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Five days · Spain

Five days driving in Spain

Empty mountain roads, warm tarmac and fuel prices that make a long trip cheaper than it looks.

Five days is the sweet spot for a mountain region. Build in one day with almost no driving so the trip does not become a transport exercise.

Days

5 days, 4 nights

Rough distance

932.1 mi

Daily average

186.4 mi

Best months

March to June and September to November

Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk

Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Daily distances are set for enjoyable driving rather than maximum ground covered. How we score roads.

Last reviewed 15 April 2026

Day by day

How the trip breaks up

Day 1

Sa Calobra Road and Ma-10 Serra de Tramuntana

  • Sa Calobra Road · 7.5 mi · 9.6 / 10. A driver's icon that loops through a knotted 270 degree hairpin down to the cove.
  • Ma-10 Serra de Tramuntana · 46.6 mi · 9.5 / 10. Mallorca's spine road strings together sea cliffs, terraces and mountain villages.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 47 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 2

Lagos de Covadonga Road and TF-21 Teide Road

  • Lagos de Covadonga Road · 14.9 mi · 9.4 / 10. Hairpins climb from the Covadonga basilica into limestone peaks above two glacial lakes.
  • TF-21 Teide Road · 28 mi · 9.4 / 10. Volcanic moonscape unfolds as the road spirals up past pine forest into Teide's caldera.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 27 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 3

GC-210 Roque Nublo Road and Puerto de Panderrueda

  • GC-210 Roque Nublo Road · 13.7 mi · 9.2 / 10. Ridge top curves reveal the volcanic finger of Roque Nublo above pine covered barrancos.
  • Puerto de Panderrueda · 18.6 mi · 9.1 / 10. A ribbon of tarmac threading beech forests beneath the jagged western Picos de Europa.

About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 51 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 4

Sierra de Grazalema Road and Puerto de Somiedo

  • Sierra de Grazalema Road · 18.6 mi · 9.1 / 10. Whitewashed villages and vulture cliffs frame this twisting run over the Palomas pass.
  • Puerto de Somiedo · 15.5 mi · 9 / 10. Tight switchbacks climb past bear country lookouts to a windswept pass over 1400 metres.

About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 53 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 5

Valle de Tena to Portalet and LP-2 Cumbre Vieja Road

  • Valle de Tena to Portalet · 28 mi · 9 / 10. A long alpine valley run past reservoirs and ski towns to the French border ridge.
  • LP-2 Cumbre Vieja Road · 17.4 mi · 9 / 10. A ridge road along the volcanic spine of La Palma with views to both Atlantic coasts.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 5 min behind the wheel including transit.

Practical

Where to start and what it costs

Base yourself

Ronda, Granada or Bilbao

Nights to book

4 nights. On anything longer than five days, book two nights in the best base rather than moving hotel every evening.

Fuel and tolls

Budget for roughly 932.1 miles of driving plus any vignettes or tunnel fees for the countries you cross.

Other lengths

More time, or less, in Spain