Großglockner High Alpine Road
Austria's most spectacular pass: 36 hairpins to 2,504m and the country's highest peak
- Distance
- 45 mi
- 72 km
- Driving
- 1 hr 54 min
- excl. stops
- Suggested
- 1 day
- balanced split
- Stops
- 5
- curated
Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 5 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.
Opens the planner with every stop loaded. Free, no card needed.
Day by day
Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.
Before you go
Best time to drive it
Late June to September
High passes close for winter and reopen when the snow clears, in 2026 the Swiss trio of Furka, Grimsel and Nufenen only reopened on 29 May. Check the pass status before committing to dates.
Indicative costs
- Fuel (40 mpg petrol)€8
- TollsFree
- Vignette€12 sticker required
Tolls assume ~65% of the distance on tolled road. Fuel prices move constantly: treat these as a range, not a quote.
Driving rules
Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.
Driving in AustriaEvery stop on the Großglockner High Alpine Road
- 1Bruck am See
- 2Edelweißspitze
- 3Hochtor Pass
- 4Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe
- 5Heiligenblut
Worth a detour
Curated places within 25 km of the road.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
mountain passAustria's grandest alpine toll road climbs 36 hairpins to 2,504 m at Edelweissspitze, facing the country's highest peak and the Pasterze glacier; open roughly May to early November.
Hohe Tauern National Park
national parkThe largest national park in the Alps, encompassing the Grossglockner peak, Pasterze glacier, and over 300 mountains above 3,000 metres.
Zell am See & Kaprun
scenic viewpointA year-round Alpine resort combining a turquoise lake with glacier skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn and the spectacular Sigmund-Thun Gorge.
Grossglockner Summit Cafe
cafeThe cafe at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Hohe viewpoint on Austria's most famous alpine road, overlooking the Pasterze glacier at 2,369 metres.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road Viewpoint
scenic viewpointAustria's most famous scenic drive, culminating at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Hohe viewpoint facing the Pasterze Glacier and Grossglockner peak.
Grossglockner
natural wonderAustria's highest mountain, viewed across the Pasterze Glacier from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe terrace.
Edelweissspitze
scenic viewpointThe highest viewpoint on the Grossglockner road, a 360-degree panorama over 30 peaks above 3000m.
Heiligenblut
photogenicThe Gothic spire of the St. Vincent pilgrimage church framed against the Grossglockner is one of the Alps' classic photographs; the village anchors the southern ramp of the High Alpine Road.
Common questions about the Großglockner High Alpine Road
How long does the Großglockner High Alpine Road take?
The driving itself is about 1 hr 54 min across 45 miles (72 km). Most people spread it over 1 day: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.
How many miles is the Großglockner High Alpine Road?
45 miles, or 72 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.
When is the best time to drive the Großglockner High Alpine Road?
Late June to September. High passes close for winter and reopen when the snow clears, in 2026 the Swiss trio of Furka, Grimsel and Nufenen only reopened on 29 May. Check the pass status before committing to dates.
What does the Großglockner High Alpine Road cost in fuel?
Roughly €8 in fuel for a petrol car averaging 40 mpg. Motorways on this route are toll-free. €12 sticker required. Indicative only: fuel prices move.
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