RoadAtlas
Abruzzo Highlands — Italy — Mountain
Europe

Abruzzo Highlands

Italy

Point-to-point
L'Aquila Pescasseroli

In short: Abruzzo Highlands is a About 260 km mountain road trip in Italy, typically driven over 3 days, best in May–Jun / Sep–Oct. Highlights: L'Aquila, Campo Imperatore, Santo Stefano di Sessanio.

Distance
About 260 km
Duration
3 days
Best Season
May–Jun / Sep–Oct
NotableModerateMountainEV-friendly

Italy's most underrated region, the SS17 and mountain roads through the Apennine backbone past medieval hill towns, the wolf-and-bear wilderness of Gran Sasso, and a coastline that the Adriatic sun turns an extraordinary turquoise.

Practical notes
Check the Campo Imperatore road and cableway separately: they can reopen on different dates after snow or maintenance. Verify current status at https://www.ilgransasso.it/, reserve any cableway/timed visit, carry altitude-appropriate layers and footwear, and obey town ZTL and parking signs. In protected parks remain on marked paths, keep distance from wildlife and never promise a sighting. Day 3 uses a named short walk or visitor centre rather than an undefined wildlife outing.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1L'Aquila and Campo Imperatore

L'Aquila historic centre · Campo Imperatore cableway or road · Osteria del Corso

Day 2Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Rocca Calascio to Sulmona

Santo Stefano di Sessanio · Rocca Calascio · Ristorante Clemente

Day 3Sulmona via Scanno to Pescasseroli

Lake Scanno · Pescasseroli visitor centre or short Val Fondillo walk · Il Vecchio Mulino

Stops along the route

L'Aquila — Departure — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Departure
L'Aquila
A city of 99 churches and 99 fountains, still bearing the scars of the 2009 earthquake and still magnificently beautiful.
Hotels
Santo Stefano di Sessanio — City — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
City
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
A perfectly preserved Medici village at 1,250m where stone houses are being restored one by one as artisan hotels.
Hotels
Sulmona — City — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
City
Sulmona
An elegant medieval town famous for confetti, sugar-coated almonds sold in every colour from shops lining the old corso.
Hotels
Scanno — City — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
City
Scanno
One of Italy's most beautiful mountain villages, with a wolf-shaped lake, traditional costumes, and handmade jewellery.
Hotels
Pescasseroli — Arrival — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Arrival
Pescasseroli
Heart of Italy's oldest national park, home to Apennine wolves, Marsican bears, and golden eagles in deep forest.
Hotels

Things to Do

Campo Imperatore — Nature — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Nature
Campo Imperatore
A vast plateau at 2,000m called Italy's Little Tibet. Mussolini was imprisoned at the hotel here in 1943.
L'Aquila historic centre — City heritage — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
City heritage
L'Aquila historic centre
Use one substantive centre visit before the highland access.
Campo Imperatore cableway or road — High plateau — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
High plateau
Campo Imperatore cableway or road
Attempt only after checking the separate live cableway and road statuses.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio — Historic village — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Historic village
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Park outside the centre and walk the village.
Rocca Calascio — Castle walk — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Castle walk
Rocca Calascio
Assess wind, road access and footwear before the climb, then continue to Sulmona.
Lake Scanno — Lake walk — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Lake walk
Lake Scanno
Use a short signed lake stop without blocking local roads.
Show 1 more
Pescasseroli visitor centre or short Val Fondillo walk — Park orientation — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Park orientation
Pescasseroli visitor centre or short Val Fondillo walk
Choose a named open visitor centre or short marked trail; do not imply guaranteed wildlife.

Where to Eat

Osteria del Corso — Abruzzese — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Abruzzese
Osteria del Corso
Verify and reserve this L’Aquila meal.
Ristorante Clemente — Abruzzese — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Abruzzese
Ristorante Clemente
Use this identifiable Sulmona arrival dinner and verify hours.
Il Vecchio Mulino — Abruzzese — Abruzzo Highlands — Italy
Abruzzese
Il Vecchio Mulino
Place this correctly on the Scanno day and verify current opening.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Abruzzo Highlands drive?

The Abruzzo Highlands covers About 260 km from start to finish.

How long does the Abruzzo Highlands take to drive?

Most travellers spend 3 days on the Abruzzo Highlands, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Abruzzo Highlands?

The recommended season for the Abruzzo Highlands is May–Jun / Sep–Oct.

Where does the Abruzzo Highlands start and end?

The Abruzzo Highlands runs from L'Aquila to Pescasseroli.

What are the main stops on the Abruzzo Highlands?

The Abruzzo Highlands passes through L'Aquila, Campo Imperatore, Santo Stefano di Sessanio.

How difficult is the Abruzzo Highlands to drive?

The Abruzzo Highlands is rated moderate and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the Abruzzo Highlands in a regular car?

Yes — the Abruzzo Highlands is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.

Is the Abruzzo Highlands EV friendly?

Yes — the Abruzzo Highlands has charger coverage along the route and works as an EV road trip.

Is the Abruzzo Highlands safe to drive?

Check the Campo Imperatore road and cableway separately: they can reopen on different dates after snow or maintenance. Verify current status at https://www.ilgransasso.it/, reserve any cableway/timed visit, carry altitude-appropriate layers and footwear, and obey town ZTL and parking signs. In protected parks remain on marked paths, keep distance from wildlife and never promise a sighting. Day 3 uses a named short walk or visitor centre rather than an undefined wildlife outing.

What scenic tier is the Abruzzo Highlands?

The Abruzzo Highlands is a notable drive — Notable scenic drives — strong character routes that locals know well and that reward travellers willing to step beyond the most-photographed roads.