Cost to drive from Madrid to Bilbao
Driving from Madrid to Bilbao covers 396 km (246 miles) and takes about 4h 29min without stops. At Spain's current fuel prices (week of 2026-08-31), the fuel for the trip costs about €48.01 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.
Petrol, diesel or electric — priced for your car
Pick the kind of car you drive and whether you are coming back. Everything updates against Spain's live prices.
Driving Madrid → Bilbao in a family car, electric costs €33.04 less than petrol — 69% of the bill.
Madrid vs Bilbao: which end is cheaper?
Both ends of this route draw on the same regional averages — the comparison below shows what that means at the pump.
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 396 km in a typical petrol car at four price levels.
Cheapest fuel before you leave Madrid
The cheapest forecourts within 15 km of Madrid, out of 370 that report a price. Local median €1.925 — filling 50 litres at the cheapest rather than the middle of the market saves about €14.00.
- 112 km€1.645BallenoilCarretera Pozuelo Majadahonda Km. 2
- 215 km€1.645BallenoilCalle Cereza, 4
- 310 km€1.669BallenoilCarretera Madrid Toledo Km. 12
- 412 km€1.669BallenoilCalle Fundidores, 24
- 513 km€1.669BallenoilCalle Franklin, 1
Cheapest fuel when you arrive in Bilbao
The cheapest forecourts within 15 km of Bilbao, out of 88 that report a price. Local median €1.935 — filling 50 litres at the cheapest rather than the middle of the market saves about €10.30.
- 16 km€1.729EroskiCalle Kareaga, 40
- 29 km€1.729EroskiAvenida Vega De Ibarra, S/N
- 36 km€1.759NafteCalle Retuerto, 42
- 410 km€1.759BidekoPoligono Patakon, 7
- 55 km€1.764Gasolinera ZamudioCarretera N 637 Km. 4, 4
Enter your fuel economy and see stops along the way.
How this cost is calculated
We take the real driving distance between Madrid and Bilbao (396 km) from OpenStreetMap routing, then multiply by a typical car's fuel use and Spain's current average pump price. 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 planner for your exact numbers, and check live prices on the Spain fuel prices page.
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cheapest fuel in Madrid?
The cheapest forecourt within 15 km of Madrid is charging €1.645 for petrol 95, against a local median of €1.925 across 370 stations that report a price — about €14.00 on a 50-litre fill.
Where is the cheapest fuel in Bilbao?
The cheapest forecourt within 15 km of Bilbao is charging €1.729 for petrol 95, against a local median of €1.935 across 88 stations that report a price — about €10.30 on a 50-litre fill.
How much does it cost to drive from Madrid to Bilbao?
The drive is 396 km (246 miles) and takes about 4h 29min without stops. Fuel costs roughly €48.01 in an average petrol car, €44.31 in a diesel, and €14.97 in an electric car, using Spain's current fuel prices.
How far is it from Madrid to Bilbao in miles and km?
About 246 miles or 396 kilometres by road — roughly 4h 29min of driving.
Is it cheaper to fill up in Madrid or Bilbao?
Both ends use the same regional prices on this route.
How many times will I need to fill up between Madrid and Bilbao?
None on the way. The drive needs about 27.7 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 Madrid to Bilbao?
On fuel alone the drive costs about €48 one way, and that cost splits across everyone in the car — with €12 each for four people, which is where driving usually wins. Against that, the drive takes 4h 29min 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 Spain average the fuel is about €48. A 10% rise takes it to €53, a 25% rise to €60, and a 10% fall to €43. Prices here update every week from official data, so this page always reflects the current figure.
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 route planner, enter your car's own fuel economy, and it prices the trip on live data — including fuel and charging stops along the way.
Driving distance via OSRM / OpenStreetMap. Fuel prices are Spain's current official averages; efficiency and electricity rate are typical estimates. Your figure will vary — use the planner for an exact result.