Road trip route · Spain
Madrid to Valencia drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr
- Distance
- 357 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €39
- Tolls (est.)
- €9
The Madrid to Valencia drive
The drive from Madrid to Valencia covers 222 miles (357 km) and takes about 4 hr 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 A-3 carries 97% of the distance. You pass Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Tarancón and Requena on the way.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 951 m, with something like 1,225 m of ascent over the whole drive.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €39 one-way plus roughly €9 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 222 miles this is longer than 65% 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.
- StartMadrid
- 22 kmRivas-Vaciamadrid15 min in
- 83 kmTarancón56 min in
- 290 kmRequena3 h 15 min in
- 357 kmValencia
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A-3346 km · 97%
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.
Madrid to Valencia FAQs
How long is the drive from Madrid to Valencia?
Driving from Madrid to Valencia takes about 4 hr nonstop, covering 222 miles (357 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Madrid to Valencia?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €39 one-way. Expect around €9 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Madrid to Valencia in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr of driving, Madrid to Valencia is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Madrid to Valencia?
The fastest route uses the A-3 (about 346 km). It passes Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Tarancón, Requena.
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.
More drives from Madrid & 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.