Crossing the Alps - Alternative to the Brenner pass?

[Bainbridge]

Hi all. We're going on a European road trip on Friday, and we'll be heading south from Innsbruck to Lake Garda.

Google maps says 261km via the Brenner pass, but I've heard it can be very slow going due to roadworks.

Any suggestions for an alternative route?

Thanks

Edited by Bainbridge on Monday 16th June 13:33

[mr pg]

We went down it about a month ago in our camper, had no issues at the time.

[Bainbridge]

Thanks for replying. Maybe it's not as bad as I've heard.

Hope you had a good trip.

[NervousEnergy]

The A22 going North from Verona towards the Brenner Pass is often congested at the Verona/Garda end but more in 'high' summer - but I've never found it that bad and it's always got better as I went North (not that there were any roadworks last time). I think it would have to be very slow to end up not being the quickest TBH if quickest is your goal.

[QBee]

In the past, but we are talking 50 years ago, I used the Gross Glockner pass.
Further east, and it is more the route you would use to get to Venice or even round to Croatia.

It's wonderfully scenic, with 41 hairpin bends on the way down IIRC.
My 1967 Mini's drum brakes overheated completely on bend 39 and we did the last two hairpins on the handbrake
These things are fun when you are 21 and 19.....

[Eddie Twadds]

It tends to be a bit 'chewy' as you head out of Innsbruck and there were some roadworks last year just before the border but certainly not terrible. The rest of it is plan sailing until you want to get off to go to Garda. We queued for an hour to get off the motorway at Peschiera del Garda.

[skidskid]

I live in Innsbruck and the pass is a nightmare at the moment, the best you can hope for is heavy traffic but now the kids are on summer holidays its mostly much worse. The issue is the roadworks on the bridge to repair the bridges structure make the trucks swap to the inner lane of the bridge on each carriage way, as the outer lane isnt strong enough to take the load. They then swap back at the Italian border. Its a proper pain.

There isnt much of an alternative locally, the best option would be the Timmelsjoch pass, which brings you out near Merano. In clear traffic conditions this adds an hour, in bad traffic conditions it can save a few hours. Its a nice pass, plenty of places to stop for food and drinks. Would recommend for sure as a scenic alternative that could save you time.