How to travel from Orleans to La Rochelle, France

The distance between Orleans and La Rochelle is around 348km (217 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Orleans to La Rochelle by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out La RochelleOrleans if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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Train

Take the train to St Pierre Des Corps and then to La Rochelle Ville.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    €81($81)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Niort and then to La Rochelle.

  • Duration6h 15m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €29($29)
3
bus
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train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to Poitiers then take the train to La Rochelle Ville.

  • Duration6h 15m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €42($42)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to La Rochelle.

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Distance348km (217 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Orleans and La Rochelle

There are several options for getting from Orleans to La Rochelle by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €29 ($29) and will take around 6h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €81 ($81).

The distance between Orleans and La Rochelle is around 348km (217 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 302km (188 miles)

It takes around 3h 10m to get from Orleans and La Rochelle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Orleans to La Rochelle is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m and will set you back approx €81 ($81).

The cheapest way to travel between Orleans and La Rochelle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €29 ($29) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Orleans and La Rochelle. It typically takes around 3h 10m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Orleans to La Rochelle. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in St Pierre Des Corps. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 3h 10m.

SNCF and TGV inOui run train services between Orleans and La Rochelle. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 3h 10m, 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 Orleans and La Rochelle. It typically takes around 6h 15m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Orleans to La Rochelle. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Niort. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 6h 15m.

FlixBus run regular bus services between Orleans and La Rochelle. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 6h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Orleans to La Rochelle. We recommend that you take the train to St Pierre Des Corps and then to La Rochelle Ville. instead which will take 3h 10m.

The closest major airport to La Rochelle is Laleu Airport (LRH) (LRH) which is approximately 4km (2 miles) from La Rochelle. Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) (NTE) and Poitiers-Biard Airport (PIS) (PIS) 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 Orleans and La Rochelle. The distance is around 348km (217 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Orleans to La Rochelle is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around €81 ($81).

How do I get from Orleans to La Rochelle

Compare travel optionsbetween Orleans and La Rochelle

Transport options from Orleans to La Rochelle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 10m
€81($81)
every 20 mins358km (222 miles)
Bus
6h 15m
€29($29)
4 times a week358km (223 miles)
Bus and Train
6h 15m
€42($42)
once daily372km (231 miles)
Drive
3h 20m
€47($47)
on demand348km (217 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Orleans and La Rochelle

Train operators

Airports near La Rochelle

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

LRH
Laleu Airport (LRH)
Domestic Airport
Distance
4km (2 miles) from La Rochelle
NTE
Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE)
International Airport
Distance
116km (72 miles) from La Rochelle
PIS
Poitiers-Biard Airport (PIS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
122km (76 miles) from La Rochelle