How to travel from Cartagena to León, Spain

The distance between Cartagena and León is around 782km (486 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 25m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Cartagena to León by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out LeónCartagena if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to San Gabriel then fly from Alicante (ALC) to Leon (LEN).

  • Duration5h 25m
  • Flight time2h 35m
  • Typical cost
    €385($385)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Orihuela then Madrid-Chamartin and then to Leon.

  • Duration5h 50m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €105($105)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Madrid Estacion Sur and then to Leon.

  • Duration9hrs
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    €75($75)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to León.

  • Duration7h 40m
  • Distance782km (486 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cartagena and León

There are several options for getting from Cartagena to León by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €75 ($75) and will take around 9hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €385 ($385).

The distance between Cartagena and León is around 782km (486 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 699km (434 miles)

It takes around 5h 50m to get from Cartagena and León by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 7h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cartagena to León is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 25m and will set you back approx €385 ($385).

The cheapest way to travel between Cartagena and León, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €75 ($75) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Cartagena and León. It typically takes around 5h 50m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Cartagena to León. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Orihuela and Madrid-Chamartin. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 5h 50m.

Renfe and Renfe AVE run train services between Cartagena and León. Trains depart 6 times a week and will take around 5h 50m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Cartagena and León. It typically takes around 9hrs and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Cartagena to León. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Madrid Estacion Sur. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 9hrs.

ALSA run regular bus services between Cartagena and León. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 9hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Cartagena to León. We recommend that you take the train to San Gabriel then fly from Alicante (ALC) to Leon (LEN). instead which will take 5h 25m.

The closest major airport to León is Ranon Airport (OVD) (OVD) which is approximately 103km (64 miles) from León. Santander Airport (SDR) (SDR) and Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) (SCQ) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Cartagena and León. The distance is around 782km (486 miles) by road and it will take around 7h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cartagena to León is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 50m and will usually cost around €105 ($105).

How do I get from Cartagena to León

Compare travel optionsbetween Cartagena and León

Transport options from Cartagena to León
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 1 similar
5h 25m
€385($385)
every 20 mins1,218km (757 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus6h 35m
€140($140)
every 20 mins1,068km (664 miles)
Train + 1 similar
5h 50m
€105($105)
6 times a week901km (560 miles)
Train via Albacete7h 35m
€95($95)
once daily859km (533 miles)
Bus
9hrs
€75($75)
every 20 mins792km (492 miles)
Drive
7h 40m
€145($145)
on demand782km (486 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cartagena and León

Airports near León

The following major airports near León offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Spain and internationally.

OVD
Ranon Airport (OVD)
International Airport
Distance
103km (64 miles) from León
SDR
Santander Airport (SDR)
Domestic Airport
Distance
195km (121 miles) from León
SCQ
Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
202km (125 miles) from León