RoadAtlas
Arctic Highway — Russia — Adventure
Europe

Arctic Highway

Russia

Point-to-point
Saint Petersburg Murmansk

In short: Arctic Highway is a 1,400 km adventure road trip in Russia, typically driven over 6 days, best in Jun–Aug / Dec–Feb. Highlights: Saint Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Kizhi Island.

Distance
1,400 km
Duration
6 days
Best Season
Jun–Aug / Dec–Feb
IconicModerateAdventure

From St. Petersburg north through the Karelian lakes and birch forests to Murmansk, the world's largest city above the Arctic Circle, and an ice-free naval port that never closes. In summer the sun never sets; in winter the Northern Lights arc overhead without interruption.

~2 refuels
~4 charges
Practical notes
Many governments advise against all travel to Russia; do not proceed unless current government advice, insurance, entry and payment rules permit. Prebook the Kizhi and Solovki transport and every remote overnight/meal. Kandalaksha Strict Nature Reserve is not an open roadside park: use only a prebooked official Luvenga Coast group excursion in its published season, with permit, fee, schedule and required footwear, or remain at a public fjord viewpoint outside reserve land. Avoid all military, naval, port and checkpoint photography and verify the M18, ferries, fuel and weather daily.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Saint Petersburg to Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk embankment · Karelskaya Gornitsa

Day 2Prebooked Petrozavodsk–Kizhi day

Kizhi Pogost · Confirmed Kizhi or hotel meal

Day 3Petrozavodsk to Kem

Kem harbour · Prearranged Kem hotel meal

Day 4Prebooked Solovetsky Islands day

Solovetsky Monastery · Confirmed monastery or lodging meal

Day 5Kem to Kandalaksha and Luvenga Coast

Official Luvenga Coast excursion or public fjord viewpoint · Prearranged Kandalaksha hotel meal

Day 6Kandalaksha to Murmansk

Lenin nuclear icebreaker · Alyosha Monument · Tundra

Stops along the route

Saint Petersburg — Departure — Arctic Highway — Russia
Departure
Saint Petersburg
The Hermitage, Peterhof's fountains, and White Nights in June. The grand departure point before the long road north.
Hotels
Petrozavodsk — City — Arctic Highway — Russia
City
Petrozavodsk
Karelia's capital on Lake Onega, Europe's second-largest lake. Ferries leave from here to the UNESCO wooden churches of Kizhi Island.
Hotels
Murmansk — Arrival — Arctic Highway — Russia
Arrival
Murmansk
The world's largest city above the Arctic Circle. The Lenin, the world's first nuclear-powered surface ship, is preserved in the harbour.
Hotels

Things to Do

Kizhi Island — Landmark — Arctic Highway — Russia
Landmark
Kizhi Island
UNESCO wooden churches built without a single nail. The 22-domed Church of the Transfiguration (1714) is among the world's finest timber structures.
Kem & Solovetsky Islands — Landmark — Arctic Highway — Russia
Landmark
Kem & Solovetsky Islands
Gateway to the Solovetsky Islands, where Orthodox monks lived from the 15th century and Russia's first gulag opened in 1923.
Kandalaksha Fjord — Nature — Arctic Highway — Russia
Nature
Kandalaksha Fjord
The Kola Peninsula begins here. Beluga whales are regularly spotted in the White Sea fjord from the coastal road in summer.
Petrozavodsk embankment — Arrival walk — Arctic Highway — Russia
Arrival walk
Petrozavodsk embankment
Use as a short daylight stop after the M18 transfer.
Kizhi Pogost — Prebooked island museum — Arctic Highway — Russia
Prebooked island museum
Kizhi Pogost
Travel on the confirmed hydrofoil and follow museum/weather rules.
Kem harbour — Transfer-day walk — Arctic Highway — Russia
Transfer-day walk
Kem harbour
Use only a short public harbour walk after arrival.
Show 4 more
Solovetsky Monastery — Prebooked heritage visit — Arctic Highway — Russia
Prebooked heritage visit
Solovetsky Monastery
Travel only on confirmed seasonal transport and retain a weather cancellation plan.
Official Luvenga Coast excursion or public fjord viewpoint — Permit-controlled nature visit — Arctic Highway — Russia
Permit-controlled nature visit
Official Luvenga Coast excursion or public fjord viewpoint
Join only a prebooked official seasonal group with its permit, fee, footwear and schedule; otherwise stay outside reserve land.
Lenin nuclear icebreaker — Museum ship — Arctic Highway — Russia
Museum ship
Lenin nuclear icebreaker
Check current opening and security rules; photograph only permitted visitor areas.
Alyosha Monument — Memorial — Arctic Highway — Russia
Memorial
Alyosha Monument
Use a short official-site visit and avoid sensitive military infrastructure.

Where to Eat

Karelskaya Gornitsa — Karelian — Arctic Highway — Russia
Karelian
Karelskaya Gornitsa
Reserve the identifiable Petrozavodsk arrival restaurant.
Confirmed Kizhi or hotel meal — Prearranged meal — Arctic Highway — Russia
Prearranged meal
Confirmed Kizhi or hotel meal
Use only the meal confirmed with the hydrofoil, island service or booked hotel.
Prearranged Kem hotel meal — Hotel meal — Arctic Highway — Russia
Hotel meal
Prearranged Kem hotel meal
Confirm the exact property, kitchen hours and address before leaving Petrozavodsk.
Confirmed monastery or lodging meal — Prearranged meal — Arctic Highway — Russia
Prearranged meal
Confirmed monastery or lodging meal
Use the exact refectory or guesthouse included in the booking.
Prearranged Kandalaksha hotel meal — Hotel meal — Arctic Highway — Russia
Hotel meal
Prearranged Kandalaksha hotel meal
Confirm the booked lodging kitchen rather than relying on an unnamed café.
Tundra — Northern Russian — Arctic Highway — Russia
Northern Russian
Tundra
Verify the city tourism listing and reserve the Murmansk dinner.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Arctic Highway drive?

The Arctic Highway covers 1,400 km from start to finish.

How long does the Arctic Highway take to drive?

Most travellers spend 6 days on the Arctic Highway, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Arctic Highway?

The recommended season for the Arctic Highway is Jun–Aug / Dec–Feb.

Where does the Arctic Highway start and end?

The Arctic Highway runs from Saint Petersburg to Murmansk.

What are the main stops on the Arctic Highway?

The Arctic Highway passes through Saint Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Kizhi Island.

How difficult is the Arctic Highway to drive?

The Arctic Highway is rated moderate and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the Arctic Highway in a regular car?

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

How many fuel stops are needed on the Arctic Highway?

Plan around 2 refuels (or about 4 EV charges) along the Arctic Highway, based on its 1,400 km length.

Is the Arctic Highway safe to drive?

Many governments advise against all travel to Russia; do not proceed unless current government advice, insurance, entry and payment rules permit. Prebook the Kizhi and Solovki transport and every remote overnight/meal. Kandalaksha Strict Nature Reserve is not an open roadside park: use only a prebooked official Luvenga Coast group excursion in its published season, with permit, fee, schedule and required footwear, or remain at a public fjord viewpoint outside reserve land. Avoid all military, naval, port and checkpoint photography and verify the M18, ferries, fuel and weather daily.

What scenic tier is the Arctic Highway?

The Arctic Highway is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.