Travel on June 6th

Yes, most tourists will already be in Normandy (as will I), and a huge swath of that area will have very limited access from 6:00am on (basically everything from the N13 North to the landing beaches). I don't think the tourists will affect many other areas in France, but keep in mind that there will be many heads of state visiting that day too (Queen Elizabeth, Trump, Macron, etc.). So I expect they may travel through other parts of France to get there—possibly including Paris. I would think the Queen will go directly to Caen airport, and maybe Trump too if that airport can handle a 747 (not sure).

When I was in Normandy in 2016 for the anniversary, I flew out of Cherbourg airport on a short flight, and a very high-ranking U.S. general was there as well—direct from the Mid-East. Let's just say there was a lot of security at what is usually just a small, regional airport.

One of the press releases has an estimate of 2 MILLION visitors for June 6th. We are flying on the 6th, but delaying our trip to Normandy for a few days. Hoping that the crowds will lessen some.

"A few days" might not do it completely. The 6th falls on a Thursday this year, but there are many events happening the following weekend too (June 8/9). However, Normandy, even just the areas related to the battle of Normandy, is a huge are. There will always be somewhere to go and something to see that is not mobbed.

75th Anniversary parade will be in Sainte Mere-Eglise on Saturday, June 8th.

NTodd, my guess is that you are right — that you WON’T experience any problem arriving into Paris on a trans-Atlantic flight on June 6, because people who are attending the commemorations would already be in Normandy that day. Just think if you had planned to arrive a day or two earlier !!

Enjoy your visit.

I was in the Normandy area on the 60th anniversary and French security had closed off a large area around the D-Day Beaches, there were roadblocks and nobody got through unless they were a VIP with an invitation to the ceremony.

As you mentioned, everyone that will be attending the ceremonies or staying in Normandy will already be there on 6 June. Spontaneous travellers who just "show up" will probably get a rude awakening! Although I'd like to be there during an anniversary like that, I'm not a VIP so it would probably be a nightmare.

One other observation from personal experience is that France (and Europe in general) will be starting to get busy at that time time of year, as it's leading up to the peak July / August time.

I had not even thought of this, I arrive in Paris on June 5th! Hopefully it does not impact me much!