We are planning to drive from Cortina to Bolzano and then on to Varenna via the Stelvio Pass in early October. I know this will be a very long day, but my biggest concern is that it will be on a Sunday. Will I be able to get gas either in Bolzano or Merano or another town in SS38 on a Sunday?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33148 posts
in Bolzano google maps shows a big Shell between the airport and the beginning of the SS38 which opens 6am Sundays and there is a 24 hour Q8 along the river among others
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33148 posts
working on your mileage - there are various other places called Cortina.
Do you mean Cortina d’Ampezzo? If so, that's less than 90 miles (140 km) from Cortina d'Ampezzo. Will you have a full tank on Saturday night?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11404 posts
Is this the trip you are planning?
If so, a bit over 300 miles. If you fill up Sat., night you are unlikely to need to refuel enroute
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15438 posts
Make sure the Stelvio Pass is open when you go. Besides the winter closure from November to May, they often close it on certain weekends of summer.
I don’t know why you worry. The gas stations may be unmanned but automatic self service pumps will be open on Sundays and nights. The only issue is that sometimes those automatic machines don’t accept American credit cards without PIN. Not a big issue. You can use your ATM debit card (using the usual PIN) or, if you feel uncomfortable using a card in a machine in a foreign country, just use cash. Italian pumps accept hard cash in denominations of 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€ (don’t remember if they take 100€ bills). Obviously it’s better to make sure you start with smaller amounts since the machines give no change, so if the tank is filled before you used up the money you inserted all you get is a credit slip which you can use the next day at the same station, but you won’t be there anymore. A compact car takes a maximum of about 50 liters, which is about 100€ at current prices. A liter will take you about 15km (about 10 miles), so a full tank should be enough for your day, but just in case you feel more comfortable with more than an almost empty tank through the mountains, when the tank shows less than 1/2 left, you can safely put 15-20 liters (about 30-40€) in the machine, and proceed with your trip.