To Provence from Paris - itinerary help
 

We`ll be based in Paris but want to drive to Provence for about 3 or 4 days likely to Avignon, Arles, St.Remy. Would it be feasible to also go to Nice and the coast area in this amount of time. On Maporama it says it`s 6 and a half hours from Paris to Avignon. Thanks so much for any help.

With the TGV taking less than three hours from Paris to Avignon, I would forget driving. Just pick up a car at the TGV station in Avignon. Since there is so much to see in the Avignon-Arles-St-Rémy area, I personally wouldn't bother going to the coast, but it IS feasible.

Six, seven hours is right, if there are no accidents or trafic jams. <BR>Unless you have specific reasons to make this a car trip, I would suggest taking the TGV to Avignon, which takes only 2:38 hrs, and rent a car there.<BR>Nice is another 2 1/2 hours drive from Avignon. Feasible, yes. But having only 3 or 4 days in total, and with enough to see/do in Provence, I would not add it on. But you can make a day trip to the coast (Cassis, Saintes Maries or Aigues Mortes), in case you want to see the Mediterranean.

The car hire place is right at the station in Avignon and is pretty efficient with a big range of cars. That'll save you a stack of time and give you more opportunities to explore Provence. The Autoroute de Soleil isn't that great so the 6 hours drive from paris is pretty boring...and the tolls aren't cheap!<BR>I don't think it's worth heading for the coast when you have such a short space of time and Provence is so amazing. But if anything- maybe head to Cassis- about 2 hours south from Avignon and hop on a ferry and take a look at the Calanques- that is pretty spectacular and different from Provence.

I would recommend train travel, specifically the TGV Mediterranee from Paris to Provence area (Avignon) in under 4 hours. Once in Provence, I would definitely split up your regions (Provence area) as Avignon, Arles, St. Remy de Provence take up a good 2, if not 3 days. It is about another 2 1/2 hours southward to Nice and the coastal area. There is so much to see and do in each area that it would be a shame to cram it all in and rush around.