Train Options CDG to Avignon

You have confused different train systems. The TGV is the high speed long distance train -- perhaps from Gare d'Lyon to Avignon. From the airport you use the RER sysem and transfer to the metro. I'd probably take the RER B from the airport to Chatelet/les Halles and transfer there to the RER A to Gare d'Lyon. Give yourself about an hour for this trip. Give yourself plenty of time at the airport. The rule of thumb is 4 hours between ETA at CDG and departure of a train from central Paris -- This gives you a cushion for late planes, long immigration queues, slow luggage. No guarantee but unless things go seriously awry, that is usually enough time for this transfer.

If there is a TGV from CDG to Avignon direct about 3 hours or so after your ETA at CDG then it would make since to book that one. 3 hours is the rule of thumb for a train from CDG. Usually you can make that easily barring very bad luck.

Hi Steve. I probably would not chose to do what you are doing, but I have taken trains away from the Isle de France on arrival, so I kind of have the general idea.

I would want to take the train that would get me to Avignon as early as possible. If that meant going into Paris, I would do that; if it seemed likely that my best option wold be from deGaulle, that would be my choice. Your first day is mostly going to be a bust, if you are going to Avignon, so I encourage you to get it over with as quickly as possible.

To make that decision you'd need to know the departure times of the trains.

By the way, the direct bus from the airport to Gare Lyon is pretty painless, though it only leaves twice an hour.

Impossible to answer this question without the trains schedules.

If you take the TGV from CDG, allow 3 hours, as has already been mentioned, between scheduled arrival and planned train departure. CDG has many unknowns, not the least of which is your actual time of arrival.

If you take the TGV from Gare de Lyon, allow 4 hours between scheduled arrival and planned TGV departure. The additional hour is the time to reach Gare de Lyon.

As has been mentioned on this forum before, what's wrong with a night in Paris? Stay near the Gare de Lyon, check out the Marais or Isle de St Louis, get some rest, and leave the next morning. This has the advantage of de-stressing your arrival day and you still have plenty of time to do some sightseeing upon arrival in Avignon.

I can't tell you about CDG to Avignon, but we took Avignon to CDG a month ago.

It is the TGV and it goes from Avignon to Lyon and then you change trains to CDG. if it were me, I would rather take the train from CDG, than having to hassle a trip into Paris city center, especially if you are tired from a long flight. Leaving from CDG directly will make your life so much easier.

Thanks to all for the helpful replies!

I disagree about the suggestion to spend a night in Paris upon arrival: Paris hotels are expensive, and it seems much more time-efficient to "push on" a few hours longer to your final destination. In which case a train from CDG is by far the best choice.

Just take the TGV from CDG. They are less frequent, but you will have enough options, and it saves you schlepping into the Gare de Lyon. Easy peasy.

1) perhaps someone else has said this (I didn't read all responses)

2) I'm going to Avignon in 3 weeks - just got tickets for CDG for $450 each (RT)! and am looking at the same trip as you

CDG has a train station
Go to https://en.oui.sncf/en/ and slowly type in CDG as the departure train and the correct train station name will show up as an option.
Then type in Avignon TGV as the destination station - not the city centre station

You will see several classes of trains, OUIGO is less expensive and is also fast.

P.S. to the above
Allow time for getting through immigration AND time to get between terminals AND then add 30 minutes (what OUIGO says they want us to "get there early by")

We recently did this trip but went into Paris for our first night. We had a wonderful day walking in the Marais, etc. We booked our TGV tickets 3 months in advance and the cost for one way tickets was Euro 88 for the two of us. We enjoyed the ride. It pays to plan ahead! It was a very economical way to travel.

If you want to get an idea of train schedules and frequency, look on SNCF Ouigo website (or Trainline) for a Saturday in April. Then look at a Saturday in October to compare prices for walk-up fares to bought-well-in-advance.