Traveling by plane from the United States to France takes about 8.53 hours. The distance between the two countries spans 7,685 kilometers. This is equivalent to about 4,775 miles. A plane travels at around 560 miles on average, hence, the 8.53 hours.
Many factors get into play when it comes to the time it takes to travel from the United States to France.
First off, the plane may possibly be in transit in another country before it arrives in France. This would add more to the travel time.
The second factor is one’s location. Where will you be flying from? If you fly from the East Coast, you would likely arrive earlier than when you fly from California.
Finally, one major factor is the mode of transport. Will you be flying? Or will you be traveling by boat?
Yes, you can travel to France by boat. Traveling by plane is more popular. But there are also Transatlantic boats to France.
Here, we look at the modes by which one can travel from the United States to France.
Traveling by Plane
As you already know, the flight to Paris from New York City is shorter than that which flew from California.
When in New York, one should travel from the John F Kennedy International Airport. It is the nearest airport to New York.
On the other hand, the nearest airport to Paris is Charles De Gaulle Airport.
Major airlines operate from JFK Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport. There are also quite a few that travel from JFK to Orly Airport.
The city of Paris has two international airports. Aside from these, there are also three other major airports. All three service international and domestic flights as well.
As previously mentioned, some flights fly from the US to France via a certain country. For example, some airlines fly from JFK to Charles de Gaulle. But before France, they fly via the Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.
Some airlines have stopovers. Thus, airlines that take this route usually take around 12 hours and 25 minutes to reach Paris.
Other planes also travel to France through Atlanta.
Atlanta has another major airport, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airport also services major airlines that go from the United States to France.
When a route is from JFK to Paris via Atlanta, the travel time takes a bit longer. If one took this route, it would take one to reach France in about 34 hours and a few minutes.
Flying from New York City to Paris
When flying non-stop from New York City to Paris, the flight usually takes even less than 8 hours. Some airlines make it in about 6 hours and a few minutes.
Some planes are faster than the others. Because of this, your travel time from the United States to France is affected by your airline of choice.
The fastest one-stop trip from New York going to France is close to about 9 hours. But as you already know by now, some airlines can take more than 30 hours because of certain stopovers. The stopovers and waiting duration affect one’s travel time.
In summary, connecting flights and direct flights differ. The stopover is a major contributor to the time it takes to travel from the US to France.
On average, the waiting time can be anywhere between 41 minutes to 24 hours. Before booking your flights, that’s something one should look into and consider.
Traveling by Boat
Yes, traveling from the US to France by ship is possible. While not as popular as traveling by plane, there have been many Trans-Atlantic boat trips.
One’s travel from the United States to France by boat depends on a lot of things. First off, there is the size of the vessel to think about. And because some ships are faster than the others, the ship’s speed also affects your travel time.
Finally, and most important of all, is the weather condition. Traveling by ship can be more dangerous than traveling by plane. Weather conditions can change and affect travel situations. Also, it is a factor that greatly affects one’s travel time.
Now, when it comes to traveling by ship, from the US to France, it takes far longer for you to arrive. One of the major factors is the location from where you leave.
But on average, from the US to France, it takes about three to four days. Of course, the time it takes would depend on the factors mentioned above.
Anyway, traversing the seas takes longer than flying. An interesting fact is that during WWI and WWII, convoys would make it to France in about a week. Sometimes it can even be two.
Traveling by Car
If you are thinking of traveling from the US to France by car, you’re in for a disappointment.
No, you cannot.
Unless, of course, you plan to drive to New York then take the barge that will cross the Atlantic. But is there a barge? Certainly, yes. Is it allowed? For now, no.
Ditch this option.
How long does it take to travel from one end of France to the other by car?
In a perfect setting, it takes about 12 hours from one end of France to the other. But that’s under great weather conditions. Traffic and other factors that can cause delays are also out of the equation.
Abundant with beautiful landscapes, France is an ideal location for a drive. In fact, the longer the drive, the better.
Even those that abhor being stuck in a car for hours would welcome the scenic views France offers.
This makes it quite an experience for a traveler to drive along France’s countryside.
When one wants to go extreme, how long does it take to drive from one side of the country to another?
Well, under ideal conditions, it would take around 12 hours. But again, that would be in a perfect setting. Sometimes, rain, snow, and other weather conditions can hamper your trip. Also, there’s the matter of traffic and other unexpected distractions.
All these and more can lengthen the travel time from one of France to the other.
A Bit of Caution
When driving, it is natural to take precautions. Know that there are varying types of driving in France.
Some drivers in France, like anywhere else, have good discipline. But the French driver sometimes has that tendency to drive very close to the car in front. This is common, especially when a string of traffic is overtaking.
Another type of driver in France is those that are confident and a bit aggressive. Most of the time, they obey driving rules. Most of these drivers are found in French cities in northern and central France.
Some drivers are used to the rural and mountainous regions. Being knowing of the terrain, they can determine through instinct the kind of traffic. They always overtake with great confidence. But when accidents happen, the results can be fatal.
Slow drivers also exist in France. These are those that are so used to urban traffic that they drive slow wherever they go. There may be a complete disregard of driving rules, but they drive so slow that they rarely get into mishaps.
The Driving Statistics
Road accidents in France are not as good as in other European countries. There may have been some improvements. Despite that, much is still needed for the country to consider driving safe.
About 30% of road accidents are caused by drunk driving. In fact, in statistics, the French can be drunker when driving than any other nationality.
Over the years, there have been significant improvements in the name of road safety. Over the past decade, road deaths have gone down by a few hundred every year.
What is the cheapest month to fly to France?
The cheapest month to go to France is usually around February. The months of June and July are high season and are expensive. On the other hand, January and February are the cheapest when flying to France.
When you’re looking for cheap airfare to France, prefer to fly around the first months of the year. Flights can range around $500 for a one-way ticket from Miami or about $750 for a round-trip.
Fly from Boston and tickets by this time can be around $350 for a one-way ticket. LA is also in the range of $550 to $600 for a one-way ticket or about $800 for round-trip fares.
When getting tickets, it is ideal to book for about three weeks in advance. Tickets by this time are still at below-average prices. Three weeks is perfect. It is not too long nor too short when it comes to preparations. It also provides you enough time to get that holiday leave from work approved.
You should also know that most US flights that go to France arrive in any of these three airports. Airport number one in Cote d’Azur Airport (NCE). This is in the city of Nice in the southeastern part of France.
Two other two airports are in Paris, the capital of France. First, we have the Paris Orly Airport (ORY). Next, we have the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
The airport in the city of Nice is in the southern part of the country. It allows for one to get to see and experience the French Alps. Aside from the French Alps, there’s the Mont Blanc also to visit.
Nice is also geographically near the city of Cannes. Yes, this is the exact same city that hosts the popular film festival every year. Aside from that, Nice is home to the port city of Marseille. It is also home to the principality of Monaco.
The Loire Valley is a wine region in France. It is near the city of Nantes in Pays de la Loire. In fact, the region stretches from this part up to Orleans in Centre Val de Loire.
Both of these are located west of the city of Paris. They would be easy to go to, especially if you fly into any of the two airports in Paris.
When entering France through the Paris airports, one will not run out of touristy options. The Loire Valley is just one of these places accessible to both Paris airports.
Orleans is close to both Paris airports as well. From Orleans, one can easily explore other scenic locations. Dijon, Bourges, and Limoges are just a stone’s throw away from Orleans.
When visiting the south of France, one will not get bored with spots. The south is dominated by many regions that can also deliver. This is especially true when it comes to tourist attractions.
For starters, Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie are amazing cities. Both mark the border with the next country – Spain. It is a long drive from Paris or Nice.
This is why, when you have plans to visit the south, flying would be ideal. The Merignac Airport (BOD) in Bordeaux services connecting flights from Paris or Nice. The same is true with the Blagnac Airport (TLS) in Toulouse.
Flying into these two airports saves you time. It may be an extra cost, but unless you have enough time on your hands, one is presented with pretty much no option at all.
Visa Requirements
American citizens need no Visa to visit the country. This is also the same for citizens of those from members of the EU Schengen program.
Other countries need no visa to enter France. These are tourists from the French territories.
Disneyland in Paris
If you have plans on getting to Disneyland in Paris, both Paris airports would be ideal. The Orly Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are about 30 miles from Disneyland.
The travel time from the airport may depend on the mode of transportation. Driving to Disneyland takes about 1 hour from ORY airport. But that’s under great traffic conditions.
From CDG Airport, it should be around 40 minutes.
France is more than just the Eiffel Tower. It has beaches, vineyards, and a lot more.
But what makes France so ideal is its vibe and its people.
Visit, and you’ll see why.