How to travel from La Rochelle to Dunkirk, France

The distance between La Rochelle and Dunkirk is around 730km (454 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 5m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from La Rochelle to Dunkirk by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out DunkirkLa Rochelle if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Nantes then fly from Nantes (NTE) to Lille Lesquin (LIL) then take the train to Dunkerque.

  • Duration4h 5m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    €160($160)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

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Train

Take the train to Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2 and then to Dunkerque.

  • Duration5h 30m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    €155($155)
💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Paris City Centre - Bercy Seine and then to Dunkirk.

  • Duration11h 20m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    €33($33)
Operated byBlablabus+ 1 others
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Dunkirk.

  • Duration7h 10m
  • Distance730km (454 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between La Rochelle and Dunkirk

There are several options for getting from La Rochelle to Dunkirk by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €33 ($33) and will take around 11h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €160 ($160).

The distance between La Rochelle and Dunkirk is around 730km (454 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 601km (373 miles)

It takes around 5h 30m to get from La Rochelle and Dunkirk by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 7h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from La Rochelle to Dunkirk is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 5m and will set you back approx €160 ($160).

The cheapest way to travel between La Rochelle and Dunkirk, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €33 ($33) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between La Rochelle and Dunkirk. It typically takes around 5h 30m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from La Rochelle to Dunkirk. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2, Montparnasse Bienvenue and Gare du Nord. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 5h 30m.

TGV inOui run train services between La Rochelle and Dunkirk. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 5h 30m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from La Rochelle and Dunkirk. It typically takes around 11h 20m and departs 4 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from La Rochelle to Dunkirk. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Paris City Centre - Bercy Seine. These services run 4 times a day and will take a minimum of 11h 20m.

Blablabus and FlixBus run regular bus services between La Rochelle and Dunkirk. Buses run 4 times a day and take around 11h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from La Rochelle to Dunkirk. We recommend that you take the train to Nantes then fly from Nantes (NTE) to Lille Lesquin (LIL) then take the train to Dunkerque. instead which will take 4h 5m.

The closest major airport to Dunkirk is Lille Airport (LIL) (LIL) which is approximately 73km (45 miles) from Dunkirk. Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA) (BVA) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) (CDG) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from La Rochelle and Dunkirk. The distance is around 730km (454 miles) by road and it will take around 7h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from La Rochelle to Dunkirk is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 30m and will usually cost around €155 ($155).

How do I get from La Rochelle to Dunkirk

Compare travel optionsbetween La Rochelle and Dunkirk

Transport options from La Rochelle to Dunkirk
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 2 similar
4h 5m
€160($160)
5 times a day756km (470 miles)
Train to Nantes, plane4h 35m
€240($240)
5 times a day807km (501 miles)
Train to Bordeaux St Jean, plane5hrs
€150($150)
every 4 hours1,001km (622 miles)
Train
5h 30m
€155($155)
every 4 hours759km (472 miles)
Bus
11h 20m
€33($33)
4 times a day778km (484 miles)
Drive
7h 10m
€100($100)
on demand730km (454 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between La Rochelle and Dunkirk

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Dunkirk

The following major airports near Dunkirk offer regular flights to various popular destinations within France and internationally.

LIL
Lille Airport (LIL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Dunkirk
BVA
Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA)
International Airport
Distance
176km (109 miles) from Dunkirk
CDG
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
International Airport
Distance
226km (141 miles) from Dunkirk