Hard to return a car to CDG?

It's not that complicated, you will have already driven out of CDG, you just basically reverse the route, going around Paris on the north side of Paris and then taking the A1 to CDG. I'm not suggesting it's as easy as driving here, but it's doable.

The only place you might stumble is missing the turn to the car return places once you're inside the airport. Don't sweat it, just continue around the circle/oval on the same level and catch it next time.

We had more trouble leaving CDG than returning the car from Auto Europe. Once we figured out sortie means Exit we made it. Knowing a little French really helps. As noted above just keep driving in the oval until it becomes apparent. If that fails stop and ask somebody. We had to do that also at the Hilton across the freeway from CDG. We drove to Normandy then down to Loire area and back to CDG. Getting lost or making the wrong turn is part of the trip-same as here.

Thanks all for the help. I live near Chicago and know how O'hare airport can be. If I can handle that then I can handle CDG! LOL

From above post: "I know how O'hare airport can be. If I can handle that then I can handle CDG!" I wouldn't go quite that far, the signs at O'Hare are at least in English and you're used to what signs to look for to park the car. The French concept on signage seems to be more casual than ours, read confusing. But you'll be a "veteran" of driving French roads, by the time you're returning the car, so you can do this, but don't expect it to be like returning a rental car to O'Hare. The same thing could be said for driving, in general, in France - it's going to be different from driving here. General advice: 1) Try to stay in the country as much as possible, cities and larger towns get complicated re traffic and parking, what's being said will make sense once you've been in one; 2) Many travelers just bite the bullet and make the GPS investment; 3) Be aware of how much the deductible is for the CDW and be willing to arrange, at the counter if necessary, to reduce that exposure to a level with which you're comfortable.

Another thought [INVALID] If you haven't driven much in Europe, it's worth taking a little time to become familiar with EU road signs. They are intended to be mostly language-neutral, but the symbols used are quite different than signs in the US. It's challenging enough to find the right exit at roundabouts if you don't know every town between you and your final destination. You don't want to get distracted trying to figure out what the wavy lines and circles on the signs mean.

Although we're bi-lingual, we always have problems driving around CDG and many other places in both France and the US. But with a GPS, even CDG is navigable.

Steve, Driving in Paris is fine, especially with a GPS. My worst experience driving in Europe was returning the car to the CDG return! We drove all through the parking garage and finally the competition told us where to park and what to do with the keys. Nothing in writing on the rental agreement indicated which slots or which floor of the garage, only the generic signage for car return,and no one to check the car for mileage or dents. It took 45 minutes, which I had allowed. No need to panic. My teenage son manipulated the GPS and I did the driving for a 2 week roadtrip on a circular route through France. The roads were good and driving conditions were generally excellent, even with the expected jams. If you can drive in Chicago, you're ready. We enjoyed Normandy,the Bayeux tapestry and the D Day beaches.