Landmarks
Ghent
Vibrant medieval Flemish city with stunning canal-side architecture, the Gravensteen castle, and the famous Ghent Altarpiece.
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Road trip route · Belgium
Brussels to Bruges drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 15 min
- Distance
- 97 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €12
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Brussels to Bruges drive
The drive from Brussels to Bruges covers 60 miles (97 km) and takes about 1 hr 15 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 E40 carries 85% of the distance. You pass Aalst and Gent on the way.
It's flat. Nowhere along the way did we measure the road higher than about 79 m above sea level.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €12 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 60 miles this is longer than 7% of the 144 routes covered here, short enough to fold into a bigger itinerary without losing a day.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping.
- StartBrussels
- 27 kmAalst21 min in
- 53 kmGent41 min in
- 97 kmBruges
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- E4083 km · 85%
- R205 km · 5%
Best stops between Brussels and Bruges
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Castles & Palaces
Gravensteen
A grim moated stone castle of the Counts of Flanders rising straight from the canals in the centre of Ghent.
Cathedrals & Temples
Saint Bavo's Cathedral Ghent
This Gothic cathedral guards the Van Eyck brothers' luminous Ghent Altarpiece, a landmark of European painting.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Belgium
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- No motorway tolls
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
Low-emission zones: Antwerp LEZ (2017) and Ghent LEZ (2020).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Brussels to Bruges FAQs
How long is the drive from Brussels to Bruges?
Driving from Brussels to Bruges takes about 1 hr 15 min nonstop, covering 60 miles (97 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Brussels to Bruges?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €12 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Brussels to Bruges in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 15 min of driving, Brussels to Bruges is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Brussels to Bruges?
The fastest route uses the E40 (about 83 km), the R20 (about 5 km). It passes Aalst, Gent.
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 5 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Brussels and Bruges?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Ghent, Gravensteen, Saint Bavo's Cathedral Ghent: see the full list of 3 stops on this page.
More drives from Brussels & Bruges
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Belgium road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Belgium guide.