Cathedrals & Temples
Jaén Cathedral
A monumental Renaissance cathedral dominating the olive-oil capital, a model for many churches in Latin America.
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Road trip route · Spain
Madrid to Granada drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr 47 min
- Distance
- 420 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €46
- Tolls (est.)
- €11
The Madrid to Granada drive
The drive from Madrid to Granada covers 261 miles (420 km) and takes about 4 hr 47 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 €46 one-way plus roughly €11 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 261 miles this is longer than 71% of the 144 routes covered here.
Best stops between Madrid and Granada
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Historic Highways
Despeñaperros Gorge
The dramatic granite defile that has carried every road from Madrid into Andalusia for centuries; the A-4 now sweeps through this natural-park gorge of jagged rock walls.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Spain
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autopistas de peaje (AP roads)
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
Low-emission zones: ZBE (Zonas de Bajas Emisiones) - national rollout.
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Madrid to Granada FAQs
How long is the drive from Madrid to Granada?
Driving from Madrid to Granada takes about 4 hr 47 min nonstop, covering 261 miles (420 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Madrid to Granada?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €46 one-way. Expect around €11 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Madrid to Granada in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr 47 min of driving, Madrid to Granada 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 16 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
More drives from Madrid & Granada
Madrid → BarcelonaMadrid → BilbaoMadrid → LisbonMadrid → MalagaMadrid → SevilleMadrid → ValenciaMalaga → GranadaSeville → Granada
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Spain road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Spain guide.