Leaving car at train station?

We do the same thing when we're with the family in Burgundy. There is almost always a jam from where the A6 meets the A5 near Corbeille and on into Paris. Add to that the work at the Porte d'Orleans and you're in for a long wait. Dina, who posts here, helped us find the parking structure next to the Fontainebleau train station. Perhaps someone else can give you info about Versaille which is further to the northwest.

Bets, do you remember what you had to pay in Fontainebleau? Or where the lot was relative to the gare? Thank you for your post!

Joni, only because you sound a little desperate: this is not so hard. Go to Google.com, switch to google Maps, and type in Fontainbleau France Gare and click Search. I found that destination C was a commercial parking company with a website that allows you to compute prices. If you get that, right click on C, "Center Map Here", then right-click again and chose "Zoom In". I've never been to Fontainbleau, so this counts as "unverified internet info". But it's better than nothing.

As Bets mentioned, using the parking at the Avon Gare (the name of the stop is Fontainebleau/Avon, but the train station is actually in Avon) is probably the most economical option for you. (And you can visit the chateau in Fontainebleau which is beautiful!) You exit the A6 and head towards Fontainebleau, but once you reach Fontainebleau you want to head towards Avon (east). As Bets mentioned, you actually go past the entrance to the Gare and turn at the next light to get into the parking garage. IT's attached to the train station. It's around 10€ for 24 hours of parking/35€ for a whole week. If you are there during normal business hours, the ticket counter is manned, otherwise you need cash - coins - for the automated machine (which has the option of English language). It's a 40 min train ride to Gare du Lyon and trains run about every half hour. I buy a carnet of 10 tickets and it's roughly 12€ round trip when purchased that way. Your ticket also includes the metro or RER to your final destination in Paris, so you don't have to buy a metro ticket also.

Fontainebleau is a much more practical choice than Versailles coming from Burgundy. It's very easy to drive in to, we did last year. We got very lost on the roads surrounding Paris trying to return a car at Orly. Driving from Burgundy to Versailles without getting lost sounds easy, but once you get out that way it gets really confusing that close to Paris.

Thanks for the great, detailed information, everyone. Looks like we will drive to Fontainebleau and park as you have suggested. Another question, svp - does one need to reserve a spot in this lot, or do I not need to worry about that and can assume spots will be available?

I don't think they take reservations at the lot. I've never had an experience where the lot has been full. However, I have had to park on the top (uncovered) level. If for some crazy reason that lot was full, you have the option of going back into Fontainebleau and parking at one of the two underground Vinci lots (marché or chateau - both of which are located on Rue Grande) and taking the #1 bus to the Avon Gare. (The line is Avon-Gare. You would take it in direction Las Lilas to return to Fontainebleau.) There are other surface lots in Avon, but I'm not sure whether they allow long term (or even overnight) parking.

I wish I could be in F'bleau for the dinner with Dina-I'd buy the wine. She was so helpful to me in getting from Paris to F'bleau this past spring.

Alright, before we plan for lunch at Dina's next year, how often do the trains leave Fontainebleau for Paris? Which gare will I end up at? I know I'm being just plain lazy now, but I'm guessing one of you knows this without having to check online!

Trains leave approximately every 1/2 hour. The used to leave around the :04 and :31, but I believe I saw a notic that they've changed the schedule. All trains will stop in Melun, some will also stop in Bois-le-Rois (adds a few more minutes on, not much.) You will end up at Gare du Lyon. If you are taking the Metro Line 1 from GdL, stay on the upstairs level and walk all the way to the end of the lines (into the main station) and head towards the right before going downstairs. If you are connecting with Line 14, you go to the end of the platforms and then go downstairs.
To connect with the RER, go downstairs near the platforms - before you reach the main building of the train station - and follow the crowds and signs. I've never thrown a big 4th of July party - everyone in? If not, I'd highly recommend waiting until the Fête de St. Louis (Aug. 29th). I'll host a cookout and then we can all walk down to the chateau for the fireworks. It's absolutely stunning seeing the chateau and lakes illuminated by the fireworks. This year they synchronized them to movie theme songs, most of which were US movies. Very enjoyable evening.

I'd like to be in... EDIT: Don't mind the July or August date, maybe prefer late August. Need plenty of notice though to arrange the couple of days off.