Opening times of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is one of the most famous scenic roads in Europe and leads right through the Hohe Tauern National Park. It connects the federal states of Salzburg and Carinthia and offers an impressive drive through Austria's high alpine mountain world. From here, you get a direct view of the Grossglockner, the highest mountain in the country. Unlike classic motorway routes, the focus here is not on a fast connection but on the experience: numerous viewpoints, switchbacks and stops along the way make the route particularly appealing for holidaymakers, motorcyclists and nature lovers.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road can be driven with cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, trucks and buses. The stretch between Fusch and Heiligenblut is unsuitable for trailers due to the long gradient (12%). The ascent to the Edelweissspitze is not permitted for vehicles over 3.5 t. The operator advises against driving motorhomes on this route. Highlights of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road include the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), exhibitions along the route (open from 9:00 a.m.) and panorama and observation platforms. For more information on the special features of this scenic road, see our article on the most beautiful scenic roads in Austria.

Opening hours of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Seasonal opening periods

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is not open all year round. Due to heavy snowfall, there is a winter closure, meaning you cannot drive on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road during the winter months:

• Winter closure: approx. early November to early May

• Season: approx. early May to late October/early November

Detailed opening hours at a glance

• Until 31 May: 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (last entry 7:15 p.m.)

• 1 June – 31 August: 5:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (last entry 8:15 p.m.)

• From 1 September: 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (last entry 6:45 p.m.)

Outside these hours, an official night driving ban applies. This means you must adhere to the daily opening hours and take them into account when planning. We therefore recommend planning a road trip through Austria's beautiful countryside carefully and with buffer time. Especially during the summer months, traffic jams may occur on your way to Austria. Be sure to factor in any possible delays when planning your schedule.

Special toll: What does that mean?

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a so-called special toll road. This means that you pay a separate fee to use this road. The motorway vignette does not apply here, because the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is not a motorway, but a scenic road. You only need the vignette or the distance-based toll for the motorways on your journey. This special toll (also known in Austria as a route toll) is collected directly on site at the toll booths and must be paid independently of other toll fees (such as the vignette or the distance-based toll). You can find a detailed explanation of the term special toll and of tolls in Austria (including the vignette and the distance-based toll) in our guide.

Overview of usage fee (special toll) prices

The cost depends on the type of vehicle, the type of drive and the type of ticket chosen (duration of use of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road). Accordingly, motorcyclists pay the least to drive on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, while truck drivers have to dig deepest into their pockets.

Notes on vehicle categories

If you want to use the Grossglockner High Alpine Road with a motorhome, you need to pay attention to the weight of your motorhome. If your motorhome has a maximum permissible total weight (MPTW) of 3,500 kg or you are using a caravan with a towing vehicle of up to 3,500 kg MPTW, your motorhome falls into the car vehicle category. If your motorhome or caravan combination weighs between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg MPTW, your motorhome falls into truck category 1 (and even truck category 2 if it exceeds 7,500 kg MPTW). Be sure to find out the maximum permissible total weight of your vehicle before your trip so that you can correctly factor the cost of the usage fee (special toll) into your journey.

In addition, owners of electric or hydrogen vehicles pay a lower price to use the Grossglockner High Alpine Road: the day ticket costs €46.50 for a car and €40.00 for an electric car. The discounted e-tickets are only available directly at the toll booths, not in the online shop. Please note, however, that you must have the relevant vehicle registration certificate with you. In addition, hybrid vehicles are excluded from this rule and must pay the regular ticket price.

Notes on the period of validity

In addition to the vehicle category, the period of validity of your ticket is also decisive. You can choose between a day ticket, 3-week ticket, season ticket, round-trip ticket (combination ticket for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the Felbertauern Road) and a tour ticket for motorcyclists.

In general: With a day ticket, you can drive on the road several times on the same day. If you spontaneously decide to use the special toll road for one more day, you can extend your day ticket by paying a surcharge on the second day. This means you don't have to buy another new day ticket at full price.

Here is an overview of the ticket options once again:

• Day ticket (can be upgraded to a two-day ticket for a surcharge)

• 3-week ticket (only available for private vehicles)

• Season ticket (valid from the date of issue until the winter closure)

• Round-trip ticket (combination ticket including one trip each on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and through the Felbertauern Tunnel; both trips must be used within 30 days)

• Tour ticket for motorcycles

Further notes

• License plate recognition is carried out automatically at the toll stations

• Camping is not permitted along the road

• Overnight stays along the route: no additional fee upon exit

• Parking (e.g. Ferleiten): from €4.00 (short-term) up to €10.00 per day

• Free parking spaces: numerous spaces available along the road

You can find detailed information on the current prices of the special toll, parking fees and general usage notes for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road on the official website.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is far more than just a connection between two regions — it's a true highlight of any trip to Austria. The combination of alpine scenery, a well-developed road and flexible ticket options makes it especially appealing for different types of travelers.

When planning your trip, keep in mind that motorways are subject to a vignette requirement and/or a distance-based toll. Therefore, in addition to the special toll for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, you are likely to also need a vignette for your trip. The digital 10-day vignette for Austria is included in our vignette flat rate – the route toll is not included. This way, you'll be perfectly prepared for your adventure!

If you still have questions about tolls in Austria, you can find more information in our articles on tolls and special tolls (also known as route tolls) in Austria. You can also reach us at any time by email.