"Oldish" couple visiting Normandy in late September

We have just done a longer trip to Normandy (from UK, own car), with similar mobility issues.
I would suggest staying in or near Bayeux (tapestry closed by then, sadly).
Several nice hotels and loads of restaurants - see other posts.
Visit Arromanches, Ouistreham (Pegagsus Bridge), Airborne Museum (Ste Mere Eglise).
Forget Mont St Michel with mobility issues - also longer drive.

Are you sure driving straight off the plane is a good idea?

How lucky for you! You definitely don't have enough time for everything with only 2 full days I think it's a bad idea that you are coming in from an international flight then planning to drive. And definitely not plan to drive to Bayeux after a flight.

With two days, you could either take the train/rental car (pick up in Mantes de Jolie) and spend the night in Giverny. Then maybe visit Rouen. This could all be done by train or car.

Or take the train to Caen. Rent a car and stay in Bayeux and use that for your base. Bayeux is small and charming and would be easier to get around with your wife's limitations. Make sure your accommodations have parking. You could drive to MSM. It's a lovely area and seeing it from afar is pretty magnificent.

We used Overlord Tours for our DDay tours.
I'd give yourself a minimum of 4 nights (not days) and that's tight.

Driving after our flight should not be too big of a problem for us. First, we'll be arriving at CDG around 9am or 10am, so plenty of time to drive to Bayeau, with a short stop in Giverny. Also, being as we will be flying business class (wife is a Delta Airlines retiree), we will be able to get some rest during the flight from JFK. We've done this sort of driving after an international flight before without TOO much difficulty.

Sounds like we should aim more for a 4-night trip instead of a 3-night?

just to remind you that that those who will or might drive the car in France need to be able to present an authorized translation of their home driving license - an IDP does the job easily and cheaply, available from AAA or another organization in the US.

Just a few questions that might help with getting answers. Are you flying from what appears to be your home in Colorado to JFK then straight on to Paris in one shot?? Also we are a family of airline emp!oyees and we do list ourselves in business class but it is considered stand by so we could easily be bumped to economy seats, is that possible for you also? We went to Normandy but took train from Paris to Bayeau. . We then took a full day tour Of the beaches before renting a car. Have driven in and around Paris several times and would not consider coming off a flight and driving but is just my experience. Good wishes with your plans.

Yup, fulling aware of standby restrictions; been doing it for about 20 years now. That's why we'll likely go via JFK, as there are 3 flights to CDG, so 3 chances to get on. Right now the flights look pretty open, but if, for whatever reason, the open business seats dry up...we don't go. Simple as that.

Pretty much the same advice with some caveats.

1. Arriving mid morning Paris then renting a car, stopping at Giverny and then heading to Bayeux is an all day event where you likely will hit rush hour traffic approaching Caen. I commuted across the Atlantic for work for about ten years and while getting used to it; it’s never easy. Your first day will be long/tiresome.
2. Visit D-Day beaches? There’s about 60 miles of beachfront with relevant history. Maybe read The Longest Day by Ryan and pick tours that meet your interests. Consider Overlord Tours as they operate large tour buses. Some smaller tours will find you packed in a 12-14 Psgr van.
3. Driving around MSM isn’t a bad idea. I took someone with mobility issues who was delighted. It is doable and takes a couple hours.
4. Bayeux is a good place to stay, with a broad range of accommodations and dining.
5. IDP is not a requirement for renting a car. I have carried American & German IDPs over the years. Only presented it once at a French field sobriety checkpoint. 6.Like others….make the trip leisurely and spend 4 nights in Normandie.

Good Luck!

Everything Veteran Traveler said. Spend more time, and skip the IDP (watch me get flamed for saying this by people who have never actually had an issue not having one). The only thing I would add is that driving isn't just an issue of having enough time in the day to get somewhere. Unless you know for sure you can do a cross-Atlantic flight and not be too tired to drive safely afterwards, I would use caution. The other thing is that Mont Saint-Michel is easily an hour and a half drive from Bayeux each way. It is impressive from afar, but that's a huge commitment for just a drive-by (if you do this, definitely go via the D275 for a longer stretch of views).

Yeah, I hear you. We're now thinking more long the lines of driving up to Bayeau, making a short stop in Giverny, and making Bayeau our base. Then see about private tours out of Bayeau for both the D-Day Beaches and Mont St Michel. We'd still like to have the car if we decide to explore a bit on our own around Bayeau. I think the drive from CDG to Bayeau will be okay, especially with a stop or two. We've done similar drives in the past, right after an international flight, such as driving from Rome down to Sorrento.

Just to clarify, I totally agree with your decision to have a car in Normandy. But either it or a tour from Bayeux will still leave you at the foot of Mont Saint-Michel—and it does take good legs to actually get up there on steep, stone stairs. There is no other way once you are on the Mont.