Estimated costs for a week-long road trip from Moscow to Karelia, the Black Sea coast, or Kazan
A recent study conducted by Sberavto in collaboration with the IT firm Evotor examines the average weekly travel expenses for popular Russian routes. The goal was to estimate how much a weeklong road trip would cost for residents planning vacations that involve long-distance driving from Moscow to notable destinations such as Karelia, the Black Sea region, and Kazan. The analysis accounts for fuel, tolls on major highways, and nightly accommodation in cities along the route. The figures reflect typical travel patterns and current pricing data.
The Petrozavodsk route emerges as the most expensive option when taken along the M-11 toll road, with tolls totaling about 4,400 rubles. The round trip covers roughly 2,240 kilometers in a week, and the overall average expense for such a holiday comes to about 38,604 rubles. This estimate includes petrol costs, tolls, and the cost of staying overnight in cities en route, based on typical lodging choices and durations.
Next in cost is the journey to Sochi, which clocks in around 30,824 rubles. This round trip spans about 3,400 kilometers. The M-4 highway has some paid segments, but not as many as the M-11, which drives down total tolls by roughly a thousand rubles compared with the Petrozavodsk route. While the distance is longer, the price is lower due to fewer tolls and a slightly different lodging plan along the way.
Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, represents a shorter and cheaper option. The round trip covers about 1,600 kilometers and involves no toll roads, resulting in an estimated expenditure of 15,424 rubles for the week. The short distance and absence of tolls are the main factors behind the reduced cost for this route.
|
City |
Petrozavodsky |
Sochi |
Kazan |
|
Distance (km), round trip |
2240 |
3400 |
1600 |
|
Travel expenses |
Petrol – 10,050 rubles Toll road – 4400 rubles |
Petrol – 14,416 rubles Toll road – 3460 rubles |
Petrol – 6,784 rubles |
|
Spend the night in the cities along the route |
St. Petersburg, Sortavala, Petrozavodsky |
Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don |
Nizhny Novgorod |
|
Cost of living (overnights in cities round trip) |
St. Petersburg – 13,718 rubles Sortavala – 10 436 rubles |
Voronezh – 5,762 rubles Rostov-on-Don – 7,186 rubles |
Nizhny Novgorod – 8,640 rubles Kazan – 5,563 rubles |
|
Total |
38 604 rubles |
30 824 rubles |
15 424 rubles |
These totals illustrate how toll infrastructure, route length, and nightly lodging choices combine to shape travel budgets. For travelers prioritizing lower costs, routes with fewer tolls and shorter distances offer clear savings, while those seeking coastal or major city destinations may justify higher travel expenses for the experience. The figures cited reflect typical weekly trip planning as reported by the cited agencies and are intended to aid in budgeting and decision-making for road travelers in Russia. [Source: Sberavto and Evotor weekly travel cost assessment.]