In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Kufstein via the Kitzbühel Alps, the Zillertal, Achensee and Innsbruck to the Timmelsjoch and the glacier road in the Kaunertal: around 660 kilometres through Tyrol’s valleys – with straight talk on the vignette, driving bans and what counts as “camping” in Tyrol.
The spirit of the route
Tyrol is a land of valleys: each one leads off the broad furrow of the Inn into a world of its own. In the Wilder Kaiser, limestone walls rise above alpine meadows; in the Zillertal, cowbells and the steaming narrow-gauge train drift through the green; on the Achensee the water lies so clear and green that you count sailboats over your morning coffee. Innsbruck hangs between the Nordkette and the Patscherkofel as if someone had set a city into an alpine frame. In the Ötztal the air thins, the trees grow low, and at the Timmelsjoch the green ends at the snow line. From your sliding door you see glacier tongues, larches and waterfalls, and in the evening the air smells of wood smoke and mown grass. In return, Tyrol demands discipline: you can camp here almost only on campsites, in summer weekend driving bans apply to through traffic, and mountain passes want to be driven early in the day. If you accept that, you get a trip of rare density.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Kufstein to Kitzbühel (Brixental) (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- From Kufstein via Söll and Scheffau at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser to Ellmau and Going, then to St. Johann in Tirol and across the Kitzbüheler Ache to Kitzbühel; continue into the Brixental. Well-built regional roads with villages and roundabouts, few real climbs. Around 1.5 hours’ driving time without stops.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Kufstein Fortress with the Heldenorgel (Heroes’ Organ) and views of the Inn and the Kaisergebirge.
- Kaiserblick on the Wilder Kaiser near Ellmau and Going, with a hike to the Gruttenhütte or into the entrance of the Kaisertal.
- Kitzbühel old town with its Gothic churches; you can reach the panorama from the Hahnenkamm by cable car.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In the Brixental west of Kitzbühel you will find Campingwelt Brixen im Thale and Panoramacamping Westendorf, both with electricity and sanitary facilities. In Kufstein there is a motorhome aire with waste disposal at the Kufstein Arena car park; check pitches, prices and season in advance.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Tyrol, camping outside approved sites is generally prohibited, and under the Tyrolean Camping Act this includes tourist overnight stays in a motorhome. Municipalities such as Kitzbühel, Kirchberg and the villages around the Wilder Kaiser check car parks – plan for fixed sites.
- Insider tip for campers
- On Saturdays and in high season the road between Ellmau and St. Johann backs up; driving early in the morning or after 5 pm saves your nerves. Fill up with fuel and water in Kufstein before setting off. Kitzbühel’s centre is largely pedestrianised and the multi-storey car parks have height limits – leave the camper at the campsite; buses run regularly.
2Stage 2: Kitzbühel to Mayrhofen (Zillertal) (approx. 80 km)
- The drive
- Down the Brixental to Wörgl, then on the B171 or the Inn Valley motorway A12 (vignette required) to Strass, into the Zillertal and via Fügen, Zell and Aschau to Mayrhofen. Mostly wide roads; the Zillertal often has heavy traffic, especially at weekends and in the rain. Just over 1.5 hours’ driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Zillertalbahn: steam train between Jenbach and Mayrhofen, easy to photograph alongside the road.
- Zillertal Alps High Alpine Nature Park: hikes from Ginzling to the Zemmgrund and the Berliner Hütte.
- Schlegeis reservoir: toll road with several tunnels and views of the Hochfeiler glaciers.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Camping Mayrhofen on the edge of the village, with electricity and sanitary facilities; Camping Aufenfeld near Aschau with a large sanitary block and electricity, Campingdorf Hofer near Hippach and Camping Hochzillertal near Kaltenbach as alternatives in the valley. Book in August and on public holidays.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Zillertal the municipalities do not tolerate overnighting in car parks and at cable car valley stations; the Zillertal Alps Nature Park is a protected area. If you look outside the season, you will occasionally find pitches on farms – ask in advance.
- Insider tip for campers
- The Schlegeis Alpine Road is a toll road, around 13 km long with narrow tunnels; it is open during the day only. Ask the operator (VERBUND) in advance about tolls and vehicle rules for motorhomes, and if in doubt take the scheduled bus from Mayrhofen.
3Stage 3: Mayrhofen to Achensee (Pertisau/Maurach) (approx. 70 km)
- The drive
- Down the Zillertal to Strass, briefly along the Inn valley floor to Jenbach, then up the Achensee road B181 to the lake: broad, with a moderate gradient, then along the east shore. To reach Pertisau on the west shore, a minor road branches off at Maurach; the approach to the shore is narrow and full in summer. Around 1.5 hours’ driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Achenseebahn from Jenbach to Seespitz: Austria’s oldest steam-powered rack railway; check the timetable and operation in advance.
- Boat trips between Seespitz, Pertisau and Achenseehof; the lakeside path from Pertisau is flat and good for children.
- Rofan cable car from Maurach with panoramic views over the lake and the ridge path.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: At the northern end near Achenkirch are Alpen Caravan Park Achensee and Achensee Camping Schwarzenau, and near Pertisau on the west shore Seecamping Wimmer and Karwendel Camping, all with electricity and sanitary facilities. In the lower Inn valley near Kramsach there is also Camping Seeblick Toni. Book in high season.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Around the Achensee, camping outside the campsites is prohibited; municipalities and nature conservation authorities carry out checks. The car parks on the shore often charge a fee.
- Insider tip for campers
- It is best to fill up with water and empty your tanks at the campsite – there are no stations at the lake car parks. The lakeshore fills up early at weekends; it is best to take walks before 9 am.
4Stage 4: Achensee to Innsbruck (approx. 65 km)
- The drive
- Back to Jenbach, then through the Inn valley via Schwaz and Hall in Tirol to Innsbruck, on either the A12 or the B171 (with village sections). The motorway is covered by the vignette; from Hall the traffic gets heavy. Just over 1.5 hours’ driving time, considerably more at rush hour.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Schwaz Silver Mine: guided tour underground with a mine train, whatever the weather.
- Old town of Hall in Tirol with Hasegg Castle and the Münzerturm (Mint Tower).
- Innsbruck: Golden Roof, the Nordkettenbahn up to the Hafelekar and the Bergisel ski jump with its panorama.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Hall there is Schwimmbad-Camping Hall with electricity, service point and sanitary facilities. West of Innsbruck are Camping Stigger in Völs and the Kranebitterhof in Kranebitten, both connected to the city bus; Camping Natterersee south of the city is quieter. Book in peak season.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Innsbruck is not a city for free camping: camping and overnighting in a motorhome outside the campsites is not permitted, and checks are common. During the day you will find car parks for visitors; the multi-storey car parks in the centre have height limits.
- Insider tip for campers
- Visit the city by bus or tram from the campsite. If you are towing a trailer, avoid the city centre: Maria-Theresien-Strasse and the access to the Hofburg are narrow and twisty. The Innsbruck Nordkettenbahn also runs in the rain – check the view before you go up.
5Stage 5: Innsbruck to Längenfeld (Ötztal) (approx. 95 km)
- The drive
- Up the Inn valley on the A12 to Ötztal-Bahnhof, then along the Ötztal road B186 through the valley: past Ötz and through Umhausen to Längenfeld. Beyond Ötz the road gets narrower; in high summer there are many buses and motorbikes. Around 1.5 hours’ driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Stuibenfall near Umhausen: Tyrol’s highest waterfall, reachable on foot in half an hour, with a suspension bridge.
- Ötzi Village in Umhausen, an open-air museum on the Stone Age.
- Aquadome in Längenfeld, a thermal spa with mountain views.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Ötztal Camping Umhausen and Camping Ötztal Längenfeld offer electricity, service points and sanitary facilities; further up the valley are Ötztaler Naturcamping and Camping Sölden. The valley is popular, so book early in the summer holidays and in autumn (hiking).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Ötztal, camping outside the campsites is prohibited; checks are also carried out at hiking car parks and cable car valley stations. There are hardly any designated motorhome pitches for overnighting in the upper valley.
- Insider tip for campers
- The Ötztal is affected by mudslides and flooding – check current closures on the Tyrol state traffic website. Take care of gas, groceries and waste disposal in Längenfeld or Umhausen before continuing; everything gets more expensive higher up the valley.
6Stage 6: Längenfeld to Timmelsjoch and back (approx. 90 km)
- The drive
- Up the valley via Sölden, Zwieselstein and Obergurgl to Hochgurgl and the toll station of the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road, then up to the pass at around 2,500 m. The road is well built but has hairpins and climbs, and on the South Tyrol side narrow tunnels follow. The pass is open in summer only (roughly June to October, depending on snow) and closed at night. Around 3 hours’ pure driving time there and back.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Timmelsjoch Experience with the pass museum and the viewing platform on the national border.
- Sölden with the cable car to the Gaislachkogl and the “Ötztal Glacier Road” to the glaciers.
- Obergurgl: Austria’s highest-lying church village and starting point for the Gurgler Ferner.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: A second night on the same site in Längenfeld or Umhausen – it is best to do the tour as a day trip. If you want to stay further up the valley, there is Camping Sölden with electricity and sanitary facilities; the valley is narrow there and the approach is tiring.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Overnighting in the vehicle is not provided for along the High Alpine Road; car parks at the pass summit and viewpoints can be used during the day. In Hochgurgl and Obergurgl there are only a few places for campers, usually with time limits.
- Insider tip for campers
- The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road is a toll road; size and weight restrictions apply to motorhomes and combinations and may change – check opening times, tariff and whether your vehicle is admitted with the operator before you go. Descend in a low gear and do not overheat the brakes. Start early; in high summer thunderstorms often build in the afternoon.
7Stage 7: Längenfeld to Kaunertal (Gepatschstausee) (approx. 100 km)
- The drive
- Down the Ötztal to the Inn valley floor, west on the A12 via Imst to Landeck, then on the B180 to Prutz and from there into the Kaunertal as far as Feichten. The road is well built but narrow in the upper section; the Kaunertal Glacier Road is a toll road and winds up in hairpins to the glacier ski area. Just over 2 hours’ pure driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Gepatsch reservoir: Tyrol’s largest reservoir, with a dam and a lakeside path.
- Glacier road to the Kaunertal Glacier with panoramic views of the Weissseespitze.
- Berneck Castle near Kauns, a medieval complex above the Inn valley.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Camping Kaunertal and Alpin Camping Kaunertal in the valley, plus Aktiv Camping Prutz at the valley entrance with electricity, service point and sanitary facilities. Camping Dreiländereck in the upper Inn valley south of Prutz is also an alternative; book in peak season.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Kaunertal, as everywhere in Tyrol, the ban on camping outside the campsites applies. Overnighting at the reservoir or on the toll road is not provided for.
- Insider tip for campers
- In some years the Kaunertal and Ötztal are hit by mudslides and closures – check the current situation on the Tyrol state traffic website. According to the operator, the Glacier Road is open daily all year from 7 am to 5 pm and closed at night; closures are possible in snow or bad weather. Ask the operator in advance about the toll and the motorhome tariff.
8Stage 8: Kaunertal to Innsbruck (approx. 105 km)
- The drive
- Back to Prutz, then down the upper Inn valley via Landeck, Imst and Telfs to Innsbruck, mostly on the A12 (vignette). Well built, but slow-going in the main travel season. Just over 1.5 hours’ driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Imst: old town with the parish church and the Schinderbach gorge, start of the Rosengartenschlucht hike.
- Stams Abbey near Telfs, a Cistercian abbey with a magnificent Baroque church.
- Zirler Berg with views of the Martinswand and the Inn valley.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Aktiv Camping Imst on the edge of town with electricity and sanitary facilities, or to finish in Innsbruck, Camping Stigger in Völs or Kranebitterhof respectively.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): The municipalities in the upper Inn valley do not tolerate free camping; car parks at service areas are meant for breaks, not for overnight stays with camping behaviour.
- Insider tip for campers
- On the way back to Germany, the A12 leads towards Kufstein and the A13 to the Brenner. On weekends and public holidays in summer, driving bans for through traffic apply on regional roads (districts of Kufstein, Innsbruck, Imst, Reutte); keep the campsite booking confirmation handy. Empty the water tank and the cassette at the last site before the border.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- The Tyrolean Camping Act generally prohibits camping outside campsites; tourist overnight stays in a motorhome or car also count as camping. Exceptions include areas for which a municipality temporarily permits otherwise by ordinance, and emergency bivouacs in high alpine terrain. Violations are administrative offences. On private land you need the owner’s consent.
- In nature reserves and protected areas (Karwendel, Zillertal Alps, Ötztal Alps), additional bans apply under the Tyrolean Nature Conservation Act. Specific penalties depend on the offence; do not rely on being tolerated.
- You can legally overnight on campsites, official motorhome pitches and farm pitches; park4night, Campercontact and the pitch guides of the tourist boards show current offers. Have farms confirm their agreement in writing or by message.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Water supply and waste disposal are available on most campsites and at some municipal pitches (for example Kufstein); coin or token systems are common. Empty grey water and the cassette only at stations.
- Tap water in Tyrol is excellent and drinkable almost everywhere; at alpine huts and fountains, look out for signs.
- Gas: German exchange cylinders can usually not be swapped in Austria; refillable cylinders and fixed tanks can be filled at autogas stations with the right adapter. Arrive with two full cylinders.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Vignette: vehicles up to 3.5 t need a vignette for motorways and expressways (A12), which is linked digitally to the licence plate; according to ÖAMTC the sticker vignette will be phased out in 2027, when Austria switches fully to digital. The 2026 annual vignette costs €106.80 for cars and is valid until 31 January 2027; check prices for 1 day (digital only), 10 days and 2 months with ASFINAG or ÖAMTC. Vehicles over 3.5 t pay the distance-based GO toll with a GO-Box.
- Road tolls: on this route there are additional tolls on the pass roads – the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road, the Kaunertal Glacier Road and the Schlegeis Alpine Road. Prices and motorhome tariffs change and should be looked up with the operators. The Brenner toll (A13) applies on this route only if you continue south.
- Driving bans: on the A12 between Langkampfen and Ampass there is a sectoral driving ban for lorries over 7.5 t (including lorries with trailers if the combined weights exceed 7.5 t) carrying certain goods such as waste, stones and excavated material, round timber, motor vehicles, steel, grain or cement; in addition, between Langkampfen and Zirl there is a night driving ban for lorries over 7.5 t (10 pm to 5 am, 8 pm to 5 am in the winter half-year). Motorhomes and cars are not affected; lorries are subject to block clearance at Kufstein, which can cause tailbacks. Separate from these are the summer driving bans on bypass traffic: in 2026 they applied from May to 1 November on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and bridge days from 7 am to 7 pm on regional roads in the districts of Innsbruck, Kufstein, Imst and Reutte. They affect all motor vehicles in transit, including motorhomes; destination and source traffic is allowed.
- Speed limits: for motorhomes up to 3.5 t the limits are 130 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on country roads and 50 km/h in built-up areas; on the A12, 110 km/h applies at night (10 pm to 5 am), plus IG-L speed limits on some sections – follow the signs. Motorhomes over 3.5 t may drive 80 km/h on motorways and 70 km/h outside built-up areas. For combinations the limit depends on the towing vehicle and trailer (100, 80 or 70 km/h); check details with ÖAMTC or ADAC. Dimensions: height 4.00 m, width 2.55 m, length 12 m (combination 18.75 m).
- Winter equipment is compulsory from 1 November to 15 April in wintry conditions (winter tyres or snow chains); even in summer there can be snow on passes. Using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, the alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, and 0.1 per mille for novice drivers.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Buy the digital vignette in advance (ASFINAG or ÖAMTC) – enter the licence plate carefully, as mistakes are penalised.
- Snow chains or textile snow socks for emergencies, even in late summer: the Timmelsjoch and the glacier road can see early snow.
- Campsite booking confirmation (printed or as a screenshot) for checks during through-traffic bans.
- Levelling ramps and pads for the often sloping terraced pitches in side valleys.
- Gaiters, a rain jacket and walking poles for the Stuibenfall, the Achensee and glacier trails: the weather changes quickly in the mountains.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
