The Ruhr: blast furnaces, gas holders and coal mines
The heritage route through Germany’s old industrial heartland: a walkable rollercoaster, a lit-up ironworks, the Zollverein colliery and a 19th-century boat lift.
- Distance
- 95 km (59 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 19 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Germany
- Updated
- July 28, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 95 km (59 mi) with 9 stops, from Duisburg to Dortmund. About 1 h 19 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Germany
Route description
The Ruhr’s mines and steelworks closed one by one after the 1960s, and many of the sites are now linked on the Route of Industrial Heritage. Several Ruhr cities have low-emission zones, so carry a green sticker. Start in Duisburg at Tiger & Turtle, a steel sculpture on a slag heap, then drive north to Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord.
Landschaftspark is free and open around the clock. Climb blast furnace 5 for the view, watch divers in the flooded gasometer and come back after dark on weekends for the light installation. The Gasometer in Oberhausen, 10 km east, hosts large exhibitions and has a glass lift to its roof. The shopping centre next door has plenty of parking.
Continue to Essen and the Zollverein colliery, a UNESCO site whose shaft XII winding tower is the symbol of the Ruhr. The Ruhr Museum in the coal washery tells the story of the region, and the site also has a design museum and walking trails. Next day drive to Bochum for the German Mining Museum, where you can go down into a show mine and up the headframe.
Finish north of Dortmund at the Henrichenburg boat lift in Waltrop, an 1899 steel lift on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, then drive 20 km into Dortmund. The A40 and A42 are often jammed at rush hour, so plan visits for mid-morning. Distances are short, 20 to 40 km between stops, and most sites are open all year, though many close on Mondays.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Duisburg
Germany - 24 km
Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain
OdditiesDuisburg, GermanyA walkable sculpture shaped like a rollercoaster on top of a slag heap, lit up at night. The steps are free to climb, but the loop itself is closed off, and the walkway shuts in high wind or ice. Park at the Angerpark and walk up.
- 310 km
Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord
HistoryDuisburg, GermanyA closed ironworks turned into a free public park, with a blast furnace you can climb, climbing walls in old bunkers and a coloured light show after dark. Parking is at the main entrance on Emscherstraße.
- 48 km
Gasometer Oberhausen
OdditiesOberhausen, GermanyA 117 m gas holder turned into an exhibition hall, with large-scale shows inside and a glass lift to the roof for views over the Ruhr. Check the programme; it closes between exhibitions.
- 513 km
Essen
Germany - 65 km
Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex
HistoryEssen, GermanyA UNESCO-listed colliery in Bauhaus style, with the Ruhr Museum inside the old coal washery, reached by a long orange escalator. The grounds are free; parking is off Gelsenkirchener Straße.
- 715 km
German Mining Museum
HistoryBochum, GermanyOne of the largest mining museums in the world, with a show mine under the building and a green headframe you can ride up for the view. Plan at least three hours.
- 820 km
Henrichenburg Boat Lift
OdditiesWaltrop, GermanyAn 1899 boat lift on the Dortmund-Ems Canal that raised barges about 14 m in a trough carried on floats, now a museum with historic boats. Ships now use the modern lock next door; the canal banks are free to walk.
- 919 km
Dortmund
Germany
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Duisburg → Essen · 36 km · 0 h 30 minOn the way: Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain, Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, Gasometer Oberhausen.Overnight nearby, for example: Revierpark Nienhausen (6 km); Campingpark Baldeneysee (7 km).
- Day 2: Essen → German Mining Museum · 20 km · 0 h 17 minOn the way: Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex.Overnight nearby, for example: Premium Stellplatz "Glück Auf" (2 km); Campingplatz Ruhrbrücke (10 km).
- Day 3: German Mining Museum → Dortmund · 39 km · 0 h 32 minOn the way: Henrichenburg Boat Lift.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Hohensyburg (11 km); Premium Stellplatz "Glück Auf" (18 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is The Ruhr: blast furnaces, gas holders and coal mines?
3-day road trip of about 95 km (59 mi) with 9 stops, from Duisburg to Dortmund. About 1 h 19 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for The Ruhr: blast furnaces, gas holders and coal mines?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does The Ruhr: blast furnaces, gas holders and coal mines start and end?
It starts in Duisburg and ends in Dortmund.
Which countries does The Ruhr: blast furnaces, gas holders and coal mines pass through?
Germany.
Where can you camp along The Ruhr: blast furnaces, gas holders and coal mines?
OpenStreetMap lists 111 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Marina Oberhausen, Wohnmobilstellplatz KLamp-Lintfort Am Wandelweg and Campingpark Baldeneysee.
When is the best time for The Ruhr: blast furnaces, gas holders and coal mines?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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