Valencia to Cartagena: Costa Blanca and Murcia
The rice fields of the Albufera, cliff capes and castle villages of the Costa Blanca, Elche’s palm grove and the wild beaches of Calblanque.
- Distance
- 382 km (237 mi)
- Driving
- 5 h 17 min
- Suggested days
- 5
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Spain
- Updated
- August 12, 2026
At a glance: 5-day road trip of about 382 km (237 mi) with 9 stops, from Valencia to Calblanque. About 5 h 17 min of driving in total.
Route description
From Valencia follow the CV-500 south along the coast to the Albufera, a lagoon among rice fields where paella was born; eat in El Palmar and take a boat out at sunset. The N-332 then heads south past orange groves to Dénia, a port town under the Montgó mountain with a castle above the harbour.
Between Dénia and Altea the coast is at its most dramatic, with limestone capes and coves. Drive out to the lighthouse at Cap de la Nau above Xàbia, then on to Altea, a white old town on a hill with a blue-domed church. From here an inland detour climbs to Guadalest, a castle village on a rock above a turquoise reservoir.
Pass Benidorm and Alicante on the A-7 or AP-7 and stop in Elche, whose palm grove, Europe’s largest, is a World Heritage Site. Continue south past the salt lakes of Torrevieja and the Mar Menor to Cartagena, a naval port with a Roman theatre and good museums.
The last stop, Calblanque, is a regional park of unspoilt beaches and golden sandstone just east of Cartagena, reached by a dirt road; in summer a shuttle bus replaces cars. The coast is mild all winter, which makes it a classic off-season trip, but it is crowded in August. Motorhome areas are plentiful.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Valencia
Spain - 219 km
Albufera lagoon
NatureEl Palmar, SpainA freshwater lagoon among rice fields just south of Valencia, the home of paella. Take a boat trip from El Palmar at sunset and eat rice dishes in the village.
- 384 km
Dénia
Spain - 420 km
Cap de la Nau
ViewsXàbia, SpainA lighthouse on a limestone headland, the easternmost point of the Costa Blanca, with a viewpoint over coves and the island of Portitxol. The road down to Cala de la Granadella nearby is steep and narrow.
- 536 km
Altea
Spain - 619 km
Guadalest
ViewsEl Castell de Guadalest, SpainA castle village on a rock pinnacle, entered through a tunnel in the rock, above a turquoise reservoir. Busy at midday with coach tours, so come early or late.
- 778 km
Palm Grove of Elche
NatureElche, SpainEurope’s largest palm grove, planted in Moorish times and a World Heritage Site. The Huerto del Cura garden holds the many-armed Imperial Palm.
- 898 km
Roman theatre of Cartagena
HistoryCartagena, SpainA Roman theatre rediscovered in 1988 beneath the old town, reached through a museum designed by Rafael Moneo. Cartagena’s harbour and naval history are worth a longer stroll.
- 927 km
Calblanque
NatureCartagena, SpainA regional park of wild beaches, fossil dunes and golden sandstone, rare on this built-up coast. The access road is unpaved and in summer is closed to cars when a shuttle bus runs.
