Ah, here we go again, a route to Lake Garda avoiding tolls! Our previous route to Lake Garda avoiding tolls is a slight misnomer as there is the Swiss vignette/paperwork charge to pay – have a read of that route here. However, we have undertaken this route to Lake Garda avoiding tolls and it is just that – totally toll free! Noteworthy of a mention, you can divert at Bolzano and/or Trento for Venice or the Dolomites, so this toll free route to Italy almost offers three destinations in one!
Route to Lake Garda avoiding tolls
Here goes….
From Calais, it is the usual route to Dunkirk and then your choice. Either run via Ostend towards Brussels and Arlon or via Lille and Charleroi towards Arlon. From Arlon, it is business as usual to Luxembourg for the low priced diesel but at Luxembourg, this time we head for Germany. Towards Saar Louis and Saarbrucken. In Germany, follow the signs for Landau, Pforzheim and Karlsruhe, before heading towards Stuttgart and Ulm. Along the A7 motorway towards Kempten and then enter Austria close to Reutte. Onwards towards Landeck and Nauders, then entering Italy. Once in Italy travel towards Merano, Bolzano and Trento – you will then see the signs for Lago di Garda!
Dont for forget you are passing close to the duty free town of Samnaun. A trip to Samnaun will add approximately twenty miles overall to your journey, but diesel, cigarettes and alcohol is duty free. Click here for details of our visit and some prices. It is well worth the visit. The road to Samnaun is not particularly suitable for caravans. That said, coaches and articulated lorries and fuel tankers go up there.
Suggested stopovers:
Germany – Camping Neudahner or Camping Siersburg (The latter speads the driving better)
Austria – Atkiv Camping or Camping Claudiasee
Italy – Merano, Hermitage Camping
Route to Lake Garda avoiding tolls – distance
Using this route to get you to Peschiera del Garda is just over 800 miles. As a result, it is longer than the 750 miles or so via the more conventional routes. This route to Lake Garda avoiding tolls does however avoid the requirement for the Swiss tax/toll.
This route via Austria assumes NOT using the Austrian motorway – thus avoiding the need to purchase a vignette for vehicles under 3500 kg or a Go Box for vehicles over 3500 kg. The more direct route would of course be via the Brenner Pass and Vipiteno, but until we have tried this, we will not document the Brenner route.
We did see a lot of caravans on this route – non British – all Dutch and German registered. Look at Google maps – see what you think. Some of these routes are high altitude though so check the weather!
Hi
Would you use this route in February or is it too high and thus likely to get blocked?
More likely to be “sno=clo” than the route via Basle and Lucerne. However, everyday is different so it’s impossible to say. That said, we did much of it in February 2016 also.
Great site with loads of useful info – Thanks. I just happened upon it as I am planning a trip down to the Lakes in Italy. I also drive a TAG – Autotrail Comanche.
Do you have any info on camp sites you used along the way?
I was going to email you but couldn’t see an email address.
Thanks again
Hi – here is a map with a list of sites and camper stops that we have used – Click here to see
That’s great – thanks
I’ll make sure to scour it!
Graham
Hi
I was looking at your map with sites etc and spotted that your link to Camping Orchidea actually links to the C&CC site in Salisbury, UK! I thought you might like to know (plus I’d like to read your review of Camping Orchidea too 🙂
Cheers
Graham
Hi Russell
We’re currently on tour following your toll free route to the lakes…. heading for the Dolomites stayed at one of your suggested camp sites in Belgium last night… brilliant, very good. Now on a vineyard stopover below Landau. Heading for the Austrian border tomorrow and another one of your campsite suggestions. We have been following your website for many years, thank you for all the information it’s been invaluable!
Tom Sue and Jake the dog … Kontiki black 679.
PS nice to see you back in a Kontiki
Thanks for getting in touch – glad the information is useful. Perhaps when you get time, you could add a few comments to the site review pages for the campsites you have stayed on? Enjoy the rest of the trip.