Mountain pass · 12 km off the route
Gurnigel Pass
- Summit
- 1,608 m summit
← All routes
Road trip route · Switzerland
Geneva to Interlaken drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 2 hr 35 min
- Distance
- 217 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €28
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Geneva to Interlaken drive
The drive from Geneva to Interlaken covers 135 miles (217 km) and takes about 2 hr 35 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.
About 58% of it is on the A1, and most of the rest on the A6 and the A1G. On the way you go past Nyon, Lausanne and Bern, and you'll be near Yverdon-les-Bains roughly 1 h 2 min in.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 647 m near Thun, with something like 960 m of ascent over the whole drive. The Gurnigel Pass is 12 km off the route if you have time for a detour.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €28 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Switzerland requires a motorway vignette (vignette required). Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 135 miles this is longer than 29% 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.
- StartGeneva
- 25 kmNyon18 min in
- 58 kmLausanne42 min in
- 86 kmYverdon-les-Bains1 h 2 min in
- 162 kmBern1 h 56 min ingood place to stop
- 189 kmThun2 h 15 min in
- 217 kmInterlaken
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A1126 km · 58%
- A638 km · 17%
- A1G28 km · 13%
Famous roads on or near the drive
From the 500-plus passes and driving roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app. None are on the fastest route, but these are close enough for a detour.
Famous road · 13 km off the route
Route des Grandes Alpes
Mountain pass · 22 km off the route
Brünig Pass
- Summit
- 1,008 m summit
Mountain pass · 23 km off the route
Glaubenbielen Pass
- Summit
- 1,611 m summit
Best stops between Geneva and Interlaken
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Bern Old Town
Switzerland's UNESCO-listed capital, a medieval gem with 6 kilometres of arcaded walkways, the Zytglogge clock tower, and bear park.
Natural Wonders
Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)
Western Europe's largest lake, shared with France, framed by the Alps and lined with vineyards, castles, and the famous Jet d'Eau fountain.
Scenic Viewpoints
Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
Famous Roads
Route des Grandes Alpes
France's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
Historic Highways
Circuit Bremgarten
The 7.3km forest circuit outside Bern where racing ended after Switzerland banned circuit motorsport in 1955. Its dappled, constantly curving roads through the Bremgartenwald are open to traffic and eerily unchanged.
Natural Wonders
Creux du Van
A vast natural rock amphitheatre with vertical 160m cliffs, a wild ridge-walk in the Jura.
Landmarks
Kaufdorf VW Beetle Graveyard
Atmospheric forest clearing filled with rusting classic Volkswagen Beetles, a pilgrimage site for VW enthusiasts.
Mountain Passes
Jaun Pass
A friendly pass linking the Gruyère region to the Simmental, open all year and lined with chalet villages.
Mountain Passes
Gurnigel Pass
A quiet ridge road in the Bernese Prealps with a long panorama over the Stockhorn chain.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Switzerland
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autobahnvignette
- Must carry
- warning triangle
Low-emission zones: Geneva Stick'AIR.
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in Switzerland
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Geneva to Interlaken FAQs
How long is the drive from Geneva to Interlaken?
Driving from Geneva to Interlaken takes about 2 hr 35 min nonstop, covering 135 miles (217 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Geneva to Interlaken?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €28 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Switzerland requires a motorway vignette (vignette required). Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Geneva to Interlaken in one day?
Yes, at about 2 hr 35 min of driving, Geneva to Interlaken is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Geneva to Interlaken?
The fastest route uses the A1 (about 126 km), the A6 (about 38 km), the A1G (about 28 km). It passes Nyon, Lausanne, Yverdon-les-Bains, Bern.
Where should I stop on the way from Geneva to Interlaken?
If you stop every couple of hours, Bern 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 7 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Geneva and Interlaken?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Bern Old Town, Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), Lavaux Vineyard Terraces: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Geneva & Interlaken
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Switzerland road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Switzerland guide.