Transalpina (DN67C)
Romania, europe
146 km
2,145 m
difficult
July to September
# The Transalpina: Romania's Hidden Mountain Gem
Forget everything you know about Romania's mountain roads—the Transalpina is about to become your new obsession. This 146-kilometer beast of a highway cuts straight through the Southern Carpathians, hitting a jaw-dropping 2,145 meters at the Urdele Pass, making it the highest paved road in the entire country. Sure, the Transfagarasan gets all the Instagram fame, but trust us: the Transalpina is where you'll find the real magic.
Stretching between the charming town of Novaci in Gorj County and Sebes in Alba County, this route winds through the Parang Mountains and Sureanu range like it was designed specifically to make your heart race. The story behind it? It was originally carved out by German forces during World War II as a military route, then basically forgotten until a major facelift completely rebuilt and paved the entire road by 2012.
What makes driving here absolutely surreal is how the scenery constantly shifts beneath you. Dense beech forests give way to stunning alpine meadows, which then transform into otherworldly rocky terrain above the tree line. Around almost every bend, you'll spot shepherds and their incredibly loyal guardian dogs tending to flocks, and there are traditional sheepfolds dotting the landscape where you can pull over and grab some seriously delicious fresh cheese straight from the source.
Where is it?
Transalpina (DN67C) is located in Southern Carpathians, Romania (europe). Coordinates: 45.3489, 23.6697
Driving Tips
# Road Travel Tips
Alright, so this route is basically a summer thing – you're looking at mid-June through October before the snow shuts it down. Just keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Fair warning: a lot of this road doesn't have guardrails, so you'll want to take it slow and stay focused, especially on the hairpin turns.
Do yourself a favor and fill up your tank before you head up the mountain. Grab gas in Novaci or Sebes because once you're on the road, there are zero fuel stations up there. You really don't want to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere.
One last thing – keep an eye out for sheep wandering across the road. They're not super predictable, so stay alert and be ready to slow down if you spot them.
Road Surface
Paved asphalt, some rough patches
Road Details
- Country
- Romania
- Continent
- europe
- Region
- Southern Carpathians
- Length
- 146 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,145 m
- Difficulty
- difficult
- Surface
- Paved asphalt, some rough patches
- Best Season
- July to September
- Coordinates
- 45.3489, 23.6697
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