🇳🇱 Same-country drive · Netherlands
Driving from Groningen to Nijmegen
Essential tips for your 190km drive from Groningen to Nijmegen, covering the A28 and A50 motorways through the heart of the Netherlands.
- Drive time
- 2h 36m
- Distance
- 190 km
- Same day?
- Yes, half day
- under 4 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €34
- petrol · diesel ≈ €26
- 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
+8m- Distance:
- 185 km (−5 km)
- Duration:
- 2h 44m
Via: A28 · A50 · N48 · N348
Avoids motorways
+1h- Distance:
- 209 km (+19 km)
- Duration:
- 3h 36m
Via: N34 · N348 · N36 · Rijksstraatweg
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.
2h 36m
190 km · €34 fuel
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 April 25, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
Exit Groningen via the A28, where the northern horizon quickly flattens into the expansive, reclaimed peatlands that define the province of Drenthe. You will spend the bulk of this journey on the A28, a steady, well-maintained artery that cuts south through the forested transition zones near Assen and Hoogeveen. Traffic here is generally predictable, but keep a strict eye on your speedometer; the Dutch national motorway limit of 100 km/h is enforced by frequent overhead gantries and average speed cameras that leave no room for error.
At the Hattemerbroek interchange, you will peel off onto the A50, which marks the shift from the northern agricultural plains toward the gentle topography of the Veluwe. This stretch of motorway winds through dense woodland and heath, offering a stark contrast to the open fields surrounding your departure point. As you cross the Gelderland border, the landscape begins to roll slightly, signaling your approach to the river country that guards the entrance to Nijmegen.
The final approach on the A325 brings you across the Waal Bridge, providing a sweeping, high-altitude view of the river and the historic spires of the city center. Be mindful of the local urban speed limits as you descend into the oldest city in the Netherlands; the transition from motorway speed to city navigation is abrupt. If you are arriving during the summer months, expect significantly increased pedestrian and cyclist volume, particularly if your visit coincides with the International Four Days Marches, when the city centre becomes a bustling hub for thousands of walkers.
Since this is an entirely domestic Dutch route, there are no vignettes or border crossings to manage, and fuel prices are relatively uniform across the motorway network. The Dutch road infrastructure is impeccable, but motorway lane discipline is strictly observed; keep to the right lane unless you are actively overtaking. Should you encounter heavy rain, which is common in this region, the asphalt typically remains grippy, but reduced visibility often causes sudden, heavy braking patterns among commuters near the Arnhem interchange.
Route highlights
- The transition from the open northern plains to the wooded Veluwe region
- The panoramic view of the river Waal when crossing the bridge into Nijmegen
- The historical significance of the Waalkade waterfront in central Nijmegen
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:
- 190 km
- Duration:
- 2h 36m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Hoogeveen 🇳🇱 nl
≈63 km≈ 1.5 km detour from the main route
-
Epe 🇳🇱 nl
≈127 km≈ 3.8 km detour from the main route
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
Tolls, vignettes & road payment
No motorway tolls, but Westerschelde tunnel charges
TipDutch motorways are free for cars, but a few specific crossings charge. The Westerscheldetunnel near Vlissingen is €5–7. Kil Tunnel (A29) and Liefkenshoektunnel (Antwerp side) are similarly priced. Pay contactless on entry — there's no booth queue.
Driving rules & habits
Bicycles have right-of-way at unmarked junctions
UsefulIn the Netherlands, cyclists are treated as full traffic and often given priority you'd expect from a pedestrian crossing back home. Always check the bike lane before turning. At a roundabout in town, cyclists get the inside line and you yield. The rule that bites is unmarked junctions in residential streets — yield to the bike.
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.
-
A28 Julianaweg105 km
-
A50 —54 km
-
A325 Nijmeegseweg7 km
-
N784 Apeldoornseweg4 km
-
N325 Prins Mauritssingel3 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 90%
- Secondary
- 6%
- Other / rural
- 4%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Easy
Straightforward drive. One driver, one day, little to worry about beyond fuel and a toilet stop.
- No major complicating factors — motorway-heavy, single country, comfortable length.
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €34
14.3 L × €2.39 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €26
11.4 L × €2.26 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €22
33 kWh × €0.65 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-25.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇳🇱 Groningen
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6°
2°
|
8°
3°
|
11°
3°
|
13°
5°
|
18°
9°
|
21°
12°
|
21°
14°
|
22°
14°
|
20°
12°
|
15°
9°
|
9°
5°
|
8°
4°
|
| 91mm | 65mm | 62mm | 74mm | 61mm | 84mm | 155mm | 79mm | 66mm | 121mm | 106mm | 81mm |
hot mild cold
🇳🇱 Nijmegen
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6°
2°
|
9°
3°
|
12°
4°
|
14°
6°
|
19°
10°
|
22°
13°
|
23°
15°
|
23°
15°
|
21°
13°
|
15°
10°
|
10°
5°
|
8°
4°
|
| 95mm | 65mm | 69mm | 80mm | 85mm | 69mm | 92mm | 74mm | 71mm | 96mm | 81mm | 74mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Nijmegen
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Sun 7
⛅
19° / 13°
0.4mm
-
Mon 8
🌧️
20° / 12°
40.8mm
-
Tue 9
🌧️
17° / 11°
15.6mm
-
Wed 10
🌧️
15° / 10°
4mm
-
Thu 11
🌧️
15° / 10°
4.4mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 19 manoeuvres
- Kwinkenplein 0.3 km
- Weg der Verenigde Naties (N7) 1 km
- Julianaweg (A28) 3 km
- Rijksweg (A28) 8 km
- (A28) 18 km
- (A28) 28 km
- (A28)
- (A28) 3 km
- (A28) 45 km
- (A28) 1 km
- (A50) 39 km
- (A50) 14 km
- Apeldoornseweg (N784) 4 km
- Nijmeegseweg (A325) 7 km
- (A325) 0.9 km
- (A325) 0.9 km
- Prins Mauritssingel (N325) 3 km
- Graafseweg (S103) 0.2 km
- van Diemerbroeckstraat
Frequently asked
Are there any tolls on this route?
No, there are no tolls or vignettes required for this drive within the Netherlands.
What is the speed limit on Dutch motorways?
The general speed limit on Dutch motorways is 100 km/h, though some sections may be higher during evening hours. Always follow the overhead electronic signs.
Is the route difficult for navigation?
The route is straightforward, primarily following the A28 and A50, both of which are exceptionally well-signposted.
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.