Famous road · 19 km off the route
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Road trip route · Austria
Vienna to Salzburg drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 3 hr 10 min
- Distance
- 296 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €34
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Vienna to Salzburg drive
The drive from Vienna to Salzburg covers 184 miles (296 km) and takes about 3 hr 10 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 A1 carries 94% of the distance. You pass Amstetten and Traun on the way.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 628 m near Salzburg, with something like 1,038 m of ascent over the whole drive. The Postalm Panoramastrasse is 19 km off the route if you have time for a detour.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €34 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Austria requires a motorway vignette (~€12.4 sticker (10-day/weekly)). Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 184 miles this is longer than 47% 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.
- StartVienna
- 124 kmAmstetten1 h 20 min in
- 177 kmTraun1 h 54 min ingood place to stop
- 296 kmSalzburg
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A1279 km · 94%
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.
Mountain pass · 21 km off the route
Rossfeld Panoramastrasse
Best stops between Vienna and Salzburg
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Melk Abbey
A magnificent Baroque Benedictine abbey perched on a cliff above the Danube at the entrance to the Wachau Valley.
Scenic Viewpoints
Wachau Valley
A UNESCO-listed stretch of the Danube between Melk and Krems, lined with terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, and medieval castles.
Scenic Viewpoints
Danube Valley (Donautal)
The scenic Austrian stretch of the Danube from Passau to Vienna, passing Baroque abbeys, ruined castles, and the Wachau wine region.
Photo Spots
St. Wolfgang & Schafbergbahn
Lakefront pilgrimage village on the Wolfgangsee from which Austria's steepest steam cog railway, running since 1893, grinds up the Schafberg to a summit view over five Salzkammergut lakes.
Famous Roads
Postalm Panoramastrasse
A toll road onto Austria's largest alpine pasture plateau above the Wolfgangsee, gentle and wide open.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Austria
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Vignette (ASFINAG)
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest, first-aid kit
- Winter tyres
- 1 November - 15 April
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in Austria
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Vienna to Salzburg FAQs
How long is the drive from Vienna to Salzburg?
Driving from Vienna to Salzburg takes about 3 hr 10 min nonstop, covering 184 miles (296 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Vienna to Salzburg?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €34 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Austria requires a motorway vignette (~€12.4 sticker (10-day/weekly)). Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Vienna to Salzburg in one day?
Yes, at about 3 hr 10 min of driving, Vienna to Salzburg is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Vienna to Salzburg?
The fastest route uses the A1 (about 279 km). It passes Amstetten, Traun.
Where should I stop on the way from Vienna to Salzburg?
If you stop every couple of hours, Traun 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 5 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Vienna and Salzburg?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Melk Abbey, Wachau Valley, Danube Valley (Donautal): see the full list of 5 stops on this page.
More drives from Vienna & Salzburg
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Austria road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Austria guide.