Famous road · 20 km off the route
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Road trip route · Spain
Malaga to Granada drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 40 min
- Distance
- 126 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €14
- Tolls (est.)
- €3
The Malaga to Granada drive
The drive from Malaga to Granada covers 78 miles (126 km) and takes about 1 hr 40 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.
It's split between the A-92, the A-45 and the A-92M, with no single road carrying more than 42% of it. You pass Loja on the way.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 781 m near Malaga, with something like 1,266 m of ascent over the whole drive. The Sierra Nevada road to Pico Veleta (A-395) is 20 km off the route if you have time for a detour.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €14 one-way plus roughly €3 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 78 miles this is longer than 11% 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.
- StartMalaga
- 71 kmLoja56 min in
- 126 kmGranada
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A-9253 km · 42%
- A-4528 km · 22%
- A-92M25 km · 20%
- A-92G9 km · 8%
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.
Best stops between Malaga and Granada
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Scenic Viewpoints
Caminito del Rey
A thrilling boardwalk pinned to sheer cliff faces above the El Chorro gorge, once called the world's most dangerous path.
Natural Wonders
El Torcal de Antequera
A surreal karst landscape of stacked, pancake-like limestone formations carved by erosion, with ibex roaming the trails.
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.
Malaga to Granada FAQs
How long is the drive from Malaga to Granada?
Driving from Malaga to Granada takes about 1 hr 40 min nonstop, covering 78 miles (126 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Malaga to Granada?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €14 one-way. Expect around €3 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Malaga to Granada in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 40 min of driving, Malaga to Granada is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Malaga to Granada?
The fastest route uses the A-92 (about 53 km), the A-45 (about 28 km), the A-92M (about 25 km), the A-92G (about 9 km). It passes Loja.
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 Malaga & Granada
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.