🇪🇸 Same-country drive · Spain
Driving from Palma to Alicante
Essential road trip guide for the route from Palma to Alicante, including ferry transit advice and navigating the Spanish coastal road network.
- Drive time
- 7h 37m
- Distance
- 398 km
- Same day?
- Yes, doable
- under 8 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €46
- petrol · diesel ≈ €41
- Tolls
- ≈ €36
- per-km
- EV charging
- Unknown
- not yet surveyed
On this page
Route map
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 37m
398 km · €46 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
398 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 depart Palma by boarding the ferry to Dénia or Valencia, where the true road trip begins the moment you roll off the ramp and onto the Spanish mainland motorway network. From Dénia, you will quickly merge onto the AP-7, which serves as your primary arterial road southward toward Alicante. Unlike the island roads of Mallorca, this route demands a higher level of vigilance as you navigate the heavy commercial traffic moving between the Mediterranean ports and the logistics hubs of the Valencian Community. Transitioning from the northern stretches of the Costa Blanca into the vicinity of Alicante, you will eventually funnel onto the A-70. Be prepared for a change in rhythm as the rural coastal scenery gives way to the dense urban sprawl of Alicante; the A-70 often carries high volumes of local commuters, making lane discipline essential. While you are driving within the same country, remember that the speed limit on these motorways is strictly capped at 120 km/h, and the ubiquitous presence of speed cameras means that holding a steady pace is safer for your schedule and your wallet than aggressive overtaking. Infrastructure along the Spanish coast is generally excellent, though you should budget for the variable costs of toll-based sections on the AP-7 depending on the specific segments you choose. Fuel stops are frequent and reliable, but it is wise to avoid refueling directly at the larger service stations located immediately off the motorway junctions, as they often carry a premium price compared to those found just a few kilometers inland in the smaller towns. As you approach the port city, watch for low-emission zone signage, as major urban centers in Spain are increasingly restricting access for older, higher-polluting vehicles.
Route highlights
- Ferry crossing from the port of Palma to mainland Spain
- Scenic stretch of the AP-7 passing through the Costa Blanca
- Navigation of the A-70 coastal arterial road
- Entry into the historic Mediterranean port city of Alicante
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: Gata de Gorgos (es).
- Distance:
- 398 km
- Duration:
- 7h 37m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Santa Eulària des Riu 🇪🇸 es
≈100 km≈ 28.2 km detour from the main route
-
Oliva 🇪🇸 es
≈299 km≈ 1.7 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 Gandia - Eivissa
Plan for about 149 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on Palma - Eivissa
Plan for about 130 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
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 Mediterráneo85 km
-
A-70 —11 km
-
Ma-1 Avinguda de Gabriel Roca3 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Rural-road drive — narrow roads, small towns, patience required.
- Motorway
- 25%
- Secondary
- 2%
- Other / rural
- 73%
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 37m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- About 280 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)
≈ €46
29.9 L × €1.54 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €41
23.9 L × €1.72 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €45
70 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
≈ €36
- ES — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 398 km in-country ≈ €36) 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.
🇪🇸 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
🇪🇸 Alicante
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18°
9°
|
17°
9°
|
20°
11°
|
21°
13°
|
23°
16°
|
28°
21°
|
30°
24°
|
31°
24°
|
27°
21°
|
25°
18°
|
22°
13°
|
18°
9°
|
| 9mm | 16mm | 56mm | 16mm | 37mm | 14mm | 11mm | 13mm | 47mm | 61mm | 5mm | 30mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Alicante
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Fri 22
☀️
25° / 19°
—
-
Sat 23
☀️
26° / 18°
—
-
Sun 24
⛅
26° / 18°
—
-
Mon 25
⛅
27° / 18°
—
-
Tue 26
☀️
27° / 18°
—
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 23 manoeuvres
- Carrer de la Cadena
- Plaça de la Reina
- Avinguda de Gabriel Roca (Ma-1) 3 km
- —
- —
- Palma - Eivissa 130 km
- Gandia - Eivissa 149 km
- —
- Accés sud al port de Gandia (N-337) 0.1 km
- Accés sud al port de Gandia (N-337) 0.1 km
- Avinguda d'Alacant (N-332) 0.2 km
- Avinguda del País Valencià
- —
- Autopista de la Mediterrània / Autopista del Mediterráneo (AP-7) 85 km
- (A-70) 11 km
- — 0.4 km
- Avinguda de Dénia 0.4 km
- —
- Avinguda de Dénia 1 km
- Avinguda de Dénia 0.2 km
- Avinguda de Dénia 0.1 km
- Avinguda de Dénia
- Plaça de l'Ajuntament
Frequently asked
Do I need a vignette for Spanish motorways?
No, there is no vignette system in Spain. Some motorways operate on a distance-based toll system, which you pay at the booths or via electronic transponder.
Are there any specific driving rules I should be aware of?
Drivers in Spain must keep to the right and observe a strict 120 km/h speed limit on motorways. Keep in mind that mobile phone use and drinking while driving are heavily penalized with strict blood alcohol concentration limits.
Is the route to Alicante difficult to navigate?
The route is straightforward as it primarily follows the AP-7 coastal corridor. The main challenge is the high volume of traffic near the urban centers of Valencia and Alicante, especially during peak holiday seasons.
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.