5 days enough time to see alsace region, verdunand mosel valley

I don't know if you are driving or taking trains. It sounds like a very big list for 5 days to do any justice to all of those areas. I would pick a couple and concentrate on them. I like Colmar and Strasbourg. I have never been to Verdun or Burg Eltz. Enjoy.

There is a Verdun in France. It is about 50 miles west of Metz, France.

We will be traveling by car. Verdun is near Metz . It is Strasbourg, France.We'll have to make some hard decisions . Thank you, Jo

Sorry, I got it completely mixed up with somewhere else.

Sounds like this is a revision of your previous plan to go to Stresa and Annecy after Switzerland.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/help-with-itinerary-of-trip-to-switzerland-italy-and-france-in-june

If you have a van rented in Switzerland per your plan of 5-6 adults, dropping it at Frankfurt airport would involve a hefty drop charge, since it would have to be transported back to Switzerland before it could be rented again. You might drop it in Basel, then take a local train into Germany and rent another one there. Or everyone take the train to Strasbourg and when you leave, take the local train or city tram across the Rhine to Kehl, Germany and rent there. I could definitely see an advantage to having a car/van to visit Verdun and Burg Eltz.

Seems like this trip is to take place in June 2020, so plenty of time to work out the logistics. I am just wondering how many other changes in the plan will happen between now and then. With 5-6 adults, I am sure you're getting a lot of "input" on where to go and what to see.

And I am not going to be one of those snarky people to tell you Frankfort is actually in Kentucky.
Oops, I did it again. :-)

Yes to change in plans . My brother has used Frankfurt airport yearly for his job and is comfortable flying into it.Our plans are now to fly in and out of Frankfurt and rent car from there for 4-5 people on June 17,2020. We would like to stay at Rothenburg ob der tauber that day.Next day we would proceed to Lauterbrunnen ,Switzerland where we have rented a apartment for 5 nights. We would leave Switzerland and drive to Colmar, France for 2 nights . We would like to try and see Strasbourg, small towns, and possibly ecomosee d,Alsace in that time, not sure with 2 days??? Now comes the tricky part. We would like to go to Verdun which is about 4 hrs away and stay overnight. That would leave us 2 full days to get back to Mainz,Germany so we can fly out the next day which is Sunday.My brothers think we should be able to drive from Verdun to Cochem in Mosel valley and stay over night. Next day go see Burg Eltzand then get to Mainz. Not perfect but any thoughts or ideas would be helpful. My brothers have driven this area on previous trips and want us to see this too. Thank You from fellow Wisconsin friends in Chilton.

OK, I think it can be done. A short time, but if you don't mind riding around in a car with your brother, you'll be fine.

First thing is that you will need to purchase a Swiss vignette at the border so you can drive on motorways in Switzerland. The current price is 40 CHF. It could go up a tad by 2020.

Have you thought about Colmar rather than Strasbourg? A small city rather than a big city. I have heard that a car in Strasbourg is a pain. Anyway, something to think about.

Again, just make sure you get a big enough car that everyone will be comfortable and have plenty of room for the luggage. Even with a car, packing light is the way to go.

Hello stang00. Riding in a rental car may seem to be more convenient that riding in railroad trains. But for this trip that you are planning, I suggest do most of the travel in railroad trains. You could ride in a train from Basel in Switzerland to Colmar or Strasbourg in France. And train from there to a town in western Germany, and rent a car there, as suggested by Sam. Ride in the rental car to Burg Eltz (near the Mosel River). I would return the rental car to a town in western Germany, and ride in trains to Mainz. Along the Rhine River, from Koblenz to Mainz, the views are better from a railroad train than from an automobile on the road. I think you wil not have time for going to Verdun.

I guess I am wondering the purpose of going to Verdun. Does the OP have relatives buried at the nearby Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery? Or one of the other many battlefield cemeteries? That would be a very good reason for that detour. It is about a 3 hour drive from Strasbourg to Verdun, and 3 1/2 hours to Cochem.

5 days seems like alot but to savor this region. Just enjoy berg Eltz, see the mosel valley and lochs stay in so charming and lovely Bielstein. The region valley is so pretty and tranquil.