Your first 2 days at Mont-Saint-Michel, on a budget No car reaches Mont-Saint-Michel. The mainland car park sits roughly 2.5km from the mount (hedge parking at EUR 9-28 a day depending on season), and the only ways to close that gap are the free Le Passeur shuttle, roughly a 12-minute ride, or a 35-45 minute walk across the bridge; the old horse-drawn Maringote carriage is reportedly discontinued, so do not plan around it.

Four days at Mont-Saint-Michel, then out into Normandy, on a budget No car reaches Mont-Saint-Michel. You park at the mainland lot roughly 2.5km out (hedge EUR 9-28 a day, more in July-August), then close the gap on the free Le Passeur shuttle, about 12 minutes, or a 35-45 minute walk across the bridge; the old horse-drawn Maringote carriage is reportedly discontinued, so do not plan a ride on it. The bay’s tide swings roughly 14 meters, among the highest in continental Europe, and the flats hide real quicksand, so walking the sands is a licensed-guide-only activity.

Your 5 days at Mont-Saint-Michel, on a budget No car reaches Mont-Saint-Michel. Every visitor parks at the mainland car park roughly 2.5km out (hedge parking at EUR 9-28 a day depending on season), then covers that last stretch on the free Le Passeur shuttle, roughly a 12-minute ride, or a 35-45 minute walk across the bridge; the old horse-drawn Maringote carriage is reportedly discontinued, so do not plan a trip around it.

Six days at Mont-Saint-Michel, then a Normandy-Brittany loop, on a budget No car reaches Mont-Saint-Michel. Every visitor parks at the mainland car park roughly 2.5km out (hedge parking at EUR 9-28 a day depending on season), then covers that last stretch on the free Le Passeur shuttle, roughly a 12-minute ride, or a 35-45 minute walk across the bridge; the old horse-drawn Maringote carriage is reportedly discontinued, so do not plan a trip around it.

Your 7 days at Mont-Saint-Michel, on a budget No car reaches Mont-Saint-Michel. Every visitor parks at the mainland car park roughly 2.5km out (hedge EUR 9-28 a day depending on season), then closes that gap on the free Le Passeur shuttle, roughly a 12-minute ride, or a 35-45 minute walk across the bridge; the old horse-drawn Maringote carriage is reportedly discontinued, so do not plan a trip around it. Older advice describing a drive across the causeway is describing a reality that ended in 2014, when the bridge and the mainland car park replaced it for good.