Normandy Road Trip: Free Historical Things To Do by Car (Our 2-Day Itinerary)
I’d wanted to visit Normandy for years. Like many people, I’d watched documentaries, seen films and read about the D-Day landings, but I don’t think anything prepares you for actually standing on the beaches where history unfolded.
We spent two days exploring Normandy by car, staying in the lovely seaside village of Asnelles, and one thing surprised me more than anything else. You don’t need to spend lots of money to have an unforgettable trip.
Some of the most moving moments of our holiday were completely free. Standing on Omaha Beach, walking around the American Cemetery, watching the sun set over the sea and simply driving through the countryside were experiences I’ll remember for a long time.
If you’re planning a Normandy road trip, here’s exactly what we did, what I’d recommend and why I think driving yourself is the best way to experience this fascinating part of France.
Quick Summary
If you’re planning a similar trip, these were the highlights for us:
- Stay in Asnelles as a base for exploring.
- Visit Omaha Beach and Les Braves Memorial.
- Walk around Gold Beach.
- Spend time at the Normandy American Cemetery.
- Visit La Pointe du Hoc.
- Stop at the D-Day Museum and Overlord Museum.
- Treat yourself to ice cream from La Crèmerie d’Émilie.
- Watch the sunset from the beach.
- Explore Les Fonderies at Tracy-sur-Mer.
- Allow time to simply drive and stop—you’ll discover history everywhere you look.
Why We Chose to Explore Normandy by Car
For us, driving was absolutely the right decision. It fit well with our driving holiday. We drove through France to Spain and took a ferry to Mallorca for 12 days to stay at a relaxing all-inclusive hotel, then travelled back, exploring different areas along the way. We did a similar holiday last year, so we knew this worked well for us.
We weren’t tied to a coach timetable or trying to squeeze everything into a rushed day trip. Instead, we could stop whenever something caught our eye, spend as long as we wanted at each location and take quiet moments to appreciate the history.
Almost every road seemed to reveal another reminder of the Second World War. We’d spot old bunkers tucked away beside the coast, memorials in small villages, fascinating old buildings and even the remains of the Mulberry floating harbours visible out at sea.
One of the things I hadn’t expected was just how much there is to see between the famous attractions.
Sometimes the drive itself felt just as important as the destinations; we definitely found that with our Normandy road trip.
Staying in Asnelles for our Normandy Road Trip
We based ourselves in the small coastal village of Asnelles, and I honestly couldn’t have chosen a better location. The hotel we chose wasn’t ideal, as whilst it was nice enough, it didn’t have any air conditioning, so it was unbearable in the heat. It was the Best Western Hotel in Asnelles if you are interested.
It was peaceful, easy to get around and within a short drive of many of the places we wanted to visit. After a busy day exploring, it was lovely to return somewhere quieter than the larger tourist towns.
The beach was just a short walk away, and watching the sun setting over the sea became one of my favourite memories of the trip. The beach defence battery was the first thing we had seen of the history of Normandy and was poignant to us as there was a memorial to Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry there, which is from our area of Nottinghamshire.
There’s something so calming about sitting on the beach in the evening, knowing that this peaceful coastline has witnessed such extraordinary events in history.
Omaha Beach
Standing on Omaha Beach was one of the moments that affected me most. I’d seen photographs before, but being there in person was completely different.
The beach stretches for miles and feels surprisingly peaceful today. Families walk along the sand, children play by the water, and waves gently roll onto the shore. Yet knowing what happened here on 6 June 1944 gives the whole place a very different atmosphere. It’s impossible not to stop and reflect, even on a busy Normandy road trip.
Les Braves Memorial
While visiting Omaha Beach, we also spent time at the Les Braves Memorial. The striking sculpture standing proudly on the beach is impossible to miss and has become one of the area’s most recognisable landmarks.
It represents courage, hope and freedom, making it a fitting tribute to those who landed here. Standing beside it while looking out across the sea was one of those moments where everything becomes very real.
Normandy American Cemetery
The Normandy American Cemetery is somewhere I think everyone should visit. I am sure you have seen pictures of it before, but actually visiting is so very different. Walking through the perfectly kept grounds and seeing thousands of white crosses stretching into the distance is incredibly moving.
It’s peaceful, beautifully maintained and filled with quiet reflection. No matter how many photographs you’ve seen, nothing quite prepares you for standing there in person. We spent far longer here than we’d expected, simply taking everything in.
We were there towards the end of the day and witnessed the end-of-day flag ceremony, which was extremely moving. If you are on a Normandy road trip, I highly recommend visiting the cemetery at the end of the day to witness this, too.
This is a panoramic photo of the wall of the missing showing just how many names are on it. It is so sad.
La Pointe du Hoc
La Pointe du Hoc was another highlight of our Normandy road trip. It was definitely one of my favourite places to see and it costs absolutely nothing. Unlike the beaches, this site still bears so many visible scars from the war.
Huge bomb craters cover the landscape, while German bunkers remain scattered around the cliff tops. Walking around the site really helps you understand just how fierce the fighting was here.
The views across the coastline are stunning, but it’s impossible to ignore the history beneath your feet.
Looking inside the bunkers, it is harrowing to imagine what it was like for people back in 1944 and how people, a similar age to my son Ben, would be looking out not knowing what the future would hold. It is so easy to see the Germans as being the “bad guys”, and while their leader was, many of them were just youngsters forced into service with families like you and me.
Gold Beach
Gold Beach has a very different feel from Omaha Beach. It’s quieter in some ways, yet just as fascinating. Walking along the beach today, it’s difficult to imagine the incredible operation that took place here during the D-Day landings.
Looking out to sea, you can still spot parts of the Mulberry Harbour that helped supply Allied forces after the landings. It’s amazing that something built over 80 years ago is still visible today.
The D-Day Museum and Overlord Museum
Although we didn’t go inside every museum we passed on our Normandy road trip, we stopped at both the D-Day Museum and the Overlord Museum during our trip. We didn’t pay to go in either, but we did explore the tanks and other items on display outside which was fascinating. Next time, we will visit for longer and allow more time so we can visit the museums.
Even from the outside, they help bring the area’s history to life, with military vehicles, displays, and memorials creating a real sense of place. With so many photo opportunities you really should stop outside them even if you can not go inside.
If you’re interested in military history, they’re certainly worth considering during your visit. One unexpected surprise was the food at the D-Day Museum.
Museum cafés don’t always have the best reputation, but our lunch there was genuinely lovely. It was the perfect place to stop for a break before continuing our journey. We ate on an old bus, and the food was amazing. Burgers, salads, chips etc. All at competitive prices to other places we had seen, but good-sized portions and very flavoursome.
Ice Cream from La Crèmerie d’Émilie
Not every memorable moment in Normandy has to be about history. After spending so much time visiting memorials and historical sites, it was lovely to enjoy something a little lighter.
We stopped at La Crèmerie d’Émilie for ice cream, and it was absolutely delicious. If you can fit it into your Normandy road trip then I highly recoommend you do!
Sometimes it’s those small holiday moments—a really good ice cream enjoyed while strolling through a pretty seaside town—that become just as memorable as the famous attractions.
Les Fonderies at Tracy-sur-Mer
One of the places we enjoyed discovering was Les Fonderies at Tracy-sur-Mer. It’s not somewhere that appears on every Normandy itinerary, which made it feel like a bit of a hidden gem.
Exploring places like this reminded me that some of the most interesting parts of a road trip aren’t necessarily the famous landmarks but the unexpected places you find along the way.
History Is Everywhere You Drive
One thing that really stood out to me was that you don’t need to constantly visit museums to experience Normandy’s history. Simply driving around the region is an experience in itself.
Every few miles, we’d notice another memorial, another bunker, another historic building or another reminder of the events that changed the course of history.
Even looking out to sea, you can still see the remains of the floating Mulberry Harbours. It feels as though history is woven into the landscape itself. That’s something I don’t think I’d appreciated until we visited.
3 Items you need (and haven’t thought of!)
- Spray sun cream – you will be outside a lot so if it is sunny be ready to top up.
- A power bank – if you take lots of photos your battery will soon go down!
- Driving in France pack for the car – everything you need easily in one case
Is Normandy Worth Visiting?
Without a doubt, yes. Whether you’re fascinated by the Second World War or simply enjoy exploring places with incredible stories to tell, Normandy is somewhere I’d happily recommend. Whether you go on a Normandy road trip or book a holiday there on a coach trip, I know you will find it incredibly moving.
What surprised me most wasn’t just the famous landmarks—it was the atmosphere. The beaches are beautiful. The countryside is peaceful. The villages are charming.
Yet everywhere you go, there are reminders of the extraordinary events that took place here. Driving ourselves meant we could explore at our own pace, stop wherever we wanted and experience far more than we ever would have on an organised tour.
For me, the most memorable moments weren’t necessarily the biggest attractions. They were watching the sunset from the beach in Asnelles, standing quietly at Omaha Beach, looking out at the remains of the floating harbours and simply taking time to appreciate the history that surrounds you almost everywhere you go.
If you’re considering a Normandy road trip, I’d absolutely recommend hiring a car or taking your own. It gave us the freedom to discover both the famous sites and the quieter moments that made the trip so special.
Have you been to Normandy? Would you consider a Normandy road trip? Is there anywhere that you visited that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments below.
