🇪🇸 Same-country drive · Spain
Driving from Alicante to Zaragoza
Essential road trip guide for driving from the Mediterranean coast in Alicante to the historic city of Zaragoza via the A-31 and A-23.
- Drive time
- 5h 32m
- Distance
- 477 km
- Same day?
- Yes, doable
- under 8 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €55
- petrol · diesel ≈ €49
- Tolls
- ≈ €43
- per-km
- EV charging
- Unknown
- not yet surveyed
On this page
Route map
Route options
Other paths OSRM found between the two cities — handy when traffic, tolls, or scenery matter more than raw speed.
Alternative
+3m- Distance:
- 502 km (+25 km)
- Duration:
- 5h 36m
Via: A-23 · A-7 · A-31 · A-35
How else can you make this trip?
Driving is the focus of this guide; here's how cycling, coach, and (soon) train and plane stack up for the same pair.
5h 32m
477 km · €55 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
477 km is far beyond a typical multi-day cycle tour. Try a shorter pair like a day or weekend stage.
No direct service
Our coach data (FlixBus + BlaBlaCar) doesn't list a direct service for this pair. National operators (e.g., National Express in the UK, Eurolines feeders) may still cover it — check their site directly.
5h 20m
RENFE OPERADORA · Renfe Cercanias
See details ↓
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on April 25, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You depart Alicante via the A-31, climbing away from the Mediterranean humidity and into the arid, expansive plains of inland Spain. The motorway here is well-maintained and free of tolls, but the landscape quickly transitions from the lush citrus groves of the Costa Blanca to the rugged, scrub-covered hills of the interior. As you move inland, stay alert for sudden crosswinds, particularly when the route ascends toward the higher plateaus surrounding the Teruel region. The transition to the N-330 and eventually the A-23 marks the shift toward the more dramatic topography of Aragon. Passing through Teruel offers a mid-point break where the elevation is significantly higher than at the coast; in winter, this region can experience freezing temperatures and snow, so verify road conditions before setting out if you are traveling outside the peak summer months. The A-23, known as the Mudejar motorway, serves as the main artery for the remainder of the drive, cutting through sparse landscapes with significantly less traffic than the coastal corridors. The road surface is generally excellent, allowing you to maintain steady cruising speeds, but the relative isolation means you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge between the larger service hubs. As you approach Zaragoza, the Z-40 orbital motorway helps you navigate around the city center, which is helpful given the density of Spain's fifth-largest city. Keep in mind that while there are no vignettes or complex road pricing systems on this route, urban areas in Spain are increasingly implementing low-emission zones. Check your vehicle's status if your destination takes you deep into the historic core near the Basilica del Pilar. The drive is straightforward, but the sheer change in climate—from the maritime Mediterranean air to the drier, more continental atmosphere of the Ebro valley—is the defining characteristic of the journey.
Route highlights
- The transition from the Mediterranean coastline of Alicante to the high-altitude arid plains of Aragon.
- The Mudejar motorway (A-23) stretch near Teruel for its striking, empty landscapes.
- The final approach into Zaragoza, offering a view of the city skyline as you descend into the Ebro valley.
- The historic and architectural shift between the coastal tourist hubs and the deeply traditional, inland capital of Aragon.
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Long day — start early
Doable in one day but it is a full day behind the wheel. Start before 9am, plan one proper lunch stop, keep the driver rested.
- Distance:
- 477 km
- Duration:
- 5h 32m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Ayora 🇪🇸 es
≈119 km≈ 2.9 km detour from the main route
-
Utiel 🇪🇸 es
≈239 km≈ 41.4 km detour from the main route
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Tolls on motorways in ES
Budget for motorway tolls — France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal charge per-km, Croatia and Greece by section. Contactless cards work almost everywhere; have one loaded.
Long rural stretch on N-330 Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza
Plan for about 37 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on N-330 Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza
Plan for about 33 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
City access & emission zones
Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla now run ZBE low-emission zones
Must knowSpain's Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE) cover central Madrid (24/7), Barcelona inside the Rondes (weekdays 7:00–20:00), Sevilla, Valencia and a growing list. Foreign plates need to register at the city portal in advance — your Euro emission class determines whether you get in. Without registration, cameras log entry and the fine reaches your home address.
Tolls, vignettes & road payment
Most Spanish tolls were abolished in 2024
TipThe AP-1, AP-7 (Bilbao stretch) and most of the Mediterranean coast highways are now toll-free. A handful remain: AP-9 (Galicia), AP-66 (León–Asturias), Catalonia's C-32/C-16 tunnel approach. Spain is no longer a high-toll country for cars — your fuel + a few specific bridge fees is the realistic budget.
Fuel stations
Off-motorway stations close late evening
TipSpanish provincial fuel stations often close 22:00–07:00, especially in the south. Motorway services (Cepsa, Repsol on the autovía) run 24/7. If you're routing through an Andalusian backroad, fuel before sunset and don't bank on a small-town pump.
Contactless cards work at virtually every motorway pump
TipMajor brand stations (Shell, Total, BP, Repsol, Cepsa, OMV, Eni, Esso) take Visa and Mastercard contactless without an issue. American Express and Diners are spotty south of the Alps. A €100 pre-authorisation hold is normal — it releases within 5 days. Carry €50 cash for the rare independent station.
Money & connectivity
EU roaming covers calls, texts and data at no extra cost
TipYour home EU SIM works at home rates across every EU member, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The "fair use" cap on data only applies if you're abroad more than four months. For a 2-week road trip, just use your phone normally — but switch off "data roaming" if you're leaving the EU into UK / CH for any segment.
Emergency & breakdown
112 works everywhere in the EU and continental neighbours
TipSingle number for police, ambulance, fire — works from any phone, any network, any country. On motorways, the orange SOS pillars every 2km connect direct to the regional traffic control centre and pinpoint your location. Use them over your phone if you can — it speeds the response.
Rules, fees, and thresholds change. Always verify against the official source the day before you drive — this page is a checklist, not a legal reference.
Main roads
The highways this route spends the most kilometres on.
-
N-330 Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza183 km
-
A-23 Autovía Mudéjar159 km
-
A-31 Autovía de Alicante93 km
-
N-3 —10 km
-
Z-40 Cuarto Cinturón de Zaragoza6 km
-
N-234 —4 km
-
N-420 —3 km
-
Z-30 Ronda Hispanidad2 km
-
N-322 —2 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Mixed motorway + secondary — varied pace, some scenic stretches.
- Motorway
- 53%
- Secondary
- 44%
- Other / rural
- 3%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Moderate
Manageable but pay attention — long enough that a second driver or a planned lunch break is smart.
- About 184 km on non-motorway roads where speeds and conditions vary.
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €55
35.8 L × €1.54 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €49
28.6 L × €1.72 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €54
83 kWh × €0.64 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €43
- ES — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 477 km in-country ≈ €43) Toll-free on the A-network; charged only on AP roads.
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-11.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇪🇸 Alicante
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18°
9°
|
17°
9°
|
20°
11°
|
21°
13°
|
23°
16°
|
28°
21°
|
30°
24°
|
31°
24°
|
27°
21°
|
25°
18°
|
22°
13°
|
18°
9°
|
| 9mm | 16mm | 56mm | 16mm | 37mm | 14mm | 11mm | 13mm | 47mm | 61mm | 5mm | 30mm |
hot mild cold
🇪🇸 Zaragoza
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12°
4°
|
14°
5°
|
18°
8°
|
22°
10°
|
26°
13°
|
32°
18°
|
34°
20°
|
35°
21°
|
27°
16°
|
23°
14°
|
17°
9°
|
12°
5°
|
| 31mm | 34mm | 58mm | 28mm | 44mm | 48mm | 9mm | 15mm | 57mm | 76mm | 24mm | 25mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Zaragoza
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Thu 21
☀️
34° / 17°
—
-
Fri 22
⛅
35° / 19°
—
-
Sat 23
⛅
35° / 19°
—
-
Sun 24
☀️
33° / 21°
—
-
Mon 25
☀️
33° / 21°
—
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 35 manoeuvres
- Plaça de l'Ajuntament
- —
- Autovía de Alicante (A-31)
- Autovía de Alicante (A-31) 93 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330)
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 20 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 37 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 17 km
- (N-322) 2 km
- (N-3) 0.1 km
- (N-3)
- (N-3) 2 km
- (N-3) 0.1 km
- (N-3) 4 km
- —
- (N-3) 0.2 km
- (N-3) 3 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330)
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 23 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 16 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 9 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 33 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 5 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 11 km
- Carretera de Alicante a Francia por Zaragoza (N-330) 13 km
- (N-234) 4 km
- (N-420) 3 km
- — 0.3 km
- Autovía Mudéjar (A-23) 159 km
- Autovía Mudéjar (A-23) 1.0 km
- Cuarto Cinturón de Zaragoza (Z-40) 6 km
- — 0.2 km
- Ronda Hispanidad (Z-30) 2 km
- Paseo de Echegaray y Caballero
- Paseo de Echegaray y Caballero
By train from Alicante to Zaragoza
Fastest cross-border rail itinerary from the public Transitous planner. Times reflect a typical Monday-morning departure on the next available service-day.
- Fastest journey
- 5h 20m
- 6 changes
- Lead operator
- RENFE OPERADORA
- + 1 more
- Alternatives
- 5
- Itineraries returned by the planner.
Trains on the fastest itinerary
- AVLO 05817
- C3
- AVE 03143
All operators across alternatives
- RENFE OPERADORA
- Renfe Cercanias
Includes a high-speed rail leg (TGV, ICE, AVE, Frecciarossa-class).
Show route on map
Routing via the public Transitous OTP planner (community-run MOTIS instance). Cached 24 hours; verify on the operator's site before booking.
Frequently asked
Is this route subject to tolls?
No, the main motorways A-31 and A-23 on this route do not require tolls.
What is the speed limit for motorways in Spain?
The standard speed limit on motorways is 120 km/h, though you should always watch for posted signs indicating reduced limits in tunnel sections or near curves.
Are there any mountain passes to worry about?
The road climbs significantly between Alicante and Teruel, reaching higher altitudes where winter weather can be unpredictable. If traveling in colder months, ensure your vehicle is prepared for sub-zero temperatures.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, Open-Meteo for monthly climate normals, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.