driving north in france to Bruges

It'd work if you don't want to see much around the beaches, get an early start, or drive until dark (7:30 ?). Caen is two and a half hours out of Paris. Honfleur is less than an hour from Caen, Rouen and hour and a half from Cane. Now restate the problem/question and see if we can help. Or is just Paris, Rouen, Flanders, now?

Hi Jennifer, I've driven west on D240 from Calais. As I recall,the best scenery is appreciated by visiting a few sights that involve a short walk. Cap Blanc Nez,near Sangatte, has numerous WWII bunkers that you can see. The views across the channel are breathtaking. A short distance east of there watch for a statue along the road that is of the French aviator, Hubert Latham. Park the car in the very small parking lot and follow the trail to the cliffs. You will pass several more bunkers. The view from the white cliffs is amazing and there is a trail along the edge looking down at the beach and out over the channel. Note: The cliffs are very steep and much higher than they appear.
There are no fences or guardrails so watch your step. Though not on the water, Battery Todt is a museum near Audinghen.The museum is in a concrete blockhouse where the German's had an artillery gun large enough to fire one ton shells to England. The museum has a large collections of weapons, vehicles and uniforms. Hopefully this will help. Gerard

Yes, thank you Gerard and Ed:) The drive from Paris to Honfleur and then going further south-as suggested by ricks-to catch those DDay sites seems too far south as it will greatly extend the driving time. The goal being to arrive in Bruges Sunday early-ish. The itinerary is packed so if seeing Rouen in the morning Sat., followed by a drive North to say Dieppe, and then along the coast line to ??to sleep?? will provide great views and perhaps some quick memorial sites and statues and such then I'd say problem solved. Once I get a good idea where to stay of course:)
Ed, is it the D940 you drove? Were the sites marked well on the road or did you find these smaller places referenced somewhere? I've been having a hard time finding things listed perhaps along a specific road. Things like a statue or small things that wouldn't necessarily make the "best things" listing. In the states it isn't a problem because I read the language but in France, perhaps I'd miss most opportunities? Jen

Jen, I just checked and it is D940 not D240. Sorry. First Battery Todt: Traveling east on D940 near Audinghen you will see MUSEE in white letters on the side of a concrete blockhouse on your left near Cap Gris Nez. Cap Gris Nez is well marked. Cap Blanc Nez is approx 20km east of Battery Todt on D940. It is well marked and you will see a stone tower on the hill.
Regarding the statue of Latham you will see it on your left traveling east on D940 from Cap Blanc Nez heading toward Sangatte. The statue is ok but just a landmark to find the path to the cliffs. Hopefully this helps. Gerard

"and see Flanders Fields first thing Sunday following a scenic coastal drive?? Is it scenic?" I assume you refer to the battle memorials around Ieper/Ypres? This isn't really a "quick stop along the way" destination. The preserved bits of the battle are spread out across a wide area, nudged here and there between villages, fields and pastures. Unless you know exactly where you want to go, it takes a little while to find anything. There are some very pleasent towns along the Belgian coast, but very few ocean views along the drive. Sand dunes block the view most of the way.

This is ambitious. Doesn't Rick describe renting a car in Rouen so you can (risk) putting the luggage in the trunk before taking the car out of the rental garage, and see Rouen? As hinted by others, you are relying on being astride an All-American steel horse to see things. This doesn't work for the route you hope to see. For example, looking down on the beach in Arromanches (even if you pay the few Euros to park) doesn't match the feeling of walking along the beach and up through the town back to your car. If you use the (upper right) Search box, you will see that the main debate here (after whether to use a professional guide) is whether a solid half a day at the D-Day sites is sufficient, or whether a full day is the bare minimum. This is not a question of, say, patriotism (!), it's a question of your style of touring. But even if you just want to say you "saw it", the landing sites are diffused and time-consuming. Why are you staying two nights in Bruges? Is that a good use of your time? I understand that you want to see the coast, but my (special interest) would be Lille, France, and its art museum, which you'll miss. But your list is more important than mine.

Jennifer, The drive from Rouen in Normandie to Belgian coast is a long one. Or, skip Rouen and head into Normandie from Paris. See the sites you want in Normandie, then I suggest staying in Arras, which was the British Gen HQ in WW I. At the edge of town next to the French Army caserne is the large British military cemetery from the WW I. At the city hall is a tour of the underground used in the war, and is the source for much more information on the war in the area. The big German military cemetery from WW I is in the next town from Arras, ...easily accessible by car. From Arras head towards the coast and towards Belgium. @ Gerald...good information to know. Thanks