Clermont-Ferrand to Schladming Road Trip Guide: Alps & Hidden Gems

The drive from Clermont-Ferrand to Schladming covers approximately 1,100 kilometers, winding through the Massif Central, the Rhône Valley, the Jura, and the Austrian Alps. A little-known fact: the Route Nationale 89 near Clermont-Ferrand follows an ancient Roman road that connected Lyon to the Atlantic, and today it forms part of the Via Arverna pilgrimage route.

For tips on optimizing the journey and discovering lesser-known attractions, check out how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

Road quality varies: French motorways are excellent but toll-heavy; Austrian sections like the A10 Tauern Autobahn have sharp curves and tunnels. Night illumination is good on main highways but absent on secondary Alpine roads. Always carry snow chains in winter (November–April mandatory in Austrian Alpine zones).

Families and pets: The Vulcania theme park (near Clermont-Ferrand) is a hit for kids. Pet-friendly stops include the shaded picnic area at Lac de Payolle (off A64) and the dog-walking meadows at Zell am See. For fatigue management, the Aire de la Bresse rest area (A40) has a quiet zone, and the Raststätte Tauern in Austria offers safe parking with showers.

• Hidden off-route spots: The medieval village of Pérouges (20 min from A42), the abandoned chapel in Bourg-Argental (5 min from N82), and the mineral spring at Bad Aussee (15 min from Schladming).
• Fatigue management: Recommended nap spots – Aire de la Savoyarde (A6, southbound) has shaded benches; Raststätte Grödig (A10 north) has a rest area with 6-hour parking limit.
• Family child-friendly: Parc Animalier de la Montagne du Diable near Saint-Étienne (A72); Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens (detour from A12).
• Pet-friendly cafes: Café de la Paix in Moulins (A79) allows dogs; Gasthof Stöger in Schladming has a dedicated pet corner.

Geographical shifts from volcanic plateaus to Alpine peaks are dramatic. Leaving Clermont-Ferrand, the Chaîne des Puys (a UNESCO World Heritage site) offers a lunar-like terrain of dormant volcanoes. As you descend into the Limagne plain, the landscape softens to sunflower fields. Beyond Lyon, the Jura mountains rise with their limestone ridges and dense fir forests. Finally, the Tauern range in Austria frames Schladming with glacier-topped peaks.

• UNESCO sites along route: Chaîne des Puys (starting point), Lyon’s Historic Site (off A6), and Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut (day trip from Schladming).
• Local commerce: Cantal cheese from roadside stalls near Clermont; Swiss chocolates in Geneva; Austrian pumpkin seed oil and schnapps at farm shops near Schladming.
• Scenic sunset viewpoints: The viewpoint at Puy de Dôme (€12 entry) or the rest area on A7 near Valence overlooking the Rhône.

Fuel costs for this route vary with your vehicle. A diesel car averaging 6 L/100 km will consume about 66 liters; at €1.75/L in France, that's ~€115. Austria and Switzerland have slightly higher diesel prices. To save fuel, maintain a steady 110 km/h on highways and use cruise control through the Rhône Valley, where headwinds are common.

• Fuel station distribution: Dense in France (every 20–40 km on A89/A6); sparse in the Jura and Austrian Alps on secondary roads.
• Topography fuel tips: The steep gradients near the Mont Blanc Tunnel and Tauern Autobahn require lower gears; avoid heavy acceleration.
• Toll roads: French sections (A89, A71, A6, A7) total about €95; Austrian vignette (€9.50 for 10 days) is mandatory and can be bought at border gas stations.