For a trip to Bucovina's painted monasteries, that means the long first leg no longer runs through the villages on the DN2/E85. From Bacău you continue north on national roads.
What opened on 31 August
At 16:00 on Monday 31 August 2026, 47.10 km of the A7 opened between Adjud and Bacău. There are now 241.62 km of motorway between Ploiești and Bacău.
For now the A7 ends at the Bacău bypass junction, near Holt, which connects to the DN2F. From there you take the bypass and existing roads. Another 4 km or so, up to the Bacău Nord junction, is still to be built.
Bucharest to Bacău: the drive now
Leave Bucharest on the A3 towards Ploiești and join the A7 towards Bacău. CNAIR, Romania's national roads company, put the journey at 2 hours 38 minutes from Bucharest; local press says under three hours in normal traffic. Stops, weather and holiday traffic will stretch that.
The route also skips the chain of villages, pedestrian crossings and 50 km/h zones on the DN2/E85, which makes a long day's drive more predictable.
Romanian motorways have no separate toll: the road vignette covers the A3 and the A7. Since 1 October 2026 the Fetești and Vadu Oii bridges don't charge a toll either. The motorway speed limit is 130 km/h. For the new vignette prices, see what changed on 1 October 2026.
What it means for Bucovina and the Bicaz Gorge
The motorway gets you to Bacău; from there you head north on national roads towards Suceava, Gura Humorului and the painted monasteries. The last stretch is ordinary road, but the long, slow part of the old route is gone.
Voroneț, Moldovița, Sucevița and Humor are best done as a circuit over several days, not as a day trip. Our Bucovina circuit has the route.
The Bicaz Gorge and Red Lake are also easier to reach: from the Bacău area head west through Piatra Neamț towards the mountains. See our Bicaz Gorge and Red Lake guide. Going during Romania's autumn school break? Here are six road trips for 24 October to 1 November.
What's next on the A7: Bacău to Pașcani
Next up is the A7 from Bacău to Pașcani, about 77 km in three sections, more than 60% built. CNAIR expects at least 49 km, from Bacău to Mircești, to open in 2026, and the third section, Mircești to Pașcani, possibly in spring 2027. These are estimates. As CNAIR director Cristian Pistol put it: "We open when each kilometre has been checked, not when it's ticked off in the calendar."
Other motorways due in 2026
On 31 August 2026 Romania had about 1,477 km of motorways and expressways. The first opening of 2026 was on 11 August: 12.24 km of the A3 between Zimbor and Poarta Sălajului, in Transylvania.
By the end of the year CNAIR hopes to open more than 200 km in total; the Pro Infrastructura association expects about 190 km. Still expected in 2026, though not guaranteed:
- more of the A7 towards Pașcani;
- parts of the A0 North ring road around Bucharest;
- several A3 sections in Transylvania;
- the Brăila–Galați expressway;
- a section of the A1 between Sibiu and Pitești.
Renting a car for Moldavia
A Bucovina circuit is usually a week on the road, so unlimited mileage matters, and longer rentals cost less per day. At driveXplore the road vignette is included, along with accident & theft cover, and the security deposit is €50 on most cars. We meet you at the Otopeni or Băneasa airport terminal, or you collect the car from our base in Bucharest.
For long drives, look at the Skoda Octavia, the Ford Kuga or the Renault Arkana.
FAQ
Can you drive from Bucharest to Bacău on the motorway?
Yes. With the A3 from Bucharest to Ploiești and then the A7, the route to Bacău is almost all motorway.
How long does Bucharest to Bacău take on the A7?
CNAIR estimated 2 hours 38 minutes from Bucharest; local press says under three hours in normal traffic.
Where does the A7 end now?
At the Bacău bypass junction near Holt, connected to the DN2F. From there you continue on the bypass and existing roads.
When will the A7 reach Pașcani?
CNAIR expects at least 49 km between Bacău and Mircești to open in 2026, and the Mircești–Pașcani section possibly in spring 2027.
Is there a toll on the A7?
No separate toll. You need a Romanian road vignette, which covers all motorways.
In short
- Since 31 August 2026 the A7 is open between Adjud and Bacău.
- There are 241.62 km of motorway between Ploiești and Bacău.
- Bucharest to Bacău is now almost all motorway, about 310 km.
- The A7 currently ends near Holt, at the Bacău bypass.
- For Bucovina, continue north on national roads.
Planning the drive north? See our cars.
Sources: A7 Adjud–Bacău opening (Bacau.net) · CNAIR on journey time (Digi24) · A7 Bacău–Pașcani (Bacau.net) · Romania's motorway map at 1,477 km (Economedia).
