Cost to drive from Amsterdam to Cologne
Driving from Amsterdam to Cologne covers 261 km (162 miles) and takes about 2h 58min without stops. At the latest average price in each country along the way, the fuel for the trip costs about €42 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.
Country by country: where the petrol money goes
The 18 L a typical petrol car burns on this drive, priced where it is burned.
Tolls and vignettes: no motorway vignette or toll for cars on this route.
Petrol, diesel or electric — priced for your car
Pick the kind of car you drive and whether you are coming back. Prices are the average across every country on the route.
Driving Amsterdam → Cologne in a family car, electric costs €25.86 less than petrol — 62% of the bill.
Amsterdam vs Cologne: which end is cheaper?
The two ends of this route are priced by different markets, so where you fill up changes what the drive costs.
What if fuel prices move?
Booking this drive for later in the year? Pump prices swing with crude, season and tax changes — here is the same 261 km in a typical petrol car at four price levels.
Your car's mpg, tank and fuel level — plus tolls, route options and the cheapest stops.
How this cost is calculated
We take the real driving route between Amsterdam and Cologne (261 km) from OpenStreetMap routing, work out how far it runs in each country, and price the fuel a typical car burns in each one at that place's latest published average. The petrol figure assumes 7 L/100km · 34 MPG; diesel and EV use 6 L/100km · 39 MPG and 18 kWh/100km. Your real cost depends on your car, traffic, driving style and the stations you pick — use the trip planner for your exact numbers, or check prices on the Netherlands fuel prices page.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drive from Amsterdam to Cologne?
The drive is 261 km (162 miles) and takes about 2h 58min without stops. Fuel costs roughly €41.69 in an average petrol car, €36.94 in a diesel, and €15.77 in an electric car, using the latest average price in each country along the way.
Which country has the cheapest petrol between Amsterdam and Cologne?
Germany, at €2.18/L on average, against €2.39/L in Netherlands. On this route the difference makes little change to the total.
How far is it from Amsterdam to Cologne in miles and km?
About 162 miles or 261 kilometres by road — roughly 2h 58min of driving.
Is it cheaper to fill up in Amsterdam or Cologne?
Petrol is cheaper in Germany (€2.18/L) than in Netherlands (€2.39/L), so wait to fill up when you arrive.
How many times will I need to fill up between Amsterdam and Cologne?
None on the way. The drive needs about 18.3 L of petrol and a typical 55 L tank covers roughly 786 km, so one full tank at the start does the whole trip.
Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Amsterdam to Cologne?
On fuel alone the drive costs about €42 one way, and that cost splits across everyone in the car — with €10 each for four people, which is where driving usually wins. Against that, the drive takes 2h 58min without stops, and a fair comparison also counts tolls, parking, wear and any overnight stay.
What will this trip cost if fuel prices change?
At today's prices the petrol is about €42. A 10% rise takes it to €46, a 25% rise to €52, and a 10% fall to €38. Prices here refresh as each source publishes, so this page always reflects the latest figures.
How do I get the exact cost for my car?
Set the vehicle type on this page for an instant estimate, or open the FuelWide trip planner with your car's fuel economy, tank size and how full it is — it prices the drive state by state and suggests where refuelling is cheaper (state averages in the US, individual forecourt prices where a country publishes them).
Driving distance via OSRM / OpenStreetMap. Fuel prices are the latest published averages for each country on the route (sources named on each price page); efficiency and electricity rates are typical estimates, and tolls are not included unless listed above. Your figure will vary — use the planner for an exact result.