The entire journey of 1500 km took us 3 days and on the way we stopped by in Divnogorie for the day, it is almost on the way. In principle, this way from Moscow to Gelendzhik / Sochi / Anapa can be overcome in a day (18-25 hours), but I’m not a fan of such long movements in one sitting, especially at night and when you have no one to change, the risk is unjustified. Driving over 500 km is the most, the driver does not lose concentration.
If you want to quickly and without stopping, then it’s better by plane (via Aviasales / SkyScanner), indeed, faster and at the same time much safer. Especially when it comes to vacationing in a couple weeks.
The content of the article
- 1 Route Moscow-Gelendzhik / Sochi
- 2 M4 Highway
- 2.1 Stripes and coating
- 2.2 Fines and cameras
- 2.3 Paid sites
- 2.4 Rest on the road and refueling
- 3 Impressions of the trip
Contents
Route Moscow-Gelendzhik / Sochi
If you go with two nights, then the most optimal will be stops in the area of Voronezh and in Rostov-on-Don. In this way, the path will be divided into 3 sections of 500 km. On the one hand, in these cities are full of housing on the same Airbnb (according to the link my detailed post about the service and a bonus of $ 33), on the other hand, entering the city and leaving it takes time, so to save time, it will be better stop not in the inner city, but in roadside hotels on track.
If you are not in a hurry, then normal odnushku on the outskirts You can safely withdraw for 1500-2000 rubles (I recommend an apartment in Voronezh, in Rostov-on-Don), and a comparable hotel will cost twice as expensive.
Alternatively, plan a route with only one overnight stay, for example, leave Moscow in the afternoon, get to Voronezh in the evening, spend the night in front of him at the hotel, and from early in the morning move on immediately to the sea. Or plan a single overnight stay before Rostov, there just the trail passes through several settlements where there are motels and housing from private traders.
The picky travelers can sleep in a tent in the forest belt, and the “truckers” to go 18-25 hours without rest and overnight stay. I personally do not want to risk it, so I try not to do big hauls, as I get tired and lose concentration, especially at night. Yes, I could drive this 1,500 km in one sitting, but see no point.
Most of the M4 is now such
Along the road there are often motels, cafes and others. services
If the ultimate goal of Sochi, then go without a preliminary break on the Tuapse-Sochi section there is little pleasant, there are serpentines, traffic jams, and this segment can take a decent time, 2-3 times more habitual (when compared with flat areas). Ideally for him drive early in the morning, while there are few cars, or at night. I have the average speed was 45 km / h, there were areas with one-sided movement (repairs), plus trucks, though sometimes passing on rises, but in general, still not go fast. Only closer to Sochi and after it normal speed. In settlements (and they are there for sure) often a limit of 40 km / h, on the road 70 km / h
In Gelendzhik, I usually drive through Dzhubga, I have more there like, calm road, but there is an option to go through Novorossiysk. It is better to go to Anapa after leaving the M4 highway through 100 kilometers after Rostov to the village of Kanevskaya, and then go through Timashevsk, Slavyansk-on-Kuban, adhering to Temryuk directions, but the road is so-so. After Slavyansk it will be necessary go to Anapa.
Travel time
As I wrote above, it all depends on how much you want. do overnight stays on the way and whether you want at all. At sea, we drove all together, so did 2 nights, in the end, the road took in a quiet 3 light days.
Back I was traveling alone (the family flew away by plane) from Adler and to Moscow I got in 26 hours, of which about 5 slept in the car about refueling. That is, the road itself took 21 hours. Quite fast i I think. Somewhere at 20-25 hours and it is worth counting, excluding long stops for sleep.
M4 highway
Stripes and coating
On the way to the Black Sea, I have already traveled many times. Track slowly but changing for the better.
- First of all, almost made two lanes in each direction from Moscow to Goryachiy Klyuch. Almost, because, unfortunately, there are still plots with one lane. For example, in the Voronezh region in settlements Losevo – Pavlovsk – Verkhniy Mamon, a plot of length about 100 km.
- In the Rostov region periodically disappears metal separator with an oncoming one, the markup disappears, appears irregularities, cracks, etc. (it was already driving in the dark, quite uncomfortable), however, as in the Voronezh region. In fact, the best piece of M4 – this is between Moscow and Voronezh, in theory, it should be on all over Will wait
- After the Hot Key to Jubga, one-way traffic with periodic overtaking lane. She is there quite often appears.
- From Dzhubga to Tuapse about the same scheme, only a small serpentine and the third band is quite rare. From Dzhubga to Geledzhika also one lane, but there is almost no serpentine, so plot passes quickly.
- From Tuapse to Sochi specific serpentine and almost no possibility overtake
- From Rostov to Anapa odnopoloska with a bunch of trucks and old KAMAZ, and only after turning from Temryuk highway to Anapa, they disappear. We tried to navigate the navigator bypass roads (traveling with Rostov to Azov and further to the detour of cities), but there are bad places the road is generally a longer distance, but plus that few cars. Won or not, I do not know.
Fines and cameras
There are a lot of cameras on the way, so run into a fine when non-compliance with the speed limit is not a problem. But it’s for the best, we will all be more alive. I moved everywhere with a maximum speed of +15 k permitted, that is basically 115-125 km / h.
All the way back and forth, I usually get 1-2 penalties on 500 rubles (with a discount of 250 rubles). Apparently, I think somewhere and start go faster In fact, the track has this.
Paid plots
There are currently 13 paid sections on the highway, most of which between Moscow and Voronezh. Visually, they are not much different from other parts of the track, some serious differences I did not notice. Speed limit on paid sites 110-130 km / h (mostly 110), on the freeware with the sign “Motorway” too 110.
At the price: 30-210 rub for a site. All the way for all paid plots in 2019 is 1520 rubles during the day and 850 rubles at night. Nightly rates cheaper. Remember, in some areas it is necessary when checking out show, so don’t discard checks.
Paid plot on M4, payment in cash or banking card
Rest on the road and refueling
We mostly stopped at Lukoil, because there are a civilian toilet, a minimarket, a playground and outdoor tables for snacking. At least in the first half of the M4 refueling Lukoil is just so equipped, then they go already smaller and without such a set. On the map, just in case, noted a very large Luikoil after Voronezh, where you can eat and stand in the shadows. In the previous Lukoil in the cafe there were only coffee / tea and buns, and here is the dish.
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- Smoking wagons on the road, the closer to the south, the more of them, each the second
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- The road to Anapa, sometimes covered with waves
For some reason, the Megaphone catches quite badly along the way. You stop at a gas station so that the child eats, you want at the same time check email, post a photo, and the Internet is almost dead. On surprise test of the last SIM card from Tinkoff Mobile, really works better.
Radio is everywhere an amateur, either Russian retro or chanson. Need to bring discs or a flash drive. And by the way, not every radio will be steadily catch the signal at such distances from large cities.
Yandex.Navigator leads the shortest way, even if primer, there is no choice there “quickly” or “short.” And, if for a trip through the M4 navigator is not particularly needed (nowhere to get lost there), then for inspections of any neighborhoods away from the road, better use normal navigators.
A short sketch of how the toilet looks on the most modern highway in Russia, on the M4.
