Help needed - train from Dijon to Brussels

There are no direct trains from Dijon to Brussels. It is routing you through Paris because that is faster.
Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord is relatively simple, two stops on RER line 'D' (click here for métro map). It takes me about 30 minutes, but it does involve a lot of escalators and corridors at both Gare de Lyon and Gare du Nord, and you have to buy a métro ticket (€1.80). It can be confusing, I would allow at least 1 hour first time.

Changing at Lille would be simpler. Captaine Train does not appear to have a 'via' option, so you have to do it as 2 bookings.
But, be aware, Lille also has two stations: Lille Europe and Lille Flanders. You may also have to change stations in Lille. The two stations are about 10-15 minutes walk apart, or one stop on the Lille métro.

Edit: BUT, I can't find any direct trains from Dijon to Lille, they all involve changing in Paris, from Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord, exactly what you are trying to avoid.

There is an option of taking the 7:14 train arriving Charles de Gaulle at 9:03 and taking the 10:38 TGV arriving Brussels 12:27. Looks like it needs 2 separate tickets, but they add up to about same price as the standard connection through Paris. You also don't need the Eurostar supplement if you change in Lille.

Thanks for the replies. I'm now toying with the idea of renting a car and driving to Lille. If we pick up the car at the Dijon train station and drop it in Brussels, we would pay a pretty hefty drop fee. But, if we drop it in Lille, the drop fee is about $40.00. We could then take the train to Brussels. We are traveling with another couple and would share the cost. None of us have very driven in Europe, but I'm thinking if we avoid Paris, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Thoughts on that option are appreciated.

Sue,
Re your last message:
About avoiding Paris on that driving route:
You'll want to carefully plan your route, and a GPS will be a plus.
For first time American drivers in Europe, it is often not correct to assume: " None of us have ever driven in Europe, but I'm thinking if we avoid Paris, it shouldn't be too difficult."
Allow more time than you think it will take.

Sue, I like plan B
If you sweep wide round Paris: Dijon, north on A31 to Langres, A5 to Troyes, A26 to Châlons-en-Champagne, A4 to Reims, A26 then A1 north to Lille. Autoroute all the way
That gives you two places that are well worth a stopover: Troyes and Reims.

According to viamichelin.com Dijon to Lille:

Costs: 97.23 €, toll 40.50 € | Petrol 56.73 €
Time: 05h00 with 04h33 on motorways (plus stops)
Distance: 501 km with 488 km on motorways

Slower than the train, but if you have the time to dally.

I've started researching car rentals - actually just two so far: Hertz and Sixt - and am finding a vast difference in their pricing. Hertz is far cheaper. Am I looking at something wrong?

Check out http://www.kemwel.com/go/cheap-car-rental/France/.
and http://www.autoeurope.com/go/car-rental/france/.

Two parts of the same company, but show different rates.

Have used Kemwel in both France and Italy.