🇫🇷 Cross-border drive · France → Austria 🇦🇹
Driving from Paris to Graz
Drive from Paris to Graz via France and Germany. Navigate A4, A320, A6, A61, A3, A8. Expect tolls, autobahns, and Austrian vignettes.
- Drive time
- 12h 26m
- Distance
- 1,235 km
- Same day?
- Split it
- 12 h+, plan a stop
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €183
- petrol · diesel ≈ €152
- Tolls
- ≈ €51
- 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.
Alternative
+1h 39m- Distance:
- 1,379 km (+143 km)
- Duration:
- 14h 6m
Via: A 3 · A9 · E42 · A 1
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.
12h 26m
1.235 km · €183 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
1.235 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.
Your journey from Paris begins by picking up the A4 autoroute eastwards, a straightforward start through the French countryside. You’ll follow this for a significant stretch before transitioning to the A320 near Metz, a route that then merges into the A6. This section through eastern France is often toll-heavy, so budget accordingly for the autoroute fees. Shortly after joining the A61, you'll approach the German border, the point where the extensive French toll system gives way to the autobahn network.
Entering Germany, the route seamlessly shifts onto the A3, which will be your main artery for a substantial part of the drive. Unlike France, the German autobahns are largely toll-free for passenger vehicles, though be mindful of varying speed limits and potential traffic congestion, especially around major cities. The A3 will take you towards Bavaria, where you'll link up with the A8 heading southeast. This autobahn is scenic but can also be busy, particularly as you get closer to the Austrian Alps. Keep an eye out for road works and changing speed restrictions which are common on the A8.
As you approach the Austrian border near Salzburg, prepare for the transition. You'll need to purchase an Austrian vignette before proceeding onto the Austrian motorways. These are mandatory and can be bought online in advance or at border points and petrol stations just before the border. The speed limits and driving style may feel slightly different once you are in Austria. The final stretch into Graz will likely involve navigating Austrian autobahns like the A10 or A9, depending on the exact OSRM route, continuing the theme of well-maintained but potentially busy motorways. Fuel prices can fluctuate significantly between France, Germany, and Austria, so it’s worth comparing as you go.
Route highlights
- A4 autoroute through French countryside
- German autobahns (A3, A8) with variable speed limits
- Austrian vignette requirement for motorways
- Transiting through Bavaria on the A8
- Potential for autobahn traffic near cities
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: Schwäbisch Hall (de).
- Distance:
- 1,235 km
- Duration:
- 12h 26m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Cormontreuil 🇫🇷 fr
≈154 km≈ 11.5 km detour from the main route
-
Jœuf 🇫🇷 fr
≈309 km≈ 6.7 km detour from the main route
-
Enkenbach-Alsenborn 🇩🇪 de
≈463 km≈ 6.9 km detour from the main route
-
Öhringen 🇩🇪 de
≈618 km≈ 2.1 km detour from the main route
-
Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz 🇩🇪 de
≈772 km≈ 6.4 km detour from the main route
-
Schöllnach 🇩🇪 de
≈926 km≈ 5.8 km detour from the main route
-
Micheldorf in Oberösterreich 🇦🇹 at
≈1,081 km≈ 6.5 km detour from the main route
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Multi-country chain · FR → DE → CZ → AT
You'll cross 4 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 FR
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 CZ / AT
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.
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
Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart need a green Umweltplakette
Must knowGermany's low-emission zones (Umweltzone) are simpler than the French system but stricter on entry. You need a colour-coded sticker physically on your windscreen before entering. The vast majority of zones today require a green sticker (Euro 4+ petrol, Euro 6+ diesel). Order via TÜV / DEKRA / certified workshops — about €6–13, ships in days. Driving without one costs €100 even if your car would qualify.
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.
Crit'Air sticker required inside the boulevard périphérique
Must knowParis
Paris's ZFE-m runs every weekday 8:00–20:00 inside the périphérique. Crit'Air 4+ diesels are banned during these hours, and from 2025 Crit'Air 3 joins them. Even compliant cars need the sticker physically displayed. Order from the official site (€4.51) at least 4 weeks before travel — non-French plates take longer.
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.
Czech e-vignette is plate-linked, no sticker
Must knowCzechia replaced paper vignettes in 2021. Buy on edalnice.cz with your plate, valid from the chosen date. 10-day is CZK 290 (~€12), annual CZK 2,300 (~€95). Police read plates electronically — no display required. The first 90 minutes after purchase, the system sometimes hasn't synced; keep your purchase confirmation accessible.
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.
What your car must carry
Triangle, first-aid kit, hi-vis vest — all three
Must knowGermany requires a warning triangle, a first-aid kit (compliant with DIN 13164, with a "use by" date — €10 at any pharmacy), and a reflective vest in every passenger car. Roadside checks do happen at borders. The first-aid kit is the one foreign drivers most commonly miss.
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.
Driving rules & habits
Left lane is for overtaking only — return immediately
UsefulOn unrestricted Autobahn sections (where you'll see no speed-limit-end signs), faster cars expect to use the left lane unobstructed. Drift into it without checking the mirror and a 911 closing at 250 km/h becomes your problem. Indicate, overtake, return right — every time. Slowing in the left lane to "make space" is more dangerous than predictable speed.
Phone-mounted radar warnings are illegal
UsefulActive radar-detector apps (and the "police nearby" feature on Waze / Google Maps) are technically banned in Germany — fines hit €75. Most drivers leave them on without consequence, but if you're stopped for any reason, the officer can ask to see your phone. Switch the warning layer off when crossing into DE if you want to play it strict.
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.
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.
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 4 Autoroute de l’Est368 km
-
A 6 —324 km
-
A 3 —216 km
-
A9 Pyhrn Autobahn174 km
-
A8 Innkreis Autobahn76 km
-
A 61 —45 km
-
A 320 —15 km
-
B67a Grabenstraße3 km
-
L302 Judendorfer Straße2 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 99%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 1%
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: 12h 26m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- Cross-border: FR → AT. Keep documents accessible and check border rules.
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €183
92.6 L × €1.97 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €152
74.1 L × €2.06 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €130
216 kWh × €0.60 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €51
- FR — €0.10/km on the motorway network (≈ 283 km in-country ≈ €28)
- CZ — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €13.00 for 10 days Annual vignette is €88.00 if you drive often
- AT — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €10.10 for 10 days Annual vignette is €103.80 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.
🇫🇷 Paris
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7°
2°
|
10°
4°
|
13°
5°
|
16°
7°
|
20°
10°
|
25°
14°
|
25°
16°
|
25°
15°
|
21°
13°
|
17°
10°
|
11°
6°
|
9°
4°
|
| 88mm | 51mm | 72mm | 66mm | 89mm | 74mm | 108mm | 92mm | 86mm | 91mm | 85mm | 59mm |
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 22 manoeuvres
- Rue d'Arcole 0.3 km
- (A 4) 7 km
- Autoroute de l’Est (A 4) 14 km
- Autoroute de l’Est (A 4) 18 km
- Autoroute de l’Est (A 4) 25 km
- Autoroute de l’Est (A 4) 262 km
- Autoroute de l’Est (A 4) 42 km
- (A 320) 15 km
- (A 6) 72 km
- (A 6) 41 km
- (A 61) 37 km
- (A 61) 8 km
- — 0.5 km
- (A 6) 211 km
- — 1.0 km
- (A 3) 216 km
- Innkreis Autobahn (A8) 61 km
- Innkreis Autobahn (A8) 15 km
- Pyhrn Autobahn (A9) 174 km
- Judendorfer Straße (L302) 2 km
- Grabenstraße (B67a) 3 km
- Jakominiplatz
Frequently asked
Do I need a vignette for Germany?
No, standard passenger cars do not require a vignette or toll sticker for driving on German autobahns. Tolls are generally only for heavy goods vehicles.
Where can I buy an Austrian vignette?
You can buy an Austrian vignette online in advance from the ASFINAG website, or at petrol stations and border crossings just before entering Austria. Purchasing it before the border is highly recommended.
Are there many tolls in France on this route?
Yes, the French autoroutes (A4, A320, A6, A61) on this route are predominantly toll roads. Keep cash or a credit card handy for payment booths.
What are the typical speed limits on German autobahns?
While there is a recommended speed limit of 130 km/h (81 mph) on many sections of the autobahn, there are also stretches with no official speed limit. However, many sections do have variable limits posted, so always pay attention to signage.
What is the fuel price situation like along the route?
Fuel prices can vary significantly between France, Germany, and Austria. Generally, French and Austrian fuel tends to be more expensive than in Germany, especially away from major highway service stations.
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, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.