Which is easier by train: CDG to Reims or to Beaune

Beaune is a lot more expensive and takes longer. The trains all go to Lyon, then back track on a TER to Beaune. It is faster, cheaper, and more frequent trains to take the RER to Gare de Lyon (easy train change at Les Halles) then TGV to Dijon, then a TER to Beaune. But it is cheaper only if you buy advance tickets, and that can be problematic when arriving on a plane from overseas.

There are direct trains from CDG to Champagne-Ardennes, just outside of Reims, then a TER the short way into Reims. The walk-up price is just 87 EUR for 2, There is a train at 8:59 that you should be able to make.

...so, I think the short answer is that it's easier to get to Reims.

But you might consider that it is also easy to get to the airport from Reims. So much so that it is feasible to spend your last night there (Reims).

If you do not plan to spend any time in Paris (and you do not say that you do), that could be advantageous. Which argues for starting in Beaune after all.

There is a nonstop bus from DeGaulle that goes straight to Gare de Lyon, where you can catch a train to Beaune. The trains go via Dijon, not Lyon, where there is one very easy transfer. I've made this trip on my first day.

Of course, anything to do with trains refers to normal, strike-free operations. And if you are planning time in Paris, then Reims is the obvious choice for your first stop.

Since we’ve been to Paris many times we are planning to stay only 1-2 nights in Paris at the end of the trip and take the Train B (formally RER B?) to CDG.
If possible I would like to keep driving to a minimum. Since our flight arrives early am we both will be too tired to spend a lot of time getting to Beaune and thought Reims would be a nice option to stay for the first 1-2 nights. Is it easy driving traveling from Reims to Burgundy area? Thank you for your suggestions.

it would seem, looking at a map, that you would have two main choices for driving from Reims to Beaune. Assuming you plan to take Autoroutes (similar to U.S. Interstate highways, but with tolls in this part of France) It would seem that A26 to Troyes, and then A5 to A31 to Beaune would be fastest. It should be an easy drive of 4 hours or so. The biggest advantage of this route would be an easy stop in Dijon, which in my opinion is an underrated spot (particularly its old town). If I were driving it, I'd do an overnight in Dijon to enjoy the city before heading the short distance on to your arrival in Beaune the next day.

A more interesting route, though, in my opinion, would be going to Troyes on A26 but then heading west rather than east on A6 to Beaune. That takes you close to Vézelay, a hill town with an abbey from which (if I recall correctly) a couple of the Crusades were launched, and close to Semur-en-Auxois, a pretty cool-looking Medieval Burgundian town with some old defensive towers and ramparts, and close also to the Cistercian Fontenay Abbey, hiding in the forests not too far from Semur-en-Auxois.

Bob has described some of my favorite sites in northern Burgundy. Vezeley is especially lovely, but it would take you a bit out of your way.

If you are truly road averse, note that there are many trains that will get you from Reims to Beaune in less than 4-1/2 hours, which is not a bad proposition. I don't think you'd realistically do better in a car.

Or you could get to the Gare du Creusot TGV station, about 20 miles from Beaune, in as little as 3. You'd have to get a car there, but that is a helpful thing to have in Burgundy.

Thank you for the options. I Prefer not to drive in cities but I don't mind driving if it is a scenic drive. I like the suggestion of leaving Reims and staying overnight somewhere between Reims and Beaune since I would like to avoid driving 4 hours to Beaune. At the end of the trip I am planning to drop off the car in Dijon and take the train to Paris. Does the following look like a good plan:

Day 1: Saturday - CDG Reims. Stay 2 nights.
Day 3 Monday - leave in afternoon and rent car in Reims and stay overnight between Reims and Beaune. Any suggestions where to stay?
Day 4 Tuesday - Continue to Beaune for 5 nights (Tuesday to Saturday night) and using Beaune for a base to explore Burgundy region.
Sunday - leave for Dijon, stay the evening and sometime on Monday, return car at train station and take train into Paris. We'll have 2 full days in Paris (have been to Paris several times) before our flight back on Thursday morning.
Would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions on this itinerary. Thank you!

Very nice, to have 6 nights to spend in or near Burgundy! If that is the case, I suggest dividing your time between a town in the north and in Beaune. This will give you better a base from which to explore northern Burgundy.

Then when you shift to Beaune you can focus on attractions in the immediate area and to the south. There's a really nice bicycling option if that appeals to you.

I am thinking that a small town such as Noyers or Chablis would be centrally located to visit Vezeley, Avalon, the Fontenay Abbey, and even Semur (though not all of those in the time you have). If you prefer a city, Auxerre is an option, although it's just a little further from these sights.

0f these, Noyers is the furthest from Reims and is less than 3 hours under normal conditions (Google says 2:15). I can recommend a place to stop for lunch in Chablis if you like.

So Ipick one of these, drive directly there, and spend 2 nights. Then head to Beaune for the balance of your time.

Besides that, I would look into freeing yourself of the car sooner than Monday, unless you have a particular use for it that you have not described. It is just going to be a hassle in Dijon. I know that rental offices are sometimes closed on Sunday, but maybe make provision for a drop-off return where you slip the key into a mail slot.

Reims (still don't know how they get "hrance" from that?) is much easier. If you compared a direct train to each (assuming they are both available), Reims would be about half the time.

I like to Rent a car when I need one. Normally, I'll take a train out of a city to a good jumping off point and rent a car. In my case, I took a train to Auxerre, drove through Burgundy area ending in Beaune, then over to Colmar and the Alsace area. I dropped the car in Strasbourg, then trained from there to visit Reims before catching another train back to Paris.

Whether you should rent a car in Reims, depends on what you plan to see. If you're next stop is Beaune, maybe you can train between the two? Sometimes in France you have to go back to Paris, like spokes on a wheel to get other places. I haven't used a train between those two so don't know what service is available?

Thank you for all the great suggestions.. I may follow Adam’s suggestions about exploring northern Burgundy before heading to Beaune. I would like to stay in a town not far from Beaune (less touristy) but I’m thinking there might not be much to do in the evening and therefore better to stay in Beaune.

Beaune is not exactly off the beaten path, but it it is a very friendly place with a lot of charm and great food. Real people live there, there are grocery stores etc.