Landmarks
Bergamo Città Alta
A walled hilltop old town of Venetian ramparts and stacked piazzas, reached by funicular above the modern lower city.
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Road trip route · Italy
Milan to Lake Como drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 18 min
- Distance
- 72 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €9
- Tolls (est.)
- €4
The Milan to Lake Como drive
The drive from Milan to Lake Como covers 45 miles (72 km) and takes about 1 hr 18 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 51% of it is on the SS36, and most of the rest on the SS583. You pass Monza and Lecco on the way.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 369 m near Lecco.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €9 one-way plus roughly €4 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 45 miles this is longer than 2% 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.
- StartMilan
- 15 kmMonza17 min in
- 52 kmLecco57 min in
- 72 kmLake Como
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- SS3637 km · 51%
- SS58317 km · 24%
Best stops between Milan and Lake Como
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Italy
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autostrade
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
- Winter tyres
- 15 November - 15 April
Low-emission zones: ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in Italy
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Milan to Lake Como FAQs
How long is the drive from Milan to Lake Como?
Driving from Milan to Lake Como takes about 1 hr 18 min nonstop, covering 45 miles (72 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Milan to Lake Como?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €9 one-way. Expect around €4 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Milan to Lake Como in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 18 min of driving, Milan to Lake Como is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Milan to Lake Como?
The fastest route uses the SS36 (about 37 km), the SS583 (about 17 km). It passes Monza, Lecco.
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 17 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
More drives from Milan & Lake Como
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Italy road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Italy guide.