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 the latest average price in each country along the way, the fuel for the trip costs about €49 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.
Where the petrol money goes
The 28 L a typical petrol car burns on this drive, priced where it is burned.
Where to fill up
This route is already close to the lowest-cost option — refuel whenever it suits you.
- 1.Any station in Spainat 286 km7.7 L at €1.78/L
- 2.Any station in Spainat 396 km7.5 L at €1.78/L
Assumes a 50-litre tank that starts half full. Your car will differ — plan it with your own numbers.
Tolls and vignettes: not included — we hold no verified toll tariffs for Spain, and we don't guess them.
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 Madrid → Bilbao in a family car, electric costs €34.41 less than petrol — 70% 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 €1.799 — filling 50 litres at the cheapest rather than the middle of the market saves about €13.50.
- 115 km€1.529AlcampoAvenida Europa, S/N
- 215 km€1.529LavaplusAvenida De Europa, 15
- 312 km€1.569PetroprixCalle Paraguay Esquina Avenida De America, Sn
- 412 km€1.569PlenergyAvenida San Martin De Valdeiglesias, 9
- 513 km€1.569BallenoilCalle Dublin, 4
Cheapest fuel when you arrive in Bilbao
The cheapest forecourts within 15 km of Bilbao, out of 88 that report a price. Local median €1.807 — filling 50 litres at the cheapest rather than the middle of the market saves about €9.90.
- 113 km€1.609AlcampoCalle Aritz Bidea, S/N
- 25 km€1.649Urbi Low CostAvenida Cervantes, 51
- 310 km€1.649BidekoPoligono Patakon, 7
- 412 km€1.659EasygasCarretera N-634 Km. 96, 700
- 512 km€1.659Zelai LuzeaCarretera N 634 Km. 96, 700
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 Madrid and Bilbao (396 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 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 €1.529 for petrol 95, against a local median of €1.799 across 370 stations that report a price — about €13.50 on a 50-litre fill.
Where is the cheapest fuel in Bilbao?
The cheapest forecourt within 15 km of Bilbao is charging €1.609 for petrol 95, against a local median of €1.807 across 88 stations that report a price — about €9.90 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 €49.34 in an average petrol car, €44.88 in a diesel, and €14.97 in an electric car, using the latest average price in each country along the way.
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 €49 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 prices the petrol is about €49. A 10% rise takes it to €54, a 25% rise to €62, and a 10% fall to €44. 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.