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Grossglockner High Alpine Road
RouteAustria · Germany9 days · 1080 km

Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Nine days in the Austrian Alps from Munich to Salzburg, Zell am See, and Heiligenblut. The 48 km Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a full day with Edelweissspitze and Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe — glacier, toll, hairpins — not a transit hop. The church spire at Heiligenblut is the postcard you already knew.

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Season: The Grossglockner High Alpine Road typically runs early May to late October, weather depending. Toll at Ferleiten or Heiligenblut; budget a full day.

Nine days in the Austrian Alps from Munich to Salzburg, Zell am See, and Heiligenblut. The 48 km Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a full day with Edelweissspitze and Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe — glacier, toll, hairpins — not a transit hop. The church spire at Heiligenblut is the postcard you already knew.

Day by day

Day 1

Munich

A city night, then the Inn valley in the morning. Munich lets you eat well before the mountains take over.

Why stop hereCharge nearby: Tesla Supercharger (Tesla Supercharger Munich) — typical arrival 25%, about 21 min to 80%. Short driving day: charge in the overnight town and keep the climbs honest.

Heiligenblut’s spire against the snow
Heiligenblut’s spire against the snowPhoto: Angie (talk) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Day 2

Innsbruck

The Golden Roof and Nordkette before you turn east. A valley city with the high wall already in the window.

Why stop hereCharge nearby: Ionity (Ionity Wattens) — typical arrival 22%, about 23 min to 80%. Short driving day: charge in the overnight town and keep the climbs honest.

Innsbruck under the Nordkette
Innsbruck under the NordkettePhoto: Wilfredor / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Day 3

Zell am See

A lake town and the north gate of the High Alpine Road. Sleep by the water; tomorrow is all climb and glacier.

Why stop hereCharge nearby: Ionity (Ionity Zell am See) — typical arrival 18%, about 27 min to 82%. Short driving day: charge in the overnight town and keep the climbs honest.

Zell am See, the lake town at the north gate
Zell am See, the lake town at the north gatePhoto: touch.and.go / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Day 4

Heiligenblut

After Edelweissspitze at 2571 m and the glacier viewpoint, the church spire is the postcard. Overnight here, not a drive-by.

Salzburg old town after the Tauern
Salzburg old town after the TauernPhoto: Uoaei1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Day 5

Lienz

Dolomite views on the Carinthian side, a slower town after the high road. The light here is already southern.

Edelweissspitze at 2571 m, a spur worth the extra climb
Edelweissspitze at 2571 m, a spur worth the extra climbPhoto: Friedrich Fröbel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Day 7

Salzburg

Old town after the Tauern motorway. Fortress above, river below, a city night that does not need the Alps to impress.

Why stop hereCharge nearby: Ionity (Ionity Salzburg) — typical arrival 16%, about 29 min to 82%. Short driving day: charge in the overnight town and keep the climbs honest.

Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe facing the Pasterze glacier
Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe facing the Pasterze glacierPhoto: Tudoi61 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Day 9

Munich

Return on the A8. The High Alpine Road stays in the rear-view longer than the kilometres suggest.

Why stop hereCharge nearby: Tesla Supercharger (Tesla Supercharger Munich) — typical arrival 25%, about 21 min to 80%. Short driving day: charge in the overnight town and keep the climbs honest.

Quiet charging pauses

  • Ionity in Innsbruck — a calm stop on this leg, about 23 min.
  • Ionity in Salzburg — a calm stop on this leg, about 29 min.
  • Tesla Supercharger in Munich — a calm stop on this leg, about 21 min.
  • Ionity in Zell am See — a calm stop on this leg, about 27 min.

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