Road Trip Kaunas to Curonian Spit 1-Day
In June 2022 we made a 2-week road trip in the Baltic States. We started in Vilnius (Lithuania), rented a car, and explored as much as we could on the way to Tallinn (Estonia) while stopping by Latvia.
On our 4th day we went from Kaunas to the Curonian spit. As we had a car, we decided to take a small detour to avoid the main road and be able to visit 2 castles on the way from Kaunas to Klaipeda where we took a ferry for the carbonian split.
It was an easy and really beautiful day along the Lithuanian road. For us we opted to not stop in Klaipeda as it is a port city and allow more time in the Curonian spit. There we stayed in Juodkrante a town located in the center of the spit.
If you too are planning a trip to the Baltic states, you will most probably do such a road trip on your way to the coast. Let ‘s dive in this Road Trip from Kaunas to Curonian Spit 1-Day
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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The road trip
It is super easy to drive in Lithuania, most of the road regulation are the same as the rest of EU. Plus, there isn’t a lot of traffic making it really enjoyable. Plus, you get an amazing countryside with beautiful nature. In June, there was lots of storks on the side of the road. The plan for today is as follow:
- Kaunas to Raudoné Castle: 62.5km, 1h
- Raudone Castle to Panemunės Castle: 10km, 10min
- Panemunės Castle to Klaipeda new ferry terminal: 167km, 1h40min
- Ferry to the Curonian spit: 15min
- Drive to Juodkrante : 17.3km, 20min
Where to Stay in Juodkrante
We personally stayed 3 nights there which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the Curonian Spit. We opted for Juodkrante as it was in the center of island and where it is super easy to park. Unlike Nida that is south and much more touristic:
- (€): Prie Ąžuolo
- (€€): Come2rest – Smilga
- (€€€): Vila MAY
What to Eat
We personally took some local pastry from a bakery in Kaunas. They add 1 vegetarian option which where spinach with cheese and 1 vegan option with vegetable.
We took our lunch break by a small lake next to the Panemunės Castle
Road Trip Kaunas to Curonian Spit
Kaunas to Raudoné Castle
We left around 9h30 in the morning from Kaunas. And drove to a first castle near Kaunas called Raudondvaris but it wasn’t much and we wouldn’t recommend stopping by it. We then drove all the way to Panemunės Castle for 62.5km which took 1h.
The road is comfortable is not crowded at all. Plus, it follows the river which makes for a stunning ride.
Raudoné Castle
Our first stop was the Raudoné Castle. There the castle entrance cost 1.5e per person. Inside the castle there is a small exposition and a watch tower with 360 views.
Outside of the castle there is a park where it was nice to walk to stretch our legs.
Raudonė Castle is a residential castle (estate, manor) of the 19th century but today it is used as a public school.
Raudone Castle to Panemunės Castle
We hoped on our car and drove another 10km which took 10min. The road was the continuing of the previous one.
Panemunės Castle
Once we parked our car, we headed behind the castle where there are a few lakes. We found a bench and then have lunch.
But it was a rainy day, and almost as soon as we finished our lunch it started raining. It was fine as we had an umbrella, but we then quickly headed for the castle to be inside.
This castle is much bigger than the previous one and the entrance cost 4€ per person. There you start by visiting the first floor where you are in the main apartment of the castle. It started with a video to learn about the castle. It was really well made. And then we could go around the apartment where clothing from that era were displayed.
From there, we went back down and onto another part of the castle where the kitchen are and then the watch tower.
The initial hill fort was built by the Teutonic Knights in 1343 but was later replaced by a castle built in 1604-1610 by a noble Hungarian. Panemunė Castle was not designed to be a stronghold for defence but a typical 17th-century nobleman castle with defensive fittings, residential buildings, and farm buildings. It became one of the most beautiful Renaissance era building in Lithuania.
Today the castle serves as a museum and a hotel.
Panemunės Castle to Klaipeda new ferry terminal
Next stop was our final stop the Curonian spit. But to get there we had to first take a ferry from Klaipeda new ferry terminal. From the castle we took the direct road to the main road connecting Kaunas to Klaipeda as it was the fastest and easiest way.
It took 1h40 to drove the 167km.
Ferry to the Curonian spit
We followed our GPS all the way to a small toll station where we paid 18.3e to enter the boarding area of the ferry. We made it to the 15h ferry and when we arrived the ferry was boarding, so we almost didn’t wait. The ferry was then a 5-min ride to get on the other side.
Drive to Juodkrante
Once on the Curonian spit, we followed the road to Juodkrante, quickly there was another toll where we had to pay a fee to access the national park. If you didn’t know it, the Curonian spit is a national park and a fee must be paid to access it with motor vehicle. For us it was 30€ as June is already the high season (from 1st June to 15th September). In low season it cost 5€ from 01 November to 30th March and 10€ from 01st May to 31st May and 16th September to 31st October.
It was then from the ferry terminal to Juodkrante 17.3km that took us a bit more than 20min.
Juodkrante
Once you arrive, you should still have some time to enjoy the Curonian spit. You can go on to Explore the Educational Dendrological Trail which include the hill of Witches.
Lietuviai neturi nešvaraus proto, jie turi garbanotas mintis – Lithuanians don’t have a dirty mind; they have curly thoughts
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