Gare de Lyon to CDG and staying at CDG

You may be out of luck. The last RER train from Gare du Nord leaves at 12:14 a.m...getting there from Gare du Lyon is likely not possible in time. The RoissyBus and Air France bus have stopped running by that time, and the night-time RATP bus is not something I'd advise for a family. And, as far as I know, there are no "pod hotels" in Paris or at CDG. Your best bet might be two rooms at the Ibis Gare du Nord at 83 Euro per night....then the RER out to CDG the next morning (http://tinyurl.com/26go6j). Or you could take a taxi out to the CDG Paris Nord 2 hotel complex (probably 40-45 Euro), and get two rooms at the Ibis there at 50 Euro each (http://tinyurl.com/2gtjy6) or at the slightly more downscale Etap at 42 Euro per room (http://tinyurl.com/yrtpda) then take their free shuttle to the terminal in the morning. It'll take you to the RER station near Terminal 3 where you can catch the CDGVal line to Terminals 1 and 2.

Norm's taxi fare estimate is consistent with what many people report for rides during the day. The rate is higher at night, but there won't be traffic to contend with so you'll get to CDG faster. However, I still think you'll pay more.

Norm recommends avoiding the night bus, but I'll give you the information so you can decide for yourselves. You can take metro line 14 from Gare de Lyon one stop to Chatelet. Trains run every few minutes with the last one departing at 01:07. Cost: €1.50.

Noctilien (night) bus #120 departs Chatelet at 00:22, 01:22, etc. and arrives at CDG about an hour later. Noctilien bus #121 departs Chatelet at 00:52, 01:52, etc. and arrives at CDG about an hour later. Cost: €6.00.

Thanks to both of you for your advice. I need to mull this over. It's not a good scenario, but can't be avoided now.

So, there is no direct train service from Lyon to CDG? I have no experience travelling in the middle of the night in Paris. On the one hand, I think Jan 1 should be quiet, but that may be worse. A taxi from Lyon to CDG could be worthwhile. Does anyone have any experience sleeping at CDG? Rick Steves guidebook describes the cocoons, but I can't find info about them online.
Bernice

Unfortunately, no....the RER line that runs to CDG is line B, which does not go to Gare du Lyon. However, you might try taking a cab to the next station up the line from Lyon....to Chatelet-Les Halles, and catch the B-3 train to CDG. The last one leaves Chatelet at 12:11 am. The Metro-Bus combination at night will cost you about 30 Euro....a cab only another 20 Euro more.

Bernice, if you arrive at Gare de Lyon a little BEFORE midnight, you could catch the 23:59 RER A train (direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye) and take it one stop to Chatelet-Les Halles and transfer there to the last RER B train (direction Aeroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV) to CDG. The direction each train is traveling is indicated by the last stop at the end of the line. Follow the "correspondance" (transfer) signs in the tunnels. The fare would be €8.20.

Two more things. For children 4-10, a ticket on the RER from Gare de Lyon to CDG costs €5.80. Go to www.ratp.fr to download and print a metro/RER map for central Paris and a RER map showing service to outlying zones, including CDG.