare would be the quickest, easiest, and best value method.

I wonder if you will stretch the rubber band too far for one or more of you?

after an all night flight, an 11:10 arrival CDG so maybe 12:20 out of the airport so maybe if lucky a 2pm train to Caen which takes about 2 hours (leaves around xx:59 hourly). What time does the rental counter close if you are on the 3pm train instead?

Then drive to Bayeux and crash (metaphorically we hope)? That's some day with little sleep the night before.

You will then drive without a guide to Juno and maybe other things and then all the way to MSM (my memory is it is further than it seems on the map) just to turn around and head back to Paris?

You are made of sterner stuff than I.

I hope it works out really well for your dad (he's the same age as me).

Unless I missed something, you don't say for how long your trip will last and how many nights in each location. Your overall plan does work though given enough time. As noted, a taxi for four from CDG to Gare Saint-Lazare seems the best option (there are no direct trains from CDG to Caen or Bayeux). Caen has many more rental car options than Bayeux, and is a short drive from either Juno Beach or Bayeux. Although Bayeux is a much better town in which to stay.

Also be aware that Mont Saint-Michel is almost two hours from Juno Beach. And unless you depart extremely early or fairly late, you will arrive right in the middle of the day and in the midst of the crush of tourists and tour buses. Again, you don't say where you will be staying on what nights or for how long, but if time allows, I recommend staying a night on MSM itself (and those who say staying off-island is "just as good," likely have never stayed on the island themselves). One final thing. 73 year-olds vary in ability, but do know ahead of time for all involved that MSM involves walking uphill on either a steep, crowded road, or many stone steps (also crowded at times). If you are returning to Paris after Normandy, you have the option of returning a car to Rennes and taking the TGV from there to avoid backtracking to the Caen area.

All the advice given so far is spot on. I dont think it is realistic to try to do this with only a 1 night stay. Most of your first day will be spent just getting to your hotel in Normandy, and you and/or at least some of your party will be exhausted from jet lag. Double check the open hours for the car rental agency for both pick up and drop off. While Bayeux is the recommended stay for the Americans due to its greater number of hotels and proximity to the American sites, if you are primarily interested in the Commonwealth sites and the Juno Centre, you might consider spending the night in little Courseulles-sur-Mer. And be sure to include a stop at the Bény-sur -Mer War Cemetery.

Im not sure it's really realistic to try to visit the DDay sites and MSM in the same day. I'd recommend spending the next night at MSM (on or off the island; it's up to you). Then as suggested above, drop the car in Rennes and train back to Paris from there.

Use the SNCF website to check train times and prices. Your dates should be bookable now.

ETA: I just saw that you had posted a similar thread back in November, but you have now tightened the time line. My earlier post still stands.

I'm confused by this headline: "help navigating Paris to Caen & return to Paris for one day/night." Are you planning to land in Paris at 11:10 AM get to Normandy and spend one night there and then go someplace else the next day? Anyway, I agree that driving to Caen from CDG is not a great idea after a flight from Canada. The usual advice is to plan on catching a train that departs 4 hours after your ETA if you are catching a train from a station in Paris, which you will have to do. That means that you are looking at a train that leaves at around 3 PM. Maybe, make your way to Caen on your arrival day, spend the night there and than rent the car the next morning. That's what I would do. If you are somehow able to catch the the 1:56 PM train to Caen, you will arrive there at 4 but more likely you will arrive at around 5 PM. But if you are staying one night in Normandy, I question whether that is worth all the effort.

Thank you folks for the advice. Sorry my title was confusing. We will be in Normandy region for full 2.5 days of touring before returning to Paris. Only spending 1 afternoon/night in Paris before departing for Ireland. (Dad will not enjoy Paris but will have to suck it up for his girls- lol )

Normandy is just a quick stop to see Juno beach & maybe MSM. Looking at the SCNF site was rather confusing as I was unsure of how much layover time is required after arriving in Paris. Would 2.5hrs be enough time?

What is best way to get from airport to train station? Should we try & navigate the RER or taxi ?

Thanks for advice of staying near MSM vs back tracking. Being from Canada we are used to driving long distances.
Appreciate the tips & heads up about MSM. It looks so lovely & rich with history that I really wanted to see it but perhaps we will have to reconsider if Dad can't do it.

What is best way to get from airport to train station? Should we try &
navigate the RER or taxi ?

I still don't know all your travel details, but since you reference at least three people (plus luggage presumably), definitely take the official taxi (ONLY) from CDG to Gare Saint-Lazare. Don't accept a taxi from anyone that solicits you inside the airport (this WILL happen). just walk straight out to the official taxi line just outside by following the painted footsteps on the floor. Once there it will be very quick. Even if it appears to be a long line, it moves quickly. This is highly regulated, and will cost €56 to the right bank where the train station is. If you are not confident with your French, you may want to write out on a piece of paper "Gare Saint-Lazare" and hand it to your driver. They drivers will take credit cards, even if they say they won't and won't use their meter. All of this will be much easier than trying to learn and navigate the trains with three people and luggage.

Sorry for the warnings about fake taxis, drivers who claim they don't take credit cards, etc. But this is a reality—scammers are everywhere. You will be better able to deal with the scammers if you know how it is supposed to work.

I was unsure of how much layover time is required after arriving in Paris. Would 2.5hrs be enough time?

What is best way to get from airport to train station? Should we try & navigate the RER or taxi ?

Following on from PharmerPhil; 2.5 hrs is really too risky. The amount of time needed from landing, through Immigration and baggage pickup to taxi is too unpredictable. And you never know ahead of time if your flight will arrive on time. But under an hour is unlikely. The drive to the train station will take an hour. Then you need to navigate the train station to find your train. I would suggest that you download the SNCF app and wait to buy your tickets until you are waiting at the baggage carousel. I'd also suggest you pick up a picnic lunch at one of the outlets at the station to eat on the train. Or if there's time, grab a bite of lunch while waiting for the train. Have a wonderful trip.

You should take a taxi. The fare on the RER is 39€ for 3 people and 56€ for up to four people in a taxi. For 17€ if you are a group of three, take the taxi and get door to door service and avoid having to change trains to get to St Lazare. If you want to purchase your ticket ahead of time, get one on a train leaving at least four hours after your flight's ETA.

I have done all of this and I would advise you to skip MSM. It’s technically on the edge of Normandy and Brittany and honestly feels out of the way. I’ll admit that personally, I did not like MSM (unpopular opinion), but if you do it, save it for a Brittany trip another time and pair with others in that area (I loved Dinan and St. Malo). The Normandy WWII sites deserve a fully-focused, dedicated visit and you have so little time. I personally wouldn’t miss the Caen Memorial, as previously suggested. Start there - makes sense geographically, easy train from Paris, more rental car options - and a natural start to the history of the region, as well. If I were you I’d probably take one of the group tours that the museum offers, I think they have half and full day options. For your length of trip, it would be much easier than renting a car.