South Tyrol & Veneto

Dolomites Road Trip

South Tyrol's passes, lakes and limestone towers

7 days~560 kmCalculating… drivingCircular route

A tidy loop with two-night bases and no wasted backtracking.

About this route

The Dolomites pack an extraordinary amount of scenery into a small area, which is exactly why it needs planning: the passes are slow, the honeypots (Braies, Tre Cime, Seceda) have access restrictions in high season, and backtracking wastes half-days. This template runs a geographically tidy loop from Bolzano through Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Cortina and the Val Pusteria lakes, timed so the busiest sights are reached early.

Mountain passesHikingPhotographyLakesCable cars

Day by day

Pick up the car in Bolzano and climb into Val Gardena with a lake stop en route.

Roads: SS241 · SS242

Where to stay

Ortisei / Val Gardena

Roadly suggestions

Ortisei hotels

hotel · premium

Val Gardena guesthouses

guesthouse · comfort

Val Gardena campsites

campsite · budget

Buy groceries in Bolzano — valley shops are smaller and pricier.

Weather on this route

Starting

High passes can close temporarily after snowfall, most often outside June–September. Dates beyond the 16-day forecast window show a seasonal outlook.

Weather along the way

Checking the forecast for your dates…

Approximate costs

Indicative totals for 7 days, 2 adults. Fuel is based on the live route distance.

Budget

€650–€1,400

Accommodation€270–€480
Food & drink€210–€350
Attractions & activities€70–€210
Fuel€70–€100
Tolls€10–€40
Parking€35–€210

Comfort

€1,450–€2,600

Accommodation€700–€1,150
Food & drink€420–€700
Attractions & activities€210–€420
Fuel€70–€100
Tolls€10–€40
Parking€35–€210

Premium

€2,800–€5,000

Accommodation€1,450–€2,400
Food & drink€850–€1,400
Attractions & activities€420–€850
Fuel€70–€100
Tolls€10–€40
Parking€35–€210

Some pass and lake access roads charge parking or an access fee in summer.
Cable cars are a significant cost if you use several — budget separately.
Estimates only — Roadly never quotes live prices.

Who this route suits

Families

good

Excellent for active families, with cable cars doing the hard work.

· Alpe di Siusi and Seceda give high-mountain scenery with only gentle walking.
· Lakes at Braies, Carezza and Misurina are easy, short and rewarding.
· Long hairpin days can be uncomfortable for children prone to travel sickness.

Campervans

moderate

Very drivable in a compact campervan; harder in anything long.

· Good campsites around Ortisei, Cortina, Dobbiaco and Canazei.
· Hairpins on Giau and Sella are tight — take them slowly.
· Overnighting outside campsites is generally not permitted in the protected areas.

Motorhomes

challenging

Possible for experienced drivers, but several passes are uncomfortable in a large motorhome.

· Passo Giau and the Tre Cime toll road are best avoided in long vehicles.
· Trailhead car parks are often too small for motorhomes in high season.
· Base yourself in a valley campsite and day-trip with a smaller vehicle if you can.

Electric vehicles

Charging is good in the valley towns (Bolzano, Ortisei, Cortina) and thinner on the passes. Regenerative braking is a genuine advantage on these descents. Detailed EV planning arrives with Roadly EV mode.

· A22 motorway tolls apply on the approach from Verona or Innsbruck.
· Expect paid parking at popular trailheads, plus a toll on the Tre Cime access road — check current prices.

Practical travel notes

Driving side: Right.
Currency: Euro (EUR).
Road type: Excellent surfaces, but relentless hairpins and steep gradients. Journey times are far longer than distances suggest.
Tolls: The A22 motorway approach to Bolzano is tolled; the mountain passes themselves generally are not.
Parking: Paid parking at nearly every trailhead and viewpoint. Carry a card and some coins.
Access restrictions: Lago di Braies and the Tre Cime toll road restrict access at peak times in summer — check current rules and arrive early.
Campervans: Campsites are good in the main valleys; overnight parking on passes is generally prohibited.
Mountain roads: Use low gears on descents; passes are shared with cyclists and motorcyclists.

Roadly tips

· Reach Lago di Braies and Tre Cime before 8am in summer — after that, both access and parking get difficult.
· Use a cable car at least once; Seceda and Alpe di Siusi are far better on foot at the top.
· Plan roughly 30–40 km/h average on pass roads when estimating your own timings.
· Book mountain huts in advance if you want lunch with a view in August.
· Keep one flexible afternoon — weather here turns fast.

Loading map…

Highlights

Best time to go

bestgoodpossiblechallenging

High passes can close temporarily after snowfall, most often outside June–September.
Mountain huts and cable cars run seasonal timetables — check current opening before relying on one.
Lago di Braies and the Tre Cime road operate seasonal access restrictions and booking systems in summer; check the current rules before travelling.