2020 Road trip top tips

[JB65]

Good morning all!

After our an awesome first roadtrip last year we are looking for the sequel. Last years was a 5 day trip that included Blackforest, Furka, and Gorge de Verdon/Route Napoleon. This year we are now looking for 2 Options, one being centered around Austria and the Dolomites and another one around the great French Alpine road. Appr. 3000 km over 6 days.

Option 1 - Austria and Dolomites 2995 KM

https://mydrive.tomtom.com/gor-webapp/share/itiner...

1. Rhine Route
2. Part German Alpine Road (partly)
3. Rossfeld Panorama Strasse
4. Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse
5. Great Dolomites Road
6. Stelvio
7. San Bernardino Pass
8. Como Lake
9. Gothard
10. Furka & Grimsel
12. Black Forest

Option 2 - great French alpine route. 2853 KM

https://mydrive.tomtom.com/gor-webapp/share/itiner...

1. Rhine Route
2. Grimsel & Furka
4. Great Alpine route
6. Gothard
7. Black Forest

Appreciate your thoughts on either of the 2 options - thanks a lot!

[JB65]

mr pg said:

First point is it's a lot of miles in very few days!
We're doing quite a bit in Austria and then through Dolomites down Lake Garda this year. On the Grossglockner make sure you include the dead end limb up to the glacier. I don't know the area below Cortina but the road west from Cortina is spectacular.
Stelvio is great to look at, but not to drive. Wouldn't go again personally.
At the Andermatt loop I'd recommend the Nufenen Pass (east to west is my preference) if you can get it in, maybe instead of the Furka.
We did some of the grand alpine route through the Alps a couple of years ago, and of the 2 routes you have I'd go with the Austria/Dolomites choice.
Paul.

Thanks for your thoughts. Appreciate Stelvio sentiment but it's an itch we need to scratch if only once... trip is September time so hopefully that will make it not too bad! We've covered Furka last year so Nufenen is a nice adjustment that I will ad it in and make sure we take the detour on the Grossglockner.

Distance is indeed a challenge - last year we covered 3500 in 5 days last year so already slightly better ;-)
Thanks again!

[JB65]

mr pg said:

The time we did it we ended up in a queue following a police car that was at the back of a cycle event (not a race). Road was closed to traffic coming down, but we spent the whole ascent in 1st, occasionally 2nd, gear. Was actually glad it was closed coming down as it meant we could use all of the width of the hairpins to get round. Not something you could with traffic in both directions. From the top we took the Umbrail pass into Switzderland so can't comment on what the rest of the Stelvio is like (I've read it's better that side).

Thanks for the feedback gents. Made some alterations to skip Como lake as well, as it also seems to be one big traffic jam most of the time..
Re Stelvios -alternative seems to be to continue west on the ss301 towards Valdidentro, next stop will be Sankt Moritz - any experience with that route?

https://mydrive.tomtom.com/gor-webapp/share/itiner...

[JB65]

dimmy said:

HI when are you looking to do this trip?

Current planning is Mid september - to avoid heaviest traffic and still have some decent weather

[JB65]

Zed 44 said:

If you were leaving from London and going for 6 days, I make that 395 miles a day or have I missed something?

Yes, that is what i calculated as well. Should be doable i think.

[JB65]

D7MMY said:

is it a close group of friends, im basically trying to find a group who is doing a road trip from uk.. be good to find some like minded peeps to tag along with,

We”re a group of Dutch friends trying to tick of our bucket list ;-)

[JB65]

We try to avoid tourist season as much as possible and are going for 2nd week of September which worked brilliantly last year. We will review closer to the day and have an alternative route ready around south of France in case Italy gets bombed with snow. Biggest turn off are congested roads...

[JB65]

GroundZero said:

OP - as a few are pointing out, its a lot of milage to cover in such short time, meaning that every day will be dedicated to nothing else but having to cover those miles.
If you've done it before and enjoy that format, and I suppose the "challenge" aspect of each day, then I'll not try to persuade you otherwise.


Either of those plans you propose is good.
The Grossglockner is a fast and challenging road in the right car and with low traffic. But beware that on such roads there are the odd corners that look fast on approach but which in practice are just the opposite. Some "racers" got caught out on that road only a year or two ago.

For pure scenery then the Swiss passes would top my list.

As a suggestion for a stop in the Dolomites then how about this one :
https://goo.gl/maps/75qbYcF9V9yRXqjW9
(Its not a pass as such, you drive up, take in the scenery (or go for a hike) and then drive down again. But the location offers fantastic background for group photos).

Thanks for your advice, viewpoint looks brilliant, will certainly build it in, looking forward to the scenery in the Dolimites! We covered Grimsel/Furka last year which and was an absolute highlight!
Appreciate the mileage challenge but group of keen drivers, the daily avg is already down 20% vs last year so at least time for a decent lunch now ;-)

My adjusted Dolimites and Swiss Alps routing attached

https://mydrive.tomtom.com/gor-webapp/share/itiner...

https://mydrive.tomtom.com/gor-webapp/share/itiner...

[JB65]

CarbonXKR said:

We did our first trip late September 2013 and had to turn back on Furka pass as was closed due to snow further up. RWD Jag XK-R.

Our trip, top of the Furka, sept 19 last 2019. That time of the year it can vary wildly, across the region even - suggest you keep a close eye on weather conditions and have an alternative route ready

Edited by JB65 on Saturday 14th March 16:23

Edited by JB65 on Saturday 14th March 16:49