🇪🇸 Same-country drive · Spain
Driving from Madrid to Palma
Road trip advice for driving from Madrid to the Mediterranean coast and taking the ferry to Palma, covering the A-7 and AP-7 motorways.
- Drive time
- 10h 47m
- Distance
- 696 km
- Same day?
- Long day
- under 12 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €80
- petrol · diesel ≈ €72
- Tolls
- ≈ €63
- 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.
Avoids motorways
+2h 22m- Distance:
- 735 km (+39 km)
- Duration:
- 13h 10m
Via: Gandia - Eivissa · Palma - Eivissa · N-400 · CM-211
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.
10h 47m
696 km · €80 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
696 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 25, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You clear the sprawl of Madrid via the A-3 before cutting across to join the A-7, which serves as your primary artery toward the Mediterranean coast. As you cross the arid landscape of the interior, the road quality remains excellent, but be prepared for the transition from the high-altitude plateau to the humid coastal plains near Valencia. The A-7 and its parallel toll-based AP-7 corridor are highly efficient, though they suffer from heavy freight traffic moving goods toward the busy ports that serve the islands. Stay disciplined with your speed, as the Spanish authorities frequently deploy radar units along these main transit routes.
Reaching the coast marks the end of the motorway portion, where the focus shifts to the logistics of the ferry port. If you are aiming for the Balearic crossing from Valencia or Dénia, ensure you check your embarkation terminal well in advance; these areas become congested during peak season and holiday weekends. The driving rules remain consistent throughout the journey, with the national speed limit on motorways set at 120 km/h and a strict zero-tolerance approach to drink-driving. While there are no vignettes to purchase in Spain, the AP-7 features sections where distance-based tolls apply, so keep a payment card ready for the automated barriers.
Weather conditions shift significantly from the central meseta to the sea, where sudden autumn storms can impact ferry schedules. If you are traveling between October and March, check local maritime warnings before finalizing your departure from the mainland. Once you arrive at the port, the transition from road to sea is straightforward, provided you have your booking reference and identification clearly ready for the boarding officials. Fuel prices are generally more competitive at large service stations just off the main motorways rather than at the smaller stops closer to the port cities.
Route highlights
- The high-speed transit through the La Mancha plains on the A-3
- The transition from the arid Castilian plateau to the Mediterranean coastline near Valencia
- Navigating the busy logistics hubs surrounding the Valencia and Dénia port terminals
- The coastal views as you approach the maritime gateways to the Balearic Islands
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Overnight recommended
Too long for a single-driver day. Plan on 1 overnight stop(s) to do this trip right.
A natural overnight stop near the halfway point: Motilla del Palancar (es).
- Distance:
- 696 km
- Duration:
- 10h 47m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Tarancón 🇪🇸 es
≈116 km≈ 40.2 km detour from the main route
-
Motilla del Palancar 🇪🇸 es
≈232 km≈ 24.1 km detour from the main route
-
Torrent 🇪🇸 es
≈348 km≈ 4.8 km detour from the main route
-
Javea 🇪🇸 es
≈464 km≈ 35.1 km detour from the main route
-
Santa Eulària des Riu 🇪🇸 es
≈580 km≈ 8.9 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 Autovía del Este
Plan for about 333 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on Gandia - Eivissa
Plan for about 149 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.
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
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.
Driving rules & habits
Plan your stops, not just your finish time
UsefulOSRM gives you free-flow drive time. Realistic add: 10% on motorway-heavy routes, 25% if you're crossing two cities. Eat at off-peak hours (11:30 lunch, 18:00 dinner) — service-area queues at noon kill 20 minutes. EU fatigue research is consistent: 15-minute break every 2 hours, full 45-minute break before 6 hours. The drive between hours 7 and 9 is where avoidable accidents cluster.
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.
-
AP-7 Autopista de la Mediterrània / Autopista del Mediterráneo45 km
-
A-7 Autovia de la Mediterrània17 km
-
A-38 —3 km
-
Ma-1 Avinguda de Gabriel Roca2 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Rural-road drive — narrow roads, small towns, patience required.
- Motorway
- 10%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 90%
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: 10h 47m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- About 613 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)
≈ €80
52.2 L × €1.54 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €72
41.7 L × €1.72 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €78
122 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
≈ €63
- ES — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 696 km in-country ≈ €63) 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.
🇪🇸 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
🇪🇸 Palma
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16°
9°
|
16°
8°
|
18°
11°
|
21°
12°
|
24°
15°
|
29°
20°
|
32°
23°
|
32°
23°
|
28°
20°
|
25°
18°
|
20°
13°
|
16°
9°
|
| 35mm | 68mm | 76mm | 42mm | 53mm | 37mm | 16mm | 34mm | 62mm | 42mm | 51mm | 34mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Palma
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Thu 21
☀️
27° / 17°
—
-
Fri 22
☀️
28° / 17°
—
-
Sat 23
☀️
28° / 16°
—
-
Sun 24
☀️
29° / 18°
—
-
Mon 25
☀️
29° / 19°
—
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 22 manoeuvres
- Calle de la Cruz 0.1 km
- Plaza de las Cortes 0.2 km
- Avenida de la Ciudad de Barcelona
- Autovía del Este 333 km
- — 0.8 km
- — 0.9 km
- Autovia de la Mediterrània (A-7) 17 km
- Autopista de la Mediterrània / Autopista del Mediterráneo (AP-7) 45 km
- (A-38) 3 km
- — 0.5 km
- Carrer dels Degans
- Carrer del Palangre
- Carrer de la Goleta
- Carrer de la Goleta
- —
- Gandia - Eivissa 149 km
- Palma - Eivissa 130 km
- —
- —
- Avinguda de Gabriel Roca (Ma-1) 2 km
- Plaça de la Reina
- Carrer de la Cadena
Frequently asked
Do I need a vignette to drive on Spanish motorways?
No, Spain does not use a vignette system. Some sections of the AP-7 are toll roads where you pay based on the distance traveled.
What is the speed limit on the A-7 and AP-7?
The maximum speed limit for passenger cars on these motorways is 120 km/h, unless otherwise indicated by electronic signage.
Are there specific requirements for ferry crossings to Palma?
You will need to have your vehicle documentation, valid identification for all passengers, and your ferry booking confirmation ready for check-in at the port.
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.