Kinderdijk to Krems an der Donau Road Trip Guide

The route from Kinderdijk to Krems an der Donau spans about 900 kilometers, crossing the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. A lesser-known fact: the stretch through the German state of Hesse includes the historic Via Regia, an ancient trade route used since the Middle Ages. The journey primarily uses highways A15, A3, A4, A5, A7, and A8 in the Netherlands and Germany, then the A1 in Austria.

Driving time without stops is roughly 8.5 hours, but with recommended breaks, plan for 10-11 hours. The route offers a transition from flat Dutch polders to the rolling hills of the Rhineland and finally the Wachau Valley. For insights on how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities, this guide covers all essential details.

Road quality is excellent on German autobahns (no speed limit sections require attention), but Austrian B-roads near Krems are narrower. Night driving is safe; most highways are well-lit near cities. Speed cameras are common in Germany's Baustellen (construction zones) and Austria's traffic enforcement.

• Family stops: Legoland Deutschland (Günzburg), Playmobil FunPark (Zirndorf), or the Danube Marina in Krems.
• Pet-friendly: Raststätte Frankenwald (has dog park), Biergarten in Regensburg (dogs allowed).
• Hidden off-route: Burgruine Hanstein (5 min from A38), Abandoned watchtower on the former border (A7/Eisenach).
• Fatigue management: Rest areas: Raststätte Siegerland (A45), Raststätte Himmelkron (A9), and Parkplatz Wachberg near Krems.

Fuel costs vary: in the Netherlands petrol is around €2.00/l, Germany €1.80/l, Austria €1.50/l. For a car consuming 8L/100km, total fuel cost is about €120-140. Fuel stations are plentiful along highways, especially at Raststätte in Germany. Topography affects fuel efficiency: the flat Netherlands and Rhine valley are economical, but the climbs in Thuringian Forest and Austrian Alps increase consumption.

• Recommended fuel stops: TotalEnergies near Arnhem (A12), Aral at Raststätte Kassel (A7), Shell at Raststätte Fürth (A73).
• Tolls: No tolls in Netherlands/Germany; Austrian vignette required (€9.90 for 10 days).

The route passes three major geographical zones: the Dutch wetlands (Kinderdijk), the German Mittelgebirge (Rhineland, Thuringian Forest), and the Austrian Danube valley. In the Netherlands, polders and windmills dominate. As you cross into Germany, the landscape transitions to the rolling hills of the Bergisches Land, then the forested slopes of the Thuringian Forest, and finally the terraced vineyards of the Wachau.

• Natural sites: Rheinsteig trail viewpoints near Koblenz, Thuringian Forest nature park, the Danube bend at Schlögener Schlinge (detour).
• UNESCO sites: Cologne Cathedral (detour ~1h), Bamberg (detour ~30 min), Wachau Cultural Landscape (Krems itself).
• Local commerce: Buy Dutch cheese at Marken, German Bratwurst in Nuremberg, Austrian apricot products (Marillen) in Wachau villages.