You know what? I kept hearing, “France is about the size of Texas.” So I tested it. I pulled maps. I booked trains. I drove a rental. I even played with one of those map tools where you drag a country over another. Here’s what I found, in plain words, and with real miles on my shoes.
The Quick Size Math (With No Headache)
- France (the part in Europe) is about the size of Texas.
- The United States is about 18 times bigger than France.
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That’s the fast answer. But facts feel better when you can picture them, right? So let me show you what it felt like to move across both.
My Map Trick That Made It Click
I used Google Maps on my phone and a site where you can drag France over the U.S.. It’s a neat trick. When I placed France over Texas, it fit with a little wiggle on the sides. It touched parts of Oklahoma and Louisiana if I slid it a bit. That made it real for me. France = Texas-ish. The U.S. = way, way bigger.
I also pulled out my old Michelin paper map. It’s creased and coffee-stained. That thing never lies. The scale told the same story: France is big enough to feel wide, but not “coast-to-coast, two time zones later” big.
I Drove It: Hours Don’t Lie
I rented a little Peugeot from Hertz in Paris and did a north-to-south run, basically the way I traveled across France on earlier trips. Paris to Nice took me about 9 hours with two snack stops and one “I need a view” stop. Later, I did Lille to Marseille—about 9 to 10 hours—highways most of the way, smooth except for a pinch near Lyon. My legs got stiff, but it was a one-day push. I slept fine.
Now compare that to my U.S. drives:
- Dallas to El Paso in Texas took me about 9 hours too. Same day, same tired shoulders. Funny, right?
- Los Angeles to San Francisco took me 6 hours on I-5 with a gas-and-chips break.
- New York to Chicago? That was a 12-hour day for me, with heavy coffee and a long podcast stretch.
So yeah, driving across France in a day felt like crossing Texas. Driving across even half the U.S.? That felt like a full-on trip plan, not a whim.
Trains vs. Trains, Planes vs. Planes
The TGV spoiled me. Paris to Marseille was around 3 hours and change. Paris to Bordeaux felt like “a long lunch and we’re there.” Paris to Strasbourg was about 1 hour 45 minutes when I took it. Fast, smooth, and on time. If you work in ops or events, that speed matters. You can make a morning meeting, shake hands, and still be home by dinner.
In the U.S., Amtrak is more of a “take it slow, see the land” thing. I took Chicago to St. Louis once, and it was nice but not fast. Also, U.S. flights stretch the miles: New York to Miami was about 3 hours for me. New York to L.A. hit around 6 hours. Paris to Nice? About 1.5 hours. Paris to Corsica felt like a quick hop over blue water.
Different scale. Different rhythm.
A Little Food Detour (Because Scale Tastes Different)
This part surprised me. In France, you drive two hours and the bread changes. Butter feels richer in the north. Olive oil rules in the south. Cheese goes from mild to bold, fast. In the U.S., food changes too, but the shift takes longer drives. New England chowder to Texas brisket? That’s not a quick turn. You feel the miles in your stomach.
Work Brain: Planning That Actually Works
When I planned a shoot in Lyon and a meeting in Paris the next day, it was easy. TGV in the morning. Laptop out. Done. In the U.S., a shoot in Phoenix and a meeting in Denver the next day meant either a flight or a very long drive. Different country, different playbook.
Shipping felt this gap too. A box from Paris to Marseille showed up next day. A box from Boston to Seattle? That took real patience and tracking notifications.
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So… How Big Is It, Really?
- France can sit inside the U.S. many times. About 18, give or take.
- France feels like Texas in size, not like all 50 states.
- Cross France in a day? Sure. Cross the U.S. in a day? Only by plane, and bring snacks.
Simple, right? Still, you don’t feel it until you move through it.
Quick Real Examples From My Trips
- I dragged a France shape over Texas on that map tool. It fit, with a little spill near borders. My brain went, “Oh! Got it.”
- Paris to Nice: about 9 hours by car for me; about 1.5 hours by plane; around 5.5 hours by TGV when I took a slower schedule once.
- Lille to Marseille: 9–10 hours driving, steady pace. Felt like Dallas to El Paso.
- New York to L.A.: my flight was 6 hours, and I stretched my neck like five times. Paris to Marseille by train? A podcast and a nap.
- Alaska reality check: a ranger in Denali told me Alaska alone is bigger than many countries. He wasn’t kidding. It’s several Frances, not one.
Final Take
France is big enough to explore, small enough to plan fast. The United States is a saga. If you’re booking travel, shoots, or meetups, treat France like a swift loop. Treat the U.S. like a season.
And hey, bring good snacks either way. My rule.