# Castles, moor lakes and the Murtalbahn – by camper through the Lungau and the Mur valley, over the Turrach and the Sölkpass > From Radstadt over the Radstädter Tauern into the Lungau, down the Mur to Murau, up to the Turracher Höhe and over the Sölkpass into the Enns valley: a good… Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-465-lungau-murau-turrach/ **At a glance:** 7-day road trip of about 324 km (201 mi) with 14 stops, from Radstadt to Schladming. About 4 h 29 min of driving in total. Best time to go: June–September. Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €13 (Austria, Vignette). From Radstadt over the Radstädter Tauern into the Lungau, down the Mur to Murau, up to the Turracher Höhe and over the Sölkpass into the Enns valley: a good 420 kilometres over three passes, where you will meet more marmots than coaches. | | | |---|---| | Distance | approx. 324 km (201 mi) | | Driving | 4 h 29 min | | Suggested days | 7 | | Stops | 14 | | Route | Radstadt → Schladming | | Countries | Austria | | Best time to go | June–September | | Tolls and vignettes | ≈ €13 | | Updated | October 1, 2026 | [Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-465-lungau-murau-turrach.gpx) Practical guides for this route: [Switzerland and Austria by motorhome: vignettes, limits and overnight rules](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-switzerland-austria-by-motorhome/), [Alpine passes in a motorhome: gradients, closures and tunnels](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-alpine-passes-camper/) *From Radstadt over the Radstädter Tauern into the Lungau, down the Mur to Murau, up to the Turracher Höhe and over the Sölkpass into the Enns valley: a good 420 kilometres over three passes, where you will meet more marmots than coaches.* ## The spirit of the route The Lungau lies behind the Tauern like a high plateau that someone forgot. Rolling down from Obertauern, you see broad valley floors with hay barns, larch forests and onion-domed church towers, and above them peaks that hardly anyone knows by name. It is one of the coldest valleys in Austria: in the morning there is frost on the windscreen, even in August, and your coffee steams a little longer out of the sliding door. Here you find castles instead of hotel blocks, moor lakes whose reflections people once took aim at, and a narrow-gauge railway that trundles leisurely along the Mur. Further east the Mur valley becomes Styrian: Murau with its brewery and wooden houses, then the steep ramps up to the Turracher Höhe, walled Oberwölz and finally the Sölkpass, a lonely high road through a nature park without ski lifts. This loop calls for a low gear, warm sleeping bags and no hurry. ## Stage-by-stage plan ### Stage 1: Radstadt to Mauterndorf (approx. 40 km) - **The drive:** From the Radstadt exit of the A10, take the B99 Katschberg Straße to Untertauern and climb through the Taurach valley. From the Gnadenalm things get serious: the ramp up to Obertauern is winding and steep in places, with a crawler lane and a few tight hairpins; the summit of the Radstädter Tauern, at around 1,740 m, sits in the middle of the ski resort. On the south side you descend via Tweng into the Taurach valley and on to Mauterndorf, a more even and wider road. A good hour of pure driving time. If you take the B99 instead of the motorway, you avoid the special toll on the Tauern motorway – on the short stretch to Radstadt you only need the vignette. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Waterfalls in the Taurach valley near Untertauern, with short walks along the stream from the Gasthof Gnadenalm. - Obertauern in summer: hiking trails to the lakes around the Gamsleitenspitze and to the Zehnerkarseen, quiet when the lifts are idle. - Burg Mauterndorf above the village centre, a medieval castle with a museum and castle kitchen, with guided tours in summer. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Mauterndorf on the edge of the village, with electricity, sanitary facilities and water supply and disposal, within walking distance of the castle and the village centre. Check season and prices with the operator in advance. As a fallback before the pass, Tauerncamping Lerchenhof near Radstadt is an option. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the state of Salzburg, camping outside campsites is not banned state-wide, but municipalities can prohibit it by ordinance or by a mayor's ban, and above the tree line the nature conservation act protects the alpine wasteland. Overnight stays are not intended on the large lift car parks in Obertauern; watch the signs. Plan a campsite or motorhome pitch for the night. - **Insider tip for campers:** The B99 over Obertauern is also open in winter, but then requires full winter equipment; in autumn there may already be snow on the summit. Drive downhill towards Tweng in second or third gear – the brakes are spared on the north side going uphill and put to work on the south side going downhill. Fill up in Radstadt beforehand: there are petrol stations in the Lungau, but less choice. ### Stage 2: Mauterndorf to Tamsweg (via Mariapfarr and the Weißpriach valley) (approx. 40 km) - **The drive:** From Mauterndorf on minor roads to Mariapfarr, then into the Weißpriach valley up to its head and back on the same road; the valley road is narrow but paved, and meeting tractors is normal. Then across the sunny terrace of Mariapfarr to Tamsweg, the main town of the Lungau. Barely an hour of driving in total, leaving plenty of time for breaks. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Mariapfarr pilgrimage basilica and the Silent Night Museum: Joseph Mohr wrote the words of the carol during his time as assistant priest in Mariapfarr. - Weißpriach valley: a secluded alpine valley in the Biosphärenpark Lungau with the small Romanesque Rupertikirche in Weißpriach and hiking trails to the alpine pastures below the Radstädter Tauern. - St. Leonhard pilgrimage church above Tamsweg: a late Gothic church with a defensive wall and well-known stained-glass windows, about 20 minutes on foot from the town. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Waldcamping Tamsweg on the edge of town in the forest, with electricity, sanitary facilities and disposal, quietly located and an easy walk into town. Alternatively, Naturcamping Peterbauernhof near Tamsweg, a small site on a farm; ask the operator about facilities and season in advance. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the Weißpriach valley the hikers' car parks are intended for day visitors; overnight stays in the biosphere park outside the sites are not intended and are frowned upon. Several farmers in the Lungau offer pitches on their farms – search Campercontact or park4night for current listings. - **Insider tip for campers:** Tamsweg is the main town of the region and a good place to stock up: supermarkets, petrol stations, garages. The Lungauer Samson, a procession figure several metres tall, is carried through the streets on parade days in Tamsweg and other Lungau villages; the custom is listed in Austria's inventory of intangible cultural heritage. Parade days vary from village to village – ask at the tourist information and expect closed through roads on those days. ### Stage 3: Tamsweg to St. Michael im Lungau (via Prebersee and Zederhaus) (approx. 70 km) - **The drive:** In the morning from Tamsweg via Haiden up to the Prebersee at a good 1,500 m: a narrow, steep mountain road with passing places, hard work for large motorhomes and not recommended for caravans. Back to Tamsweg and west along the valley road to St. Michael, then into the Zederhaus valley as far as Zederhaus and the entrance to the Rieding valley. Around 2 hours of driving spread over the day. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Prebersee: a moor lake with a circular path through dwarf pines and bogland, with the Preber above; known for the Preberschießen, in which marksmen aim at the reflection of the target in the water. - Rieding valley near Zederhaus: a nature park valley with alpine pastures, waterfalls and hikes up to the huts at the head of the valley. - Zederhaus: a village with a parish church and the custom of Prangstangentragen, in which the men of the village carry flower-decked poles several metres tall in a procession. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Campingplatz St. Michael, run by the municipality, near the village centre with sanitary facilities and electric hook-ups; check season and disposal options on the municipal website in advance. From here the village is within walking distance, as are bakers and inns. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Overnight stays on the car parks at the Prebersee and in the Rieding valley are not intended; both areas belong to the biosphere park or are protected as a nature park. Access to the Rieding valley is via a narrow nature park toll road; with large vehicles, check in advance whether it is passable and, if in doubt, leave the camper at the valley entrance. - **Insider tip for campers:** Start early for the Prebersee: the car park at the lake is small, and oncoming traffic on the mountain road is nerve-racking. With long vehicles, ask about the access road at the tourist information in Tamsweg beforehand. St. Michael lies on the Tauern motorway, whose section between Flachau and Rennweg with the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels is subject to a special toll on top of the vignette; the valley roads are toll-free. ### Stage 4: St. Michael im Lungau to Murau (approx. 65 km) - **The drive:** Back to Tamsweg and down the Mur on the B96 Murtal Straße: through the narrow valley near Ramingstein, where road, river and Murtalbahn run side by side, then across the state border into Styria to Predlitz and on to Murau. A well-built valley road with few climbs; oncoming lorries at the narrow section near Ramingstein. About 1.25 hours of driving. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Burg Finstergrün above Ramingstein, a castle rebuilt on medieval remains, today a youth castle open to visitors at certain times. - Murtalbahn: the narrow-gauge railway of the Steiermärkische Landesbahnen links Tamsweg with Murau and Unzmarkt; in summer, steam trains run on selected days – leave the camper behind and ride one stretch by train. - Murau's old town with the parish church of St. Matthäus, Gothic frescoes and the Schwarzenberg castle above the town. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Olachgut near Kaindorf, west of Murau, a large site with a swimming pond, riding stables, electricity, sanitary facilities and water supply and disposal; open all year according to the operator. From there it is a few kilometres to Murau, also by bike on the Mur cycle path. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Styria has no state-wide camping ban either, but municipalities can prohibit camping by ordinance, and under the Forestry Act, camping out after dark and pitching tents in the forest are not allowed without the owner's consent. The car parks on the banks of the Mur in Murau are for day visitors; check Campercontact to see whether the town currently offers a designated motorhome pitch. - **Insider tip for campers:** Murau's old town is cramped, and multi-storey car parks have height restrictions. Park on the edge of town or on the station side of the Mur and walk across the bridge. The Murau brewery has a visitor area – tours and beer in the brewery inn, but no more driving afterwards (0.5‰). ### Stage 5: Murau to Murau (via Stadl an der Mur and the Turracher Höhe) (approx. 85 km) - **The drive:** Up the Mur to Stadl an der Mur and Predlitz, then on the B95 Turracher Straße through the gorge to Turrach and up to the Turracher Höhe at just under 1,800 m on the state border with Carinthia. The Styrian ascent is winding and steep in places; the Carinthian south ramp towards Ebene Reichenau reaches gradients of up to 23 % on a short stretch. Return to Murau on the same route. Around 2 hours of driving. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Lake Turrach on the summit with a lakeside path, plus the Schwarzsee and the Grünsee within short walking distance – three mountain lakes on one pass road. - Turrach in the gorge: remains of the historic iron smelting that shaped the valley in the 19th century. - Stadl an der Mur: starting point for hikes into the Styrian Nockberge and for bike rides on the Mur cycle path. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Second night at Camping Olachgut near Murau – the Turracher Höhe is best driven as a day trip without moving camp. If you would rather stay closer to the pass road: in Stadl-Predlitz, the Bräuhauser is a small campsite on a farm; ask about facilities and season in advance. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** On the summit, the Turracher Höhe and its lakeshore lie partly in Styria and partly in Carinthia. The car parks at the lake and the lifts are for day visitors; sleeping in your vehicle is not intended there, and in Carinthia camping in open countryside outside campsites is banned under the nature conservation act. No wild camping by the lake. - **Insider tip for campers:** The Turracher Straße is a test for heavy motorhomes and caravans: caravans are better off not driving the Carinthian side at all, and the Styrian side also calls for cool brakes and patience. If you want to continue into the Nockberge and to Lake Millstatt, you will find the connecting route in the CampingSpirit travel guide via the Grossglockner, East Tyrol and Carinthia. The road is cleared in winter and only rarely closed; in wintry conditions, winter equipment is mandatory. ### Stage 6: Murau to St. Peter am Kammersberg (via Oberwölz) (approx. 40 km) - **The drive:** Down the Mur via Frojach to Teufenbach, then into the Wölz valley via Niederwölz to Oberwölz and west over the hill road to St. Peter am Kammersberg. Quiet country roads, winding towards the end, no passes. About an hour of driving – a rest day for the brakes. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Oberwölz, one of the smallest towns in Austria, with its surviving town wall, gate towers and the parish church; you can walk round the old town in half an hour. - Wölzer Tauern: alpine hikes from Oberwölz and Schöder, with few people about in late summer. - Teufenbach on the Mur cycle path: a short stop by the river and a starting point for cycling stages along the Mur. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Bella Austria in St. Peter am Kammersberg, a larger site with electricity, sanitary facilities and leisure activities; check season and disposal with the operator in advance. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The old town of Oberwölz is cramped; park outside the town wall. In Styria, too, overnight stays on hikers' and alpine car parks are only permitted where no municipal ordinance or signage prohibits them – and never in the forest. The safest option is farm pitches and campsites. - **Insider tip for campers:** Before the Sölkpass, shop, refuel and fill up with water in Murau or Oberwölz: there are hardly any supplies between Schöder and the Enns valley. The passage through the gates of Oberwölz is narrow; do not drive into the old town with large vehicles. ### Stage 7: St. Peter am Kammersberg to Schladming (via the Sölkpass) (approx. 85 km) - **The drive:** Via Schöder and Baierdorf onto the L704 Sölkpassstraße: a long, lonely climb through alpine meadows and larch forest to the toll-free summit at 1,788 m, then north through the Großsölk valley via St. Nikolai and Großsölk to Stein an der Enns, and up the Enns to Schladming. The road is narrow, with an average gradient of 6–7 %, steeper in places, and has few passing places; not well suited to caravans and long motorhomes. Around 2 hours of driving. - **Highlights & must-sees:** - Summit of the Sölkpass with small cirque lakes and hiking trails up the surrounding peaks of the Schladminger and Wölzer Tauern. - Naturpark Sölktäler: the nature park centre in Schloss Großsölk with an exhibition on alpine farming, mining and the Sölk marble quarried here. - Schladming: starting point for the Ramsau, the Dachstein and the upper Enns valley. - **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Zirngast in Schladming, within walking distance of the centre, with electricity, sanitary facilities and water supply and disposal, also open in winter. Alternatively Campbert or the Bike Camping motorhome pitch on the edge of town; check facilities in advance in each case. - **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the Naturpark Sölktäler and on the summit, overnight stays outside designated sites are not intended; the pass road is also lonely at night and has no mobile signal in several places. Better to drive on into the Enns valley. - **Insider tip for campers:** The Sölkpass is a summer road: it is not cleared in winter, is usually closed from the first heavy snowfall in autumn and opens in late spring depending on snow conditions; there is no fixed date. Before you set off, check the road conditions service of the state of Styria for any signposted bans on trailers or length or weight restrictions. For the Enns valley, the Ramsau and the Dachstein, read on in the CampingSpirit travel guide through Styria from Graz to the Gesäuse and the Dachstein. ## Camping practice & local rules ### Wild camping & overnight parking - Austria regulates camping through state laws and municipal ordinances. In Carinthia, camping in open countryside outside campsites is banned under the nature conservation act. In the state of Salzburg and in Styria there is no blanket state-wide ban, but municipalities can issue bans; signs showing a crossed-out motorhome apply. - Parking is not camping: a short stop to rest on a permitted car park is usually tolerated, but a table, chairs, awning or levelling ramps turn it into camping. Under the Austrian Forestry Act, camping out after dark and pitching tents in the forest are not allowed without the owner's consent. - The Biosphärenpark Salzburger Lungau und Kärntner Nockberge, the Naturpark Riedingtal and the Naturpark Sölktäler are protected; overnight stays outside sites are not intended there. Fines depend on the state and the offence. - Legal alternatives: campsites, municipal and farm pitches. Useful apps: Campercontact, park4night, plus the websites of the Lungau and Murau tourist boards. ### Waste disposal & supplies - Water supply and disposal are mainly offered by campsites; public service points are rare in the Lungau and the Mur valley. Empty cassettes and grey water only at service points, never into drains or streams. - Tap water is drinkable almost everywhere in Austria; at alpine fountains, look out for notice signs. - Gas: German exchange cylinders are not exchanged in Austria. Refillable cylinders and gas tanks can be filled at LPG stations, but the network is thin – arrive with two full cylinders. On cold Lungau nights, the heating's consumption is noticeable even in summer. ### Vehicle size & traffic rules - A vignette is required on motorways and expressways for vehicles up to 3.5 t: digital or as a sticker (2026 is the last year for stickers, from 2027 digital only; the 1-day vignette is only available digitally). If you buy online as a consumer in the ASFINAG web shop or app, allow for the 18-day withdrawal period; bought at a sales outlet, it is valid immediately. - The A10 Tauern motorway between Flachau and Rennweg with the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels is subject to a special toll on top of the vignette (toll station St. Michael). Vehicles over 3.5 t pay the distance-based GO toll via a GO-Box, which includes the special toll. The B99 over Obertauern is a toll-free but steep alternative. - Speed limits: motorhomes up to 3.5 t 50 in built-up areas, 100 outside built-up areas, 130 km/h on motorways; over 3.5 t 70 outside built-up areas and 80 km/h on motorways. Lower limits apply to caravans depending on weight. - Dimensions: height 4.0 m, width 2.55 m, length motorhome 12 m, vehicle and trailer 18.75 m. On the Turracher Höhe and the Sölkpass, watch for signs on trailers, weight and length; the toll-free Sölkpass is closed in winter. - Winter equipment is mandatory from 1 November to 15 April in wintry conditions; the Lungau is one of the coldest regions in Austria, and snow in October is possible. The requirement to carry snow chains applies to vehicles over 3.5 t depending on registration. - Projecting loads, for example on a rear rack: up to 1 m a red cloth, beyond that a white 25 × 40 cm board with a red reflective border. Alcohol limit 0.5‰, mobile phone only with a hands-free kit. ## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist - A warm sleeping bag or extra blanket – in the Lungau, night-time temperatures drop into single figures even in summer. - An infrared thermometer for rims and brakes after the descents from Obertauern, the Turracher Höhe and the Sölkpass. - Levelling ramps – farm pitches and mountain campsites are rarely level. - A white projection board with a red border to the Austrian standard for the rear rack. - Bikes or a folding bike for the Mur cycle path between Tamsweg and Murau, complemented by the Murtalbahn, which carries bikes. - Offline maps and snow chains in autumn: there are dead spots on the Sölkpass and the Turracher Höhe, and early onsets of winter are common. _As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._ ## Sources - [oesterreich.gv.at – Campen in Salzburg](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/reisen_und_freizeit/freizeit-in-der-natur/campen/Seite.3390006.html) - [Land Steiermark – Landes-Sicherheitsgesetz: Klare Regeln gegen illegales Campieren](https://news.steiermark.at/cms/beitrag/12956640/154271268) - [Vorarlberg Online – Wildcampen: Regeln und Strafen der Bundesländer](https://www.vol.at/wildcampen-regeln-und-strafen-der-bundeslaender/6665732) - [Österreichische UNESCO-Kommission – Samsontragen im Lungau und in Murau](https://www.unesco.at/en/culture/intangible-cultural-heritage/inventory/element/article/samsontragen-in-the-lungau-region-and-in-murau) - [Ferienregion Lungau – Naturpark-Mautstraße Riedingtal (LungauCard)](https://www.lungau.at/en/typically-lungau/lungaucard/lungaucard-summer/discounted-street-nature-park-riedingtal/) - [Motorrad & Reisen – Sölkpass](https://www.motorradundreisen.de/alpenpaesse/145_soelkpass.html) - [Motorrad & Reisen – Turracher Höhe](https://www.motorradundreisen.de/alpenpaesse/141_turracher-hoehe.html) - [Dangerous Roads – Turracher Höhe](https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/austria/4510-turracher-hohe-pass.html) - [Wikipedia – Sölk Pass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B6lk_Pass) - [Campingplatz-Suche – Camping Olachgut](https://www.campingplatz-suche.com/adressen/camping-olachgut__1124.php) ## Which stops are on the route from Radstadt to Schladming? 1. **Radstadt** (Austria) 2. **Obertauern** (Austria) 3. **Mauterndorf** (Austria) 4. **Mariapfarr** (Austria) 5. **Tamsweg** (Austria) 6. **Prebersee** (Austria) 7. **Zederhaus** (Austria) 8. **St. Michael im Lungau** (Austria) 9. **Murau** (Austria) 10. **Stadl an der Mur** (Austria) 11. **Turracher Höhe** (Austria) 12. **Oberwölz** (Austria) 13. **Sölkpass** (Austria) 14. **Schladming** (Austria) ## When is the best time for the route from Radstadt to Schladming? The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons) ## What should you know before driving the route from Radstadt to Schladming? Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €13 (Austria, Vignette). - **Austria: Vignette needed for motorways.** Vehicles over 3.5 t need a GO-Box for distance-based tolls. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h. ## FAQs **How long is Castles, moor lakes and the Murtalbahn – by camper through the Lungau and the Mur valley, over the Turrach and the Sölkpass?** 7-day road trip of about 324 km (201 mi) with 14 stops, from Radstadt to Schladming. About 4 h 29 min of driving in total. **How many days do you need for Castles, moor lakes and the Murtalbahn – by camper through the Lungau and the Mur valley, over the Turrach and the Sölkpass?** We suggest 7 days: about 4 h 29 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops. **Where does Castles, moor lakes and the Murtalbahn – by camper through the Lungau and the Mur valley, over the Turrach and the Sölkpass start and end?** It starts in Radstadt and ends in Schladming. **Which countries does Castles, moor lakes and the Murtalbahn – by camper through the Lungau and the Mur valley, over the Turrach and the Sölkpass pass through?** Austria. **Where can you camp along Castles, moor lakes and the Murtalbahn – by camper through the Lungau and the Mur valley, over the Turrach and the Sölkpass?** OpenStreetMap lists 33 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Wohnmobilstellplatz Kellerbauer, Ennspark coworking Stellplatz and Camping Dachstein. **How much are the tolls on the route from Radstadt to Schladming?** Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €13 (Austria, Vignette). Estimate with typical rates; motorhomes pay more, and vehicles over 3.5 t often pay by distance.