Geneva to Courmayeur is one of the shortest and most spectacular border crossings in the Alps: down the Arve valley to Chamonix, 11.6 km under Mont Blanc, and out into the Aosta Valley a few minutes from the village. From Milan or Turin the A5 motorway runs all the way up the valley to Courmayeur. This guide covers both routes, the tunnel's rules and closures, winter equipment on each side of the border and what to do once you arrive.
- Geneva to Courmayeur: about 106 km, via the A40, Chamonix and the Mont Blanc Tunnel
- Turin and Milan: about 150 km and 210 km respectively, almost entirely on the A5
- In the tunnel: 70 km/h maximum, 50 km/h minimum, 150 m between vehicles
- Closures: no long closure in autumn 2026, but scheduled night closures until mid-December; a longer autumn closure is being prepared for 2027
- Winter equipment: Haute-Savoie from 1 November to 31 March; Aosta Valley state roads from 15 October to 15 April
- Alternatives: the Great St Bernard Tunnel (via Switzerland) and the Fréjus Tunnel (via the Maurienne)
Information checked in October 2026. Tunnel schedules and winter rules change, so always check the official websites before you travel.
The route from Geneva via Chamonix
From Geneva, head for the French border at Bardonnex and join the A40, the "Autoroute Blanche", towards Chamonix. The motorway follows the Arve valley past Cluses and Sallanches to Le Fayet, where it becomes an expressway climbing towards Chamonix. Mont Blanc appears ahead of you long before you reach it.
The tunnel approach leaves the main road just before Chamonix town centre, so you do not have to drive through the town to cross into Italy. If you have time, though, Chamonix is worth a stop: lunch, a walk in the centre or the Aiguille du Midi cable car make the journey a day out rather than a transfer.
Two practical points for the Swiss start. A motorway vignette is required on Swiss motorways, including the short stretch between Geneva and the border; at the time of writing it costs CHF 40 and is sold as an e-vignette or sticker (the official e-vignette is sold at e-vignette.ch; avoid look-alike resellers that add fees). In France, the A40 is a toll motorway. Allow roughly an hour and a half to Courmayeur in normal traffic, more on winter Saturdays, when queues often build at the tunnel toll.
Handover can be arranged at Geneva Airport, at the station or at your hotel; the options are on our luxury car rental in Geneva page.
The Mont Blanc Tunnel: rules inside
The tunnel is 11.6 km long, with a single bore and one lane in each direction. Since the fire of 1999 it has had some of the strictest rules of any road tunnel in Europe, and they are enforced. The full list is on the operators' websites, tunnelmb.net and atmb.com.
Speed and spacing
- Maximum 70 km/h for all vehicles along the whole tunnel, reduced to 50 km/h at the French exit and 40 km/h at the Italian exit.
- Minimum 50 km/h: driving too slowly is also an offence.
- 150 metres between vehicles while moving, and at least 100 metres if traffic stops. Blue lights along the walls help: keep two of them between you and the vehicle in front.
The toll barriers release vehicles at intervals of roughly eight seconds, so the spacing starts at the toll. Do not try to close the gap afterwards.
Radio, breakdowns and emergencies
Tune in: messages are broadcast inside the tunnel on 20 FM frequencies, with safety reminders every few minutes in three languages. If you break down, use the lay-bys on the right, which come every 600 metres, switch off the engine and turn on your hazard lights. SOS niches every 100 metres connect you to the control centre. In a fire, head for the nearest safety shelter, marked by flashing lights.
Paying the toll
The toll is paid at the booths on either side. Electronic toll badges used on French motorways are not accepted at the Mont Blanc Tunnel, so have a card ready.
Tunnel closures in 2026 and 2027
Between 2023 and 2025 the tunnel was closed for around three months every autumn while the vault was renovated on a trial basis. There is no long closure in 2026: France and Italy are using the year to assess the results and decide how to renovate the remaining kilometres.
Night closures in autumn 2026
The tunnel does close on many weeknights for maintenance, generally from 22:00 to 06:00, Monday to Thursday. According to the schedule published by the operator, the remaining dates in 2026 are:
- the nights of 5–8, 13–15, 19–22 and 26–29 October;
- 12 October from 19:00 to 06:00 (a longer closure);
- the nights of 2–5 and 16–19 November;
- 24 November from 18:00 to 06:00 (a longer closure);
- the nights of 14–17 December.
The schedule can change. Check the closures and forecasts page or the TMB Mobility app before an evening crossing. For daytime travel, the tunnel stays open.
What is planned for 2027
At the time of writing, the tunnel's operator is preparing a closure of around 15 weeks in autumn 2027 for further structural work. Exact dates have not been officially published, and the long-term plan has not been decided yet: the two options under discussion are a single closure of about three and a half years from 2030, or a closure of about three and a half months every autumn for many years. If you are planning a trip for autumn 2027, check the operator's announcements before you book your route.
Alternatives when the tunnel is closed
The Great St Bernard Tunnel (via Switzerland)
From Geneva, this is the natural alternative. Follow the Swiss motorways along Lake Geneva to Lausanne and Martigny (vignette required), then climb towards Bourg-Saint-Pierre to the Great St Bernard Tunnel. At 5.8 km long, it is open all year and comes out above Aosta; from there, the A5 takes you up the valley to Courmayeur. The tunnel has its own toll, payable even if you have a Swiss vignette. It is a longer drive than the Mont Blanc route, but a beautiful one.
The Fréjus Tunnel (via the Maurienne)
The Fréjus links Modane in France with Bardonecchia in Italy. From Geneva it means going down to Chambéry and up the Maurienne valley, then on via Turin and the A5: a long way round to Courmayeur, but sensible if you are coming from Lyon or heading to Turin anyway. The Fréjus also has occasional night closures, published on sftrf.fr.
The summer passes
The Great St Bernard Pass and the Little St Bernard Pass (from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to La Thuile) are only open in summer. They are some of the finest drives in the Alps when open, but not an option in winter.
Winter equipment on both sides
France: the Loi Montagne
In Haute-Savoie, the whole department is covered by the winter-equipment rules of the Loi Montagne from 1 November to 31 March, every year and whatever the weather. You must either have four winter tyres or carry chains or snow socks for at least two driving wheels. Since 1 November 2024, only tyres with the 3PMSF marking (the three-peak mountain with a snowflake) count as winter tyres; tyres marked only M+S no longer qualify. Details are on the Haute-Savoie prefecture and Sécurité routière websites.
Italy: the Aosta Valley ordinance
In Italy, the national default period for winter tyres or chains on board is 15 November to 15 April (see Polizia di Stato). The Aosta Valley starts a month earlier: on the state roads managed by ANAS, including the SS26 up the valley, the SS26 dir from Pré-Saint-Didier to Courmayeur and the Mont Blanc Tunnel, and the SS27 to the Great St Bernard, the obligation usually runs from 15 October to 15 April. It is signposted on the road, and many regional and municipal roads in exposed areas apply the same rule.
In practice, from mid-October to mid-April you need proper winter equipment on both sides of the tunnel. Every IsyLuxe car has winter tyres in the cold season, so this is covered from the moment you collect the car.
From Turin and Milan on the A5
The A5 runs from Turin past Ivrea and up the whole Aosta Valley, through Pont-Saint-Martin, Aosta and Morgex, ending at Courmayeur and the Italian entrance to the Mont Blanc Tunnel. It is a toll motorway, with long sections of viaducts and tunnels between castles and vineyards.
From Turin
About 150 km and a little under two hours to Courmayeur, almost entirely on the A5. Turin Airport (Caselle) lies north of the city, close to the motorway. Collection at the airport, Porta Nuova or Porta Susa station or your hotel can be arranged through our luxury car rental in Turin page.
From Milan
Take the A4 towards Turin, then the A4/A5 link road from Santhià to Ivrea and join the A5 towards Aosta. Allow about two and a half hours: it is around 210 km from Malpensa and 235 km from Linate. Handover at either airport, at Milano Centrale or at your hotel can be arranged on our luxury car rental in Milan page.
Worth a stop on the way: the Forte di Bard, just off the motorway near Pont-Saint-Martin, and Aosta itself, with its Roman theatre and the Arch of Augustus.
Skyway Monte Bianco
The Skyway Monte Bianco cable car starts at Pontal d'Entrèves, a few minutes above Courmayeur and right by the motorway exit and the tunnel. It climbs in two stages to Pavillon du Mont Fréty (2,173 m) and Punta Helbronner (3,466 m), with a close-up view of Mont Blanc and the glaciers around it.
- Parking: 300 covered spaces next to the base station, plus outdoor parking; the covered car park opens half an hour before the first ascent and closes half an hour after the last.
- Seasonal closures: according to the published schedule, the Skyway is closed from 16 November to 4 December 2026 and from 19 April to 21 May 2027 for maintenance.
- Tickets: online booking is recommended; departures run every 15 minutes, and the time at Punta Helbronner is limited for most visitors.
Weather decides everything up there, so check the webcams before you drive up.
Courmayeur: arriving and parking
Courmayeur's heart is Via Roma, a pedestrian street of boutiques, cafés and old stone and timber buildings. You cannot drive into it, so plan to park and walk.
- P1 Piazzale Monte Bianco: the main covered car park in the centre, with the first hour free at the time of writing.
- P2 Viale Monte Bianco: a second central car park.
- Blue bays: pay at the meter or with the Telepass app.
- Val Ferret and Val Veny: paid parking at the trailheads in season, with shuttle buses as an alternative in summer.
Rates and seasons are on the official Courmayeur Mont Blanc website. For a stay in a hotel or chalet, it is worth asking about private parking when you book: in the high season, central spaces fill up quickly. A car can be delivered directly to you in Courmayeur as well; see our luxury car rental in Courmayeur page.
Which car for Geneva–Courmayeur?
From October to April, an all-wheel-drive SUV is the most relaxed choice. The Range Rover and the Bentley Bentayga are quiet and comfortable on the long motorway stretches; the Lamborghini Urus, the Porsche Cayenne and the Ferrari Purosangue add character on the climb to Chamonix. For groups with skis and luggage, the Land Rover Defender 130 and the Mercedes V-Class 4MATIC seat up to eight, while the BMW X7 and the Audi SQ7 have seven seats. The Audi RS6 Avant is a fast, practical alternative for two to four people.
In summer, with the passes open, a convertible makes the most of the Little St Bernard and the Aosta Valley: the Porsche 911, the Ferrari Roma Spider or the Mercedes SL 63. Whatever you choose, you book the exact model, insurance and 24/7 assistance are included, and delivery is arranged at booking: in Geneva, Turin, Milan or directly in Courmayeur.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Geneva to Courmayeur?
About an hour and a half for roughly 106 km via the A40, Chamonix and the Mont Blanc Tunnel, longer on winter weekends when the tunnel toll gets busy.
Is the Mont Blanc Tunnel closed in 2026?
There is no long closure in 2026, but the tunnel closes on many weeknights from 22:00 to 06:00 until mid-December, with longer closures on 12 October (from 19:00) and 24 November (from 18:00). Check tunnelmb.net before travelling at night.
Will the tunnel close in autumn 2027?
The operator is preparing a closure of around 15 weeks in autumn 2027, but the dates had not been officially confirmed at the time of writing. Check the operator's website before planning an autumn trip.
What is the safety distance in the Mont Blanc Tunnel?
150 metres while moving and 100 metres when stopped. Keep two blue lights between you and the vehicle ahead.
Do I need winter tyres to drive to Courmayeur?
Yes, in the cold season: from 1 November to 31 March in Haute-Savoie (3PMSF tyres, or chains or socks on board) and generally from 15 October to 15 April on the Aosta Valley state roads (winter tyres or chains on board). IsyLuxe cars have winter tyres in the cold season.
What is the best alternative to the Mont Blanc Tunnel from Geneva?
The Great St Bernard Tunnel, via Lausanne and Martigny. It is open all year and leads down to Aosta and the A5. You will need a Swiss vignette and must pay the tunnel's own toll.
Related guides: Driving to the Alps in winter: the rules country by country.
