Castles & Palaces
Glamis Castle
The childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, steeped in legend and set in the scenic Angus region of Scotland.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
Edinburgh to Aberdeen drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 2 hr 37 min
- Distance
- 121 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £20
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Edinburgh to Aberdeen drive
The drive from Edinburgh to Aberdeen covers 121 miles (195 km) and takes about 2 hr 37 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £20 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 121 miles this is longer than 22% of the 144 routes covered here, short enough to fold into a bigger itinerary without losing a day.
Best stops between Edinburgh and Aberdeen
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
St Andrews
Historic university town and home of golf, with a ruined cathedral, medieval castle and the world-famous Old Course links.
Museums
V&A Dundee
Scotland's first design museum in a striking Kengo Kuma waterfront building, celebrating the country's rich design heritage.
Racetracks
Knockhill Racing Circuit
Scotland's national motorsport centre, a compact but thrilling circuit with sharp elevation changes near Dunfermline.
Legendary Restaurants
Anstruther Fish Bar
Multiple UK Fish and Chip Shop of the Year winner on the harbourfront of the East Neuk's prettiest fishing town, frying haddock landed along the Fife coast. Eat on the sea wall watching the boats.
Photo Spots
Culross
Scotland's most complete 17th-century burgh: ochre-coloured Culross Palace, cobbled wynds and white-harled cottages on the Firth of Forth, preserved by the National Trust. Doubles as Cranesmuir in Outlander.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to Derry along Northern Ireland's cliff-edge coast, via Game of Thrones country
200 km · 3.3h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
NC500: North Coast 500
Scotland's answer to Route 66: 516 miles of mountains, single-track roads, and empty beaches
755 km · 11.4h driving · 9 stops · 7 days
Edinburgh to Aberdeen FAQs
How long is the drive from Edinburgh to Aberdeen?
Driving from Edinburgh to Aberdeen takes about 2 hr 37 min nonstop, covering 121 miles (195 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Edinburgh to Aberdeen?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £20 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Edinburgh to Aberdeen in one day?
Yes, at about 2 hr 37 min of driving, Edinburgh to Aberdeen is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Edinburgh and Aberdeen?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Glamis Castle, St Andrews, V&A Dundee: see the full list of 6 stops on this page.
More drives from Edinburgh & Aberdeen
Birmingham → EdinburghEdinburgh → Fort WilliamEdinburgh → GlasgowEdinburgh → InvernessEdinburgh → NewcastleEdinburgh → YorkLeeds → EdinburghLiverpool → EdinburghLondon → AberdeenLondon → Edinburgh
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.