How far is it from Essen to Kiel?

The distance between Essen and Kiel is 447 km by road.

How long does it take to drive from Essen to Kiel?

The drive from Essen to Kiel takes approximately 4 h 30 min by car.

What is the best route from Essen to Kiel?

The fastest route from Essen to Kiel covers 447 km with a driving time of approximately 4 h 30 min.

Which direction is Kiel from Essen?

Kiel lies roughly to the north-east of Essen.

Which roads does the route from Essen to Kiel follow?

The drive from Essen to Kiel mainly follows A 43, A 1, A 7. The longest single stretch is 250 km on A 1.

Which towns do you pass between Essen and Kiel?

Towns on the route from Essen to Kiel include Gladbeck, Osnabrück, Bremen, Hamburg, Neumünster.

Essen Kiel

Distance: 447 kmDrive time: 4 h 30 min

Driving from Essen to Kiel takes about 4 h 30 min via A 1. The distance is 447 km. The straight-line distance is 382 km. EV charging is available along the route, including in Essen, Osnabrück, Bremen, Hamburg, Neumünster. Driving directions

Attractions Car rental Popular routes Show more

Driving directions27 · 447 km

1 Depart onto Hachestraße 220 m
2 At end of road, turn right onto Hindenburgstraße 469 m
3 Continue straight onto Limbecker Platz 111 m
4 Keep slightly right onto Ostfeldstraße 296 m
5 Turn left onto Segerothstraße 720 m
6 Turn right onto Grillostraße 564 m
7 Turn left onto Gladbecker Straße 6 km
8 Continue straight onto Braukstraße 4 km
9 Continue straight onto Essener Straße 5 km
10 Continue straight 21 km
11 Take exit slightly right 464 m
12 Keep slightly left 437 m
13 Merge slightly left 41 km

14 Take exit slightly right 317 m
15 Keep slightly left 185 m
16 Continue straight onto Überflieger Münster-Süd 965 m
17 Merge slightly left 250 km
18 Keep slightly right 11 km
19 Merge slightly left 12 km
20 Keep slightly right 75 km
21 Keep slightly right 21 km
22 Continue straight onto Schützenwall 2 km
23 Continue straight onto Exerzierplatz 95 m
24 Continue slightly right onto Exerzierplatz 34 m
25 Continue right onto Exerzierplatz 161 m
26 Continue left onto Rathausstraße 267 m
27 Arrive onto Rathausstraße

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The return trip from Kiel to Essen covers roughly the same distance, 447 km.

Driving directions from Essen to Kiel
Top attractions along the route
Find hotels near Kiel
Rent a car near Essen
Popular routes from destination
Questions and answers

Along the way

Top attractions along the route

Fähre Veckerhagen
Ferry Terminals
Weserschiff Hessen
Ferry Terminals
Flotte Weser
Ferry Terminals
Fußgängerbrücke 'Schulweg-Steg'
Ferry Terminals
Dampferanleger Flotte Weser
Ferry Terminals
Weserfähre Grohnde
Ferry Terminals
Fähranleger
Ferry Terminals
Fähranleger Ahsen
Ferry Terminals
Fähranleger Schogrinden
Ferry Terminals
Leher Pünte
Ferry Terminals
Vegesack
Ferry Terminals
Weserfähre Motzen
Ferry Terminals
Weserfähre Blumenthal
Ferry Terminals
Anleger "Warsteiner Admiral"
Ferry Terminals
Fähre Ditzum - Petkum
Ferry Terminals
Fähre Petkum - Ditzum
Ferry Terminals
Fähranleger Brake
Ferry Terminals
Fähranleger Sandstedt
Ferry Terminals
Grachten- und Kanalrundfahrten
Ferry Terminals
MS Wiesmoor
Ferry Terminals
MS Stadt Aurich
Ferry Terminals
Pers. u. Fahrradfähre Wilhelmshaven-Eckwarderhörne
Ferry Terminals
Cruise Center Baakenhöft
Ferry Terminals
Hamburg Cruise Center HafenCity
Ferry Terminals
Altes Fährterminal Altona
Ferry Terminals
Anleger Hamburg Port Authority Große Pötte & Kleine Züge
Ferry Terminals
Hafenrundfahrt
Ferry Terminals
Jungfernstieg
Ferry Terminals
Atlantic
Ferry Terminals
Rabenstraße
Ferry Terminals
Fährdamm
Ferry Terminals
Mühlenkamp
Ferry Terminals
Krugkoppelbrücke
Ferry Terminals
Streekbrücke
Ferry Terminals
Winterhuder Fährhaus
Ferry Terminals
Anleger Töwerland Express
Ferry Terminals
Ausflugsfahrten
Ferry Terminals
Juist
Ferry Terminals
"Meine-Fähre-1" -Autofähre-
Ferry Terminals
Raddampfer Concordia II
Ferry Terminals
Neuharlingersiel harbour
Ferry Terminals
Fähre Kronsnest
Ferry Terminals
Port of Langeoog
Ferry Terminals
Wischhafen
Ferry Terminals
Glückstadt
Ferry Terminals
Hapag-Hallen
Ferry Terminals
Schiffsanleger Helgoland
Ferry Terminals
Schiffsanleger Neuwerk
Ferry Terminals
TT-Line Terminal Rostock
Ferry Terminals
FRS Helgoline
Ferry Terminals

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Find hotels near Kiel

Rent a car near Essen

Explore

Popular routes from destination

Sources

Distance and drive time are computed from OpenStreetMap road data with the OSRM routing engine. Updated 16 August 2026.

Overview

Questions and answers

How far is it from Essen to Kiel?: The distance between Essen and Kiel is 447 km by road.
How long does it take to drive from Essen to Kiel?: The drive from Essen to Kiel takes approximately 4 h 30 min by car.
What is the best route from Essen to Kiel?: The fastest route from Essen to Kiel covers 447 km with a driving time of approximately 4 h 30 min.
Which direction is Kiel from Essen?: Kiel lies roughly to the north-east of Essen.
Which roads does the route from Essen to Kiel follow?: The drive from Essen to Kiel mainly follows A 43, A 1, A 7. The longest single stretch is 250 km on A 1.
Which towns do you pass between Essen and Kiel?: Towns on the route from Essen to Kiel include Gladbeck, Osnabrück, Bremen, Hamburg, Neumünster.

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