Davos to Deventer: A Scenic Road Trip Guide

The drive from Davos, Switzerland’s highest town at 1,560 meters, to Deventer, a historic Hanseatic city in the Netherlands, spans about 850 kilometers and crosses four countries. A unique detail: shortly after leaving Davos, the route passes over the Landwasser Viaduct, a curved railway bridge built in 1902 that is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to the Rhaetian Railway. This road trip combines Alpine passes, Black Forest valleys, and Dutch flatlands.

To maximize your experience, consider detours to hidden gems. Learn how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

The route uses well-maintained highways: from Davos, take the A13 through Switzerland’s Graubünden region, crossing into Germany at Konstanz. Continue north on the A81 past Stuttgart, then connect to the A5 near Karlsruhe. Enter the Netherlands at Arnhem via the A1. Tolls apply only in Switzerland (vignette required, €40). Germany and Netherlands are toll-free for cars.

• Fuel costs: Approx. €150 for a sedan (8L/100km). Fill up in Germany for lower prices.
• Fuel efficiency tip: Cruise control at 100 km/h on Alpine descents saves fuel and brakes.
• Fuel stations: Frequent on German Autobahn (every 30 km); scarce in Swiss Alps – fill in Davos.

Driving times: Davos to Konstanz (2.5h), Konstanz to Frankfurt (3.5h), Frankfurt to Deventer (3.5h). Best stops Davos to Deventer include the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen and the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Road quality: Swiss A13 is narrow but paved; German Autobahn has excellent surfaces and no speed limits on many sections. Night illumination is good near cities but dark in rural Germany. Watch for wildlife, especially wild boar and deer between Stuttgart and Frankfurt.

• Pet-friendly: Rest areas with dog runs at Tank & Rast stations (e.g., Rastplatz Schonter Höhe).
• Family: Visit the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne (30-min detour) or the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum (directly on A6).
• Fatigue management: Rest stops at Raststätte Ohmenhausen (near Reutlingen, A8) with shaded picnic areas.

Hidden off-route spots: The ruined Hohenzollern Castle (5-min from B27 near Hechingen) offers photo stops. A 5-min detour at exit 42 on A5 gets you to the half-timbered village of Gengenbach.

For quick naps, use the parking lot at Freilichtmuseum Neuhausen ob Eck (free, safe).

The geographical shifts from Alpine peaks to lowland polders are dramatic. Leaving Davos, the A13 descends through the Schöllenen Gorge, with granite cliffs. Near Reichenau, the Rhine widens into a pastoral valley. In Germany, the Black Forest offers dense pine woods; near Baden-Baden, you’ll find half-timbered villages.

• UNESCO Sites: Landwasser Viaduct (immediate detour from route), Maulbronn Monastery (30-min detour from A5).
• Climatic conditions: Expect snow in Davos until April; rain in Netherlands often. Sunset at the Rhine Falls is spectacular.
• Local commerce: Buy Swiss chocolate at a Migros in Davos; Black Forest ham at a roadside stand in Germany.

Culinary infrastructure: In Brugg (CH), try bratwurst at Bahnhoffösli. In Freudenstadt (DE), stop at Waldhaus for Black Forest trout. Near Arnhem, De Kromme ophaalbrug serves Dutch pancakes.