🇳🇱 Same-country drive · Netherlands
Driving from Nijmegen to Groningen
Practical driving advice for the 189 km journey from the historic streets of Nijmegen to the vibrant student hub of Groningen in the Netherlands.
- Drive time
- 2h 37m
- Distance
- 189 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:
- 184 km (−5 km)
- Duration:
- 2h 45m
Via: A28 · N348 · A50 · N48
Avoids motorways
+58m- Distance:
- 208 km (+19 km)
- Duration:
- 3h 35m
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 37m
189 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.
You head out of Nijmegen on the A325, a short connector that quickly deposits you onto the A50 as you bridge the Waal river and transition into the rolling terrain of the Veluwe. While the Netherlands maintains a uniform speed limit of 100 km/h on motorways during the day, pay close attention to the overhead gantries near major junctions; traffic management systems frequently adjust these limits to smooth out congestion, and speed cameras are ubiquitous along this corridor. By the time you merge onto the A28 near Zwolle, the dense woodland of the central provinces gives way to the open, expansive horizon characteristic of the northern Netherlands.
Crossing the IJssel river marks the point where the drive shifts from the hilly, forested landscapes near the old Roman border of Nijmegen toward the flat agricultural polders of Drenthe and Groningen. This stretch of the A28 is notably straight and can be subject to intense crosswinds; keep a firm grip on the wheel, especially if you are driving a high-sided vehicle. Traffic is generally reliable, but keep an eye on navigation apps as you approach the city of Groningen, as the ring road system is currently undergoing significant upgrades that can alter typical exit patterns.
Fuel stops are plentiful along the A28, with service areas located frequently enough that you never need to worry about range anxiety. Unlike neighbouring countries, there are no road tolls or vignettes to manage here, simplifying the crossing between provinces. As you pull into the outskirts of Groningen, be aware that the city centre is heavily geared toward cyclists and pedestrians, making it a challenging environment for cars; locate a designated P+R facility on the edge of town early to save yourself the frustration of navigating the narrow, historic lanes of the university district.
Route highlights
- The transition from the wooded Veluwe region to the expansive Drenthe polders on the A28
- The iconic bridge crossing over the Waal near Nijmegen
- The P+R network surrounding Groningen for stress-free city access
- The flat, horizon-stretching vistas of the northern Dutch provinces
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:
- 189 km
- Duration:
- 2h 37m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Epe 🇳🇱 nl
≈63 km≈ 4.1 km detour from the main route
-
Hoogeveen 🇳🇱 nl
≈126 km≈ 1.4 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 —102 km
-
A50 Delhuijzenweg53 km
-
A325 —11 km
-
N325; S100 Prins Mauritssingel4 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 91%
- Secondary
- 2%
- Other / rural
- 7%
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
14.1 L × €2.39 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €26
11.3 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.
🇳🇱 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
🇳🇱 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
Next 5 days at Groningen
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Sun 7
⛅
19° / 13°
2.7mm
-
Mon 8
⛅
21° / 14°
36.3mm
-
Tue 9
🌧️
17° / 13°
2.6mm
-
Wed 10
🌧️
17° / 11°
4.7mm
-
Thu 11
🌧️
17° / 11°
4mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 21 manoeuvres
- van Oldenbarneveltstraat 0.3 km
- Oranjesingel 0.1 km
- Prins Mauritssingel (N325; S100) 4 km
- (A325) 11 km
- Eusebiusbuitensingel
- Apeldoornsestraat
- Apeldoornseweg 5 km
- Delhuijzenweg (A50) 20 km
- (A50) 34 km
- (A28) 3 km
- (A28) 21 km
- (A28) 20 km
- (A28) 0.5 km
- (A28) 4 km
- (A28)
- (A28)
- (A28) 4 km
- (A28)
- (A28) 52 km
- Brailleweg
- Oude Ebbingestraat
Frequently asked
Are there any tolls on this route?
No, there are no road tolls, vignettes, or congestion charges required for this drive within the Netherlands.
What is the speed limit on Dutch motorways?
The daytime speed limit on Dutch motorways is 100 km/h. Look for overhead signs, as speed limits may be lower in certain areas or during specific hours.
Is it easy to drive into the centre of Groningen?
While accessible, the centre of Groningen is heavily prioritised for bicycles and pedestrians. Using a P+R (Park and Ride) facility on the outskirts of the city is highly recommended.
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.