My family will be driving from Salzburg to Innsbruck on June 7. Looking at the map, we might go south to St. Johann im Pongau, across to Zell am See, up to Kitzbuhel and then west to pick up 171 at Worgl. A more direct route would be southwest on 21 and 312 to St. Johann in Tirol, down to Kitzbuhel, and then west to 171. Any recommendations for the most scenic and interesting route? What would be the best places for short stops along the way?

I would go west on 305, then south on 307 through Kitzbuhel to Mittersil, then west toward Mayrhofen (go all the way to Mayrhofen for more scenery, but this will require about 10-15 miles of backtracking) and then north at Zell am Ziller to 171, then on west to Innsbruck. I've driven all those routes, and this seems to be the most scenic to me without being too much out of the way. The trip will probably take about 4 hours. Any village along the way on 305/307 is a good stop, but the best are probably Kitzbuhel and the Krimml waterfall between Krimml and Gerlos.

I drove it last summer via the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse.<BR>Quite a thrilling trip. <BR>If you want details, email me.<BR>Just make sure your brakes work!!<BR>Essentially the route is south from Salzburg, over the hills to Heiligenblut, and Lienz. Then back north to Kitzbuhl and on to Innsbruck.<BR>You can enjoy the Hohe Tauren National Park enroute. The views are scrumptious.

How long is that drive? From Salzburg to Innsbruck through Grossglockner? Just wondering. Thank you in advance for any information.

It is a bit of a detour to go via Die Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse from Salzburg to Innsbruck. In fact, I think it would take you 7 or 8 hours with stops at the various attractions along the way. <BR><BR>If you are seriously thinking of going that way let me point out that the route takes you south of Salzburg and then north to Innsbruck. It is a round about way of doing it, but the scenery is amazing. When the description says Hochalpen Strasse,it means exactly that; it is indeed a road over the backbone of the high alps of Austria, with the high point of the road being reached by a steep and winding route.<BR>The view of the mountain itself from the Hohe Tauren National Park is beautiful.<BR>We went over on a cloudy day, but it was still tremdous. The Swarovsky Crystal Co. has built a view point, with a showroom, that overlooks the Gross Glockner itself and the associated glacier, the longest in Austria.<BR>The showroom is not obtrusive, and in fact we thought it quite nice to be able to view some of the finest pieces the company makes. (You are certainly under no obligation to buy any of it.)<BR> <BR><BR>Bear in mind that this is a toll road, and a relatively expensive one at that.<BR>Some detractors will tell you that it is just another mountain road. I have seen my share of mountain roads and I assure you that this one is NOT just another hilly drive. It is the Austrian alps at full view. <BR><BR>But make as sure as you possibly can that the brakes are good and the tires are good, because you will put them to the test.<BR><BR>Let me put it this way. We are planning a return trip in a few days.<BR>So that sums up my first impression.<BR>I hope it withstands closer inspection.<BR>