Ancient Ruins
Tarragona Roman Amphitheatre
A seaside Roman amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean, centrepiece of one of Spain's great Roman cities.
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Road trip route · Spain
Barcelona to Valencia drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr 1 min
- Distance
- 349 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €38
- Tolls (est.)
- €9
The Barcelona to Valencia drive
The drive from Barcelona to Valencia covers 217 miles (349 km) and takes about 4 hr 1 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.
Most of it is one road: the AP-7 carries 72% of the distance. On the way you go past Castelldefels, El Vendrell and Tarragona, and you'll be near Amposta roughly 1 h 59 min in.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 192 m near Castelldefels.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €38 one-way plus roughly €9 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 217 miles this is longer than 62% of the 144 routes covered here.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping.
- StartBarcelona
- 22 kmCastelldefels15 min in
- 62 kmEl Vendrell43 min in
- 92 kmTarragona1 h 4 min in
- 172 kmAmposta1 h 59 min ingood place to stop
- 203 kmVinaròs2 h 20 min in
- 275 kmCastelló de la Plana3 h 10 min in
- 318 kmSagunto3 h 40 min in
- 349 kmValencia
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- AP-7249 km · 72%
- C-3255 km · 16%
- V-2119 km · 5%
Best stops between Barcelona and Valencia
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Racetracks
Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar
Spain's first purpose-built autodrome, a 2km concrete oval with alarmingly steep banking, opened 1923 and abandoned for decades while farm animals grazed the infield. Restored and reopened to visitors, the raw banked bowl survives almost exactly as built.
Landmarks
Ferrari Land
Europe's first Ferrari-branded theme park at PortAventura with the continent's tallest and fastest vertical accelerator.
Landmarks
PortAventura World
Spain's most visited theme park on the Costa Dorada featuring themed areas inspired by world civilizations.
Castles & Palaces
Peñíscola Castle
A Templar sea-castle on a rocky promontory ringed by old town walls, where Game of Thrones' Meereen was filmed.
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.
Barcelona to Valencia FAQs
How long is the drive from Barcelona to Valencia?
Driving from Barcelona to Valencia takes about 4 hr 1 min nonstop, covering 217 miles (349 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Barcelona to Valencia?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €38 one-way. Expect around €9 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Barcelona to Valencia in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr 1 min of driving, Barcelona to Valencia is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Barcelona to Valencia?
The fastest route uses the AP-7 (about 249 km), the C-32 (about 55 km), the V-21 (about 19 km). It passes Castelldefels, El Vendrell, Tarragona, Amposta.
Where should I stop on the way from Barcelona to Valencia?
If you stop every couple of hours, Amposta comes up about 2 h in. All are just off the main road.
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.
What are the best stops between Barcelona and Valencia?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Tarragona Roman Amphitheatre, Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar, Ferrari Land: see the full list of 5 stops on this page.
More drives from Barcelona & Valencia
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.