Itinerary Thoughts On Normandy Drive

In my opinion, you won't have time to do anything other than drive on both the 28th and 30th, much less have much time to spend at MSM or Honfleur or Chambord. This is far too much driving, IMO, especially in November when you.are apt to have rain. I woukd drive to MSM, stay over night, then drive to Bayeux, stay overnight and do the D-day Beaches tour and the tapestry, then drive back to Paris. It doesn't make sense to include Chambord in this itinerary. As much as I love Honfluer, doing a quick pass-through just doesn't do it justice. It sounds like you are just trying to catch a few things you missed on your last trip to Paris by tacking these onto a trip to Spain. Frankly, I'd just spend the time in Spain and plan another trip to Paris at a later date. Sorry I can't be more encouraging.

Have to agree with Carolyn. On 11/28 you won't have time to visit MSM and drive to Bayeux, especially considering that darkness comes early at that time of year. If you spent one night each in MSM, Bayeaux and Honfleur and drove early to Paris on 12/1 you might be able to see and experience what you want.

Thank you so much for the thoughts.
You are correct, we are trying to do some things we missed in March. We originally planned to drive around Spain, but Northern France is CALLING me, and we've already purchased our tickets. :) We considered staying in MSM, and while we are flexible, if we rent the car by 8 a.m., arrive MSM around noon, look around 3-5 hours, we can head to Bayeux, but not set in stone. In which case, we would drive to Bayeux around 7 the morning of the 29th and then see the Tapestry and Normandy sites (will do a self guide instead). It is 72 miles from the American Cemetery to Honfleur- if we head out that morning by 8, spend 10-1 in Honfleur it is only 50 miles to Chambord. I typically cram in too much on our trips, but that's how I roll and my husband is a trooper.

If it is three hours in Honfleur or nothing, I'm thinking GO for it. I'm not pining to see it, I've just read so much about it and thought it might be a nice change.

I do appreciate all comments. For example: It is a good reminder to hear about early dark and high probability of rain.
Thanks so much. Any more thoughts?

If NOT Honfleur, is there a "don't miss" in this area? We don't drink, but LOVE food.

We just returned from Normandy, staying about 45 minutes east of Rouen on the Seine. Our drive was the same route you would take from Paris to MSM. From Paris, that is quite a haul although you would be on the "A" freeway, which speeds right along (have change/card ready for tolls). Perhaps you could check out the train schedule to MSM and rent a car after that. Our drive was about 2.5 hours (we left at 7 am), we spent about 3 hours total at MSM, drove to Bayeux, and saw the tapestry and cathedral before they closed. BTW, we stayed at the Campanile in Bayeux. Nothing fancy but it is clean, reasonable and a decent place for a night (easy to access with a car). Consider renting the car when you first get to CDG and find a hotel in easy driving distance (take the RER into town - all the hotels around the airport provide shuttle service about every 20 minutes). Honfleur is, indeed, quite appealing, especially in decent weather. You might consider substituting Rouen (nice cathedral and charming walking streets, somewhat similar to Honfleur) for Chambord.

Assuming you mean the Chateau of Chambord, it's over 300 kilometers and a four hour drive from Honfleur. Check viamichelin.com.

Bets is right - she was posting as I was writing.

Which Chambord do you mean? If driving from Bayeux to Honfleur to Chambord to Paris, you will be driving east then west then south (a long way) unless you go via Paris then southwest, then back northeast. A long way out of your way to see a chateau.

If you can work in a stop in Giverny and visit Monet's gardens on your way from Honfleur to Paris, you will not regret it. Safe travels!

Monet's House and Gardens closes the 1 November and won't open until the 1 April.

Spending the nite on MSM in winter was a unique experience and would suggest it. Also, Normandy and the American cemetery should be virtually empty. We did not do a tour but felt we could connect to the location simply because it was not packed with tourists. I went there two years in a row at the same time and we also drove.