Racetracks
Knockhill Racing Circuit
Scotland's national motorsport centre, a compact but thrilling circuit with sharp elevation changes near Dunfermline.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
Edinburgh to Glasgow drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 4 min
- Distance
- 46 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £8
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Edinburgh to Glasgow drive
The drive from Edinburgh to Glasgow covers 46 miles (74 km) and takes about 1 hr 4 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 £8 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 46 miles this is longer than 3% of the 144 routes covered here, short enough to fold into a bigger itinerary without losing a day.
Best stops between Edinburgh and Glasgow
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
The Kelpies
Two 30-metre steel horse-head sculptures towering over the canal at Falkirk, a striking modern landmark off the M9.
Landmarks
The Dunmore Pineapple
An outrageous 14m stone pineapple crowns this 1761 walled-garden folly, built for the Earl of Dunmore and rated among Britain's most eccentric buildings. Free to visit, hidden down a lane near Airth.
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 Glasgow FAQs
How long is the drive from Edinburgh to Glasgow?
Driving from Edinburgh to Glasgow takes about 1 hr 4 min nonstop, covering 46 miles (74 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Edinburgh to Glasgow?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £8 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Edinburgh to Glasgow in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 4 min of driving, Edinburgh to Glasgow 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 Glasgow?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Knockhill Racing Circuit, The Kelpies, The Dunmore Pineapple: see the full list of 4 stops on this page.
More drives from Edinburgh & Glasgow
Birmingham → EdinburghBirmingham → GlasgowEdinburgh → AberdeenEdinburgh → Fort WilliamEdinburgh → InvernessEdinburgh → NewcastleEdinburgh → YorkGlasgow → Fort WilliamGlasgow → InvernessLeeds → 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.