Pointe du Hoc from Omaha Beach
Pointe du Hoc sits 15 minutes west of Omaha Beach, the 100-foot cliff the U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion scaled under fire on the morning of June 6, 1944. The site is free, preserved as the bombardment left it, and combines naturally with Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery in a single day. The full story of the assault is on our Pointe du Hoc page at NormandyDDayTours.com.
The short version
- The 2nd Ranger Battalion scaled the 100-foot cliff on the morning of June 6, 1944; the craters and casemates stand as the bombardment left them.
- Entry is free with no booking. The visitor building opens 9:00 to 17:00 from April to September and closes for lunch, 12:30 to 13:30, from October to March.
- An ABMC restoration runs to mid-2027; the site stays open with some paths rerouted and no fixed spot for the ranger talks.
- Our Normandy D-Day Tour from Paris walks Pointe du Hoc between Omaha Beach and lunch on the coast; the private Normandy D-Day tour reverses the route when morning fog sits on the cliff.
- From Bayeux it is 30 minutes by car; Nomad bus 120 stops at the Pointe du Hoc crossroads a few times a day, and the summer line 125 ran daily from July 5 to August 31 in 2026.
Visiting from Omaha Beach
Drive the coastal D514 west from Vierville-sur-Mer and the entrance arrives in about 15 minutes, with free parking and a visitor center. The walk out to the cliff-edge Ranger Monument takes ten minutes through bomb craters and broken casemates, and an hour covers the site. The wind never stops; hold onto hats at the overlooks.
Know the current status: an 18-month ABMC restoration runs from February 2026 to mid-2027. The site stays open throughout, some paths are rerouted, and the top platform of the observation bunker is closed while the interior remains open.
Building It into a Day
The classic sequence runs west to east: Pointe du Hoc first, then Omaha Beach, then the American Cemetery late in the day for the flag lowering. Guided days from Paris and Bayeux follow roughly this shape; our Tours to Omaha Beach page compares the options, including going on your own. Our Normandy D-Day Tour from Paris reaches Pointe du Hoc after Omaha Beach and ends at the cemetery for the flag lowering, with the guide driving.
What You Can See During the Restoration
The ABMC restoration that runs to mid-2027 changes the route but not the site. Access runs along the west pathway, the craters and casemates are all still there, and the Ranger Monument at the cliff edge is reachable; the top platform of the observation bunker is closed while its interior stays open. Parking is limited while the work runs, which matters most in July and August.
The visitor building keeps its hours, 9:00 to 17:00 from April to September with a lunchtime closure from October to March, and the ranger talks continue without a fixed spot. Check abmc.gov the week you go for what is open.
Give the site an hour even now: the walk to the cliff and back through the craters is the visit, and the view down to the landing beach on either side has not changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pointe du Hoc from Omaha Beach?
About 15 minutes by car west along the D514 from Vierville-sur-Mer, or 30 minutes from Bayeux. Entry and parking are free.
Is Pointe du Hoc open in 2026?
Yes. An ABMC restoration runs from February 2026 to mid-2027 with some paths rerouted and the observation bunker’s top platform closed, but the site, the craters, and the Ranger Monument stay open and free.
How long do you need at Pointe du Hoc?
About an hour for the walk to the cliff, the craters and casemates, and the monument. Combine it with Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery for a natural half-day.
Our Most Popular Trips From Paris
Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetery in one day by train from Paris.
The same American-sector day from Bayeux station at 9:00 a.m., back by evening.
Your own driver-guide from your Paris hotel, flexible routing for up to six people.
