📷 Photo by Roman Vasylovskyi on UnsplashZillertal, Krimml and the Grossglockner
Tyrolean valleys, Austria’s highest waterfalls and the country’s most famous Alpine road.
- Distance
- 178 km (111 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 28 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 6
- Countries
- Austria
- Updated
- June 20, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 178 km (111 mi) with 6 stops, from Innsbruck to Lienz. About 2 h 28 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Austria
Route description
From Innsbruck, with its Golden Roof and the Nordkette cable car rising above the city, take the A12 east along the Inn valley and turn off into the Zillertal. The B169 runs up the flat valley floor to Mayrhofen, surrounded by high peaks and side valleys.
From Zell am Ziller the B165 climbs the Gerlos Pass, a toll road with hairpins and a reservoir near the top, then drops into the Salzach valley at Krimml. The gradients are steep, so motorhome drivers should use low gears on the descent.
The Krimml Waterfalls fall 380 m in three steps, and a well-made path climbs beside them with viewpoints over each drop. Allow half a day for the walk up and back, and expect spray near the lower falls.
Follow the B168 east through the Pinzgau to Bruck, then take the Grossglockner High Alpine Road over the main ridge of the Alps, a toll road reaching 2,504 m and usually open from May to early November. Detour to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe for the view of the Grossglockner and its glacier, then descend through Heiligenblut and the Möll valley to Lienz in East Tyrol.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Innsbruck
Austria - 246 km
Mayrhofen
Austria - 330 km
Krimml
Austria - 41 km
Krimml Waterfalls
NatureKrimml, AustriaAustria’s highest waterfalls drop 380 m in three steps. A path climbs beside them.
- 566 km
Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße
ViewsHeiligenblut, AustriaA toll road climbing to 2,504 m with views of Austria’s highest peak. Usually open May to early November.
- 636 km
Lienz
Austria
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Innsbruck → Mayrhofen · 46 km · 0 h 38 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Mayrhofen (1 km); Camping Aufenfeld (11 km).
- Day 2: Mayrhofen → Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße · 97 km · 1 h 20 minOn the way: Krimml, Krimml Waterfalls.Overnight nearby, for example: Nationalpark Camping Großglockner (5 km); Lampenhäusl Camping (16 km).
- Day 3: Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße → Lienz · 36 km · 0 h 30 minOvernight nearby, for example: Comfort Camping Falken (< 1 km); Dolomiten Camping Amlacherhof (2 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–March. Mountain passes on this route are usually open May–October. 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
- Austria: Vignette needed for motorways. Vehicles over 3.5 t need a GO-Box for distance-based tolls. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
- Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße (2,504 m). Usually open May–October; outside that window the road can be closed by snow. Alternative: The Felbertauern tunnel is open all year.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Zillertal, Krimml and the Grossglockner?
3-day road trip of about 178 km (111 mi) with 6 stops, from Innsbruck to Lienz. About 2 h 28 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Zillertal, Krimml and the Grossglockner?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 28 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Zillertal, Krimml and the Grossglockner start and end?
It starts in Innsbruck and ends in Lienz.
Which countries does Zillertal, Krimml and the Grossglockner pass through?
Austria.
Where can you camp along Zillertal, Krimml and the Grossglockner?
OpenStreetMap lists 42 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Schwimmbad-Camping Hall, Campingplatz Judenstein and Sonnencamping Stubai.
When is the best time for Zillertal, Krimml and the Grossglockner?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
