🇦🇹 Same-country drive · Austria
Driving from Vienna to Graz
Drive from Vienna to Graz on the A2 Süd Autobahn. Get tips on Austria's motorways, fuel, and city driving.
- Drive time
- 2h 13m
- Distance
- 195 km
- Same day?
- Yes, half day
- under 4 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €26
- petrol · diesel ≈ €22
- Tolls
- ≈ €10
- vignette
- 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
+12m- Distance:
- 198 km (+4 km)
- Duration:
- 2h 25m
Via: S6 · A2 · S35 · A9
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.
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.
Pickup on the A2 Süd Autobahn just south of Vienna, and this is your main artery for the next 195 kilometers towards Graz. Austria's motorway system is generally excellent, and the A2 is no exception, offering a smooth and direct route through the Austrian countryside.
As you head south, the landscape begins to shift from the flatter Pannonian Basin around Vienna to the rolling hills and eventually the more dramatic foothills of the Alps as you approach Styria. Keep an eye out for rest stops (Raststationen) which are well-equipped with fuel, food, and facilities. Fuel prices in Austria tend to be on the higher side compared to some neighboring countries, so it's worth topping up before you leave Vienna if you're on a tight budget, although the distances between stations are not excessive on the A2.
Driving in Austria requires an 'Autobahnvignette' for all motorways, which you can purchase online in advance or at border crossings and petrol stations. Ensure it's correctly displayed on your windscreen. Speed limits are generally 130 km/h on Austrian motorways, but watch for variable signs that may reduce this in certain zones or during specific conditions. You will not be crossing any international borders on this route, simplifying your drive significantly as Austrian road rules and currency remain consistent throughout. As you get closer to Graz, the approach is straightforward, with clear signage guiding you into the city.
Route highlights
- A2 Süd Autobahn
- Raststationen services
- Austrian motorway vignette
- Transition to Alpine foothills
- Variable speed limit signs
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:
- 195 km
- Duration:
- 2h 13m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Neunkirchen 🇦🇹 at
≈65 km≈ 5.9 km detour from the main route
-
Pöllau 🇦🇹 at
≈130 km≈ 19.6 km detour from the main route
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Vignette required in 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.
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.
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.
Driving rules & habits
Bicycles on the right — turn right with extreme care
TipVienna
Vienna built out a Copenhagen-style bike network from 2020–2024. Most major streets now have a separated bike lane on the right. Right-turning cars must yield to a bike going straight in the bike lane — the rule that catches most foreigners. Look over your right shoulder before turning.
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.
-
A2 Süd Autobahn181 km
-
B17 Triester Straße4 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 93%
- Secondary
- 3%
- Other / rural
- 4%
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)
≈ €26
14.6 L × €1.80 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €22
11.7 L × €1.91 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €21
34 kWh × €0.61 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €10
- AT — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €10.10 for 10 days Annual vignette is €103.80 if you drive often
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-11.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇦🇹 Vienna
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5°
-1°
|
8°
1°
|
13°
4°
|
16°
7°
|
20°
10°
|
26°
16°
|
28°
18°
|
28°
17°
|
23°
13°
|
17°
9°
|
9°
3°
|
5°
1°
|
| 37mm | 28mm | 49mm | 76mm | 74mm | 62mm | 62mm | 47mm | 130mm | 53mm | 50mm | 46mm |
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.
-
Fri 22
⛅
25° / 14°
—
-
Sat 23
⛅
27° / 12°
—
-
Sun 24
⛅
30° / 13°
—
-
Mon 25
☀️
30° / 17°
—
-
Tue 26
⛅
32° / 16°
—
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 9 manoeuvres
- Jasomirgottstraße
- Schwarzenbergplatz 0.2 km
- Triester Straße (B17) 4 km
- Süd Autobahn (A2) 55 km
- Süd Autobahn (A2) 123 km
- — 0.5 km
- Autobahnzubringer Graz Ost (A2) 3 km
- Münzgrabenstraße 2 km
- Jakominiplatz
Cycling from Vienna to Graz
Touring-pace bicycle route generated by BRouter, with elevation gain and matched against the EuroVelo cycle network.
- Distance
- 217 km
- vs 195 km driving
- Riding time
- 11h 33m
- Touring pace; experienced riders cut this 20–30%.
- Total climb
- ↑ 1.178 m
Routed on the BRouter trekking profile — balanced for paved leisure tourers; gravel and fast-bike profiles produce different lines.
On the EuroVelo network
Sections of this route follow signed EuroVelo cycle routes — well-maintained, signposted, and bike-friendly:
- EV14 Waters of Central Europe · 36.5 km
- EV9 Baltic – Adriatic · 22.5 km
Total: 59,0 km on EuroVelo (27% of the route).
Show route on map
By coach from Vienna to Graz
Indicative duration of the fastest direct long-distance coach found in the FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus EU schedules.
- Travel time
- 2h 2m
- Direct
- Operator
- FlixBus-eu
- Departures / day
- ~6
- Approximate based on the published schedule.
Show coach corridor on map
Schedules sourced from the FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus GTFS feeds via transport.data.gouv.fr. Times are indicative; verify on the operator's site before booking.
Booking link coming soon.
By train from Vienna to Graz
Fastest cross-border rail itinerary from the public Transitous planner. Times reflect a typical Monday-morning departure on the next available service-day.
- Fastest journey
- 3h 1m
- 3 changes
- Lead operator
- OEBB Personenverkehr AG Kundenservice
- Alternatives
- 2
- Itineraries returned by the planner.
Trains on the fastest itinerary
- RJ 112
Includes a high-speed rail leg (TGV, ICE, AVE, Frecciarossa-class).
Show route on map
Routing via the public Transitous OTP planner (community-run MOTIS instance). Cached 24 hours; verify on the operator's site before booking.
Frequently asked
Do I need a vignette for the A2 Autobahn?
Yes, a vignette is mandatory for using Austrian motorways like the A2 Süd Autobahn. You can purchase digital or sticker vignettes online or at fuel stations.
What are the typical speed limits on the A2?
The general speed limit on Austrian motorways like the A2 is 130 km/h, but always adhere to variable speed limit signs which can change due to traffic or road conditions.
Are there many fuel stops on the A2 between Vienna and Graz?
Yes, there are regular and well-equipped rest stops (Raststationen) along the A2 offering fuel, food, and other services.
Is the A2 prone to traffic delays?
Like most major motorways, the A2 can experience delays, particularly around Vienna and Graz during peak commuting hours or holidays. Checking traffic conditions before departure is advisable.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, BRouter for the bicycle route, EuroVelo GPX (ODbL) by the European Cyclists' Federation for the cycle-network overlay, 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.