Roads in Poland?
 

I want to take a side trip from Gdansk to the Wolf's Lair, near Ketrzyn--in the area of the Great Masurian Lakes. It looks like transportation is kind of iffy. I'm wondering if the roads are good enough that I could rent a car and drive.

Does anyone have information about this area?

hi Peg
I've driven in Poland several times. During the 70's and 80's there were a goodly number of substandard roads... but all that began to change in the 90's. Though I have not driven that much in the north, but central, eastern and southern/western regions now boast one of the better road systems in that part of Europe. Don't hesitate...The Masurian lakes are very popular. When are you going?
stu

A few years ago, I spent a couple days driving in the Masurian lakes district (drove up there from Warsaw), and I found the road network very good - and also better than in Masovia. The numbered major national highways had been in excellent conditions and well signposted. Smaller country roads I found in still fair conditions with the occasional somewhat bumpy ride through villages or small towns where they still had the old cobblestone pavement. But nothing that required any skills or extra caution. Some very remote rural roads through the forests had been unpaved - but even these gravel/ dirt roads were easy to navigate with a regular car. You may want to watch out for deer and elk, though - especially when driving at night or at dusk/dawn. Tourist infrastructure is very good, with every town on the lakes sporting a huge number of restaurants, hotels, and private accomodation. Mrgawo - a few kms South from where you plan to go - has a very nice town center with pleasure harbor, shops, restaurants - and also several hotels on the lake. One of the most beautiful regions in Europe I have visited so far.
P.S. Bring some mosquito repellent if you go from late spring to autumn.

Enough EU money has been spent on Poland's road to cover the whole country, be prepared to be impressed.

Thanks for the info. Very reassuring. I think I'll rent a car in Gdansk.

Tower: I never did reply to your question. I'll be there in mid-June.

You would not be too far from the Treblinka memorial for more WW2 perspective. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treblin...emorial_05.jpg

tom_mn: I've never been to a concentration camp or an extermination camp, despite being in towns near them--Weimar, Munich, Krakow, etc.,--basically because I'm a coward about the emotional toll seeing one would take on me. Perhaps it's time, though.

I have seen neither type is site. Treblinka was the largest of the extermination centers that did not have a significant labor camp component. It was completely and deliberately destroyed and plowed over before the end of the war to hide the crime. All visitors will see today are the memorial structures in a peaceful wooded setting. So a different experience than visiting Birkenau near Cracow or one of the concentration camps in Germany where there are remaining structures and a "camp" feel.

Not sure if that makes visiting easier or harder, but all of these 4 destroyed extermination centers are in the most remote places where a car is required to visit.