St. Moritz to Deventer Road Trip: Alpine to Dutch Flatlands

St. Moritz lies at 1,822 m in the Engadin valley, while Deventer sits just 10 m above sea level on the IJssel river. The 870 km drive crosses three countries and drops 1,812 m in elevation.

The route follows H29 to Chur, then A13/E43 north to St. Margrethen, then A1/E60 through Austria to Germany, finally A1/E37 and A30 toward Deventer. Estimated driving time is 9–10 hours without stops.

Between St. Moritz and Deventer, you traverse the Swiss Alps, the Alpine foothills, the Black Forest, the Rhine Valley, and the Dutch lowlands. This diversity makes the journey as rewarding as the destination.

For tips on finding unexpected treasures along the way, see our guide on how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

Fuel prices vary significantly: Switzerland averages €1.70/L, Germany €1.80/L, the Netherlands €2.00/L (as of 2025). Fill up before crossing into the Netherlands if possible.

• Swiss motorway vignette (CHF 40) required on A13.
• German Autobahn – no toll, but sections have speed limits.
• Dutch motorways free of tolls (no vignette needed).

Best fuel stops: Buchs SG (CH border) for Swiss pricing; Freiburg or Rastatt (DE) for German rates; Raalte (NL) before Deventer.

Parking: Deventer city center is car-free zone; use park-and-ride 'P+R Deventer' (€2/day + bus ticket).

Swiss alpine roads have sharp curves and tunnels; use low gear downhill. German Autobahn has no speed limit on 60% of sections, but drive defensively.

• Rest areas: Raststätte 'Engadin' (CH) at St. Moritz; 'Rheinau' (A) after Bregenz; 'Freiburg Süd' (DE) before Black Forest.
• Family stops: Underwater world 'Sea Life' in Konstanz; 'Europa-Park' (Rust) near Offenburg.
• Pet-friendly: Swiss rest stops allow dogs on leash; German Autobahn rest areas have dedicated dog runs.

Fatigue management: take a 15-min break every 2 hours. Alertness reminders: traffic jams near Friedrichshafen on summer weekends. Off-route gem: 'Hohenzollern Castle' (detour of 20 km from B27).

The Engadin valley offers alpine lakes and pine forests. Lake St. Moritz (1,768 m) is a starting point. The Flüela Pass (2,383 m) is a scenic alternative to the A13, but adds 30 min.

• Rhine Gorge (Ruinaulta) – Swiss Grand Canyon near Ilanz.
• Lake Constance (Bodensee) – view from Bregenz or Lindau.
• Black Forest – Triberg waterfalls and cuckoo clocks.

Local commerce: Engadin villages sell nut and poppy seed cakes; Black Forest region offers ham and kirsch. In Deventer, visit the Deventer Koek (gingerbread) bakery.