8 Tuneful Tunnels to Add Mechanical Music to Your Next Road Trip

For car enthusiasts there’s an unwritten rule when entering a tunnel. You Drop your windows and drop down a gear to hear the engine echo off the walls.

“Tunnels are more than just infrastructure – they’re playgrounds for sound. Every downshift, every overrun crackle, every rise to the redline is transformed,” says Kev Hall, Technical Operations Manager at Milltek, the leading performance exhaust specialist. As a top tuning company it should come as no surprise that Milltek has been keeping an ear out for the best-sounding tunnels in the UK and Europe, devising a list of car concert halls to drive through on your next driving adventure.

UK

Jubilee Way Tunnel, Dover
“The enclosed space and gentle curve make it the perfect place to open the taps briefly and hear your exhaust roar. For many car enthusiasts heading to Europe via Dover’s ferries, it’s a little taster before the continental roads to come.”

Mersey Tunnels, Liverpool
“The Queensway and Kingsway tunnels beneath the River Mersey aren’t just feats of engineering; they’re also an acoustic wonderland. The long, uninterrupted stretches of tarmac give plenty of opportunity to test your throttle response, and the way the sound lingers feels like a private concert for your engine note.”

Hindhead Tunnel, Surrey
“At 1.2 miles long, Hindhead is the UK’s longest road tunnel. It’s an essential stop for exhaust lovers. With its modern surfaces and excellent lighting, it feels slick and futuristic – but more importantly, it’s long enough for you to drop a gear and savour the full build-up of your exhaust’s tone without worrying about running out of space.”

Europe

Gotthard Road Tunnel, Switzerland
“At over 10 miles, the Gotthard Road Tunnel is one of the longest in the world – and it’s like an opera house for engines. The sheer length means you can experiment with every gear, every throttle input, and enjoy the resonance at different rev ranges.”

Mont Blanc Tunnel, France/Italy
“Connecting Chamonix in France with Courmayeur in Italy, this famous tunnel runs for seven miles under Western Europe’s highest peak. The scenery on either side is breathtaking, but inside, it’s the sound that dominates. The combination of alpine air, long straights, and smooth walls make it one of the most atmospheric drives anywhere.”

The Monaco Grand Prix Tunnel, Monaco
“Perhaps the most iconic tunnel in motorsport, Monaco’s Grand Prix tunnel is legendary for its acoustics. Driving it yourself (outside race weekends, of course) is a spine-tingling experience. The echo is sharp, immediate, and almost theatrical.”

Arlberg Road Tunnel, Austria
“Stretching almost nine miles under the Austrian Alps, the Arlberg is a dramatic drive in its own right, but the sound it produces makes it unforgettable. It’s wide, well-maintained, and gives you enough space to enjoy both the sound and the sense of occasion as you cross one of Europe’s most historic routes.”

Tunnel du Mont Sion, France (A40 Autoroute)
“This short but sweet tunnel is tucked into the spectacular A40 motorway – sometimes called the Autoroute Blanche - that winds from Geneva into the French Alps. With sweeping climbs and breathtaking views outside, the acoustics inside provide a welcome chance to hear your car at its best.”

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