🇪🇸 Cross-border drive · Spain → Portugal 🇵🇹
Driving from Mojacar to Albufeira
Road trip guide for driving from the Mediterranean coast of Mojácar to the Algarve in Albufeira, including route tips, border advice, and fuel guidance.
- Drive time
- 7h 45m
- Distance
- 676 km
- Same day?
- Yes, doable
- under 8 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €101
- petrol · diesel ≈ €82
- Tolls
- ≈ €61
- per-km
- EV charging
- Plenty fast
- 37 of 110 ≥50 kW
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
+5h 33m- Distance:
- 860 km (+183 km)
- Duration:
- 13h 19m
Via: N-432 · A-348 · N-433 · A-431
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.
7h 45m
676 km · €101 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
676 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 September 27, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You start by winding down the AL-6111 before merging onto the A-7, a long, sun-scorched corridor that traces the Mediterranean coastline. The transition from the rugged Almería landscape to the inland plains of the A-92 involves a steady climb toward the Andalusian interior, where the elevation peaks near 1171 meters. While the high, arid plains are rarely snowbound, they are prone to significant crosswinds that can make high-sided vehicles feel unstable, so keep a firm grip on the steering wheel during the ascent into the hills.
Crossing the border from Spain into Portugal happens near Huelva on the A-49, but the change is subtler than a mountain pass. You will notice the road surface textures shift and the signage turn into the distinct blue and white Portuguese motorway standard. While both countries enforce a 120 km/h limit on major motorways, Portugal’s toll systems can be complex; ensure you have an electronic tag or a payment method ready for the distance-based tolls that kick in once you enter the Algarve region. Unlike the occasional free stretches on the Spanish side, Portuguese motorways rely heavily on automated gantries.
Fuel economics dictate your strategy for this drive, as diesel is consistently more expensive in Portugal than in Spain. Top up your tank in the Huelva area before you cross the Guadiana bridge; the savings add up quickly over a long haul. Once you drop down into the Algarve on the A-22, the traffic volume increases significantly, particularly around the tourist hubs. Keep a sharp eye out for local drivers who may merge abruptly, and watch for speed cameras that often monitor the exits leading toward the coastal resorts of Albufeira.
Route highlights
- The transition from the dry, mountainous terrain of Almería to the coastal plains of the Algarve.
- The crossing of the Guadiana International Bridge marking the border between Spain and Portugal.
- The A-7 motorway corridor providing quick access through the heart of Andalusia.
- The strategic fuel stop in Huelva to take advantage of lower Spanish pump prices.
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Consider splitting over two days
Technically a one-day drive, but it is a slog. Splitting overnight halfway makes it a much better trip and lets you see the middle, not just the endpoints.
A natural overnight stop near the halfway point: Antequera (es).
- Distance:
- 676 km
- Duration:
- 7h 45m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Guadix 🇪🇸 es
≈113 km≈ 32.2 km detour from the main route
-
Illora 🇪🇸 es
≈225 km≈ 12.4 km detour from the main route
-
Estepa 🇪🇸 es
≈338 km≈ 3.6 km detour from the main route
-
Camas 🇪🇸 es
≈451 km≈ 1.4 km detour from the main route
-
Lepe 🇪🇸 es
≈564 km≈ 5.1 km detour from the main route
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Cross-border drive · ES → PT
You'll leave one country and enter another on this trip. Keep your ID close, even inside Schengen, and check current border-control status before you go.
Tolls on motorways in ES / PT
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-340a Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona
Plan for about 16 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on N-340a Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona
Plan for about 14 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
A22 Algarve and ex-SCUT roads — electronic only
Must knowPortugal has two toll systems. Most autoestradas use a normal ticket-and-pay barrier. But the A22 (Algarve), A23, A24, A25 and A28 are "ex-SCUT" routes with no booths — only overhead gantries that read your plate. Without a Via Verde transponder or pre-registration, you have 5 days to pay at a CTT post office, or the fine reaches your home address. Easiest fix: rent a Via Verde Visitors transponder (€6/week) at the airport or border.
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.
-
A-92 Autovía de Sevilla a Almería por Granada375 km
-
A-49 Autovía del Quinto Centenario133 km
-
A 22 Via do Infante85 km
-
N-340a Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona30 km
-
N-340A Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona13 km
-
A-7 Autovía del Mediterráneo5 km
-
AL-6111 Carretera de Los Gallardos a Turre5 km
-
AL-6113 Carretera de Turre a Mojácar3 km
-
EN 395 —2 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 91%
- Secondary
- 7%
- Other / rural
- 2%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Challenging
Long day with at least one complicating factor. Split into two days or share the driving.
- Long drive: 7h 45m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- Cross-border: es → pt. Keep documents accessible and check border rules.
Elevation profile
Highs, lows, and the total climb / descent along the route.
- Lowest point
- 8 m
- Highest point
- 1,171 m
- Total ascent
- ↑ 1,491 m
- Total descent
- ↓ 1,645 m
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €101
50.7 L × €2.00 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €82
40.6 L × €2.02 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €68
118 kWh × €0.57 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €61
- ES — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 442 km in-country ≈ €40) Toll-free on the A-network; charged only on AP roads.
- PT — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 234 km in-country ≈ €21)
Prices last refreshed 2026-09-28.
Fuel and EV charging along the route
Stations within a few kilometres of the road, sampled at evenly-spaced waypoints.
EV charging
37 at 50 kW or above (fast / ultra-fast).
Fastest first
- Rest. Los Mellizos. Ayamonte (Zunder) — Ayamonte 400 kW
- Tesla Supercharger Antequera — Antequera 250 kW
- BP Pulse Pulianas 150 kW
- Aldi Granada — Granada 150 kW
- Hotel Finca Eslava — Antequera 150 kW
- Aldi Marchena (Atlante) — Marchena 150 kW
- Intermarché Albufeira — Albufeira 120 kW
- ABF-00048 — Albufeira 120 kW
- Mercedes Benz Granada — Peligros 100 kW
- C.C. Pulianas. Mediamark (Acciona) — Granada 80 kW
- CEPSA Mojacar — Mojácar 60 kW
- E.S. Plenoil Garrucha I — Garrucha 60 kW
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇪🇸 Mojacar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18°
8°
|
17°
8°
|
20°
10°
|
22°
12°
|
24°
15°
|
28°
19°
|
32°
22°
|
32°
23°
|
28°
20°
|
25°
16°
|
21°
12°
|
17°
8°
|
| 15mm | 17mm | 89mm | 17mm | 67mm | 18mm | 7mm | 2mm | 34mm | 64mm | 21mm | 36mm |
hot mild cold
🇵🇹 Albufeira
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17°
10°
|
18°
10°
|
19°
11°
|
23°
14°
|
25°
15°
|
29°
19°
|
32°
20°
|
33°
21°
|
28°
18°
|
25°
17°
|
20°
13°
|
17°
10°
|
| 112mm | 63mm | 118mm | 38mm | 23mm | 11mm | 1mm | 0mm | 15mm | 122mm | 81mm | 53mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Albufeira
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Sun 11
☀️
19° / 19°
—
-
Mon 12
⛅
26° / 17°
—
-
Tue 13
⛅
27° / 17°
—
-
Wed 14
⛅
28° / 20°
—
-
Thu 15
☀️
29° / 21°
—
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 32 manoeuvres
- Calle Unión
- —
- Carretera de Turre a Mojácar (AL-6113)
- Carretera de Turre a Mojácar (AL-6113) 3 km
- Carretera de Los Gallardos a Turre (AL-6111)
- Carretera de Los Gallardos a Turre (AL-6111) 5 km
- —
- Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7) 5 km
- Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona (N-340A)
- Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona (N-340A) 4 km
- Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona (N-340A) 9 km
- Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona (N-340a)
- Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona (N-340a) 14 km
- Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona (N-340A)
- Carrereta Cádiz y Gibraltar a Barcelona (N-340a) 16 km
- —
- Autovía de Sevilla a Almería por Granada (A-92) 197 km
- Autovía de Sevilla a Almería por Granada (A-92) 178 km
- Avenida de Andalucía
- Avenida de María Luisa
- Autovía del Quinto Centenario (A-49) 78 km
- Autovía del Quinto Centenario (A-49) 56 km
- Via do Infante (A 22) 85 km
- (IC 1) 0.8 km
- — 0.7 km
- (EN 395)
- (EN 395) 2 km
- Avenida Engenheiro Pessanha Viegas (EN 395)
- (EN 395)
- Avenida dos Descobrimentos (EM 526)
- Avenida dos Descobrimentos (EM 526)
- Avenida 25 de Abril
Frequently asked
Is there a vignette required for this route?
No, neither Spain nor Portugal uses a vignette system. Both countries employ distance-based toll systems on their major motorways.
Should I fuel up before crossing the border?
Yes, diesel is generally cheaper in Spain. It is highly recommended to fill your tank in the Huelva region before heading into Portugal to avoid the higher fuel costs found across the border.
Are there any mountain passes to worry about?
While the route involves a climb of over 1100 meters, these are rolling inland plateaus rather than sharp alpine passes. Snow is extremely rare here, but high crosswinds are common on the elevated sections of the A-92.
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, OpenTopoData SRTM 30m for elevation, EU Weekly Oil Bulletin for cross-border fuel-price bands, Open Charge Map for EV charging stations, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.