Realistic average speed on German Autobahns

[BillyBob]

All - what is a realistic average speed on German autobahns?

I'm getting the overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland - disembarking at 8am. The interim destination is Salo on Lake Garda, and I'd like to get as much distance covered on day 1, so that the remainder of the trip can be done at a more leisurely pace. This would be on a Thursday, around mid-September.

Google maps looks like it uses approx 100Kmh as the average when planning routes, I would have thought it should be possible to do a bit better than this. I'm not a total novice when it comes to this, but neither am I going to overestimate my capabilities. I'm not planning on sitting there at 250Kmh all day long, but I would have thought something like a 150Kmh average would be achievable. Obviously fuel stops would impact this a little bit, but not massively.

 

[Trev Latter]

I don't think your 150kmh average is too far off the mark based on my experience, but obviously, that's weather and traffic dependant. I tend to sit around that speed regardless of vehicle I'm driving/riding when over there. There'll be plenty of opportunity to stretch your legs a bit if you feel the need for speed.

 

[Oneball]

All - what is a realistic average speed on German autobahns?

I'm getting the overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland - disembarking at 8am. The interim destination is Salo on Lake Garda, and I'd like to get as much distance covered on day 1, so that the remainder of the trip can be done at a more leisurely pace. This would be on a Thursday, around mid-September.

Google maps looks like it uses approx 100Kmh as the average when planning routes, I would have thought it should be possible to do a bit better than this. I'm not a total novice when it comes to this, but neither am I going to overestimate my capabilities. I'm not planning on sitting there at 250Kmh all day long, but I would have thought something like a 150Kmh average would be achievable. Obviously fuel stops would impact this a little bit, but not massively.

Work on 120kmh. Most have speed limit at 130kph and less if raining

 

[Oneball]

Max slog in a day I’d suggest 1000km but that’s not a holiday.

 

[MAF260]

Most of the autobahns are speed restricted. I’ve only driven in Germany a few times, never been able to manage any decent speeds due to roadworks and traffic in the de-restricted sections.

 

[FIFTY]

Unrestricted bits most people were doing 90mph when I drove through Germany in 2018

The restricted parts have speed cameras and the Germans generally do not speed past the limit

 

[RoaryRati]

On the A8 around Saarbrugen we were averaging 80/85mph on a sunny day and were one of the fastest cars 6 years ago - but I think it partly depends which area you are in

 

[philw696]

Harry Metcalf managed to get flat out in his Jaguar recently early on a Sunday morning if I remember did the 200 mph

 

[safrane]

Given how these cars will drink fuel at very high speeds I believe you may spend any saved time at the pumps rather than you destination esp if a long trip.

 

[BillyBob]

I'm not planning on foot to the floor the whole way, I'm just trying to figure out where to book the 1st night hotel. I'd like to get to Innsbruck - which I think is do-able. This is all about breaking the back of the journey on day 1, meaning day 2 (and onwards) can be a leisurely start, a detour for lunch, and arrival at destination early afternoon. Also, we will be stopping for 2 or 3 nights in some places and 7 nights in one.

Many years ago, we did a drive to Puglia in an Alfasud Sprint. We took the overnight ferry to Caen and then just drove. Ended up in a place called Le Puy-en-Velay about 6pm and didn't feel like driving any further. Wandered around the town, found the tourist office and sorted out a hotel. It turned out to be a lovely place. On another occasion we ended up in a French town called Chaumont (I think), and that wasn't nice at all.

I don't want to end up getting somewhere at 3pm on day 1, but I also don't want to be arriving at 8pm. I suppose I could just wing it and get my wife to book by phone from the passenger seat when we've got a better idea of how far we'll get - but the problem with these Europeans is that they have all of these apparently random festivals that mean all of the hotels are fully booked if you try to turn up on spec.

 

[Guy]

Sadly I think it will be traffic and roadworks that will limit your progress as per MAF260. These days it always disappoints how few miles/kms can be covered on a run even in Europe. In the late 80s I left Mougins near Cannes after breakfast and made dinner in London by sitting at a pretty constant 130mph in my 3.2 Carrera 911. These days that would likely involve loss of car and time behind bars. I suspect anything above 120kmh is a good call by Oneball. Good point re fuel consumption Safrane. I took an RS6 on a derestricted autobahn and the normal 20mpg dropped to single figures losing the time gained in the filling station!

 

[Felonious Crud]

Traffic and roadworks are not your friend, but with a mostly clear road you can sensibly assume 80-100 with occasional spirited squirts higher.

German colleagues with M-Bimmers complain about roadworks, but can often be found comfortably over 200 kph when they get lucky.

 

[Motorsport3]

Are you require to have winter tyres to drive through Germany in the winter?

 

[BillyBob]

Are you require to have winter tyres to drive through Germany in the winter?

I think you are - but I'm going in September

 

[alfatwo]

When we went over there regularly 80/90 mph was about right, it didn't trigger any camera's
Of course there were stretch's where you could go flat out.
I always had tires in the back of my mind though, a blow out at a 100+ and everyone in the car's history!

Dave

 

[davy83]

Traffic and road works absolutely. last trip i planned Amsterdam to Mulouse in one stretch, and planned leaving ferry at 10 am and arrive Mulouse at 6.20 with 2 hours of stops, and planned on being an hour ahead of googles times. We got diverted off the autobahn because of a truck on fire and hit a massive traffic jam and didnt get in to Mulouse til 9pm. Go figure!! We did get some stretches that were open and free and I suspect if we had not had the truck fire we would have been close to our schedule. There are quite a few bits with speed limits too.

 

[mjheathcote]

Was 12 years ago when I was last on the autobahn, at that time in my Elise S1 111s. Had a decent stretch at 120mph, which, was fast enough with the hood off!!
Was with a group visiting the Ring, one of the group had a Mini Cooper S, his supercharger bonnet intake flew off, fortunately behind me!

 

[fphil]

Most of the autobahns are speed restricted. I’ve only driven in Germany a few times, never been able to manage any decent speeds due to roadworks and traffic in the de-restricted sections.

Right and it also depends on the way and autobahn you choose. If you find a autobahn section which run from nowhere to nowhere then you can drive the 200km/h lane, but if you are not used to the game as the germans are this is exhausting.

 

[BillyBob]

Yup - I'm definitely aware that the choice of route could potentially impact average speed - which I suppose should have been part of my original question.

Using Google Maps for route planning, and doing a bit of manual dragging with the mouse, there are 3 or 4 different routes from Hook of Holland to Innsbruck, that are all within +/- 70km of each other. Comparing these to an online map of derestricted sections of Autobahn, it looks like some routes are definitely better than others. I'll be using Waze for the actual journey, and I know that now gives me an ETA that takes into account previous journeys. If I set Waze for the quickest route, will it pick something longer but with higher average traffic speeds, even though the shorter alternative is still "motorway"?

 

[zagatoes30]

It's all been said above their are many speed restrictions these days and roadworks is a bane of all motorists. 120-130 KM average is good over a day much more is not only difficult but gets quite tiring