The best road trips in the Alps run from Austria's Grossglockner High Alpine Road, 48 km of glacier views and 4,000 m peaks, to the 720 km Route des Grandes Alpes across the French Alps and the switchback staircase of the Stelvio Pass. These ten drives climb some of the highest sealed roads in Europe, and most run only from about June to October, so a late-September trip catches them in their final weeks before the snow gates close.
Autumn is the reason to move now. The high passes here shut once the first snow settles, usually through October and November, and the larches turn gold on the slopes while they stay open. This list is ranked by scenery and the drama of the road. Every distance and season comes straight from the route's catalog page, and each entry links to its full guide. For the wider set, browse the Mountain Passes collection.
The 10 best Alpine road trips at a glance
Distances, durations, and best-season windows come from each route's page. Every pass here opens on its own weather-dependent schedule, so check the live road status the same morning you drive.
| # | Route | Country | Distance | Duration | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grossglockner High Alpine Road | Austria | 48 km one-way | 1 day | Early May to early November |
| 2 | Stelvio Pass | Italy | 49 km | 1 day | June to October |
| 3 | The Dolomites | Italy | about 145 km | 3 days | June to October |
| 4 | Route des Grandes Alpes | France | about 720 km | 7 days | June to October |
| 5 | Swiss Alpine Passes | Switzerland | about 450 km | 5 days | June to October |
| 6 | German Alpine Road | Germany | 520 km | 7 days | May to October |
| 7 | Tyrol and Vorarlberg | Austria | about 450 km | 4 days | June to October |
| 8 | Vršič Pass | Slovenia | 45 km | 1 day | Late spring to autumn |
| 9 | Gorges du Verdon | France | about 130 km | 2 days | April to October |
| 10 | Route de Turini | France | 120 km | 1 day | May to October |
If you only do one
Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. In 48 km it climbs from Bruck up through the Fuschertörl and Edelweiss-Spitze viewpoints to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe lookout, which faces the retreating Pasterze Glacier and the 3,798 m Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak, before dropping to Heiligenblut. You can drive the paved road in a standard car in a day, though the glacier path below the lookout needs sturdy footwear and about 90 minutes. The gates run roughly early May to early November and every vehicle pays a toll, so buy it through the official operator and check the same-day status before you set off.
1. Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria
The Grossglockner is the most rewarding single day on this list. Its 48 km one-way climb strings together waterfalls, forested slopes, and jewel-coloured lakes on the way to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, where the Pasterze Glacier and the 3,798 m summit fill the view. Official gates open from early May to early November when weather allows, with last entry 45 minutes before closing, and the toll is required, so keep proof for the gate.
2. Stelvio Pass, Italy
The Stelvio Pass packs the most theatrical climbing into the shortest road. The classic east-to-west crossing covers about 49 km from Prato allo Stelvio up through Gomagoi, Trafoi, and Franzenshöhe to the summit, then down to Bormio. Drive it early, stay in low gear, and never stop in the carriageway. The season runs June to October.
3. The Dolomites, Italy
The Great Dolomites Road runs about 145 km from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo over three days, beneath rock towers that rise past 3,200 m. It links the Val di Fassa, the Passo Pordoi, the Alta Badia, and the Passo Falzarego, with vertiginous switchbacks between the peaks. Pass, lift, and parking status can change fast in the mountains, so check each one daily. Best months are June to October.
4. Route des Grandes Alpes, France
The Route des Grandes Alpes is the grand traverse, about 720 km from Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva to Menton on the Riviera over seven days. It crosses 16 passes, among them the Col de l'Iseran, the Col du Galibier, and the Col d'Izoard, and threads the Vanoise, Queyras, and Mercantour national parks with Mont Blanc in view from the opening climbs. Each pass keeps its own schedule and can close again after opening, so read the live departmental status the morning you drive. June to October is the window.
5. Swiss Alpine Passes, Switzerland
The Swiss Alpine Passes route ties the central passes into a five-day figure-eight, about 450 km from Lucerne over the Susten, Grimsel, Furka, Gotthard, and Nufenen before Brig and car-free Zermatt. Meiringen and Andermatt break the driving days, and the Rhône Glacier sits below the Furka. Confirm every pass with the federal status page on the same morning, since the summer roads and the Furka railway open on different dates. Private cars cannot enter Zermatt, so park at Täsch and take the shuttle train. The passes run June to October.
6. German Alpine Road, Germany
The German Alpine Road takes the mountains at an easier pace, 520 km on the Deutsche Alpenstraße from Lindau on Lake Constance east to Berchtesgaden over seven days. It paces the castles and lakes separately, from Neuschwanstein near Füssen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Walchensee, and the Königssee at the finish. Buy Neuschwanstein tickets only through the official channel and arrive before the printed tour time, because a late arrival can void entry. The road drives May to October.
7. Tyrol and Vorarlberg, Austria
The Tyrol and Vorarlberg route crosses Austria end to end, about 450 km from Bregenz on Lake Constance east to Salzburg over four days. It runs through the Alpine valleys of Vorarlberg past the Bergkäserei at Schoppernau, the abbey at Stift Stams, the schnapps distilleries of Stanz, and the old town of Innsbruck. Austrian motorways need the correct vignette, so buy one before you join them. Season is June to October.
8. Vršič Pass, Slovenia
The Vršič Pass is the eastern bookend of the Alps, a full-day 45 km crossing from Kranjska Gora over the summit to Trenta in the Julian Alps. It passes the wooden Russian Chapel on the climb and ends near the source of the Soča, reached by an easy approach that turns into an exposed, cabled final section for the sure-footed. Avoid the summit parking at peak times and use the free summer bus when its dates line up. The pass runs from late spring to autumn.
9. Gorges du Verdon, France
The Gorges du Verdon trades high passes for a limestone canyon nearly a kilometre deep, about 130 km over two days in Provence. From the hilltop town of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie it works around the rim to the 23 km Route des Crêtes, with 14 lookouts over the river and eagles and vultures overhead, then Point Sublime and Castellane. The Route des Crêtes closes from late November to late March and runs one-way, so obey the signed direction. April to October is the season.
10. Route de Turini, France
The Route de Turini offers a short, warm day in the Maritime Alps, 120 km behind Menton. It is the most celebrated stage of the Monte Carlo Rally, climbing from the Ligurian coast through chestnut forest to the Col de Turini at 1607 m, with banked hairpins the whole way up. Start after breakfast in Menton or Sospel, expect cyclists and local traffic, and keep to sight-distance speeds rather than rally speeds. Broad access runs May to October, though snow and events can still slow the pass.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best road trip in the Alps?
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria. Its 48 km climb reaches the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe lookout facing the Pasterze Glacier and the 3,798 m Grossglockner, and you can drive the whole thing in a standard car in a day. Buy the toll through the official operator and check the same-day gate status first.
When is the best time to drive in the Alps?
June to October for the high passes, which sit under snow the rest of the year. Late September and early October add autumn colour and thinner crowds, but the gates start closing soon after, so drive early in the day and confirm each pass before you leave.
Which Alpine pass is best for switchbacks?
The Stelvio Pass in Italy, whose east-to-west climb stacks hairpins above Trafoi and Franzenshöhe on the way to the summit. Take it early in low gear, as the road is busy with cyclists and motorcycles through the summer.
Do you need a special car to drive the Alps?
No. Every route here drives in a standard car, and several, including the Grossglockner and the Swiss passes, are marked EV-friendly. What matters more is a low gear for the descents, working brakes, and a same-morning check of the live pass status.
Which Alpine road trip is best for a whole week?
The Route des Grandes Alpes, 720 km and 16 passes over seven days from Lake Geneva to the Riviera. If you would rather take the mountains at an easier pace, the 520 km German Alpine Road spreads castles and lakes across a gentler week.
Ready to plan an Alpine crossing? Start with the full Grossglockner High Alpine Road guide, then open the interactive map to line these passes up against your own dates.
