When planning our trip to France, we knew we wanted to explore beyond Paris. Mont Saint-Michel and the historic D-Day sites in Normandy were at the top of our list, but we also wanted to experience some of the smaller French towns along the way. Rather than relying on organized tours or public transportation, we decided to rent a car and turn our journey into a three-day road trip through northern France.
Our route took us from Paris to Chartres, Le Mans and Fougères before reaching Mont Saint-Michel. From there, we continued through Normandy to explore the historic D-Day sites before making our way back toward Paris, with a visit to the Palace of Versailles. Along the way, we discovered beautiful medieval towns, impressive architecture and places we might never have visited without having our own car.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! But our itinerary was also ambitious, and there are a few things we’d do differently. Between driving immediately after an overnight international flight, squeezing multiple destinations into a short amount of time and realizing we couldn’t fit in every stop we’d planned, we learned quite a bit about road-tripping through France.
If you’re considering renting a car to explore Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy and the surrounding areas, here’s our three-day itinerary, the stops we made and what we’d recommend knowing before hitting the road.
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Why We Decided to Rent a Car in France
One of the biggest decisions we made while planning our trip was whether to rent a car or rely on trains and organized tours. France has an extensive rail network, but because we wanted to visit several destinations in a relatively short amount of time, renting a car seemed like the best option. It gave us the flexibility to travel at our own pace, explore smaller towns and stop for photos whenever we wanted without worrying about train schedules or coordinating transportation between destinations.
We rented our car through Hertz and picked it up at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport immediately after arriving from the United States. Our flight landed around 8 a.m., and rather than spending the day resting, we headed straight toward Mont Saint-Michel, with stops planned in Chartres, Le Mans and Fougères. Looking back, this was probably our biggest mistake of the trip! While we managed to make it work and enjoyed seeing all three towns, we were exhausted from traveling overnight and then spending much of the day on the road.
If we were planning this trip again, we’d absolutely rent a car, but we’d recommend spending a night in Paris or near the airport before beginning the drive. Having the freedom to explore northern France was one of the highlights of our trip, but starting the journey well-rested would have made the experience much more enjoyable. Luckily, we bounced back pretty quickly!
Day 1: Paris to Mont Saint-Michel, With Stops in Chartres, Le Mans and Fougères
Instead of driving directly from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel, we decided to take advantage of having a rental car and visit a few smaller French towns along the way. Our first stop was Chartres, a historic town best known for its magnificent Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres. Considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in France, the cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an impressive sight even if you’re only passing through. Chartres also has picturesque streets and a scenic riverfront, making it a great destination for a quick stop.
From Chartres, we continued to Le Mans, a city most people probably associate with the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race. However, Le Mans also has a beautiful medieval old town known as Cité Plantagenêt, filled with historic buildings, cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. The city is also home to an impressive cathedral and remnants of ancient Roman walls. Although we didn’t have time to explore everything Le Mans has to offer (we had to do a quick drive through), we were glad we included it in our itinerary.
Our final stop before Mont Saint-Michel was Fougères, a charming town in Brittany known for its impressive medieval fortress. Château de Fougères is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, and its towers and stone walls make it a beautiful place to visit. Even though our stop was brief, we enjoyed getting to see another side of France beyond the country’s more famous tourist destinations.
After a long day of driving and sightseeing, we made our way to the Mont Saint-Michel area, where we stayed at the Best Western Hôtel Montgomery in nearby Pontorson. Mont Saint-Michel was one of the places we were most excited to visit, and seeing the medieval island rising above the surrounding tidal flats was an unforgettable experience.
We’ve already shared everything you need to know about visiting this incredible destination, including what to see and tips for planning your trip, in our complete Mont Saint-Michel travel guide.
Would we recommend making all three stops? Yes, especially if you enjoy discovering smaller towns and don’t mind a busy travel day. However, we’d recommend starting the drive after a good night’s sleep and allowing more time if you want to explore each destination beyond a quick visit.
Day 2: Exploring Normandy’s D-Day Sites
The next part of our road trip took us through Normandy, a region known for its beautiful coastline, charming towns and significant role in World War II history. Visiting the D-Day landing beaches and memorials was one of our main reasons for making this trip, and having a rental car made it easier to travel between the historic sites.
From Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc to the Normandy American Cemetery and the coastal town of Arromanches-les-Bains, there are numerous places throughout the region that tell the story of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944. Many of these locations are spread out, so having a car allowed us to explore the area without being tied to an organized tour schedule.
We stayed at DDAY Aviators Le Manoir in Arromanches-les-Bains, a coastal town known for its role in the D-Day landings and the remnants of the temporary Mulberry Harbour that can still be seen offshore. We absolutely loved this bed & breakfast and encourage you to read more about staying here on our blog post: Where to Stay in Normandy. While it’s possible to visit several historic sites in one day, Normandy is a destination where we’d recommend allowing extra time, especially if you’re interested in World War II history.
Rather than cover all the historic sites again, we’ve put together a separate guide highlighting 10 must-visit D-Day sites in Normandy, including what makes each location worth visiting.
Day 3: Normandy to Paris, With a Stop at Versailles
Our final day on the road was another busy one as we made our way from Normandy back toward Paris. Originally, we’d planned to stop at Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny before continuing to the Palace of Versailles. Giverny is famous for its beautiful gardens, Japanese bridge and water lilies that inspired some of Monet’s most recognizable paintings, and we thought it would be a great addition to our itinerary.
Unfortunately, we ran out of time and weren’t able to make it to Giverny. While we were disappointed to miss it, this was another reminder of how easy it is to underestimate travel time when you’re trying to fit multiple destinations into a short trip. Even with a rental car, you still need to account for driving, parking, sightseeing and the occasional unexpected delay.
We continued toward the Palace of Versailles, where we’d booked a tour for 3 p.m. The former residence of French royalty is one of the most famous attractions near Paris, known for its lavish interiors, Hall of Mirrors and expansive gardens. Versailles is a destination that deserves plenty of time, so if you’re planning to visit on your way back from Normandy, we’d recommend booking tickets in advance and being realistic about how many additional stops you can fit into the day.
After Versailles, we made our way back to Paris and checked into the Hilton Paris Opera. We also enjoyed a Seine River cruise that evening, which was a wonderful way to transition from our road trip to exploring the French capital. We returned our rental car the following morning, since we didn’t need it for sightseeing around Paris.
If you’re planning to spend a few days in the city, check out our 72 Hours in Paris travel guide for more recommendations on what to see and do.
What to Know Before Renting a Car in France
Before our trip, we took a few extra steps to prepare for driving in another country. While renting a car in France was relatively straightforward for our itinerary, there are several things we’d recommend considering before booking.
Get an International Driving Permit
Before leaving the United States, we visited AAA and obtained an International Driving Permit for $20. We wanted to have one just to be safe, especially since we’d be renting a car and driving through several regions of France. An International Driving Permit provides a translation of your U.S. driver’s license, but it doesn’t replace your actual license, so make sure you bring both. We’d recommend checking the latest requirements before traveling and taking care of this ahead of time. I know my friend said she didn’t need one when she went last time, but better to be safe than sorry!
Check Your Rental Car Insurance
Another important step is reviewing your insurance coverage before renting a car internationally. Depending on your personal auto insurance policy and credit card benefits, you may or may not have coverage for rentals outside the United States. We recommend checking directly with your insurance provider and credit card company before leaving so you understand what’s covered and whether additional protection is necessary.
Consider Where to Pick Up and Return Your Rental Car
We picked up our rental car at Charles de Gaulle Airport and returned it in central Paris after completing our road trip (booked this with Hertz via the Delta Vacations site). This worked well because we wanted to explore outside the city first and then spend the remainder of our time in Paris without a vehicle. If you’re planning a similar itinerary, we’d recommend considering whether picking up your rental at the airport or waiting until you’re ready to leave Paris makes the most sense.
Don’t Underestimate Jet Lag or Driving Time
Our biggest lesson was learning just how exhausting it can be to begin a road trip immediately after an overnight international flight. Although we were excited to start exploring, driving from Paris toward Mont Saint-Michel while making several stops along the way was a lot to take on after traveling overnight. We’d strongly recommend getting some rest before starting a long drive, especially if you’re not accustomed to driving in another country.
It’s also important to remember that driving times don’t include sightseeing, parking, meals or unexpected delays. We learned this firsthand when we had to skip Giverny on our final day because we’d simply run out of time.
Budget for Tolls, Parking and Fuel
In addition to the cost of your rental car, remember to account for toll roads, parking and fuel. France has an extensive network of highways, many of which require toll payments, so these expenses can add up depending on your route. It’s also worth researching parking options ahead of time, particularly when visiting historic towns and popular attractions where parking may be limited. If it helps, we didn’t do a ton of research on this but had no issues with parking; however, I know things can quickly change with travel!
Is Three Days Enough for a Paris to Normandy Road Trip?
If you’re wondering whether three days is enough to explore Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy and some of the surrounding destinations, our answer is yes, but with a few caveats. We managed to see quite a bit in a short amount of time, including several smaller towns, Mont Saint-Michel, historic D-Day sites and Versailles. However, our itinerary was definitely ambitious, and we didn’t have as much time as we would have liked in every location.
If you enjoy fast-paced travel and want to see as much as possible, three days can be a great introduction to this part of France. However, if you prefer spending more time exploring historic sites, enjoying local restaurants and wandering through smaller towns, we’d recommend allowing at least four or five days. Adding an extra day would also give you more flexibility to visit destinations like Giverny that we unfortunately had to skip due to timing (I need to get back there).
Is It Better to Rent a Car or Take the Train?
France has an excellent public transportation system, and trains can be a convenient way to travel between major cities. However, for our particular itinerary, renting a car made the most sense. We wanted the flexibility to visit smaller towns like Chartres, Le Mans and Fougères, along with several historic sites throughout Normandy that aren’t necessarily convenient to reach by train alone.
Having a rental car allowed us to customize our route and explore destinations we might not have visited otherwise. While there are organized tours available from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel and Normandy, we appreciated being able to travel on our own schedule. That said, if you’re only planning to visit one or two destinations outside Paris, taking the train or booking a guided tour might be easier and more relaxing.
So, Is Driving from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel and Normandy Worth It?
For us, the answer is absolutely yes! Renting a car gave us the opportunity to experience so much more of France than we would have if we’d stayed exclusively in Paris. From the medieval streets of Le Mans and the impressive fortress in Fougères to Mont Saint-Michel and the historic beaches of Normandy, every stop offered something different.
Would we do everything exactly the same way again? Probably not. We’d definitely spend a night resting before starting the drive, and we’d consider adding an extra day or two so we wouldn’t feel quite as rushed. We also learned that sometimes you have to be willing to adjust your plans, even if that means missing a destination you were excited to visit.
But despite the long days and ambitious itinerary, we wouldn’t hesitate to rent a car again to explore this part of France. If you’re planning a trip to Paris and want to experience Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy and some of the beautiful towns in between, a road trip is a wonderful way to do it.
Just make sure you leave yourself enough time to enjoy the journey, not just the destinations!
