Paris Orly to Bayeux Drive

I have not driven the non-toll route, but the main freeway is very easy. I find driving in Europe easier than in the US. Mainly because drivers know how to drive there: use their blinkers, stay right except to pass, etc. Just pay attention to the speed limit or you’ll get an expensive souvenir ticket in the mail a few months later. The tolls between Orly and Bayeux were about 27 euros each way.

I’m not sure how renting a car avoids the vaccine cert, antigen, etc. I would imagine they check that on arrival at the airport.

-I’m not sure how renting a car avoids the vaccine cert, antigen, etc. I would imagine they check that on arrival at the airport.

Oh yeah they will definitely check at the airport it’s the SNCF rules for health pass, antigen test that’s confusing right now if you will need one or not. And if that train is a long distance or not.

On the tolls, is it possible to use Visa or will Euros be necessary? And did you stop anywhere along the way to check out anything?

I have never driven from Orly, but I have driven from CDG a couple of times—as well as done the schlep out from the airport to the train, and then to Bayeux. Driving definitely saves time over transportation from the aiport into Paris, then over to Gare-Saint-Lazare, and then waiting for a train (it won't just be waiting at the station to leave whenever you happen to show up). Plus, you still have to get from the train station in Normandy to wherever your car is. If you're awake and ready to drive when landing, driving saves time.

Via Michelin shows about three hours' driving from Orly to Bayeux, much on toll roads. That time is an underestimate that doesn't account for stops or traffic. The route takes you very close to Rouen, Honfleur, and Caen, any of which would be worth visiting. You may also want to do some other driving in Normandy. Consider returning the car in Caen and taking the train from there to Paris, where a car would be a liability.

If you're going to drive in France, you should get an International Driver's Permit, which certifies to any French cop or rental agency that your US driver's license is valid. You can get an IDP for around $20 at any AAA office here.

Thanks ,
I will look at the cost for dropping it off at Caen. I was considering picking up and dropping off at Paris Orly. And taking a taxi to our hotel from Orly to finish out our trip in Paris. We will be in Bayeux from Oct 15-18 and in Paris from the 18-22nd.

And Rouen looks interesting as well. After looking at what it has to offer I’d be happy stopping for a few hours and seeing the cathedral, the clock, old market square, and maybe Aitre St-Maclou. Any recommendations for lunch? Maybe the old market square?

We've done it. You'll be in Bayeux before that train ever leaves the station. The only confusing area is just leaving the airport because a lot of freeways merge and separate.
The itinerary that skirts the town of Versaille is preferable.
Hopefully, someone more versed in route numbers and sights to see will come along.

A problem with avoiding tolls is that you usually wind up on Routes National - N roads, usually in red on a real map. I haven't looked at the alternative to the Autoroutes, but I have driven the Autoroutes between Paris and Normandy and Bayeux. No real issues with the Autoroutes, although you will probably have to pay to park your car there, and anywhere else you want to stop unless you stop at lunch time.

So what is the problem with RN roads you ask.... Know why there are so few trucks on the Autoroutes? They hate paying tolls too. So they all pile onto the RNs. And drive slowly. And are hard to pass because not all RNs are divided highways. Many RNs skirt cities but you will often be going through, which means low speed limits (automatically from the town name sign, often just before a tower speed radar detector and camera, and roundabouts. Your knowledge of driving a stick will be tested on roundabouts, but the scenic plantings and sculpture in the middle gives you something to look at while you watch for a gap.

In France, and much of the rest of Europe, the speed limit sign (or no speed limit sign but streetlights, town name etc.,) means that speed when you pass it - you don't just start to take your foot off the gas as you pass the sign or you will pay expensive fines.

Also many RNs have been given over to the Departments, the yellow line on real maps, and are called D roads. They will likely have lower speed limits and more frequent restrictions and almost always go through the towns.

I think I am confused by why you want to drive to an Overlord tour. You'll pay to park at your hotel, the Overlord tour will pick you up and drop you off for the 2 days, and then you head back? Surely even if you have to take a covid test for the IC (no TGVs to Bayeux) that's easier? On a drive that long (each way) you won't have a ton of time to stop and smell the roses. And you don't want to leave anything in your car at stops do you?

My thinking of driving is as soon as we land, go thru passport control and get our luggage is that we will be on the road sooner than taking a taxi to Lazare and getting on the train with enough time for us to feel comfortable and not rushed. Looking at the train schedule they have an 11am and than a 1pm departure and the 11am will be cutting it extremely close. And something I haven’t considered is stopping along the way and Rouen has peaked our interest at stopping at for lunch and checking a few things out. The hotel we are staying at offers free parking. I enjoy driving and don’t mind paying the tolls. But we can always change plans if we decide to.

Some good information in this topic. The OP asked a question that I don't think anyone answered. using a VISA credit card for the tolls. My Visa credit and debit cards have chips. I live in America, will the toll booth machines read them? Do they take debit also or just credit cards?

I definitely recommend the toll highway from Orly to Caen : the tolls are quite cheap (about 16€, not 27), and the alternative N13/ D613 road is a boring succession of long straight lines that passes nowhere near Rouen where you want to stop.

Rouen will be a time-consuming stop as it is 20 minutes away from the main highway, but it is worthwhile and there is easy parking right by the cathedral (aptly named "Parking de la Cathédrale"). Alternatively, Parking du Vieux Marché is easy to reach from the highway and right on the edge of the medieval old town.

There is an easily avoided toll tunnel in the Paris area: the A86 between Versailles and the A13 is unnecessary and expensive (approx 6-8€). Instead, keep going on the N12, then follow the A12 and A13 towards Rouen.

Since you're flying in from Italy you won't have passport control, just go to baggage claim and then the rental car counter.

US cards didn't work at toll stations (peages) before we got chips in them (catching up with the rest of the world). I don't know about now. But you can always pay cash, just look for that lane.

I hope you'll have time for Bayeux' wonderful cathedral and wonderful tapestry.

If you're planning on using a car to explore Normandy, rent one from ORY. Pickup A86 westbound to A13. It should take about 3 hours to reach Bayeux. You´ll save several hours returning your car on your return to Paris if you take the A14 exit from A13, which takes you through la Défense, and return the rental at one of the many agencies near Porte Maillot. One of the reasons traffic is always light here is that the toll on A14 is about 6€. You'll only pay this once, but it keeps entering Paris simple. This is very easy to do and traffic will be minimal. From the rental return, take the bus, métro, or taxi to your hotel. Don´t drive all the way back to ORY and then pay transportation back to Paris nor would I leave the car in Normady and take the train to Paris (which adds cost and time).

The toll roads all take cash, and should accept Visa/MC. The tolls from Paris to Bayeux are exactly 24.80€ using A13.

If you are using organized tours from Bayeux and do not really need a car, take the train from St Lazare to Bayeux.

You will need a pass sanitaire to enter any museum, be it an invasion museum, to see the William the Conqueror tapestry, or to dine at any restaurant. By October, the US vaccination card should be accepted into the TousAntiCovid app. There should be an announcement next week (9 August).

Between Paris and Bayeux, you could easily visit, as well as Rouen, Versailles (but this usually takes most of a day), or Giverny (Monet´s garden}. Visiting Honfleur adds about an hour to the drive. Other interesting stops worth the detour include:

Le Château du Champ de Bataille

Chateau de Groussay (might be closed)

Awesome this is super helpful thank you. And curious as I am looking at Alamo rental car and if we pick up the car at Orly, I am able to drop the car off at the Paris Lyon train station from Bayeux would that ok? My thought is we are staying at Hotel Brighton which is right by Tuileries, we drop our bags off and check in. May not get in the room but will hopefully have our keys and bags in storage. And then drive to the Lyon train station and drop the car off. On our first day in Paris we were planning on checking out Notre Dame (The outside) and Saint Chapelle. And having dinner in the Latin Quarter. I was looking it's only a 30min walk or so to those places from Lyon train station. And saves us a cab fare. What your thoughts on that plan?

What your thoughts on that plan?

not so hot. You said you have never driven in Europe. Paris is not for Europe 101. It is post-grad. Or higher.

Where would you put the car as you drop off your bags and check in to your hotel? Before I jump all over you, what time of day and which day of the week would this be?

Parking in Paris is another degree beyond driving, and parking on the street (or trying to) is even tougher than parking garage.

Before you contemplate returning the car to Gare de Lyon find the exact location on Rue de Bercy on streetview and check out the bus lanes and one way streets on the approach. You must not drive in or stop in a bus lane.

I've driven in Paris and never enjoyed it, but then I drive in London and other European large cities frequently and have it "in my blood". For me Paris and Naples are the hardest.

Others may disagree...

Hey Nigel,
I totally get what your saying, in my head it sounds good 😬 but I’m also ok with going straight to the train station to and taking a taxi from there to the hotel if parking for 20-30min is gonna be a pain. That’s why I’m on here to get ideas for sure! We plan on leaving Bayeux around 7am and arrive in Paris between 10:30-11:30am either to the hotel or train station. And we are driving on a Monday Oct 18th. My original plan was to just drop the car off back at Orly and take a taxi to the hotel but I was looking at other alternatives for possible drop off locations close to where we were staying

I completely agree with Nigel regarding driving in Paris. Paris is definitely not Europe 101. I've done it to return cars 3 times. Hopefully, never again. And exactly as Nigel has said with regards to parking. One time I was able to drop off luggage before returning the car as we were staying at a private home with someone we knew but even so the other drivers clearly did not like me double parking on the one-way street in front of the apartment. I have a vrbo apartment booked for next year and was hoping to be able to pick up a car then drive back to the apartment and load luggage but I'm not at all sure this will work as we must meet with the owner of the apartment to return keys and retrieve our deposit. And you never know how long picking up or returning a car might take. That said, I also very much enjoy driving in Europe with the exception of big cities. They are definitely better drivers. They drive fast but are wide-awake.
It's encouraging to hear that my US issued visa credit card with the chip might be accepted on the autoroutes. I've been hoping for something like that. Fumbling for the right coins in the dark is not my idea of fun. Has anyone actually used a chip enhanced American credit card on the autoroutes? Does this also require one to punch in the pin number? Most US credit cards seem to charge a cash advance fee when ever a pin number is required.
And thanks everyone for the information on driving to Bayeux. I'm hoping to do something similar including Rouen & Honfleur on a future trip.

Tocard gave you the best suggestion and directions: drop the car at Porte Maillot and take a taxi directly to your hotel. Dealing with the Brighton stop, driving all across Paris to the Gare de Lyon and walking back to Notre Dame isn't worth it. At Porte Maillot you are over and done with the car, headache free
I used to drive in Paris when I lived there for several years in my youth, but nowadays with bus and bike lanes, which taxis can use BTW, it's not worth the hassle.

Yeah definitely makes sense so we aren’t driving into the city. Enterprise has a return place in the 17 district ( 38 Ave Des Ternes/ indigo parking) that’s a few blocks from where you are saying to drop off by Porte Maillot. Would that be the best case than?

We picked up car at ORLY and drive to Honfleur for a night then on to Bayeux
I don’t recall the drive being especially difficult at all

We considered Rouen but the access and parking was more complicated than Honfleur
Honfleur was delightful and really only needs a bit of time so a lunch stop there would work well

For the record, Hotel Brighton is on the Rue de Rivoli, where private vehicles aren’t even allowed anymore. So you definitely won’t be pulling up in front of the hotel in your rental car.

There is a lane (besides the bulk of the road, which is reserved for bicycles) reserved for buses and taxis (NOT Ubers) to share.

Most US credit cards seem to charge a cash advance fee when ever a pin number is required.

This misconception requires clarification. The only way a credit card is charged a cash advance fee is if a credit card is used to obtain cash at an ATM. For purchases of service or merchandise, some credit cards (all EU credit cars) use a PIN in lieu of a signature. However, very few US banks issue credit cards with PINs that may be used for purchases instead of a signature.

Enterprise has a return place in the 17 district

Firstly, when renting cars in France and dropping of at a location different from pickup, some companies charge a one way fee, some do not. Avis and Hertz reliably charge you extra for in France drop offs which differ from pickup. Sixt and Europcar typically do not charge extra. You might ask specifically about add-on fees. There could be other fees paid at drop off - ask.

Secondly, A13, the autoroute from Normandy, enters Paris or the périphérique on the southwest side of the city. Gare de Lyon is on the east side of Paris. You would need to orbit on the périphérique halfway around the city to make a Gare de Lyon drop-off. Gare de Lyon is an excellent drop off choice for those entering Paris from A4 or from the east, such as from Nancy or Strasbourg. It would not be the most convenient choice for those arriving from Normandy.

Some arriving from Normandy drop off at Gare Montparnasse. However, there is a lot of construction right now around Montparnasse, potentially complicating a drop-off. This is why I suggest you take A14, pass directly under the area of la Défense, and use one of the many rental offices between la Défense and Porte Maillot (which keeps you outside Paris). Look for offices in Neuilly or along ave Charles de Gaulle where drop off would be greatly simplified. Sixt and Europcar have offices here. I would not necessarily travel beyond Porte Maillot which is where you enter Paris.

Lastly, check google street view to confirm the drop-off point for any rental return. Some companies use underground parking lots to store their rentals, and it may not always be obvious where the drop-off is, particularly if the drop-off is not where you picked up. Being prepared is the key to returning your car stress-free.

In case you visit Le Château du Champ de Bataille like Tocard suggests, you can combine it easily with a visit to Le Bec-Hellouin. Very lovely, requires just a few km detour from the route to the chateau (exit from A28 direction Brionne), scenic area btw.

Not the most outstanding place to visit but to my idea nice enough is La Bouille along the Seine and good enough for a break halfway between Paris and Bayeux. Just a few minutes driving from the A13, first exit after ruins of a medieval castle.

Or closer to Caen, Beuvron-en-Auge is just 10 minutes driving from the A13.

And Beuvron-en-Auge is soooooo charming!!! Small but the beautiful timbered buildings will take you back in time and you will wish you were staying for a few nights.

This all helpful. Thank you so much! Less stress the better. Enterprise drop off is underground in the 17th district as I saw with google street view. And when you drop off at those underground lots are the people there able to call u a cab? Or is that something I have to arrange myself to take us to our hotel. Enterprise charged like $30 for a drop off fee which isn’t terrible and total rental was under $170 for the 3 days. We may have to make some stops along the way back from Normandy and check out your suggestions to visit.

I thought I'd share a couple of thoughts.

First, someone above suggested that there aren't many trucks on the Autoroutes but that most truckers take routes national.

That's incorrect. There are a lot of trucks on the Autoroutes (generally except on Sundays) and they make good time on them. Time, as is often said in business, is money. Don't take the Autoroute if you're under the impression you'll avoid trucks. You won't.

Secondly, my personal opinion, having gotten my French driver's license the hard way (passing both tests) rather than reciprocity, and having driven in both Paris and Lyon (as well as Marseille, Bordeaux, Brest, Nantes, Rennes, Caen, Dieppe, Rouen, Grenoble, Nice, Dijon, Metz, Strasbourg, and countless other cities), is that the two that are the worst for traffic are Paris and Lyon.

Lyon is worse because the drivers are crazy. Sure, there's lots of congestion, but usually not Paris-level congestion. I've found drivers around Paris, when they're able to move through the congestion, to be more polite and logical than in Lyon. It's just that the congestion/construction/changes in routes in Paris are worse. I drive in Lyon frequently because I've learned enough to anticipate typical Lyonnaise nuttiness on the road, and I know my way around. I generally don't drive in Paris because the congestion is so frustrating and time-consuming. In general, a car is more of a burden than an asset in either place.