How to get from Paris to Chalons en Champagne

Travelling in a foreign country can be a bit daunting. The Champagne region is only a hop and a skip from Paris but still, getting from Paris to CHalons-en-Champagne can feel pretty scary. To help you make the journey from Paris to Chalons, I have put together a guide on the best modes of transport and their advantages and disadvantages. This way you can head to the Champagne region with confidence by train, bus or car! 

⭐ Best way to get from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne is by Train
💰 Cheapest way to get from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne is by Bus
✈️ Best way to get from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne for a multi-day trip is by car

Travelling from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne by Train

One of the best ways to get from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne is by train. I love the train system in France. I use their TGVs at least a few times a year. They are incredibly easy to use, and, seen the massive distances they span, affordable. 

What can be daunting, however, is the fact that Paris has quite a few different stations. You will be happy to hear that ALL trains towards the east will leave from Gare de l’Est. This means that all trains heading to the Champagne region will leave from this Paris station.

Journey Time, Cost, and Distance when going from Paris to Chalons by train 

One of the reasons why I would always recommend taking the train is because the train is very quick. On average, a one way trip takes you just under 2 hours (1 hour and 40 minutes to be exact). A one way ticket will set you back between €12 and €40 depending on when you book and what train you book. I would recommend booking sooner rather than later. The longer you wait to book the more expensive the tickets become. Trains in France also sell out as I have experienced myself a few times.

⏳ Travelling to Champagne and short on time?

Direct Train from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne

When you are a bit apprehensive or scared travelling from Paris to Chalons in the Champagne region, you will be happy to hear that there are direct trains. This means that you will not need to change trains and will only need to get out of your seat when you have arrived in Chalons-en-Champagne. The direct trains from Paris to Chalons leave at 36 past the hour from Gare de L’Est. This same train will also pass Epernay! 

First and Last Train Timings

If you are planning on going on a day trip from Paris to Champagne you will probably want to know the first and last train timings for the train from Paris to Chalons en Champagne. The first train from Paris typically departs around 6:30 am while the last one leaves around 9:30 PM. 

I would, however, advise you to check the schedule ahead of time or when you book your train tickets via Omio. Train schedules do tend to change in France.

Where to buy train tickets from Paris to Chalons en Champagne

You can buy your train tickets from Paris to Chalons en Champagne on the SNCF website. However, I have noticed that Omio often offers tickets that are a bit cheaper. I also like the fact that they offer dynamic pricing. As I have mentioned before, it is not unusual for trains to be fully booked on busy days or during peak hours. This is why I would always recommend booking your train tickets as soon as you know you want to head to the Champagne region from Paris. Yes! Even before you have booked your Champagne hotel! 

Travelling from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne by Bus

Another way you can travel from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne is by bus. I would only recommend booking a bus when you really are on a budget and need to pinch some serious pennies. Buses are often quite slow. Sure, they say that the bus will take about 2 to 3 hours, but it can often be closer to 4. This means that you will be on a bus for 8 hours if you have a day trip planned. How? Why? Well, traffic in Paris is CRAZY! 

Journey Time, Cost, and Distance

As mentioned before, the bus from Paris to Chalons en Champagne is often advertised as taking 2 to 3 hours, but in reality it is closer to 4 depending on the time of day. The difference between a bus ticket and a train ticket is not massive if you book your train ticket early enough. A bus ticket from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne will cost between €10 and €20. Not sure if that difference is worth sitting in an uncomfortable bus for 4 hours. 

I would recommend checking either Omio or Busbud for bus tickets. Both websites offer cheap bus tickets and offer you a nice overview of the bus timings and schedules. You can often choose between a few companies such as BlaBlaBus and FlixBus. 

Direct Bus from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne

If you decide to take the bus from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne you will probably be happy to hear that there are in fact direct buses from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne. But as I have mentioned before, buses take a long time and are not all that much cheaper than taking the train if you book your train tickets early enough. 

Travelling from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne by Car

Last but not least you can also travel from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne by car. If you are staying for a few days in the Champagne region rather than just taking a day trip, I would really recommend taking a car. This way you can stop off along the way and explore the Champagne region and the amazing Champagne towns and villages at your own speed. 

Journey Time, Fuel Cost, and Distance from Paris to Chalons-En-Champagne

Before committing to renting a car you will probably want to know more about how long it takes to get to Chalons-en-Champagne from Paris and the distance between Chalons and Paris. Well, the journey time should be around 2 hours. Obviously this will depend on the traffic. It can get pretty busy in Paris so it could also be closer to 2.5 or 3 hours depending on when you leave the city. 

Chalons en Champagne is about 160 km from Paris and the drive is pretty scenic. There are some toll roads on the way from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne, but you can always ask Google Maps to take you through backroads without toll. This means your drive will take a bit longer but these routes are often a lot more scenic. 

Direct Highway route from Paris to Chalons-en-Champagne

Driving in another country can be pretty scary. You can use Google Maps to map you a route. You will also be happy to learn that there is a direct highway between Paris and Chalons-en-Champagne. The A4 is the most direct route. Do be warned that this is a toll road. It won’t cost a lot, but I would recommend having a credit card or some money in hand when using this motorway.

Where to rent a car in Paris

Last but not least you will probably want to know where to rent a car in Paris. Most of the time, car rental companies have set up shop in airports. But fear not, you won’t have to go all the way to Charles de Gaulle or Orly to pick up a car. On Rentalcars.com there are a couple of rental car companies that allow you to pick up cars from the centre of the city. I would recommend checking these companies and the cars they offer via this link. 

IMPORTANT! If you are taking your own car you will need to comply with European driving and road safety laws. You will need things such as alcohol tests, a reflective triangle and a reflective vest. You can buy a whole kit by the AA on Amazon so you are 100% sure you comply and won’t get fined!