🇸🇪 Same-country drive · Sweden
Driving from Göteborg to Karlskrona
A guide for driving the 343km route from Gothenburg to Karlskrona via the heart of Småland, featuring road conditions, driving tips, and route highlights.
- Drive time
- 4h 50m
- Distance
- 343 km
- Same day?
- Yes, doable
- under 8 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €45
- petrol · diesel ≈ €42
- Tolls
- Toll-free
- no charges en route
- 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
+0m- Distance:
- 374 km (+32 km)
- Duration:
- 4h 51m
Via: E 6; E 20 · E 22 · 24 · 21
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.
4h 50m
343 km · €45 fuel
See details ↓
19h 1m
379 km · Climb 1.397 m
1 km on EV10 Baltic Sea Cycle Route
See details ↓
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.
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on May 1, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You leave Gothenburg on the Road 40, a stretch that quickly pulls you away from the coastal city traffic and into the rolling forests of the interior. The transition from the urban sprawl of the west coast to the quiet, tree-lined corridors of the 27 is abrupt, shifting the drive from multi-lane motorway to a rhythmic, steady pace through the heart of Småland. Keep a close eye on your speedometer here; while the open roads feel invitingly empty, the speed limits fluctuate frequently between towns, and Sweden’s strict 0.2 BAC limit and persistent speed cameras make caution the best policy.
Crossing the border between the Västra Götaland and Blekinge counties, the landscape softens into a mix of rocky outcrops and deep, dark timberland. The route segments connecting the 27 to the 25 and eventually the 29 serve as the backbone of your journey, avoiding the heavy coastal traffic of the E6. The tarmac is well-maintained throughout this central corridor, but be mindful of wildlife, particularly elk and deer, which are most active at dawn and dusk near the forest edges. Since there are no vignettes or tolls to navigate in Sweden, your only real hurdle is the occasional heavy goods vehicle on the narrower sections of the 27.
As you merge onto the E22 for the final stretch into Karlskrona, you finally catch glimpses of the Baltic Sea once more. The road here opens up, signaling the end of the inland trek and the arrival at the coast, where the maritime history of the city begins to dominate the skyline. Traffic increases near the city limits, but the transition is seamless compared to the heavy orbital congestion you might encounter in larger European hubs. Ensure your headlights are on, regardless of the time of day, as Swedish law requires constant visibility on the road.
Route highlights
- The dense Småland forests along Road 27
- The transition from rural inland roads to the Baltic coastline on the E22
- The historic naval architecture in Karlskrona upon arrival
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Easy one-day drive
Comfortable as a single day for one driver. Leave after breakfast, arrive with time to settle in.
- Distance:
- 343 km
- Duration:
- 4h 50m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Gislaved 🇸🇪 se
≈114 km≈ 12.5 km detour from the main route
-
Växjö 🇸🇪 se
≈229 km≈ 3 km detour from the main route
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Long rural stretch on 27; 29
Plan for about 63 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on 40; 27 Boråsleden
Plan for about 52 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.
Fuel stations
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.
-
27 —144 km
-
27; 29 Ronnebyvägen80 km
-
40; 27 Boråsleden54 km
-
25; 27 Österleden23 km
-
E 22 —22 km
-
23; 25; 27 Norrleden5 km
-
28 Österleden3 km
-
E 22.06 —3 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Rural-road drive — narrow roads, small towns, patience required.
- Motorway
- 8%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 92%
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 296 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)
≈ €45
25.7 L × €1.74 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €42
20.6 L × €2.05 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €36
60 kWh × €0.60 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-04.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇸🇪 Göteborg
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3°
-2°
|
4°
-1°
|
7°
0°
|
11°
3°
|
17°
8°
|
19°
11°
|
20°
14°
|
19°
13°
|
18°
12°
|
12°
7°
|
6°
2°
|
4°
1°
|
| 118mm | 76mm | 84mm | 53mm | 60mm | 101mm | 155mm | 139mm | 103mm | 105mm | 78mm | 95mm |
hot mild cold
🇸🇪 Karlskrona
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3°
-1°
|
4°
-1°
|
7°
0°
|
11°
3°
|
17°
8°
|
20°
12°
|
21°
14°
|
21°
13°
|
19°
12°
|
12°
7°
|
7°
2°
|
5°
1°
|
| 101mm | 42mm | 37mm | 34mm | 36mm | 59mm | 115mm | 60mm | 83mm | 95mm | 53mm | 45mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Karlskrona
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
⛅
9° / 8°
—
-
Wed 13
⛅
10° / 7°
1.8mm
-
Thu 14
⛅
10° / 8°
5mm
-
Fri 15
⛅
13° / 9°
—
-
Sat 16
⛅
13° / 8°
—
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 41 manoeuvres
- Gustaf Adolfs Torg
- Nils Ericsonsgatan
- Polhemsplatsen
- Ullevigatan 0.8 km
- (E 6; E 20) 2 km
- (40; 27) 2 km
- — 0.5 km
- Boråsleden (40; 27) 52 km
- (27)
- (27)
- (27) 6 km
- (27)
- (27) 15 km
- (27)
- (27) 43 km
- (27) 0.1 km
- (27) 22 km
- (27) 0.1 km
- (27) 20 km
- (27)
- (27)
- (27) 38 km
- (25; 27)
- (25; 27) 20 km
- —
- Norrleden (23; 25; 27) 5 km
- Österleden (25; 27) 2 km
- Ronnebyvägen (27; 29)
- Ronnebyvägen (27; 29) 17 km
- (27; 29)
- (27; 29) 63 km
- Karlshamnsvägen (27)
- (E 22) 10 km
- (E 22)
- (E 22) 4 km
- (E 22)
- (E 22) 8 km
- (E 22.06) 3 km
- Sunnavägen (E 22.06)
- Österleden (28) 3 km
- Stortorget
Cycling from Göteborg to Karlskrona
Touring-pace bicycle route generated by BRouter, with elevation gain and matched against the EuroVelo cycle network.
- Distance
- 379 km
- vs 343 km driving
- Riding time
- 19h 1m
- Touring pace; experienced riders cut this 20–30%.
- Total climb
- ↑ 1.397 m
Routed on the BRouter trekking profile — balanced for paved leisure tourers; gravel and fast-bike profiles produce different lines.
On the EuroVelo network
Sections of this route follow signed EuroVelo cycle routes — well-maintained, signposted, and bike-friendly:
- EV10 Baltic Sea Cycle Route · 1 km
Total: 1,5 km on EuroVelo (0% of the route).
Show route on map
Frequently asked
Do I need a vignette to drive in Sweden?
No, there are no toll stickers or vignettes required for passenger cars on Swedish motorways.
What is the speed limit for this route?
Speed limits are strictly enforced and typically range from 70 to 110 km/h, indicated by frequent signage. Always watch for the camera icons.
Are there any specific hazards to watch for?
Wildlife, especially moose and deer, is a significant risk in the wooded regions of Småland, particularly during twilight hours.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, BRouter for the bicycle route, EuroVelo GPX (ODbL) by the European Cyclists' Federation for the cycle-network overlay, 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.