🇪🇸 Cross-border drive · Spain → Austria 🇦🇹
Driving from Madrid to Graz
Drive from Madrid to Graz via AP-7 and French Autoroutes. Explore tolls, speed limits, and highlights on this cross-border European road trip.
- Drive time
- 23h 33m
- Distance
- 2,223 km
- Same day?
- Split it
- 12 h+, plan a stop
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €292
- petrol · diesel ≈ €260
- Tolls
- ≈ €196
- mixed
- 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.
Avoids motorways
+12h 33m- Distance:
- 2,358 km (+136 km)
- Duration:
- 36h 7m
Via: N 145 · N 10 · B 472 · CL-101
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.
23h 33m
2.223 km · €292 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
2.223 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.
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on April 24, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
The moment you merge onto the A-2 motorway east of Madrid, you’re committed to this substantial cross-continental journey towards Graz. This initial stretch, a high-speed artery through the Spanish heartland, will soon transition as you pick up the AP-2 toll road, a more direct route towards the Catalan coast. Be aware that many Spanish motorways, particularly the AP designations, carry tolls, so budget accordingly and keep your toll tag or cash handy. Shortly after Girona, you'll find yourself on the AP-7, a vital corridor that skirts the Mediterranean coast before veering inland towards the French border. This road will guide you into France, where the familiar motorway system continues, now marked as the A9, often referred to as La Languedocienne. This is your primary artery through southern France, a route that will carry you past cities like Montpellier and towards the Rhône Valley.
As you press on through France, the A9 will eventually merge with other routes, but its essence as a major east-west artery remains. You'll navigate towards Lyon and then transition onto the German Autobahn network, likely picking up the A36, A6, and then potentially the A8 or A7 depending on the exact routing and your preference for scenic versus direct passage. The transition into Germany usually means an end to tolls for cars on the Autobahn itself, but watch for the increasing average speeds – German speed limits are often unrestricted, but not always. Fuel prices can vary significantly between Spain, France, and Germany; it's wise to top up when you find a reasonable price, especially before entering pricier regions.
Continuing east, the final leg of your journey will take you towards Austria. You will likely join the German A8 leading towards Munich, and then transition onto the Austrian A10 (Tauern Autobahn) or potentially the A9 (Pyhrn Autobahn) depending on the specific route chosen. Crucially, Austria mandates a vignette for motorway use. You must purchase this before entering Austrian motorways or shortly after the border to avoid fines. The terrain will become more mountainous as you approach the Alps, so be prepared for potential weather changes, especially outside of summer. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you enter Austria, as service areas can be more spaced out in mountainous sections. The final approach to Graz will likely involve local Austrian roads as you exit the main Autobahn network, bringing you into the Styrian capital after nearly 2300 kilometers of diverse European driving.
Route highlights
- A-2 Motorway plains of Castilla-La Mancha
- AP-7 Mediterranean coastal views
- A9 La Languedocienne through Southern France
- German Autobahn unrestricted speed sections
- Austrian Alpine scenery on A10/A9
- Vignette requirement for Austrian motorways
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Overnight recommended
Too long for a single-driver day. Plan on 2 overnight stop(s) to do this trip right.
A natural overnight stop near the halfway point: Trets (fr).
- Distance:
- 2,223 km
- Duration:
- 23h 33m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
La Muela 🇪🇸 es
≈278 km≈ 9.7 km detour from the main route
-
Sant Joan de Vilatorrada 🇪🇸 es
≈556 km≈ 11.2 km detour from the main route
-
Narbonne 🇫🇷 fr
≈833 km≈ 1.9 km detour from the main route
-
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume 🇫🇷 fr
≈1,111 km≈ 4.6 km detour from the main route
-
Vado Ligure 🇮🇹 it
≈1,389 km≈ 2.6 km detour from the main route
-
Desenzano del Garda 🇮🇹 it
≈1,667 km≈ 3.8 km detour from the main route
-
Buia 🇮🇹 it
≈1,945 km≈ 3.8 km detour from the main route
Along the way
Places to stop for coffee, a bite, a view, or the night — from OpenStreetMap.
Food · 6
-
fast food · Graz
-
+0.1 km
restaurant · Madrid
-
+0.2 km
restaurant
-
+0.1 km
restaurant
-
+0.3 km
restaurant · Graz
-
+0.3 km
restaurant · Madrid
Coffee · 6
-
+0.3 km
cafe · Graz
-
+0.4 km
cafe · Graz
-
+0.5 km
cafe · Madrid
-
+0.5 km
cafe · Graz
-
+0.7 km
cafe · Graz
-
+0.7 km
cafe · Graz
Museums & history · 6
-
+0.2 km
Cruceiro Gallego
wayside cross
-
+0.4 km
Monumento en honor a los abogados de Atocha
memorial · Madrid
-
+0.2 km
Kilómetro Cero
memorial
-
+0.3 km
Estatua de la Mariblanca
artwork
-
+0.7 km
Monumento a los Caídos por España
monument
-
+1.4 km
museum · Madrid
Outdoors · 4
-
+2.7 km
Mirador de Tierno Galván
viewpoint
-
+3.3 km
Le Todos
camp site
-
+3.4 km
Mirador Este Parque Enrique Tierno Galván
viewpoint
-
+4.4 km
La Atalaya
viewpoint
Stay the night · 6
-
+0.3 km
hotel · Madrid
-
+0.3 km
hotel
-
+0.4 km
hotel · Madrid
-
+0.4 km
Hotel Zum Dom - Palais Inzaghi
hotel · Graz
-
+0.4 km
hotel
-
+0.4 km
hotel · Madrid
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Multi-country chain · ES → FR → IT → AT → SI
You'll cross 5 countries on this drive — each with its own toll system, fuel pricing, and motorway rules. Skim the must-know section below before you set off, and have your registration plus insurance card in the door pocket for any roadside check.
Tolls on motorways in ES / FR / IT
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.
Vignette required in AT / SI
Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania require a sticker or e-vignette for motorway use. Buy at the border — missing one is a heavy on-the-spot fine.
Long rural stretch on C-25 Eix Transversal
Plan for about 97 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on C-25 Eix Transversal
Plan for about 55 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.
Order your Crit'Air sticker before the trip
Must knowParis, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille, Toulouse and a growing list of cities require a Crit'Air air-quality sticker visible on your windscreen — even for a single drive-through. It's €4.51 from the official site and ships by post (allow 2–6 weeks abroad). Without it, expect on-the-spot fines from €68. Your registration document tells the issuer your emission class.
ZTL cameras read your plate from any country
Must knowItalian historic centres (Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna, Pisa, Siena, Verona, Naples, Turin, Palermo and dozens more) are ringed by automatic Zona Traffico Limitato cameras. Driving in without a permit triggers €80–120 per crossing, and the fine reaches your home address up to a year later via cross-border collection. Treat any city centre as off-limits unless you've confirmed your hotel offers a permit, and ask the hotel to register your plate the day you arrive.
Foreign plates must be pre-registered to enter the centre
Must knowMadrid
Cameras read your plate but don't know your emission class. Without registration on Madrid's portal (madrid.es/zbe), the system flags you regardless of the car's actual rating, and the fine reaches your home address weeks later via cross-border collection. Register before you set off.
Madrid 360 / ZBEDEP — pre-2000 cars banned outright
Must knowMadrid
Madrid Central (now ZBEDEP) is one of the strictest emission zones in Europe. Within the 4.7 km² central perimeter (formerly Distrito Centro), vehicles registered before 2000 are banned outright; the rest need to match Spain's "Etiqueta Ambiental" rating. Operates 24/7. Fine is €200 per entry.
Tolls, vignettes & road payment
Digital vignette before crossing the border
Must knowAustrian motorways need a vignette — €10.10 for 10 days, €30.40 for 2 months, or €103.80 annual. The digital version (linked to your plate) is bought online at asfinag.at and activates from a chosen date — if you buy on the Austrian side of the border, it's only valid 18 days later under consumer-protection rules. Buy ahead.
You'll hit three different toll systems on this trip
Must knowThis route crosses countries with mismatched toll mechanics — France's ticket-and-pay, vignette stickers, electronic-only stretches. There's no single transponder that works everywhere, but a Telepass EU device covers FR/IT/ES/PT and a Bip&Go covers the same plus a few more. For a one-off trip, contactless cards plus a Swiss vignette and Austrian e-vignette is the simplest mix.
Brenner, Tauern and Karawanken tunnels are extra
UsefulEight Austrian routes charge separate tolls on top of the vignette: Brenner (A13, ~€11.50), Pyhrn (A9, ~€6.50), Tauern (A10, ~€14), Karawanken (A11, ~€8.50) and others. Pay at the booth — no vignette discount. If you're heading south to Italy via the A13, budget for it.
Contactless works at every autoroute booth
UsefulFrench autoroutes use a ticket system: take a card on entry, pay on exit. Every barrier accepts contactless tap-to-pay — pull into the "CB / bank card" lane (orange "t" logo means Liber-T transponder only, avoid those). For frequent EU travellers a Bip&Go transponder pays itself off in two trips by skipping the queue.
Telepass saves you the toll-booth queue
UsefulItalian autostrade work like France: ticket on entry, pay on exit. Contactless cards work at most modern lanes (look for "Carte" — avoid yellow "Telepass" lanes without the device). For long routes, a Telepass EU transponder works in IT/FR/ES/PT and pays for itself across two days; at minimum, keep your insurance card and registration in the door pocket — booth attendants occasionally ask.
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.
What your car must carry
Hi-vis vest in the cabin, triangle in the boot
Must knowA reflective vest must be reachable without leaving the vehicle (in the door pocket or under your seat — boot is too late). One warning triangle is also mandatory. The 2012 breathalyzer rule was scrapped in 2020 but is still nice to keep. No spare-bulb requirement.
Hi-vis vest mandatory before stepping out
Must knowItalian law requires you to wear a reflective vest before exiting the vehicle on a motorway shoulder, day or night. One warning triangle in the boot is also required. Both items are typically €15 at any Autogrill or fuel station — don't arrive without them.
Driving rules & habits
Priorité à droite still applies in towns
UsefulOn urban streets without signs, traffic from your right has priority — even from a side street that looks subordinate. Outside cities the rule is mostly retired, but in residential French villages it survives. Slow at every right-hand junction unless a yellow diamond on your road tells you you're on the priority road.
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.
-
A-2 Autovía del Nordeste374 km
-
A4 Autostrada Serenissima267 km
-
A 9 La Catalane225 km
-
A 8 La Provençale223 km
-
A2 Süd Autobahn183 km
-
C-25 Eix Transversal152 km
-
A21 Autostrada dei Vini149 km
-
A10 Autostrada dei Fiori134 km
-
AP-2 Autopista Zaragoza-Mediterráneo122 km
-
A23 Autostrada Alpe-Adria119 km
-
A 54 —72 km
-
AP-7 Autopista de la Mediterrània67 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 91%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 9%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Demanding
Tough drive — multiple complicating factors compound fatigue. Strongly recommend splitting across days.
- Long drive: 23h 33m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- Cross-border: ES → AT. Keep documents accessible and check border rules.
- About 170 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)
≈ €292
166.7 L × €1.75 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €260
133.4 L × €1.95 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €237
389 kWh × €0.61 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €196
- ES — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 703 km in-country ≈ €63) Toll-free on the A-network; charged only on AP roads.
- FR — €0.10/km on the motorway network (≈ 478 km in-country ≈ €48)
- IT — €0.08/km on the motorway network (≈ 788 km in-country ≈ €59)
- AT — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €10.10 for 10 days Annual vignette is €103.80 if you drive often
- SI — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €16.00 for 7 days Annual vignette is €117.50 if you drive often
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-04.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇪🇸 Madrid
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11°
3°
|
14°
3°
|
16°
5°
|
21°
9°
|
24°
11°
|
30°
18°
|
35°
20°
|
35°
21°
|
27°
15°
|
22°
12°
|
15°
7°
|
11°
3°
|
| 50mm | 17mm | 120mm | 44mm | 62mm | 43mm | 1mm | 6mm | 64mm | 87mm | 39mm | 30mm |
hot mild cold
🇦🇹 Graz
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6°
-3°
|
8°
-1°
|
12°
2°
|
16°
5°
|
19°
9°
|
25°
14°
|
26°
16°
|
26°
16°
|
21°
12°
|
16°
7°
|
9°
0°
|
5°
-2°
|
| 44mm | 18mm | 67mm | 71mm | 134mm | 91mm | 133mm | 91mm | 177mm | 80mm | 42mm | 43mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Graz
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
☀️
8° / 5°
—
-
Wed 13
☀️
17° / 2°
—
-
Thu 14
🌧️
17° / 4°
16.4mm
-
Fri 15
🌧️
16° / 7°
5.2mm
-
Sat 16
🌧️
15° / 9°
16.7mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 57 manoeuvres
- Calle de la Cruz 0.1 km
- Plaza de las Cortes 0.2 km
- Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo
- Calle de Felipe IV 0.1 km
- Calle de Alcalá
- Calle de Alcalá 0.4 km
- Avenida de América 4 km
- Autovía del Nordeste (A-2) 143 km
- (A-2) 179 km
- Autopista Zaragoza-Mediterráneo (AP-2) 103 km
- Autopista Zaragoza-Mediterrània (AP-2) 19 km
- (LL-12)
- — 0.5 km
- (C-13) 8 km
- (LL-11)
- (LL-11)
- (LL-11) 3 km
- Autovia del Nord-est (A-2) 45 km
- Eix Transversal (C-25) 97 km
- Autovia Barcelona - Vic - Ripoll (C-17) 2 km
- Eix Transversal (C-25) 55 km
- Eix Transversal (C-25) 0.9 km
- Autovia del Nord-est (A-2) 8 km
- Autopista de la Mediterrània (AP-7) 67 km
- La Catalane (A 9) 52 km
- La Languedocienne (A 9) 120 km
- La Languedocienne (A 9) 53 km
- (A 54) 72 km
- — 0.6 km
- Autoroute du Soleil (A 7) 11 km
- La Provençale (A 8) 206 km
- La Provençale (A 8) 17 km
- Autostrada dei Fiori (A10) 134 km
- Autostrada dei Fiori 9 km
- Autostrada dei Trafori (A26) 44 km
- Diramazione Predosa-Bettole (A26/A7) 16 km
- — 1 km
- Autostrada dei Giovi - Serravalle (A7) 8 km
- Autostrada dei Vini (A21) 149 km
- — 0.9 km
- Autostrada Serenissima (A4) 267 km
- Autostrada Alpe-Adria (A23) 54 km
- Galleria Lago (A23) 4 km
- Galleria Mena (A23) 12 km
- Autostrada Alpe-Adria (A23) 9 km
- Galleria Raccolana (A23) 8 km
- Autostrada Alpe-Adria (A23) 32 km
- Süd Autobahn (A2) 52 km
- Süd Autobahn (A2) 132 km
- Pyhrn Autobahn (A9) 2 km
- — 0.5 km
- —
- — 0.2 km
- — 0.2 km
- Karlauergürtel (B67c) 0.5 km
- Dietrichsteinplatz
- Jakominiplatz
Frequently asked
Do I need a vignette for Austria?
Yes, a vignette is mandatory for driving on Austrian motorways. You can purchase them at border crossings, petrol stations near the border, or online in advance.
Are there tolls on Spanish motorways?
Yes, many Spanish motorways, especially those designated with 'AP' (Autopista de Peaje), are toll roads. The 'A' roads are generally toll-free.
What are the typical speed limits in France and Germany?
In France, standard motorway speed limits are 130 km/h in dry conditions (110 km/h in rain). In Germany, many sections of the Autobahn have no speed limit, but advisory limits (Richtgeschwindigkeit) of 130 km/h are recommended, and some sections do have posted limits.
Are there low-emission zones (LEZs) on this route?
Major cities in France and Germany (like Lyon, Paris if you deviate, and many German cities) often have LEZs. Check specific city regulations if you plan to drive into their centers, as Crit'Air stickers may be required in France.
When should I buy fuel?
Fuel prices can vary significantly. It's generally advisable to fill up in Spain before entering France, and consider filling up in France before entering Germany or Austria, as prices can be higher in the latter two, especially in tourist areas.
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, EU Weekly Oil Bulletin for cross-border fuel-price bands, OpenStreetMap via Overpass for sights along the route, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.