If we were to do a 1 or 2 nite trip to Normandy from Paris, what would be the best route?
We would like to see : Honfleur, D-Day Beach (quick stop), and any other midevil/small towns nearby.
Looking at a map, would it be best to take the TGV to Rouen or Bayeaux, rent a car from there, and travel by car??
Any suggestions appreciated, as I have never been to Normandy.

Alot depends on the number of people in your group. If just two or so, then a r/t to caen or bayeux would be more economical than renting a car, but if you get over that number, you'll likely find it cheaper to rent the car. Do a price comparison for the number of people in your party for r/t train tickets with renting a car(s) for the number of days you'll be there. Once there, you can rent a car if you want to travel out of the way. Robespierre has posted some threads, either here or on Frommers that give you plenty of specifics on how to do it by train, and a local bus system, I believe called busverts?

Good luck and enjoy.

I don't think there is TGV service to Bayeux. I would take the train to Rouen and rent a car there. Before leaving Rouen, you might want to check out its old downtown: you can stand where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Also the cathedral that Monet painted so many views of.

I would do two nights rather than one; otherwise you'll be rushing around quite a bit. First night Honfleur.
Second night Bayeux. It's a charming medieval town (one of the few in that area not bombed on D-Day), and the famous tapestry is a "don't miss" if you have any love for history. It's also very convenient to the D-Day beaches. At Bayeux I like the Hotel D'Argouges: a converted 18th cent. townhouse, high ceilings, good space, a private garden behind the hotel -- and inexpensive! Should be about 82 Euros double. Equivalent places around town are twice that. Nice restaurant in the center of town: Le Pommier.

When I did it, I took the train from Paris to Caen. I picked up a rental car there and then spent the night in Bayeux.

Bayeux is a good base and a nice little town.

We took the train from Paris to Caen. The AutoEurope office is directly across the street from the train station. We purchased our PREM train tickets 90 days in advance. I think they were 15 or 20 euros each. There were 4 of us traveling together so the cost of renting the car was shared.

Just to be picky - there is no "AutoEurope Office." AutoEurope finds you an affiliate car rental dealer in Europe and that's where you pick up the car - it could be Hertz or Avis or Cité or EuropCar or any other.

And as long as you're looking to see "midevil" towns, might I suggest you go for some totally evil ones and visit Omaha and Utah Beaches, where true evil was enacted.

St. Cirq:
Sorry for the typo, If I TGV into Rouen, is it going out of the way to first go to Honfleur, and then back west to Bayeaux?

Were you the one that recommended I go to St. Jean de Luz several years ago instead of Biarritz? If so, it was one of your best choices!

You aren't confusing Rouen and Rennes are you? There is TGV to Rennes, just into Brittany. From there, Honfleur then Bayeux would be backtracking.
But if train to Rouen, route Rouen, Honfleur, Bayeux is not back tracking.

Second for Le Pommier in Bayeaux. Also good italian across the street.