Brenner Pass

Hi,
Has anyone ever travelled the road from Innsbruck into Italy? I think there is a motorway and also a normal national road which runs nearly alongside. I was wondering which would be best as I believe you need a vignette to go on the motorways in Austria.
Thanks.
Mike

Hi mike. In 2014 we entered austria for 15euro vignette from germany. We drove through arlberg tunnel then headed into italy before landeck. We drove through rezia pass and nauders, then stopped overnight in an aire in san valentino alla muta. After I cycled stelvio pass we drove down to lake garda. Great drive, great roads, awesome scenery, experience diesel!! Doing similar route this year to lakes again.

We travelled this route both directions last summer. As we are over 3.5 tonne we had to stay off all motorways in Austria. The national route from Innsbruck to the Italian border is not a problem for a motorhome as there are trucks and buses already on it. It is however slow as there are many bends on it and when we travelled, several sections of road works which were controlled by traffic lights. The travel time is a bit over an hour if you don't stop. The only steep section is the last 0.5 mile as you approach the border but this is quite manageable in 3rd gear.

We stayed outside Innsbruck at a site where there was bus service from the gate into Innsbruck. If you need any further info just ask.

Mike

We (2 adults) spent about 5 weeks in Italy all of it around the lakes from Maggiore to Garda. The autostrade are fine and not that expensive in respect of tolls. They can be busy at rush hour and round the large cities like Milan. The toll from the Austrian border to Rovereto (turn off for the north of Lake Garda) is only €13 for about 100 miles, from Austria border to Venice €30 for about 250 miles. The roads around the lakes are narrow and overtaking is virtually impossible but if on holidays you don't need to race anyway. The main national roads are generally busy and you'll be lucky to average 30mph as there are many towns and villages to go through. I think the autostrade are well worth the cost.

Fuel is much more expensive than in Austria, France or Switzerland, also many service stations charge a service fee of up to €0.20 per litre if the attendant fills for you. Make sure you fill up before you cross into Italy. We paid €1.55 in Italy compared to €1.20 in France, €1.25 in Austria and €1.20 in Germany last summer, it is a bit cheaper now.

We found that around Lake Garda there are quite a few dedicated motorhome parking places where you can also overnight but the quality is not great; OK for an en route stop. Many of them do not have any facilities, those that do are barely useable. They cost anything from €10 to in excess of €20 per night.

Depending on when you travel (peak season starts in early July) and potentially using ASCI a site with full facilities will cost little more. The sites do however get full at weekends.

We did find two superb Aires both in Peschiera which I think are owned by the same people. They had full facilities - EHU, fresh water, grey and black water dump for €15 per night or €5 for a few hours to allow you to dump and replenish. Also showers at €1 each. They both hold about 100 MH, one is close (5 minute walk) to the town centre, the other about 3 miles out. The one close to the town centre is on a bus route to Verona and Gardaland or a mile walk to the Milan to Venice rail station.

The Aire in Peschiera town is at N45.43979, E10.68468. Google "Peschiera motorhome Aire". Payment CASH only into a carpark type pay machine. All gravel hard standing on a slight slope.

The site at Innsbruck is Camping Judenstein at N47.26002, E11.50516 is located near the village of Rinn about 6 or 7 mile outside Innsbruck. Cost was €18 incl EHU per night. Google "camping Judenstein Rinn". Pay warden who visits for a couple of hours night and morning. All grass pitches.

You can travel toll free the whole way from Calais to the Austrian/Italian border and apart from the stretch across Austria it is virtually all on motorway or main trunk routes.

Thanks Kabundi and Hymer following this closely as we are going over at the end of May and heading for lake Garda weather permitting as I alway have at least three destinations planed but Garda is no 1 any other info that yous can think of would be greatly appreciated just the two of us and we are over 3.5 ton will be avoiding the tolls when possible but not always have travelled France and Germany ect loads but not Austria and Italy Edd

Hi Kabundi we are leaving may 21 and return June 14 but this usually ends up being extended leaving Roslair to Cherburg really not sure of the best way to lake Garda from here was thinking about the east of France crossings ?????? Edd

Yes have done Dover Calais and the tunnel dozens of times love the tunnel but booked this on a whim and as I usually go where the weather suits will prob go via the tunnel in September and to be honest would rather drive through France than England . Have went Newcastle to Amsterdam a few times great boat and overall drive you can go over larne cairn in the morning drive to Newcastle and on the night ferry up in Amsterdam in the morning hassle free motorways out of there are great Edd

That great Kabundi thanks it will be very much appreciated Edd