Spain Road Trip Itinerary (10–14 Days)

Spain Road Trip Itinerary (10–14 Days)

After road-tripping the UK and France, I crossed into Spain via San Sebastián and spent two full months driving the country by car, with my dog Roly.

Not just one straight line south. I moved slowly along the Basque coast, through major cities, down the Mediterranean, into Andalusia. 

Spain is one of the easiest countries in Europe to road trip. The distances are manageable, roads are excellent, fuel infrastructure is strong, and each region feels culturally distinct. You can drive three hours and feel like you’ve crossed into a different country.

What follows is the route logic that worked best based on my own drive time, pacing and energy, plus alternatives depending on where you land and how much time you have.

Table of Contents

• Best Spain Road Trip Route Overview
• Alternative Spain Road Trip Variations (Based on Time & Entry Point)
• Arrival City Logic (Madrid vs Barcelona vs Bilbao)
• 10-Day Spain Road Trip Breakdown
• 14-Day Extended Version
• Practical Notes: Drive Times, Tolls, Timing & Pacing

Best Spain Road Trip Route Overview

The backbone that worked best for me followed a clear north-to-south flow:

San Sebastián → Pamplona → Zaragoza (stopover) → Barcelona → Valencia → Alicante → Granada (stopover) → Seville → Tarifa

Why This Direction Works

1. Natural Geographic Flow

Entering through the Basque Country from France makes immediate sense if you’re driving. From there, the route gradually tracks south and east without zig-zagging inland too early.

You’re essentially following Spain’s spine downward. Atlantic edge → Mediterranean coast → Andalusia → southern tip.

2. Drive Times Stay Manageable

Most stretches sit between 2–4 hours, which is the sweet spot for sustainable road travel.

• San Sebastián → Pamplona: ~1 hour
• Pamplona → Madrid (via Soria stop) or Zaragoza: 3–4 hours
• Barcelona → Valencia: ~3.5–4 hours
• Valencia → Alicante: ~2 hours
• Alicante → Granada: ~4 hours
• Granada → Seville: ~2.5–3 hours
• Seville → Tarifa: ~2.5 hours

Long enough to feel like movement. Short enough that you still have a day on arrival.

3. The Cultural Contrast Builds Gradually

• The Basque region feels structured, green and food-led
• Madrid and Barcelona shifts the energy; urban, design-forward, international
• Valencia softens the pace with light and open space
• Andalusia introduces depth, history, and later nights

Moving this way felt progressive. The atmosphere intensified naturally instead of peaking too early.

4. Climate Logic

If you’re travelling outside peak summer, heading south gradually works in your favour. Temperatures rise gently instead of dropping sharply.

In winter, this direction is even better. By the time you reach Seville and Tarifa, you’re back in warmth and light.

The Key Principle

Spain rewards directional travel. Pick a coast. Move with it. Avoid jumping north–south–north unless you have significant time.

This north-to-south arc gave me variety without exhaustion.

Alternative Spain Road Trip Variations (Based on Time & Entry Point)

The north-to-south route I followed worked beautifully over two months because I wasn’t rushing. But if you’re working with 10–14 days, you’ll need to tighten it.

Here are variations depending on how much time you actually have.

Option 1 - 10 Days: Mediterranean Focus (High Efficiency)

Barcelona → Valencia → Alicante → Granada → Seville

Why this works:

• Minimal backtracking
• Strong coastal progression
• Drive times mostly 2–4 hours
• Clear climate consistency
• Big cultural contrast without overload

You skip the Basque Country, but you gain pacing control.

Best for: First-time Spain visitors. Winter travellers. People flying into Barcelona

Option 2 - 10 Days: North Spain Loop

Bilbao / San Sebastián → Pamplona → Zaragoza → Return North

Why this works:

• Cooler weather in summer
• Green landscapes
• Food-focused travel
• More compact driving

You avoid the long southbound stretch entirely.

Best for: Summer travel. Shorter drives. People flying into Bilbao

Option 3 - 14 Days: The Full Arc (Most Balanced)

San Sebastián → Pamplona → Zaragoza → Barcelona → Valencia → Granada → Seville → Tarifa

To make it work in 14 days:

• Choose 3 anchor bases (e.g. Barcelona, Valencia, Seville)
• Use Pamplona, Zaragoza, Granada as 1-night transitions
• Avoid adding extra inland detours

This version gives you:

• Atlantic coast
• Mediterranean coast
• Andalusia
• Major cities
• Beach towns
• Historic inland stops

It’s ambitious but manageable if you keep drive days controlled.

Option 4 - Madrid-Centric Loop (Simplest Logistics)

Madrid → Valencia → Granada → Seville → Return to Madrid

Why this works:

• One airport in/out
• No one-way rental fees
• Cleaner circular flow
• Easy to compress into 10 days

You lose the Basque coast and Barcelona but gain simplicity.

The Real Decision Factors

When choosing your route, consider:

• Where are you flying in/out?
• Are you travelling in peak summer heat?
• Do you prefer coast or historic cities?
• Are you comfortable with 4-hour drive days?
• Do you want variety or depth?

Spain can handle all of it. The key is not trying to do everything in 10 days.

Arrival City Logic (Madrid vs Barcelona vs Bilbao)

Where you start shapes the entire structure of your Spain road trip. I entered through San Sebastián by car from France, so beginning in the north made logistical sense. But if you’re flying in, your arrival city will influence everything; drive flow, pacing, climate progression and cost.

Here’s how to decide.

Start in Bilbao (or San Sebastián) if you want:

• A northern Spain focus
• Cooler temperatures in summer
• Green landscapes and strong regional food culture
• A gradual move south

This is ideal if you want to experience the Basque Country properly and then work your way down through the country without rushing.

Best for: Summer travel. Travellers prioritising scenery and regional identity over capital cities.

Start in Barcelona if you want:

• A Mediterranean-led route
• Coast-first progression
• Big city → smaller city contrast
• Clean southbound drive logic

Barcelona works extremely well for a 10-day structure like:

Barcelona → Valencia → Granada → Seville

Minimal backtracking. Strong coastal flow. Clear contrast.

Best for: First-time visitors. Winter travel. People who want coast and culture combined.

Start in Madrid if you want:

• A central launch point
• A circular route (same airport in and out)
• Simpler car rental logistics

Madrid makes sense if you’re doing:

Madrid → Valencia → Granada → Seville → back to Madrid

You’ll miss the Basque coast unless you extend north, but you gain efficiency.

Best for: 10–12 day trips. Travellers prioritising simplicity. Anyone avoiding one-way rental fees.

There isn’t one correct arrival city.

There’s the one that fits:

• Your timeframe
• The season
• Your preferred mix of coast vs city
• Your tolerance for longer drive days

Choose intentionally, then let the route unfold from there.

10-Day Spain Road Trip Breakdown

If you’re working with 10 days, you need focus. You cannot comfortably do the full north-to-south arc without rushing. The key is choosing either:

• A Mediterranean route (Barcelona → Seville), or
• A Northern loop (Basque Country focus).

I’ve broken both options down day-by-day above with realistic drive times and anchor bases.

The most important factor isn’t distance, it’s how often you move. Limit yourself to 3–4 bases maximum.

14-Day Extended Version

With 14 days, you can connect north to south without burning out, if you use transition nights strategically.

The version outlined above works because:

• Major cities anchor the route
• Short one-night stops break longer drives
• No unnecessary inland detours

Fourteen days gives you variety without feeling frantic. Beyond that, you start to experience Spain rather than just cover it.

Practical Notes: Drive Times, Tolls, Timing & Pacing

After two months on Spanish roads, here’s what actually matters.

Drive Times: What Feels Sustainable

On paper, Spain doesn’t look large. In reality, distances stretch quickly if you zig-zag.

The sweet spot for sustainable travel is 2–4 hours per drive day

That allows you to:

• Check out calmly
• Stop for coffee or fuel
• Arrive before late afternoon
• Still have a proper evening

Once you start stacking multiple 5+ hour drives back-to-back, the trip becomes transit-heavy.

If you’re working with 10–14 days, aim for:

• 3–4 main bases
• 2 transition nights maximum

Not a new hotel every day.

Tolls & Fuel Costs

Spain’s motorways are excellent. Many are now toll-free, but some private autopistas still charge.

Expect:

• Occasional toll sections, especially near major cities
• Card payments accepted almost everywhere
• Clear signage for “peaje” (toll) routes

Fuel is widely available and straightforward. Service stations are frequent, even on longer rural stretches.

If you’re budgeting roughly (as of 2026):

• Fuel prices sit broadly in line with Western Europe
• Motorway driving increases consumption slightly
• City parking can cost more than fuel in some places

Which leads to the next point.

Parking Reality

Historic centres (Seville, Granada, San Sebastián Old Town) are not built for cars.

You’ll either:

• Use underground public garages
• Choose accommodation with parking included

For road trips, staying slightly outside historic cores often makes more sense logistically.

When to Avoid Moving

Spain’s heat and event calendar matter more than people realise.

Summer (July–August):

• Inland cities like Seville and Granada can exceed 40°C
• Midday driving and unloading luggage becomes draining
• Coastal bases are more comfortable

Major fiestas:

• San Fermín (Pamplona, July)
• Feria de Abril (Seville, spring)
• Semana Santa (nationwide impact)

These periods bring closures, full hotels, and limited parking. Plan ahead or avoid move days entirely.

Also avoid:

• Sunday late afternoons (return traffic into major cities)
• Friday evenings in Madrid or Barcelona

Realistic Pacing

The mistake most people make is assuming Spain is compact. It isn’t.

You can physically connect: San Sebastián → Barcelona → Seville in under a week.

But you won’t experience them properly.

Spain rewards:

• Longer lunches
• Late dinners
• Slower mornings
• Time outside

If you compress too much, you’ll spend more time checking in and out than actually absorbing where you are.

If in doubt: Cut one city.

The trip will improve instantly.

Final Thought

Spain is one of those countries that works exceptionally well by car, not because you need to rush through it, but because the transitions between regions are part of the experience. Atlantic coast to Mediterranean light. Inland plains to Andalusian warmth. Food culture shifts. Architecture changes. Even the pace of daily life evolves as you move.

The key isn’t covering everything. It’s choosing a direction, pacing it realistically, and allowing space between drive days. Whether you follow the north-to-south route I took or adapt it to suit your timeframe, Spain works best when you move with intention rather than urgency. Let the country reveal itself gradually rather than all at once. Depth beats distance every time.