How to I get from Avignon TGV to Arles?

You can continue to Arles using bus or a shuttle bus to Avignon Centre-Ville and then a train. Here are some schedules and you can use this website to explore alternatives: train schedules Avignon TGV to Arles

Thanks for the link, it looks like a shuttle bus will be out best bet.

So, for some of the scheduled listings, we would need to take the shuttle into Avignon Centre, and the train to Arles from there, is that your experience?

Yes, that's correct. Avignon has two train stations: TGV in the suburbs where the TGV high speed line runs and Avignon Centre-Ville in town. They're connected by a shuttle bus that connects the two, 15 mins and runs about 3 per hour. Once you get to Avignon C-V, it's fast and easy (~20 mins) to get from Avignon CV to Arles by train--but because you're arriving at the TGV station there's an extra step for you in getting to the Avignon CV station from Avignon TGV. Or, alternatively, you can take a bus directly from Avignon TGV to Arles, takes about 1 hr, ~11/day.

Or you can rent a car at Avignon TGV and drive, but this only makes sense if you were planning on renting a car anyway, say in Arles. The many sights in the Provence countryside are not served by rail and renting a car is the best way to see those because of the flexibility the car gives you. That's what I did a year ago, because I wanted to see all the things in Provence that you can't see by rail, and since you can rent a car for pickup at the Avignon TGV station, you may want to consider that option. However, I'm not suggesting renting a car solely to get from Avignon TGV to Arles, only if you were going to rent one anyway.

This information will be very useful---thanks very much!

A little more advice! On Sundays the schedules for both train and bus are different and sometimes significantly reduced, so be sure you are checking the weekend schedule.

I met my daughter at the TGV Avignon station to go back to Arles and used that direct bus- easier than changing to the local train at the Avignon station. The station is like a mini airport, small but very easy to find your way around. The trains roar in upstairs, and then you do down and right out the doors to public transport. The bus took maybe 45 minutes.

Very handy tip- there is only one bathroom (at least that I found!) in the station, tucked away in a far corner and you have to pay. Long lines! Make sure to use the train facilities before you get off at Avignon and that is my best advice :)

In Arles the buses just pull up outside the front of the train station, so they share the location.

Lastly- will you be spending any time in Avignon at all on this trip? If so, you might consider spending your first night and at least part of the next day. The RS book made it sound like you can just zip back and forth easily, which is sort of true, but you have to factor in the walking and the waiting times.

Very good information---thank you!