Driving in Spain/Portugal
 

What are the highways called in Spain? In Portugal? I will want to get from A to B the fastest way possible. I know that there are 'toll' roads that are faster and more direct, what are they called on the signs?
For instance: From Toledo to Granada?
From Seville to Lagos, Portugal?
From San Sebastian to Madrid? etc.
thank you

The major roads have a letter/number system - eg the "N-IV" runs North/South to Madrid/Cordoba/Seville.

I last did a driving trip in Spain in 1999. I bought a driving guide (Spain's Best Loved Driving Tours) and Michelein maps in advance. Suggest you do the same, so you can be prepared. Bad enough to be in an unfamilar place trying to navigate, but it's that much harder when the signs are in Spanish!

www.viamichelin.com

festival
Main roads in Spain are changing their name and number, so all National roads that used to be N plus a roman number, for example N-IV for Andalucia, if they are now a double highway has been called A-4. And the signs color for this is blue.
Other double lane highways that were not a one digit national road but a two digit or three digit one, like Madrid-Toledo, that used to be N-401 is now called A-42. Others that are not double highway are still keeping their all number like N-430.
Toll Highways will always have an alternative route, not always a double lane highway, and it will state "peaje" before the last chance to leave.
And just to make it easier must of the local roads have changed their number,
so local roads in Extremadura will have a EX-plus a number. This is not such a new thing but it is a slow change so some local roads are done and others not.
And to add some more there are the European Axes,for example,the Bilbao
Algeciras route via Madrid call E-5.
The E stands for European connection.
My recomendation, buy a new map, latest edition, and follow the city names.As even the latest editions are not fully updated.
I don't think that via michelin in their internet site are updated either.
Be patient.

Should you do Toledo-Granada, be sure to check out the windmills in
Consuergra.

For Portuguese section only check http://www.brisa.pt/webnew/brisa_mapa_00.asp

Sections in yellow are toll roads, sections in blue are toll free, both excellent.

When driving from Seville to Lagos, you need 2 hours maximum between the Portuguese/Spanish border and Lagos. There are no formalities in the border, it's an open road.

Thank you car, for the information. I have a current map and the numbers seemed to have changed from the older, now I know why.

My actual question is what are the names for the "Freeways," "Expressways," "Highways" as we call them...what are they "refered to"..in Spain/Portugal?

Let's say I'm at a gas station and want the quickest way to the "toll road freeway" what would one ask for?

I speak Spanish, but do not know the names they call the toll roads (which I assume are more direct between two cities) or byways through business districts (and I assume are slower between two cities).



Thanks

In Portugal, any road with separated traffic lanes is a Autoestrada, either toll road or toll free.

In Spain, they are called Autopistas (toll free) or Autovias (toll road).

lobo mau
I believe is the other way round
Autopistas are toll roads
Autovias are toll free.

autopista or autopista de peaje is a toll road.
autovia is a freeway (divided limited access highway).
Some autovias change to autopistas in certain areas