
Transursoaia is one of the Romanian high-altitude roads
Romania, europe
80 km
1,324 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, road trip lovers, buckle up for Transursoaia (aka DN1R) in Romania! This beauty straddles Cluj and Alba counties and carves right through the Apuseni Natural Park in northern Romania.
Picture this: mostly paved roads winding through stunning mountain scenery (though you might hit a gravel patch or two). Seriously, daytime drives are a MUST for those epic views.
This isn't a Sunday cruise, though. Get ready for some steep climbs and no less than 15 hairpin turns! Plus, a few sections get a little *squeezy*, so keep your eyes peeled.
The Transursoaia clocks in at around 80 km (50 miles), stretching from Albac in the south all the way up to Huedin in the north. And hold on to your hats, because you'll be climbing to a whopping 1,324 meters (4,343 feet) at the Ursoaia Pass!
Just a heads-up: Mother Nature usually shuts this one down between November and April, so plan your trip accordingly!
Where is it?
Transursoaia is one of the Romanian high-altitude roads is located in Romania (europe). Coordinates: 45.0415, 23.9511
Road Details
- Country
- Romania
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 80 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,324 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 45.0415, 23.9511
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