Colmar to Dijon Road Trip: Hidden Gems & Scenic Drive

The Colmar to Dijon road trip covers roughly 170 km (105 miles) along the A36 and A39 autoroutes, taking about 1 hour 45 minutes without stops. Yet the real magic lies in the detours: the Vosges foothills give way to Burgundy's rolling vineyards, and the air shifts from Alsatian white wine grapevines to the scent of mustard seeds near Dijon. One peculiar fact: the A36 autoroute near Mulhouse is built atop a former Roman road, the Via Agrippa, which connected the Rhine to the Saône. This exact path has been a travel corridor for two millennia.

For those wondering how long to drive Colmar to Dijon, the direct drive is under two hours, but the journey rewards those who linger. Is it worth driving Colmar to Dijon? Absolutely, because you traverse two distinct cultural regions: Alsace and Burgundy, each offering villages, cuisine, and landscapes unique to France. The best stops Colmar to Dijon include medieval fortified towns, vineyard climbs, and châteaux that dot the route. To optimize your stops, consider how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

The A36 autoroute from Colmar to Dijon is well-maintained, with tolls totaling approximately €16.50 for the entire journey. Fuel stations appear every 20-30 km along the A36, but the last station before the A39 junction is at the Aire de l'Étang (km 55). Diesel averages €1.75/L, and with a standard car, expect fuel costs around €22 for the 170 km trip. The topography is mostly flat through the Alsatian plain, then rolling hills entering Burgundy, so fuel efficiency remains stable.

• Toll cost: €16.50 (Class 1 vehicle)
• Fuel cost (diesel): ~€22 (6.5 L/100 km)
• Recommended fuel stops: Aire de l'Étang (A36) and Aire de la Saône (A39)

Road quality is excellent on autoroutes, with rest areas every 10 km. The alternative D route (N83) offers a slower, more scenic drive but takes 3+ hours. For navigation, GPS coordinates: Colmar (48.0790° N, 7.3570° E) to Dijon (47.3220° N, 5.0410° E).

Autoroute A36/A39 is well-lit only near toll plazas and major interchanges; night driving requires high beams but watch for wildlife crossing, especially deer near forests of Chaux. Speed limits: 130 km/h dry, 110 km/h wet. Radar traps are frequent near Belfort and Besançon.

For families, the Parc de la Haute-Borne (Lac de la Haute Borne) near Vesoul offers a playground and swimming lake, exit 7 A36. In Besançon, the Citadelle has a zoo and interactive museum ideal for children. Pet-friendly stops: the Aire de l'Étang has a designated dog-walking area and a pet-friendly café. For fatigue management, the Aire de la Saône (A39, km 120) has quiet parking spaces in a wooded area, perfect for a 20-minute nap. Hidden off-route spot: the abandoned Château de Montby, visible from the A36 near L'Isle-sur-le-Doubs, a 5-minute drive off exit 7.

• Family: Citadelle de Besançon (zoo, museum)
• Pet: Aire de l'Étang (dog area)
• Fatigue: Aire de la Saône (quiet rest)

Geography shifts noticeably: departure in the Upper Rhine plain, vineyards and flat fields; then crossing the Vosges foothills near Belfort, with the strategic Belfort Gap (Trouée de Belfort). South of Belfort, the landscape opens to the Jura-like plateaus of Franche-Comté, before descending into the Doubs valley. Near Dijon, the Côte d'Or hills rise, covered in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites along or close to the route: the entire historic center of Dijon (part of the Climats of Burgundy, registered in 2015) and the Fortifications of Besançon (UNESCO since 2008) – a 15-minute detour from the A36. The route also passes near the Route des Grands Crus, a wine road with 24 Grand Cru appellations.

• Besançon Citadel (UNESCO): exit at Besançon Planoise, 10 min detour
• Dijon's old town: full of medieval half-timbered houses and the Palace of the Dukes
• Local commerce: stop at the Marché de Beaune (Saturday) for mustard, escargots, and Burgundy wines