Where to stay to visit from Honfleur to Bayeux

We stopped in Vernon and visited Monet’s home at Giverny. Then we drove to Honfleur and spent the night. The next day we drove to Bayeux and stayed there for a few nights. There is so much to see and explore in this area of Normandy.

We did this in reverse order last spring, but if you take the train to Rouen where you pick up the car; you could spend one night in Rouen; a short visit to the city centre for one night. Then the next day take a leisurely drive to Honfluer for a visit perhaps lunch; and Etretat; on your way to Bayeux for the next 3 nights. Exploring the area from there; and on your last day visit Mont St Michel before heading to Loire Valley.

The driving is easy and it was all so pleasant; so none of it felt lengthy. It's light so late, your days to explore are long!
Enjoy!

PS. I didn't mention the cider route and the abbey's, because I was trying to keep within your plans, but I want to whole heartedly agree with those suggestions from others as we did those as well.

leewishon,
KD's suggestion is good. You don't want to start a driving trip the day you arrive in France. Take the train to Rouen for your first night. It is has a great medieval quarter, with half-timbered buildings, and the cathedral that Monet painted many times. It is beautiful, and the major things to see are within walking distance of each other. You will find good food there also. Next day, pick up your car and drive to Bayeux via Honfleur, (1 1/2 hrs Rouen-Honfleur and 1 1/2 hours Honfleur-Bayeux). You could stay the night in Honfleur, but to me just visiting for 2-4 hours is plenty. Have lunch there, then off to Bayeux for the next 3 nights. Alternatively, stay in Honfleur overnight and see Entretat as well. Then after your second night, drive to Bayeux. You can check distances and time on ViaMichelin.com They offer more than one route for your travels, so you can choose the fastest or the most scenic. Your longest drive will be from Bayeux to the Loire Valley.
One thing we did on a trip from Rouen to Bayeux was drive via the Route des Abbayes, part of the way right along the Seine River. I believe the road is D982. Jumieges Abbey is a magnificent ruin. Unforgettable! This would add time to your drive, but well worth it. If you go to Bayeux first, Honfleur is not too far to do as a day trip from Bayeux.
You will have a wonderful time, as this is a beautiful part of France. Amusez-vous ien!

Second taking the train to Rouen the day of arrival. It's as already noticed a nice city to explore and a good way for dealing with jetlag. The next day you can drive to Étretat after visiting the Abbey of Jumièges. And as Saint Wandrille and it's abbey are so charming worth the little detour to my opinion. Around Étretat there are to find many hiking trials along the cliffs and lovely countryside with cute places like Yport, Vaucottes, Bénouville etc. You can stay in Étretat and drive the next day to Bayeux with a stop in Honfleur and visit, closer to Caen very charming Beuvron-en-Auge.

Do not underestimate driving times following local roads with it's many speed limits of for instance 30 kph.

We are taking a similar route, but in reverse. I also agree with taking the train and spending the night in Rouen, then picking up your car. In researching the trip between Bayeux and Honfleur, I discovered The Cider Route. Rather than wine, Normandy is known for its cider. We are going to take just the northern portion of The Cider Route rather than the route along the coast. Roughly 27 miles stringing together the villages of Beuvron-en-Auge, Cambremer, Saint-Ouen-le-Pin, and Bonnebosq; yours would be in reverse. There were many websites describing the villages, half-timbered houses, and cider making. This is just one of them.
https://www.france-justforyou.com/blog/a-road-trip-along-the-normandy-cider-route
I think this little detour is going to be a chance to see a little part of what Normandy is known for that we would have otherwise missed.

We did this trip in 2019 , I can just add a name and caution to this wonderful information above. Names Hotel le Lion d'Or in Bayeax. We enjoyed the museum Maisons Satie in Honfluer. There was a wonderful waterfront in Villerville. west of Honfluer. Caution: we rented a car outside of Paris and returned it to Caen on a Saturday. I had checked the train schedule, but not for a Saturday where there are less trains., not a catastrophe, but a long wait.

Thank you all so much for the wonderful suggestions. I think we will spend the 1st night in Rouen and try to see the Abbey and some of the cider route as we make our way to Bayeux. Still so much to consider! I'll be back with more questions for our Loire portion!
Thank you again!