Fly drive
A driving holiday does not have to start on your own driveway. These 19 airports put a world class road within a couple of hours of the arrivals hall, with honest notes on hire cars, tolls and the months worth flying for.
Hubs
GVA · Switzerland
The single best fly drive airport in Europe for a driving trip. You can be on the first alpine pass within ninety minutes and you have Switzerland, France and Italy all within a morning.
Closest greats: Col de l'Iseran, Col du Galibier, Col de la Bonette
INN · Austria
A short runway in the middle of the Tirol, surrounded by passes in every direction. The Brenner puts the Dolomites within two hours and the Silvretta within one.
Closest greats: Passo dello Stelvio, Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse
MXP · Italy
The gateway to the Italian lakes and, beyond them, the Stelvio, the Gavia and the Swiss passes. Also the practical starting point for a Dolomites week.
Closest greats: Passo dello Stelvio, Col de l'Iseran, Tremola, the old Gotthard road
VCE · Italy
Two hours from the Dolomites and the closest major airport to the Sella Ronda passes. Fly in, drive north and be at altitude by lunch.
Closest greats: Passo dello Stelvio, Passo Giau, Passo Sella
NCE · France
The three corniches start almost at the terminal, and the Col de Turini is an hour inland. Few airports put you on a famous road this quickly.
Closest greats: Col de la Bonette, Gorges du Verdon, Corniche Sublime, Grande Corniche
INV · United Kingdom
The natural start for the North Coast 500 and for Wester Ross. Bealach na Ba is under three hours away and everything between is worth driving.
Closest greats: Bealach na Ba, Applecross Coast Road, Glencoe Road
EDI · United Kingdom
The best value entry to Scotland, with Glencoe and the southern Highlands within two and a half hours and the Borders roads on the doorstep.
Closest greats: Bealach na Ba, Glencoe Road, Hardknott Pass
MAN · United Kingdom
Within an hour of the Cat and Fiddle, the Snake Pass and the Peak District, and within two of both the Lake District and Snowdonia.
Closest greats: Hardknott Pass, Llanberis Pass, Honister Pass
BGO · Norway
The fjord country starts immediately. Hardanger, Aurlandsfjellet and the road to Geiranger all open up from here, with ferries as part of the driving.
Closest greats: Lysebotn Road, Trollstigen, Geirangerveien
AGP · Spain
Ronda, Grazalema and the Sierra Nevada roads are all inside two hours, and the weather works when the Alps do not.
Closest greats: Sierra de Grazalema Road, Ronda to Coin Road, Carretera del Veleta
OTP · Romania
The Transfagarasan and the Transalpina are both a half day away, and Romania remains the best value mountain driving in Europe.
Closest greats: Transfagarasan, DN7C, Transalpina, DN67C, Transbucegi, DN71
LJU · Slovenia
The Vrsic pass is an hour away, the Dolomites are four and the Croatian coast is three. A small airport in a very good location.
Closest greats: Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, Passo Giau, Passo Sella
DEN · United States
Trail Ridge Road, Independence Pass and Mount Blue Sky are all a morning away, and the whole San Juan loop is within a day.
Closest greats: Trail Ridge Road, Pikes Peak Highway, Mount Blue Sky Road
LAS · United States
The cheapest way into the American Southwest. Valley of Fire is under an hour, Zion is under three and Byway 12 is a comfortable day.
Closest greats: Utah Scenic Byway 12, Zion Mount Carmel Highway, Valley of Fire Road
SLC · United States
The proper starting point for a Utah loop, with Byway 12, Capitol Reef and the Zion Mount Carmel highway all within reach.
Closest greats: Utah Scenic Byway 12, Zion Mount Carmel Highway, Independence Pass
SFO · United States
Big Sur begins two hours south, the Sierra passes three hours east and Highway 1 north of the city is quieter than either.
Closest greats: Highway 1, Big Sur, Sonora Pass, Tioga Pass Road
SEA · United States
The North Cascades Highway, Hurricane Ridge and the whole Olympic loop are within a day, and the Oregon coast starts five hours south.
Closest greats: North Cascades Highway, Hurricane Ridge Road, Sea to Sky Highway
ZQN · New Zealand
The Crown Range starts minutes from the terminal, Milford is a long and spectacular day and Haast is four hours up the coast.
Closest greats: Crown Range Road, Milford Road, Haast Pass
CPT · South Africa
Chapmans Peak is forty minutes away, Franschhoek an hour, and the Swartberg and the Karoo passes are within a very good day.
Closest greats: Chapman's Peak Drive, Franschhoek Pass, Bainskloof Pass
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