How are the roads in Cantebria and Leon?

The N (nacional) roads throughout the country should be in mostly good repair. No potholes, but not as good as a highway. They are 2 lanes with painted center and edge lines. I looked at the N-621 in multiple locations and in some places there are shoulders while in other there are no shoulders. The speed limit will likely be 70kph/42mph in many places. Drive at, or slightly below, the limit to avoid getting a ticket. Be careful when entering and leaving small towns as many have speed cameras. Go as few as 3kph over the limit and you could get a ticket.

Since it’s only a three hours drive, you’ll have plenty of time for spontaneous stops in the small towns you will pass through. Once you know your route look at some of the towns, e.g., Potes, to see if there’s anything to spark your interest. Traffic will be light outside of towns and villages.

Most roads in Spain are well maintained. Depending on where you drive you could come across roads with green, yellow, or orange signs with 4 digits. They tend to be more rural. A few of those could stand to be resurfaced.

I find Spanish roads to be largely excellent, even in the mountainous north. N-621 is very twisty, but not particularly narrow (no trouble with oncoming traffic), and the scenery is glorious as you climb to San Glorio pass. Incredible views from the bridge in Riaño, too.

It is not a very long drive, make sure to stop along the way: Santillana del Mar (very touristy alas, but cute), Comillas (has Gaudí buildings), S. Vicente de la Barquera (pretty coastal town), Potes (pretty mountain town) all make for worthwhile stops.

Thank you both. Super helpful. We had already figured out Castro Urdiales and Potes were good stopping places. We can look at adding the other suggestions in as stops as well! Potes, I believe, has a cable car that goes way up and there are great views. We're seniors so I believe the cost is 17E. Do either of you (or anyone else reading this!) have any experience with the cable car?
Best,
J

I’ve yet to visit Potes, but the cable car is in Fuente Dé, 14km away. The round trip adult price is €20. I haven’t visited there either.

I saw this on its website: “Traffic delays are possible on the access road to the Liébana region due to roadworks on the N-621, in the area known as the "La Hermida Gorge." Cable car users are asked to take this into account and plan their arrival at the facility accordingly.”

I’m not sure if the roadwork is still taking place since I didn’t see any ongoing works today along the length of the N-621 you’d be driving.

Castro-Urdiales is not along your route at all, it is between Santander & Bilbao. Not worth backtracking for, it is so-so IMO.

I have driven N621 from Potes to Riano. It is very scenic and as twisty-curvey as it looks on the map. It will take you longer than you think. The road itself is fine with very little traffic. Check it out with Google street-view. We actually enjoyed it.

Buon viaggio Brad

OK. I apologize but I left out some pertinent information. I was trying to simplify things but now I see that was probably unwise.
We actually are making a trip from BILBAO to RIAÑO by car. We fly into Bilbao airport about 10:30am and collect the car. We wanted to make our way to Riaño seeing the best views possible. I had assumed we would head west on A8 and then down. But perhaps those of you with experience would share a better way? We don’t have any time constraints.

We do enjoy charming towns and are very keen on the cable car near Potes. Other than that, Santillana del Mar (very touristy alas, but cute), Comillas (has Gaudí buildings), S. Vicente de la Barquera (pretty coastal town) have been mentioned and sound great. Since we are coming from Bilbao should we skip Castro-Urdiales after all? If these other places are much better I’m fine with that.

Thank you again, and I’m sorry for taking a shortcut in my information at the beginning. 😔

Also, I did want to ask if the speeding tickets are given out by radar and speed cameras or actual police officers.

Fixed radars are very well signed in advance, so you know that there is a radar coming. Both ways, it can be a radar ticket or a police officer stopping you.

I'd skip Castro-Urdiales, personally. The port area with the church/castle on the hill are cute to see but that's about it.

There are several nice towns on that road, like Cartes and Ruicorvo, that you can see in a very short time but are worth the stop and are much ignored by foreign visitors.

There are several nice towns on that road, like Cartes and Ruicorvo, that you can see in a very short time but are worth the stop and are much ignored by foreign visitors.

I had never heard of Cartes & Riocorvo! They look like a good alternative to touristy Santillana del Mar for a quick detour.

Just back from a weekend in Cantabria and Asturias, stopped at beautiful Cartes for lunch at La Cartería, a great restaurant very much rightly priced.

Adding to what Mikel said, strictly adhere to speed limits when entering and leaving towns and villages as many have speed cameras. E.g., if you see a sign where the speed limit is changing from 70kph to 80kph, don’t accelerate until after the new limit sign.

We’ve been studying all of your recommendations, regretting how little time we have ☹️ and believe we will try the following. Comments/suggestions welcome.

Leave Bilbao airport about 10:30am on a Sunday. Head west on A8, stopping for an occasional photo op, until we arrive in Comillas. There we can get a meal, check out Comillas and tour the Gaudi El Capricho. We’ll turn south and drive towards Riaño, stopping in Potes, briefly, for a break. If the weather is amazing we’d go ahead and do the Fuente dé cable car. Since it’s April, you gotta take the good weather when you can get it.

Monday, we’ll check out Riaño and then drive back up to Potes to explore it more thoroughly. Do the cable car if we didn’t do it yesterday.

Tuesday we head back to Bilbao. We have an afternoon flight, but don’t want to miss it, so will only stop on the way back if time is on our side and we can safely do that and not be late.

Cangas de Onis and Covadonga looked amazing but I don’t want to stress out my amazing driver (my husband) with too much driving. Another trip I’m hoping!

If anyone has any restaurant/food options for these places I’m happy to hear it. Thank you again you amazing forum people! You are making our adventure better with all of your wonderful suggestions!! Grateful.

Do not miss the beautiful cemetery in Comillas, with the Avenger Angel and the great views! El Capricho can be visited in half hour.