Milan to Morcote to Interlaken by car

We are renting a car and would like to travel from Milan to Morcote. Then drive with our car from Morcote to Interlaken. We would like to drive through the St. Gotthard Pass and not the tunnel. Where is the start of the road leading up to the St. Gotthard Pass? We don't want to all of a sudden wind up in the tunnel. Also the approximations that Google Maps are not clear whether the approx. 3 hours from Morcote to Interlaken are via the tunnel or the mountain pass. The mountain pass is what we want to do.

Hi Elise-

<<"Also the approximations that Google Maps are not clear whether the approx. 3 hours from Morcote to Interlaken are via the tunnel or the mountain pass. The mountain pass is what we want to do.">>

When?

In winter, many high altitudes roads and passes are closed.

Tell us when, and we can begin to advise.

By the way, going by train and lake boat (for Morcote) could be a more tolerable way in Winter.

I'd be surprised if you can drive to Morcote in reasonable time. However, there are roads...

How many days have you planned for the trip? How many travelers?

This map is also good for Switzerland, and may be better than Google maps, although I use both:

map.search.ch/?pos=759936,113408&z=2

Why do you wish to use a car? Are you experienced alpine drivers?

Slowpoke

Hi Slowpoke,

Thank you for the map!

My daughter, 27 yrs. old, and I are the travelers. She's going to be doing the driving. We have done other driving vacations in France and Germany. I have personally driven through a Switzerland pass in summer. By chance in another family vacation when attempting to crosss the French Alps, the tunnel was closed for repairs and we had to serpentine ourselves to the top and we were rewarded with the most beautiful scenery of a tranquil lake and clear blue skies. Other than that we are not experienced alpine drivers. But we thought it would be fun!

We are going in the middle of May. What do you think of our plan?

Also I was wondering what is your opinion of whether to stay in Morcote, Locarno or Lugano. We will staying for a couple of days.

Our ultimate goal is to see the Jungfraujoch (when we go to Interlaken), which I saw many years ago. It is such an impressive sight!

Elise

Hi Elise -

Great idea. I agree about the scenery. It makes the drive worthwhile.

However, most high Alpine passe don't open until early June.

There is a good bet the road will be closed. Obviously, the opening date will vary depending on the previous winter's conditions.

Please check these links.

www.myswissalps.com/ca r/drivinginthemountain s

www.myswissalps.com/ca r/trafficinfo

europerides.com/ridebl og/pass-roads/

www.alpineroads.com/pa ssstatus.php

Where to stay is a matter of personal preferences. I happen to like Locarno, but some would prefer the other locations. Morcote is a bit harder to get in and out of.

My Switzerland might be a place to start looking for information:

www.myswitzerland.com/ en-us/home.html

Slowpoke

Hi Slowpoke,

Thank you so much for the informative websites! We will checking them as our departure date comes closer. Hopefully St. Gotthard Pass will be open. Our travel dates are in the third week in May.

We have only about two days to spend in the region Lugano-Locarno-Morcote region. I made a mistake in the calculation with the day of arrival so we would have had three days but now we cannot change it.

Why do you like Locarno better?

Why is Morcote a bit more difficult to get in and out of?

Elise

Hi Elise -

<<"Hopefully St. Gotthard Pass will be open. Our travel dates are in the third week in May.">>

Highly unlikely. Good luck.

We have only about two days to spend in the region Lugano-Locarno-Morcote region. I made a mistake in the calculation with the day of arrival so we would have had three days but now we cannot change it.

<<"Why do you like Locarno better?">>

Smaller, more human scale, church of Madonna del Sasso, train into or through Val di Centovalli

<"Why is Morcote a bit more difficult to get in and out of?">>

Please use the map I linked before. Here, I have zoomed in.

map.search.ch/?pos=718880,87360&z=32

Slowpoke