History: The Destroyer of Pompeii and its Current Status
Italy, europe
N/A
1,007 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Southern Italy, gazing out over the Bay of Naples, and there it is – Mount Vesuvius. This isn't just any mountain; it's a notorious, active volcano, famous for *that* eruption that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum way back when.
You can actually drive up this thing! The SP114 road winds its way up, giving you incredible views the whole time. The paved road takes you up to about 1,007 meters (3,303 ft), to a parking area.
Here's the catch: you can't just drive all the way to the top in your own car. Private vehicles have to stop at a parking lot around the 800-meter mark. From there, you hop on a mandatory shuttle bus (yes, you gotta pay extra) for that final stretch to the top.
And guess what? You can't even hike to the crater on your own. You need to book a ticket in advance and join a guided tour with the park rangers. They're your mandatory escort, making sure you don't wander off and become a geological statistic.
A few things to keep in mind: definitely book your tickets online beforehand – they don't always sell them on site. Cell service is pretty much non-existent up there. Also, parking is super limited, so get there early, especially during the busy season.
Basically, getting to Vesuvius is a mix of easily accessible driving and restricted access. You can get close but you have to surrender and follow the rules. This is all done to ensure safety!
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 1,007 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderatePuerto de Navalmoral, an iconic Vuelta a España climb
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the heart of Spain, in the province of Ávila, ready for an epic mountain adventure. That's where you'll find Puerto de Navalmoral, a seriously stunning pass that tops out at a cool 1,517 meters (or nearly 5,000 feet!). This beauty is nestled in the Sierra de Gredos mountains, and the road that takes you there – the AV-900 – is a smooth, paved dream. But don't get too comfy! This isn't a boring drive. Think endless twists and turns as you climb from the Amblés valley to the Alberche valley. The road is usually pretty quiet, so you can really soak in the scenery. You can hit this road year-round, but keep an eye on the weather in winter – things can get dicey and lead to temporary closures. Keep in mind, this route has been featured in the Spanish Vuelta, so you know it's a serious climb, with some sections hitting a gradient of 8.3%! The whole pass stretches for 26.7 kilometers (about 16.6 miles) running from Ávila to Navalmoral. Get ready for some views!
hardCol du Jovet
🇫🇷 France
# Col du Jovet: A High-Alpine Adventure Ready for a serious mountain challenge? Col du Jovet sits at a serious 2,404m (7,887ft) in France's Savoie department, and trust me, this isn't your average scenic drive. Here's the deal: the road is gravel, narrow, and genuinely steep—we're talking almost 2,000 metres of climbing with relentless hairpins through some seriously remote territory. Winter? Forget about it. This pass shuts down completely when the snow arrives. The journey starts off decent enough from Les Plaines. You'll snake through quiet, hairpin-heavy roads until you hit Notre-Dame-du-Pré around 1,270m. But here's where things get real: once you pass the 1,835m mark, the pavement disappears and the gravel madness begins. The final push to the summit is absolutely brutal—wild, steep, and seriously exposed. If you're not feeling the full send, at least push to the Refuge du Mont Jovet. That section is in reasonable condition and gives you a taste of the drama without the most intense exposure. But if you've got the nerve and a capable vehicle, the complete ascent offers a truly unforgettable alpine experience with some of the most dramatic hairpins you'll find anywhere. This is peak French mountain territory—isolated, challenging, and utterly spectacular.
hardA steep paved road to Alto de Lubian in Zamora
🇪🇸 Spain
# Alto de Lubián: Spain's Windswept Summit Drive Tucked away in Zamora province in northern Spain's Castile and León region sits Alto de Lubián, a breezy 1,681-meter peak that's become a favorite challenge for serious cyclists and road-trip enthusiasts. The route—called Camino del Cañizo—kicks off from the ZA-106 Road and climbs for a solid 10.3 kilometers. You'll gain 671 meters of elevation along the way, averaging a respectable 6.51% gradient, though some sections will test your nerves at a steep 13.3%. The good news? The road is fully paved. The catch? It's narrow and twisty, with more than a few hairpin turns to keep you alert. The scenery unfolds as you twist and climb, and once you reach the summit, you're greeted by a sprawling wind farm—a surreal landscape of turbines spinning against the sky. The road has earned legitimate bragging rights too, having hosted stages of the professional Vuelta a Castilla y León race. Whether you're a cycling purist seeking your next conquest or simply someone who loves conquering challenging mountain passes, Alto de Lubián delivers both technical driving and the satisfaction of summiting one of Spain's memorable peaks.
hardThe Storehaug Tunnel Old Road is said to be one of the scariest roads in Vestland County
🇳🇴 Norway
# Old RV13: Norway's Infamous Mountain Challenge Nestled in Vestland County near Vik, this notorious stretch of the old RV13 is not for the faint of heart. This brief 1.93 km (1.19 miles) detour sits at a jaw-dropping 980 m (3,215 ft) elevation, offering stunning views—if you can keep your eyes on the road. Here's where it gets sketchy: what was once a properly paved route has deteriorated significantly over the years thanks to Norway's brutal weather. Today, it's a muddy, slippery mess that transforms into a genuinely treacherous drive after rain. Add in those stomach-churning drop-offs, and you've got a recipe for white-knuckle driving at its finest. The road's reputation got so gnarly that authorities decided enough was enough. Back in 1981, they carved out the Storehaugtunnelen—a 1,044-meter tunnel that bypasses this sketchy section entirely. Smart move, honestly. The tunnel was built specifically to dodge all the hazards the old mountain road throws at you: the steep grades, the mud, and the landslide risk. So while this forgotten stretch of asphalt has definitely seen better days, it remains a wild testament to the raw power of Scandinavian nature. These days, most sensible drivers take the tunnel and call it a day.