How to travel from Rennes to La Rochelle, France

The distance between Rennes and La Rochelle is around 248km (154 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 50m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Rennes 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 RochelleRennes if you're planning a return trip.

1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Nantes and then to La Rochelle Ville.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    €53($53)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to La Rochelle.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €14($14)
Operated byBlablabus+ 1 others
🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to La Rochelle.

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Distance248km (154 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Rennes and La Rochelle

There are several options for getting from Rennes to La Rochelle by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €14 ($14) and will take around 4h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €34 ($34).

The distance between Rennes and La Rochelle is around 248km (154 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 221km (137 miles)

It takes around 3hrs to get from Rennes and La Rochelle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Rennes to La Rochelle is to drive which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx €34 ($34).

The cheapest way to travel between Rennes and La Rochelle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €14 ($14) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Rennes and La Rochelle. It typically takes around 3hrs and departs 5 times a day.

There are no direct train services that runs from Rennes to La Rochelle. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Nantes. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 3hrs.

SNCF and TGV inOui run train services between Rennes and La Rochelle. Trains depart 5 times a day and will take around 3hrs, 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 Rennes and La Rochelle. It typically takes around 4h 10m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Rennes and La Rochelle with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 4h 10m.

Blablabus and FlixBus run regular bus services between Rennes and La Rochelle. Buses run twice daily and take around 4h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Rennes to La Rochelle. We recommend that you take the train to Nantes and then to La Rochelle Ville. instead which will take 3hrs.

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 Rennes and La Rochelle. The distance is around 248km (154 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Rennes to La Rochelle is to take the train which takes, on average, 3hrs and will usually cost around €53 ($53).

How do I get from Rennes to La Rochelle

Compare travel optionsbetween Rennes and La Rochelle

Transport options from Rennes to La Rochelle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3hrs
€53($53)
5 times a day291km (181 miles)
Bus
4h 10m
€14($14)
twice daily248km (154 miles)
Drive
2h 50m
€34($34)
on demand248km (154 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Rennes 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