🇳🇱 Cross-border drive · Netherlands → Spain 🇪🇸
Driving from The Hague to Valencia
Drive from The Hague to Valencia. Navigate A13, E19, E17 through France, pay French tolls, and enjoy the Spanish coast. Plan your route.
- Drive time
- 19h 40m
- Distance
- 1,847 km
- Same day?
- Split it
- 12 h+, plan a stop
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €262
- petrol · diesel ≈ €226
- Tolls
- ≈ €142
- 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
+9h 26m- Distance:
- 1,858 km (+12 km)
- Duration:
- 29h 6m
Via: N 10 · N 2 · A-132 · A-230
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.
19h 40m
1.847 km · €262 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
1.847 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.
Leaving The Hague, you’ll quickly join the A13 heading towards Rotterdam, soon merging onto the A16 which transitions into the E19 towards Antwerp. This initial leg is straightforward Dutch and Belgian motorway driving, familiar territory with consistent speed limits and good road surfaces. Keep an eye out as you cross the Belgian border; while speed limits don't drastically change, the landscape begins to shift subtly. You’ll then pick up the R1, Antwerp's ring road, before connecting to the E17, your primary artery south into France. Prepare for the French autoroute system, which means tolls. Most sections of the E17 in France and onwards will be toll roads; budgeting for this is essential. Unlike Belgium or the Netherlands, French tolls are typically paid at toll booths based on distance travelled.
Continue south on the E17, which will eventually guide you towards cities like Lille and then further down towards the Paris region. While this route bypasses the immediate centre of Paris, be aware of increased traffic density and potentially variable speed limits as you approach major conurbations. You'll need to navigate the network around Paris, potentially linking up with other major routes like the A1 or A6 depending on the most direct OSRM path, before continuing your southerly trajectory towards Spain. The transition from French to Spanish roads is marked by a change in road signage and generally higher speed limits on the Spanish autovías and autopistas, although many of these are also toll roads.
As you approach the Spanish border, typically around the Pyrenees, expect winding sections and potentially stricter regulations regarding winter tyres if travelling outside of peak summer months, though this route usually stays at lower altitudes. Once in Spain, the autovías (A-roads) are excellent, and while many are toll roads (autopistas), they offer high-speed, direct travel. The final approach to Valencia will take you along Spain's Mediterranean coast, with the E17 eventually leading to routes like the AP-7 or A-7, which hug the coastline. You’ll notice a distinct shift in atmosphere and architecture, with a palpable sense of arrival in the warmer climes of southern Spain. Be mindful of fuel prices, which tend to be higher in France than in Spain, and ensure you have any required environmental stickers if planning to enter low-emission zones in major French cities.
Route highlights
- E19 towards Antwerp's vibrant port city
- Navigating the French autoroute toll system
- Bypassing Paris via the outer ring roads
- Crossing the Spanish border into Catalonia
- The Mediterranean coast on the AP-7/A-7
- Arrival in sunny Valencia
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Overnight recommended
Too long for a single-driver day. Plan on 2 overnight stop(s) to do this trip right.
A natural overnight stop near the halfway point: Brioude (fr).
- Distance:
- 1,847 km
- Duration:
- 19h 40m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Lauwe 🇧🇪 be
≈231 km≈ 2.6 km detour from the main route
-
Fontenay-sous-Bois 🇫🇷 fr
≈462 km≈ 1.3 km detour from the main route
-
Mehun-sur-Yèvre 🇫🇷 fr
≈692 km≈ 3.1 km detour from the main route
-
Issoire 🇫🇷 fr
≈923 km≈ 2.5 km detour from the main route
-
Lodève 🇫🇷 fr
≈1,154 km≈ 9 km detour from the main route
-
Banyoles 🇪🇸 es
≈1,385 km≈ 16.2 km detour from the main route
-
Mont-roig del Camp 🇪🇸 es
≈1,616 km≈ 4.4 km detour from the main route
Along the way
Places to stop for coffee, a bite, a view, or the night — from OpenStreetMap.
Food · 6
-
+0.1 km
restaurant
-
+0.3 km
restaurant
-
+0.4 km
restaurant · 's-Gravenhage
-
+0.5 km
fast food
-
+0.5 km
restaurant · 's-Gravenhage
-
+0.2 km
Bipolar
restaurant
Coffee · 6
-
+0.1 km
Café Coral
cafe
-
+0.2 km
Bar Jesús
cafe
-
+0.2 km
Bar els Cremats
cafe
-
+0.2 km
Bar Victoria
cafe
-
+0.2 km
La més cabuda
cafe
-
+0.4 km
Moments
cafe · 's-Gravenhage
Museums & history · 6
-
+0.3 km
Zusters van Liefde
memorial
-
+0.3 km
Aartsengel Michael
memorial
-
+0.4 km
antiguo Cuartel del Pilar
ruins
-
+0.4 km
Sinti- en Roma monument
memorial
-
+1.1 km
museum · 's-Gravenhage
-
+0.6 km
Plaquette Prinses Irene Brigade
memorial
Outdoors · 6
-
+1.2 km
Wereldvredesvlam
attraction
-
+1.5 km
Constantyn Huygens
attraction
-
+2.4 km
Sint-Hubertusduin
viewpoint
-
+2.7 km
De Bloedberg
viewpoint
-
+2.8 km
De Hoge Nol
viewpoint
-
+3.0 km
Lindoduin
viewpoint
Stay the night · 6
-
+0.6 km
hotel
-
+0.3 km
Apartamentos Alma
hotel
-
+0.8 km
hotel · 's-Gravenhage
-
+0.9 km
hotel · 's-Gravenhage
-
+0.4 km
Catalonia Excelsior
hotel
-
+0.8 km
De Salon van Fagel
hotel · 's-Gravenhage
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Multi-country chain · NL → BE → FR → ES
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 / 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 V-21
Plan for about 19 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on R1
Plan for about 15 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
Brussels Low Emission Zone covers all 19 communes
Must knowBrussels LEZ runs 24/7 across the entire city; foreign plates must register online before arrival. Diesel pre-Euro 4 and petrol pre-Euro 1 are banned outright. The fine for unregistered entry is €350. Antwerp and Ghent have their own LEZs with different sticker requirements.
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.
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.
Tolls, vignettes & road payment
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.
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.
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.
What your car must carry
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
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.
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.
Town names switch language across the border
TipBelgium signs towns in the local language: Mons becomes Bergen in Flanders, Liège becomes Luik, Brussels becomes Bruxelles/Brussel. SatNav usually handles both, but printed maps and exit signs can throw you. If you're looking for "Mons" on a Flemish-side motorway, you'll see "Bergen" on the gantry.
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.
Smaller stations close on Sundays
TipMotorway service areas (aires) run 24/7 with a fuel-price premium of about €0.15/L. Off-motorway stations in towns under 20k people often close Sunday afternoons and overnight Mon–Sat. If you're fuelling on a Sunday route, plan around motorway stops — supermarket pumps (Carrefour, E.Leclerc) are your cheapest option but typically 9:00–12:30 / 14:30–19:00 on a Sunday, where open at all.
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 Mediterrània469 km
-
A 75 La Méridienne335 km
-
A 71 L'Arverne289 km
-
A 1 Autoroute du Nord193 km
-
A 9 La Languedocienne121 km
-
A 10 L'Aquitaine109 km
-
E17 —101 km
-
A16 —67 km
-
E19 —34 km
-
A 86 —20 km
-
V-21 —19 km
-
R1 —15 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 97%
- Secondary
- 1%
- Other / rural
- 2%
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: 19h 40m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- Cross-border: NL → ES. 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)
≈ €262
138.5 L × €1.89 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €226
110.8 L × €2.04 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €199
323 kWh × €0.62 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €142
- FR — €0.10/km on the motorway network (≈ 961 km in-country ≈ €96)
- ES — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 506 km in-country ≈ €46) Toll-free on the A-network; charged only on AP roads.
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-04.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇳🇱 The Hague
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7°
3°
|
9°
4°
|
11°
4°
|
14°
7°
|
17°
10°
|
21°
14°
|
21°
15°
|
22°
15°
|
20°
13°
|
16°
11°
|
11°
6°
|
9°
5°
|
| 111mm | 65mm | 67mm | 80mm | 78mm | 52mm | 114mm | 76mm | 95mm | 120mm | 128mm | 86mm |
hot mild cold
🇪🇸 Valencia
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17°
8°
|
17°
8°
|
20°
10°
|
22°
12°
|
24°
15°
|
28°
20°
|
31°
23°
|
32°
23°
|
27°
20°
|
25°
17°
|
21°
12°
|
17°
8°
|
| 14mm | 23mm | 62mm | 10mm | 35mm | 15mm | 17mm | 19mm | 105mm | 114mm | 44mm | 45mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Valencia
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
☀️
19° / 18°
—
-
Wed 13
☀️
25° / 15°
0.4mm
-
Thu 14
☀️
24° / 14°
—
-
Fri 15
🌧️
22° / 13°
9.7mm
-
Sat 16
☀️
22° / 11°
—
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 47 manoeuvres
- Sirtemastraat 0.1 km
- Lorentzplein
- Rotterdamseweg (A13) 10 km
- (A16) 12 km
- (A16) 16 km
- (A16) 4 km
- (A16) 25 km
- (A16) 9 km
- (E19) 34 km
- (R1) 15 km
- (E17) 101 km
- (A 22) 12 km
- Voie Rapide Urbaine (N 356) 7 km
- Autoroute du Nord (A 1) 19 km
- Autoroute du Nord (A 1) 174 km
- (A 3) 12 km
- (A 3) 0.2 km
- (A 86) 8 km
- Autoroute de l’Est (A 4) 2 km
- (A 86) 4 km
- (A 86) 8 km
- (N 186) 3 km
- — 0.7 km
- (A 6b) 3 km
- L'Aquitaine (A 10) 3 km
- L'Aquitaine (A 10) 2 km
- L'Aquitaine (A 10) 35 km
- L'Aquitaine (A 10) 72 km
- L'Arverne (A 71) 0.4 km
- — 0.5 km
- L'Arverne (A 71) 78 km
- L'Arverne (A 71) 211 km
- La Méridienne (A 75) 335 km
- La Méridienne (A 75) 0.5 km
- La Languedocienne (A 9) 68 km
- La Catalane (A 9) 52 km
- Autopista de la Mediterrània (AP-7) 136 km
- Autopista de la Mediterrània (AP-7) 14 km
- (B-30) 0.4 km
- — 0.4 km
- Autopista de la Mediterrània (AP-7) 61 km
- Autopista de la Mediterrània (AP-7) 259 km
- Autovia de la Mediterrània (A-7) 9 km
- (V-21) 19 km
- Avinguda d'Aragó
- Pont d'Aragó
- Plaça de la Ciutat de Bruges
Frequently asked
What are the main toll systems I'll encounter?
You'll primarily encounter the French autoroute toll system, where you pay at booths based on distance. Spain also has toll roads (autopistas), often with similar payment methods. Belgium and the Netherlands generally use toll-free motorways.
Are there specific environmental regulations I need to be aware of?
Yes, major French cities often have low-emission zones (ZFE). Check the requirements for Crit'Air stickers if you plan to drive through or near them, especially around Paris and Lyon.
What are the typical speed limits on the main roads?
Speed limits vary by country. Expect around 120-130 km/h on motorways in NL, BE, and FR, and often 120 km/h on Spanish autovías. Always observe posted signs.
Do I need to buy a vignette for any countries on this route?
No vignettes are required for the Netherlands, Belgium, or France on this specific route. Spain does not require vignettes for its main motorways, but toll roads are common.
How significant are the fuel price differences between countries?
Fuel prices can vary notably. Generally, expect French fuel prices to be higher than in Spain. It's often strategic to fill up before entering France or in Spain.
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, OpenStreetMap via Overpass for sights along the route, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.