# Campo Imperatore by car, from Fonte Cerreto to Castel del Monte

What to do en Gran Sasso · Gran Sasso

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/things-to-do/campo-imperatore-drive · Revisado: 2026-11-12

- Duración: 4 h
- Temporada: May to October; in winter the high road closes because of snow
- Para quién: Everyone

A 27 km road across the plateau, between 1,500 and 1,900 m, with free-roaming horses, flocks and the Corno Grande in the background · Half a day

What it is
The simplest way to understand the Gran Sasso: drive across Campo Imperatore, the plateau that stretches about 27 km at the foot of the peaks, between 1,500 and 1,900 m, without a single tree. You leave from the Assergi exit of the A24, climb via Fonte Cerreto and the SS17 bis to the esplanade of the hotel and the cable car, at 2,130 m, and descend across the plateau towards Fonte Vetica and Castel del Monte.
What to see on the way
Horses and cows graze loose beside the road, and flocks of sheep come up from spring to autumn. On the left, the walls of the Corno Grande and Monte Camicia. At Fonte Vetica, the Ristoro Mucciante sells the meat and lets you grill it on its braziers. From Castel del Monte you continue to Calascio and Rocca Calascio, or to Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
When
From May to October. In winter the SS17 bis is closed by snow and the plateau can only be reached by cable car. In fog you see little: check the weather before setting out.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 42.401, 13.633

## Cerca de aquí

- [Sextantio Albergo Diffuso](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/where-to-stay/sextantio-albergo-diffuso), a 6.4 km
- [Santo Stefano di Sessanio, the Medici village](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/things-to-do/santo-stefano-di-sessanio), a 6.4 km
- [Sextantio Cucina](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/where-to-eat/sextantio-cucina), a 6.4 km
- [Ristoro Mucciante](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/where-to-eat/ristoro-mucciante), a 7.0 km
- [Gran Sasso cable car, from Fonte Cerreto to Campo Imperatore](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/things-to-do/gran-sasso-cable-car), a 7.0 km
- [Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/where-to-stay/rifugio-duca-degli-abruzzi), a 8.5 km
- [Walk to the Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi, on the Monte Portella ridge](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/things-to-do/duca-degli-abruzzi-hut-walk), a 8.5 km
- [Castel del Monte, the shepherds' village at the edge of the plateau](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso/things-to-do/castel-del-monte), a 8.6 km

## Consejos

### Drive slowly
There are loose animals on the carriageway, especially at dawn and dusk.

### Fill the tank beforehand
On the plateau there are no petrol stations or villages.

### Bring warm clothing
At 2,000 m a cold wind blows even in August.

Destino: [Gran Sasso](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso.md)