Train travel from Paris CDG to Caen, France

I just googled "train Paris to Caen" and the result was Gare Saint Lazare. So you will want to find the metro or RER from CDG to Saint Lazare (google "Paris Metro map" and look at Images, or just google "CDG to Caen train"). Here's the SCNF (French trains) website link. You can search trains here (from Saint Lazare to Caen). Once in Caen, the rental cars are directly across a mellow street from the train station, and Caen and surroundings are easy to navigate...

http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

Thank you so much, Jessica

Trains connect right from the TGV station in Terminal 2 to Caen. There will be at least one change, probably from a high-speed train to a regional service, but it should be easier than taking an RER train (commuter, not part of the SNCF network) to Gare du Nord and another to Paris St-Lazare which is the terminal for western-bound trains to Caen.

Complications: You should reserve the train out of CdG immediately to save a lot of money. It will include a reservation for a specific time and seat. That forces an estimate of how long it will take to go through border security, retrieve checked luggage and make your way to Terminal 2. It is possible to buy a flexible ticket, at substantially higher price. If you have to go on a later train, you will still have to deal with an agent to change the seat reservation.
(Enjoy Caen; I like the fortress castle of William the Conqueror in the centre of the city.)

https://en.oui.sncf/en/results?clientId=c9d4bdaa-82b0-484b-ae12-7a720ded7a43&language=en&country=EN#!/

Some Americans have reported credit card troubles with SNCF; an alternative is www.trainline.eu

General information on train travel at www.seat61.com

I am not seeing any weekday TGV connections to Caen from deGaulle. Perhaps one will be added later. However, it is likely that you will need to take a regular intercity train from Gare St Lazare. You can buy your ticket to Caen at Lazare.

This does indeed entail a trip into Paris on the RER and then a transfer. Although this is easier than it sounds, if you are daunted you can take a taxi directly to the train station.

Trains are frequent, so no need to stress about "missing" one and you can get a bite to eat at the station or elsewhere if you like.

The ticket from St. Lazare to Caen is about 15 Euro bought early and 2 or 3 times that bought the day of travel. You might estimate and get the PREM print on line tickets and just accept if the plane is late or immigration is crazy long that those tickets are lost.

A taxi from CDG to Gare St-Lazare will cost 50 euros for up to four people, not much more than the RER to Gare du Nord and Metro on to St-Lazare, if you have that many. And much more convenient with your luggage.

Here's a comprehensive guide to rail travel in and around Paris.

If you are going alone, or with one other, I totally recommend the RoissyBus. I leaves regularly right outside CDG, costs around €11 p/p, and arrives at the Opera Garnier—which is a ten-minute walk to Gare Saint-Lazare. For my time and money, it is a much more relaxing way to get into the city than taking RER/Metro.

10 minute walk = 1/2 mile.

This is one case where SNCF reflects different schedule options than does a standard DB schedule search. That's because SNCF doesn't reflect RER connections into Paris, but DB does. (And neither reflect a bus service like BusDirect, if you wanted to get to Paris Gare de Lyon or Montparnasse.) For instance, between CDG and Caen:

SNCF is often including a TGV that travels further and costs more, e.g. connecting at Le Mans, 4.5-6.5 hours total time, full "flexible" fares from 69 euros on some connections but other routes can cost much more.

If you go into Paris by RER (about 10 euros) or taxi (50 euros for up to 4 people), the full "flexible" fare of the train from Paris St. Lazare to Caen is 41 euros, total travel time from CDG to Caen 3-3.5 hours.

Looking Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the Deutsche Bahn train schedule link and tips for using it. This is the best starting place for most train schedules throughout Europe, especially for trips in multiple countries or if you don't know the name of the national railway service.