How long of a drive is it from Normandy to Provence?
 

We're debating whether to drive from Normandy (probably Bayeux or Honfleur) to Provence (probably Avignon), or to return to Paris after Normandy and take the TGV to Provence. I guess it depends on how long a trip it is to drive it. We'd love to take a day (long day?) to drive and see the countryside... would it take longer than a full day of driving?

Viamichelin.com is pretty accurate for France travel times.

Bayeux to Avignon is 952km (590miles). While almost all motorway (speed limit 130km/h or about 80MPH), you have to go around Paris, which will slow you down. So, they say about 8hr33minutes.

It's definitely a full day of driving.

Thanks for the quick reply. Is it beautiful country - worth a day's driving to see? I'm not even sure if you can see the countryside while on the TGV.

Keep in mind most posters say add about 1/3 time to what viamichellin suggests.

I've only been to France once but can't imagine trying to do this.

Travelling along motorways is not scenic. You will need to drive on some of the smaller roads to see & enjoy the countryside, and of course, you will want to stop along the way. That will take you more than one day. Lovely to do, if you have the time! But if your plan is to get to Avignon in one day, the TGV is a better choice. It will still take a good part of the day since you will be travelling into Paris to catch your train at Gare de Lyon.

I love France, love driving in France, and I'd never do this. Check out www.mappy.com for routes and times. WAY too much time on hair-raising highways for my taste, especially when you can take a train or low-cost flight.

Seriously it is a 2 day drive. Friends of mine did this in the spring. The cars are smaller, the roads are busy and congestion will stress you as will lunch (1.5 hours). Take 2 days and look out the window.

I took the train and yes you can look out the window often at unspoilt views but gawd is it fast, blink and its gone

I hate to always be mentioning this, but one always has to consider the possibility of getting lost, or diverted through detours and construction zones.

Ditto to what 2010 said -- you don't see the countryside from the expressways - and also ditto the other poster who mentioned road construction, etc. We ended up stuck in traffic on the expressway (not as many "exits" as in US) for HOURS due to an accident ahead of us several miles. TGV for sure.

Driving south from Paris, the sun will be in your face quite often, which usually makes me doze off a bit.

Much of that road is 2 lanes. The right lane for driving & the left for passing only. You'll encounter lots of trucks, unless you're doing this on a Sunday. You will be constantly checking your rear-view mirror to see if it's OK to pass the truck, then checking it again to see if someone is 1 foot from your bumper.

Traffic may come to a stop around Lyon. You'll see lots of nuclear reactors near Valence. The drive is not scenic - I've driven every segment of it, but never all at once.

I've taken the TGV between Paris & Avignon several times. It's actually quite scenic.

This is really a 'No Brainer" Unless you hve several days to make the trip - take the TGV. A Prem fare is about 40E & it's 3 hrs.

However, don't take it from Paris. Catch one of the several departures per day from the CDG airport. It's much easier to drive there from Normandy, than to the Gare du Nord in Paris.

Stu Dudley

Thanks everyone. It's pretty unanimous that this is a pretty bad idea, so TGV it is! Thanks again...

Good decision! We drove almost the same route (reversed) a few years ago. 2 days...and we were only going to Angers. When we started out, we thought it would take about 7 or 8 hrs.