NC500
How long does the NC500 take? Days, hours and what to book
Written by Ali Murray
The person behind Make It Scotland · 27 April 2026 · Updated 26 August 2026
How long does the NC500 take?
The NC500 takes 13 to 15 hours of driving on clear roads with no stops, spread over 516 miles (830 km). In practice, allow 20 to 24 hours behind the wheel across the trip, because a third of the route is single track with passing places. Five days is the minimum we recommend, seven days is right for most first-timers, and ten days is the relaxed version with time for walks, beaches and a rest day. The official NC500 says "at minimum 5-7 days", and we agree.
Three days is possible and we advise against it. Two days is a driving test, not a holiday.
| Trip length | Miles a day | Driving a day | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | 260 | 7 to 8 hours | Nobody. You will see a windscreen. |
| 3 days | 170 | 5 to 6 hours | Only if the dates are fixed; better to do one section properly instead |
| 5 days | 100 | 3 to 4 hours | Experienced road-trippers who know what they want to see |
| 7 days | 75 | 2 to 3 hours | Most first-timers; walks, meals and proper stops every day |
| 10 days | 50 | 1 to 2 hours | Families, walkers, photographers, anyone who prefers a slower pace |
| 14 days | 35 | about 1 hour | Return visitors, side peninsulas, Orkney or Skye add-ons |
Daily mileage is the 516-mile loop divided by days; driving hours assume single-track sections at 25 to 30 mph and the rest at normal A-road speeds. Use the NC500 route map for the stop-to-stop drive times if you want to build your own days.
The NC500 in numbers
The signed route is 516 miles (830 km), starting and finishing at Inverness Castle. Total driving time without stops is around 13 to 15 hours. Roughly 30 to 40% of the mileage is single track with passing places, mostly on the west and north coasts, where realistic average speeds drop to 25 to 30 mph. The east coast on the A9 is the fastest stretch and the one most people underestimate in the other direction: it is dull enough that you will want to get it done in a morning.
Can you do the NC500 in three days?
You can. Three days means averaging 170 miles a day on a route where a third of the mileage is single track. You will drive five or six hours a day, watch Ullapool and Durness pass the windscreen, and have no time for a walk or a proper lunch. Reddit threads asking "is it possible to do the NC500 in 3 days" get the same answer from everyone who has actually done it: yes, and don't.
If three days is all you have, do a section instead. Drive Inverness to Ullapool via Applecross and Torridon over two nights, spend the time in Wester Ross and Assynt, and come back for the rest. You will have a better trip than the people racing the whole loop.
Is five days enough for the NC500?
Just. Five days averages 100 miles a day, which is manageable but means long driving days and quick stops. You will hit the headline stops (Bealach na Bà, Applecross, Ullapool, Assynt, Durness, John o' Groats, Dornoch) and you will not have capacity to detour to Cape Wrath, the Stoer peninsula or the Black Isle.
It works for experienced road-trippers who have already decided what they want to see and do not mind tiring days. It works less well if you are new to single-track driving, travelling with children, or want to walk. Our 5-day NC500 itinerary is built for people who have made that trade-off knowingly.
Seven days on the NC500
Seven days drops the daily average to around 75 miles, which is two to four hours of driving depending on the section. That leaves time off the road every day for a walk, a long lunch, and the unplanned stops that end up being the trip.
Seven days is what we recommend for most first-time drivers, and it is what people who booked five days tend to say they wish they had chosen. The 7-day NC500 itinerary lays it out day by day.
Ten days on the NC500
Ten days is where the route opens up. Fifty miles a day leaves room for a rest day in Ullapool, the Cape Wrath ferry and minibus from Durness, a walk up Stac Pollaidh or Suilven in Assynt, a morning at Chanonry Point for the dolphins, and dinner at a sensible hour every night.
Choose ten days if you are travelling with children, want to walk or cycle sections, care about photography, or simply prefer a slower pace. See the 10-day NC500 itinerary.
Two weeks on the NC500
Two weeks is for people who have driven the loop before and want to do it properly, or for a first trip with children where nobody wants to be in the car for long. You can add the side peninsulas (Scourie, Kinlochbervie, Stoer), a night or two on Orkney from Gills Bay, or Skye via Applecross and the Raasay ferry. You will still find new places to stop on every visit.
How long does the NC500 take in a motorhome?
Allow an extra day or two compared with a car. Motorhomes are slower on single-track sections, take longer to park and set up, and need planned overnight stops. Large motorhomes should not attempt Bealach na Bà, which the official NC500 says is unsuitable for large motorhomes, caravans and inexperienced drivers; take the coast road via Shieldaig instead, which adds about 15 miles and no drama. Our motorhome and campervan guide covers the rest.
What actually slows you down
Sat-nav times assume an empty road and no stops. Both assumptions are wrong.
Single track. Passing places, slow vehicles and stopping for the view take realistic speeds down to 25 to 30 mph on 30 to 40% of the route.
Photographs. You will stop more than you planned. Everyone does.
Lunch. Rural pubs and cafés do not run at motorway-services speed, and that is a good thing. Allow 90 minutes, not 30.
Weather. Bealach na Bà can close at short notice in winter; have the Shieldaig alternative in mind.
Fuel. Pumps are up to 80 miles apart on the west and north coasts, so fuel stops are planned, not spontaneous.
Wildlife. Sheep, deer, occasionally Highland cattle. They have right of way and they know it.
The NC500 takes as long as you let it.
Our recommendation
Five days: only if your time is fixed. You will be tired and you will miss things.
Seven days: the default answer for a first loop with any flexibility.
Ten days: the better answer if you can afford the time, and the one we would book ourselves.
Fourteen days: the right answer for return visitors and for families.
Once you have picked a length, decide when to go with our guide to the best time of year to drive the NC500, then book beds: accommodation on the west coast sells out months ahead for July and August. Our NC500 accommodation guide explains where to base yourself, and the NC500 hub has everything else.
Places to stay on the NC500
Hotels, B&Bs, pods, cottages and campsites along the whole route, all in our directory.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the NC500 take to drive?
Five to ten days is typical. Seven days is the sweet spot for most people. Pure driving time without stops is 13 to 15 hours, but nobody drives it that way.
How many days do you need for the NC500?
Five as a minimum, seven for a first trip with proper stops, ten if you want walks and a rest day. The official NC500 recommends "at minimum 5-7 days".
Can you do the NC500 in three days?
Yes, and we do not recommend it. You will average 170 miles a day with no time for meaningful stops. Do a single section over three days instead.
Is five days enough for the NC500?
Just. You will see the highlights and feel rushed. Fine for confident drivers with a fixed plan, harder with children or if you want to walk.
How many miles is the NC500?
516 miles (830 km) for the signed route. Add 50 to 100 miles for detours to Cape Wrath, the Assynt peninsulas or the Black Isle.
How long does the NC500 take in a motorhome?
Allow an extra day or two compared with a car, and avoid Bealach na Bà in a large motorhome; use the Shieldaig alternative.
Does the direction you drive affect how long the NC500 takes?
No. Clockwise and anti-clockwise take the same time. Clockwise puts the hardest driving first; anti-clockwise is quieter in summer. The NC500 route map explains the choice.
