National Parks
Cairngorms National Park
The UK's largest national park in the Scottish Highlands with arctic-alpine landscapes and ancient Caledonian pine forests.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
Edinburgh to Inverness drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 3 hr 24 min
- Distance
- 157 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £26
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Edinburgh to Inverness drive
The drive from Edinburgh to Inverness covers 157 miles (252 km) and takes about 3 hr 24 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 £26 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between Edinburgh and Inverness
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Natural Wonders
Loch Morlich
Beautiful freshwater loch in the Cairngorms with a sandy beach backed by ancient pine forest and views to the Cairngorm mountains.
Museums
Highland Folk Museum
Open-air museum in Newtonmore recreating Highland life from the 1700s to the 1960s, with an authentic township used in the Outlander TV series.
Racetracks
Knockhill Racing Circuit
Scotland's national motorsport centre, a compact but thrilling circuit with sharp elevation changes near Dunfermline.
Scenic Viewpoints
Cairngorm Mountain Funicular
A funicular railway climbing high into the Cairngorms near Aviemore for panoramic alpine views and winter snowsports.
Ancient Ruins
Ruthven Barracks
Stark Hanoverian infantry barracks on a green mound near Kingussie, a free and evocative Jacobite-era ruin.
Waterfalls
Rogie Falls
A series of waterfalls crossed by a bouncy suspension bridge where salmon leap, an easy forest stop near Contin.
Waterfalls
Falls of Foyers
A thundering 30m waterfall plunging through wooded gorge above Loch Ness, immortalised by Robert Burns.
Landmarks
The Kelpies
Two 30-metre steel horse-head sculptures towering over the canal at Falkirk, a striking modern landmark off the M9.
Edinburgh to Inverness FAQs
How long is the drive from Edinburgh to Inverness?
Driving from Edinburgh to Inverness takes about 3 hr 24 min nonstop, covering 157 miles (252 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Edinburgh to Inverness?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £26 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Edinburgh to Inverness in one day?
Yes, at about 3 hr 24 min of driving, Edinburgh to Inverness is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between Edinburgh and Inverness?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Cairngorms National Park, Loch Morlich, Highland Folk Museum: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Edinburgh & Inverness
Birmingham → EdinburghEdinburgh → AberdeenEdinburgh → Fort WilliamEdinburgh → GlasgowEdinburgh → NewcastleEdinburgh → YorkGlasgow → InvernessLeeds → EdinburghLiverpool → EdinburghLondon → Edinburgh
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.