Mountain pass · On the route
Brünig Pass
- Summit
- 1,008 m summit
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Road trip route · Switzerland
Zurich to Interlaken drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 41 min
- Distance
- 118 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €15
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Zurich to Interlaken drive
The drive from Zurich to Interlaken covers 73 miles (118 km) and takes about 1 hr 41 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 A8, the A4 and the A14, with no single road carrying more than 37% of it. You pass Luzern on the way.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 1,008 m near Brünig Pass, with something like 1,280 m of ascent over the whole drive. Part of the drive follows the Brünig Pass, up to 1,008 m.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €15 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 73 miles this is longer than 10% 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.
- StartZurich
- 51 kmLuzern43 min in
- 92 kmBrünig Pass1,008 m
- 118 kmInterlaken
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A844 km · 37%
- A423 km · 20%
- A1416 km · 14%
- 413 km · 11%
Famous roads on or near the drive
From the 500-plus passes and driving roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app. The ones marked on the route are part of the fastest way.
Mountain pass · 6 km off the route
Glaubenbielen Pass
- Summit
- 1,611 m summit
Mountain pass · 22 km off the route
Susten Pass
- Summit
- 2,224 m summit
Best stops between Zurich and Interlaken
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge, built in 1333 across the Reuss River in Lucerne with 17th-century painted panels inside.
Landmarks
Lion Monument
Mark Twain called it the most mournful piece of stone in the world: a dying lion carved into a cliff face commemorating Swiss Guards killed in the French Revolution.
Natural Wonders
Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee)
A stunningly shaped lake surrounded by mountains where Switzerland was founded, with paddle steamers and the Rütli meadow.
Cafes & Pit Stops
Grimsel Passhöhe Restaurant
A mountain restaurant at the summit of the Grimsel Pass in the Bernese Alps, surrounded by reservoirs and granite landscapes on one of Switzerland's classic passes.
Cafes & Pit Stops
Hotel Steingletscher
A mountain inn beside the Susten Pass in Switzerland offering views of the Stein Glacier, a perfect rest stop on the classic Three Passes driving route.
Scenic Viewpoints
Grimsel Pass Viewpoint
A wild, barren pass at 2,164 metres with views of granite reservoirs and the start of the Rhone glacier landscape.
Scenic Viewpoints
Susten Pass Viewpoint
A pull-off on one of Switzerland's most beautiful passes with views of the Steingletscher glacier tumbling into a turquoise lake.
Famous Roads
Grimsel Pass
A dramatic Swiss mountain pass at 2,164 meters connecting the Bernese Oberland to the Valais past reservoirs and granite landscapes.
Famous Roads
Three Passes Road (Susten-Grimsel-Furka)
Switzerland's classic triple-pass loop combining the Susten, Grimsel, and Furka passes in a single epic Alpine circuit.
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.
Zurich to Interlaken FAQs
How long is the drive from Zurich to Interlaken?
Driving from Zurich to Interlaken takes about 1 hr 41 min nonstop, covering 73 miles (118 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Zurich to Interlaken?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €15 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 Zurich to Interlaken in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 41 min of driving, Zurich to Interlaken is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Zurich to Interlaken?
The fastest route uses the A8 (about 44 km), the A4 (about 23 km), the A14 (about 16 km), the 4 (about 13 km). It passes Luzern.
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 Zurich and Interlaken?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), Lion Monument, Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee): see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Zurich & 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.