Hokkaido road trip planner: driving times, routes and stops

Most Hokkaido road trips start at New Chitose Airport, where the big rental car companies have offices. From there, Sapporo is about 72 minutes away on national roads, or about 16 minutes of expressway driving. Distances in Hokkaido are long, so plan each day around one or two legs, use the expressway for longer drives, and allow extra time from November to April.

How long are the main drives in Hokkaido?

These are the official distance and time estimates from Kita-no-Michi Navi. Times are without breaks.

Route	Distance	Driving time	Expressway section
Chitose – Sapporo	39 km	about 72 min	27 km, about 16 min
Sapporo – Otaru	39 km	about 71 min	31 km, about 24 min
Chitose – Tomakomai	27 km	about 38 min	12 km, about 7 min
Asahikawa – Furano	58 km	about 85 min	—
Chitose – Obihiro	158 km	about 130 min (using the expressway)	—

Source: Kita-no-Michi Navi, Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region (data as of end of March 2025; checked on 26 October 2026). The first four routes are measured mainly on national roads.

Real driving times depend on traffic, weather and road works. Add time for breaks, fuel and photo stops.

Should I use the expressway?

For longer drives, yes. The expressway sections are much faster than national roads, as the table shows. Visitors with a non-Japanese passport can buy the Hokkaido Expressway Pass with their rental car. It gives unlimited expressway use for a flat price, from ¥7,700 for 4 days with a standard car.

Source: NEXCO East (Drive Plaza), Hokkaido Expressway Pass (checked on 26 October 2026)

See Japan expressways, ETC cards and the Hokkaido Expressway Pass for prices and how to use ETC lanes.

Where can I stop on the way?

Michi-no-Eki (道の駅, roadside stations) are rest stops along ordinary roads, usually with parking, toilets, local food and tourist information. Hokkaido has many of them. Some along our routes:

Route	Stops
Chitose – Sapporo	Salmon Park Chitose, Hana Road Eniwa
Chitose – Tomakomai	Salmon Park Chitose, Lake Utonai
Sapporo – Otaru	Otaru Canal
Asahikawa – Furano	Biei Okanokura, Farm Tomita

Source: Hokkaido Michi-no-Eki (official); HOKKAIDO LOVE! (checked on 23 October 2026)

Opening hours are often shorter in winter. For example, Michi-no-Eki Hana Road Eniwa is open 9:00–18:00 from April to October and 9:00–17:00 from November to March. Check each stop’s page before you rely on it for food or fuel.

What are some easy first-day plans?

You can combine the routes above. The times below simply add up the official estimates, without breaks:

Plan	Legs	Driving time
Airport to Otaru	Chitose → Sapporo → Otaru, mainly on national roads	about 143 min
Airport to Otaru, faster	The same legs using the expressway sections	about 40 min on the expressway, plus the rest on ordinary roads
Lakes near the airport	Chitose → Tomakomai (Lake Utonai)	about 38 min

If you fly in during the afternoon, a short first day near the airport or in Sapporo is easier, especially in winter when it gets dark early.

What changes in winter?

From around November to April, Hokkaido roads can be covered in snow and ice, and some mountain passes close for the winter. For example, the Shiretoko Pass (National Route 334) closes from early November until late April.

• Drive more slowly and keep a much longer distance from the car in front.
• Plan shorter days and avoid driving after dark.
• Check road closures and conditions on the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau’s road information site before you set off.

Source: Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau (checked on 26 October 2026)

Read Winter driving in Hokkaido before you book a winter trip.