To Crimea by car. Highway M4 in the Rostov region: condition of the road, gas stations, hotels. Highway M4. Go south by car. Paid areas, gas stations, toilets, hotels. Photos of the route

For drivers who spend a lot of time behind the wheel, and simply for those who like to travel on wheels, overnight accommodation is of paramount importance. Stopping along the way, proper rest and recuperation are very important for safe movement on the road.

For example, for drivers traveling from the city, the answer to the question: “Where to stay overnight on the M4 highway?” is very important.

Highway "Don"

Each route has its own characteristics, which make up its features, which speak about the quality of the road surface, safety in bad weather conditions, the beauty of the surrounding landscape and quality service.

The M4 Don highway, which has the most controversial reviews, has a length of 1,589 km, and drivers have their own opinion about every kilometer of the road. This rather long route from Moscow to Novorossiysk runs through several large regions at once: Moscow, Tula, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Rostov, as well as the Krasnodar region.

It can be seen that on the map it crosses such large rivers as the Oka, Don, Sosna, Kuban, and the Voronezh Reservoir. In reality, bridges with a carrying capacity of up to 80 tons are thrown across these rivers. For faster travel, bypass roads have been built, allowing you to leave large cities like Krasnodar behind without entering them. Naturally, for truckers and car enthusiasts the pressing question is: “Where to stay overnight on the M4 highway in order to have a quality meal and a good night’s sleep?”

Road quality and traffic jams

The quality of the road is determined by several factors:

• Firstly, the road surface itself. On the M4 highway it is of high quality and allows you to reach speeds of up to 130 km/h where it is allowed.
• Secondly, safety, which is determined by how clearly the dividing strip, crossings and traffic lights are visible in poor visibility. The presence of sharp turns is also important. The M4 Don highway (reviews from regular travelers confirm this) has several dangerous sections where an avalanche can occur or where a blockage can occur due to heavy snow drifts. There have been many times when this route was closed for several days due to bad weather.
• Thirdly, the traffic load at different times of the year. Although the M4 highway looks large and safe on the map, and in reality is also of very high quality, it nevertheless cannot cope with the loads, especially in the summer. On the one hand, cars are carrying vacationers to the sea in a continuous stream, on the other hand, trucks from the south are carrying vegetables and fruits to Moscow and other cities. Traffic jams, overcrowded hotels and inns, emergency situations - all this greatly affects the condition of drivers, so their main question during this period is where to stay overnight on the M4 highway.

• Fourthly, the quality of the route also determines the service along the entire route. Since the road from Moscow to the Black Sea is long, refueling, overnight accommodation, canteens or cafes, hospitals or emergency care points should be located along the route of the car or a few hundred meters from the road. A tired driver is a threat to the entire traffic flow on the highway. Due to road accidents, not only people die, but all traffic stops until the circumstances of the accident are fully clarified.

These are the main indicators of the quality of the track, but in fact there are many more of them, and the main factor indicating the condition of the track is human.

Dangerous sections of the M4 highway

Although the M4 highway has 4 wide lanes with dividers, there are sections where they change to 2 lanes, where speed is limited and overtaking is prohibited. For traffic safety, there are traffic cameras along the entire route, which transmit to traffic police posts everything that happens while driving. If any driver decides to overtake at a dangerous stretch of the road, his license will simply be confiscated, which will have to be returned after trial and payment of a fine.

As the drivers themselves note, areas with poor visibility are located at km 26, 49, 95 and 364, and this is the most reliable data from those who drive there regularly.

Paid areas

Part of the route along the M4 highway has toll sections, but there are few of them and they are short. The fare depends on the time of day, category and carrying capacity of the vehicle:

• Passenger cars with or without a trailer up to 2 m, as well as motorcycles, will be able to travel for 30 and 50 rubles.
• Pickups, vans, mini-vans and medium-sized vehicles will pay 45 and 75 rubles.
• Buses of any category, vehicles for transporting large cargo will pay 60 and 100 rubles, and if these are large vehicles and class 2 buses, then the rate will be 120 and 200 rubles.

Two tariffs indicate the amount of payment for the day and night, and to save money on the M4 highway, toll sections of the route can be “slept” in a hotel.

Gas stations, first aid stations and traffic police posts

Drivers determine the comfort of the route based on the level of infrastructure development and quality of service. Since the route from Moscow to the Black Sea is not short, it is important that the driver gets the maximum necessary without wasting time.

The M4 highway, whose gas stations improve the quality of customer service every year, makes the driver's journey pleasant. If earlier at a gas station you could only refuel, today it is also a place with a mini-model where you can replenish water and food, with toilets and showers to freshen up and get yourself in order.

On the M4 highway approximately every 20-30 km there are gas stations, car services, cafes, rest stops, motels and hotels. First aid posts, unfortunately, are much less common than traffic police posts.

For traffic safety, the M4 highway is checked not only by security cameras that transmit signals to road service points, but also by inspections of cars and personal property of passengers and drivers. All this is carried out to suppress possible transportation of smuggled or prohibited goods.

Infrastructure of the M4 highway

When drivers think about it, they expect to find a place with delicious home-cooked food, a clean, comfortable room with a soft and comfortable bed.

Not all places along the route from Moscow to Novorossiysk can proudly be called a hotel, motel or inn. According to drivers' reviews, there are quite a lot of places designed for the fact that a tired driver will not be squeamish and demanding, and passengers are here today, there tomorrow, so they cannot be called serious clients.

But there are a number of recreational establishments that are pleasant to visit more than once, and they always have guests.

Motels in Tula region

In the Tula region there are several recreational establishments that deserve the attention of car enthusiasts. There are motels not far from each other that provide travelers with not only hot water and a toilet, but also comfort, attention and care.

The Ryabinushka hotel complex is located at km 238. Here, motorists can recuperate in a Russian steam room, and then unwind while playing billiards after a delicious meal.

A large cafe provides a wide selection of dishes at an affordable price; there is a car service on the territory of the complex where you can get your car in order. The laundry allows you to put things in order, and the staff tries to ensure that every vacationer leaves the hotel rested, refreshed and invigorated.

1-4-bed rooms have all the amenities for a comfortable sleep and pastime.

At the 241st km of the road there is the Rus Motel, which also takes the needs of its customers seriously. Here you can not only stop for an overnight stay, but also just take a shower and have a snack for those who are in a hurry.

Bright and cozy rooms with all amenities, a Russian bath, a wide variety of home-cooked dishes make the Rus Motel a pleasant place where you want to return again.

Motels in Lipetsk region

In the Lipetsk region, drivers will also enjoy the M4 highway. The Zhemchuzhina and Samolet hotels, located here, have their own peculiarities, well known to experienced road travelers.

The main feature of the “Pearl” is that it is located behind a small forest, which creates the illusion that the track is somewhere far away. There is a cafe serving home-cooked food (borscht, noodles, okroshka in the summer, roasts, chops and much more) open around the clock. Double rooms with private facilities, triple rooms with toilet and shower on the floor. Upholstered furniture, clean linen, a TV and a 24-hour bar allow the driver to sleep and passengers to have a good time.

The real An-24 is the face of the Samolet hotel complex. The establishment is a success thanks to its delicious and inexpensive cuisine, cozy rooms, and a beautiful landscaped area with flower beds and a fountain. Here you can listen to live music and get a good night's sleep.

Motels in Voronezh region

The Voronezh highway, which is located from the 477th to the 679th kilometer, has in its collection the Galkino hotel complex with a wide range of services. In this world of coziness and comfort there is a swimming pool, upholstered furniture that guarantees a good sleep, delicious food, a sauna and billiards. What else does a tired traveler need for a good rest?

The Maximum Hotel on the 518th km of the route fully lives up to its name. Modern, comfortable rooms, each in its own style, good food, a sauna, high-quality upholstered furniture - all this creates a desire to come here to relax again and again.

Motels in Rostov region

The Rostov M4 highway offers bike and rock lovers, and not only them, a surprisingly comfortable and decent cafe.

We can say about this establishment that it has everything you need to have a great rest, eat well and tasty, get yourself and your transport in order, and all this in a bike-rocker style. Not only is the original motel memorable, but so are its wonderful staff.

For travelers who want not just to spend the night and leave, but to fully relax, the M4 highway (Rostov region is one of those it crosses) is offered by the White House Hotel. Here everyone can choose a cottage to their liking or just a room in it, eat home-cooked dishes, and everything can be ordered in advance, so that hot and tasty food will be waiting for customers upon arrival. Clean, cozy log houses at an affordable price allow you not only to spend the night here, but also to fully relax for several days.

Attractions

Among the holy places that you can visit while driving along the M4 highway, you should note the Kostomarovsky women's cave monastery and the Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery for men. Those who want to enjoy the beauty of nature will forever remember the mysterious dolmens in the Krasnodar region, which are more than 6,000 years old, and the waterfalls on the Zhane River.

How we chose hotels

Rostov is a big city; during rush hour there are serious traffic jams, so it is better to find a hotel on the outskirts, or even better on the M4 highway, so as not to waste time winding through the streets of Rostov-on-Don. The road to Rostov is quite difficult, because the flow of cars is large, the distance is impressive, so you are unlikely to want to walk around the city in the evening.

Here are a number of hotels located along the route:

Hotel Rodina is a nice hotel with excellent service, comfortable and clean rooms, a super bed with good linen. There is a 24-hour cheap canteen nearby (dinner for three cost 700 rubles), which is important for an early departure.

Meridian South - located on the M4, before reaching Rostov-on-Don. Simpler than Rodina, but quite decent, in my opinion.

Guesthouse Bingo - budget option

Guest House 17 - designer guesthouse, located further from the highway than previous options

Hotel Quiet Lake- spa option for overnight stay on the road

We chose to spend the night in Rodina when we were traveling to Adygea. Last time, heading to Gelendzhik, I decided to stay overnight at a guesthouse in Azov, located 20 minutes drive from Rostov. This decision came to my mind after monitoring the situation on the route to the sea for several days. Everything indicated that we would go to Gelendzhik not along the M4 Don, but through Tikhoretsk and Krymsk. Accordingly, it was very profitable to spend the night in Azov in order to move through the villages.

Plus, hotel prices in Azov are lower than in Rostov. We stopped in the guest house "Azov" for 1800 rubles per day. For this money we got a huge room with a kitchenette (albeit nominal), a double bed, a good bathroom, and a parking space.

Also in Azov it is quite possible budget stay in Amaks .

About the guest house Azov

We arrived in Azov around 9 pm. The guesthouse is located on a street with private houses, there are no identifying signs, so I had to call the owner. Fortunately, they were waiting for us and greeted us. The rooms are provided in a large new modern private house. Each room is a studio apartment with an iron door. The design is made in modern trends, the rooms are nice for my taste. There is everything you need for relaxation, the only thing is that you don’t forget to buy water in advance, or you’ll have to order from a restaurant for crazy money.

The room has a bedside table and a bed, and a TV hangs on the wall. We didn't need anything else. There is a built-in full wardrobe in the hallway.

Guest House Azov

The kitchenette has a kettle, stove and sink, but we didn't use it. We decided to just order pizza because we had absolutely no strength to go to the restaurant.

Guest House Azov

Bathroom with shower, towels and bath amenities were available.

The undoubted advantages of the guest house are:

Availability of closed parking

Spacious room

New and modern renovation

Convenient location for continuing the road to Gelendzhik

The only downside I can mention is the lack of an elevator.

Overnight at the Rodina Hotel in Rostov-on-Don

Hotel Rodina is conveniently located for travelers by car, on the M4 Don highway. It is a new building with modern rooms. There is a hotel building on a large area, as well as parking, benches and tables for relaxation, and a 24-hour dining room.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

At the entrance we see a nice reception and lively and polite girls-administrators.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

We were promptly checked in, given the keys, and told about the services and room. We booked two rooms: one with a double bed and a single.

Our room came with a large bed, excellent linens and four pillows. The single room contains two single beds.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

The room size is quite comfortable for two. There is no closet here, but you don't need one for an overnight stay. But there are slippers, free tea, coffee and water. Even ice can be brought to your room upon request.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Tea, coffee and water are provided free of charge.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

In general, there are many such pleasant little things in the Motherland. For example, you can ask for an extra blanket, robe, shaving gel and other hygiene items for free. The basics are in the room by default: shower gel, toothbrush and toothpaste, towels, hairdryer.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

The room has air conditioning and the windows also open.

I have no complaints about the room; for 2500 rubles we got very comfortable conditions for relaxation.

In the nightingale you can eat cheaply and quite tasty at any time. The three of us had dinner and paid about 700 rubles. for everyone.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

Prices are approximately as follows: salads 30-40 rubles, soups - about 100 rubles, side dishes - 40-60 rubles, cutlet 100-120 rubles.

Homeland Rostov-on-Don

The disadvantages of the hotel include insufficient sound insulation - all conversations in the corridor can be heard very loudly. Unfortunately, many people do not understand that they are not alone in the hotel, that people want to relax, and not listen to their screams.

Otherwise, we were completely satisfied with the hotel, had a good rest and moved on.

Every time I return from traveling to the sea, I write about what the road was like, what the state of the route is at the moment, what has changed since the last time. I pay attention to gas stations, places to rest and have a snack, and hotels for an overnight stay. I will not change this tradition even now. Before moving on to the story about our vacation, I’ll show you how we drove along the M4 Don highway to the sea, and I’ll briefly tell you about the most important thing.
Our trip south by car took place in June 2016. All the way I collected receipts from gas stations, toll booths, cafes, etc. How much something costs, payment time... Such things are quickly forgotten. You won’t have time to get to your destination, you’ve already forgotten everything. After all, the main thing in a trip is not numbers, but emotions.
In this article I will show you M4 highway, I'll do it emphasis on toll sections (number, fare, location), I’ll tell you where we refueled, where we ate, where we spent the night. People ask me about this all the time. So it's relevant.

Advertising - club support

I’ll end the article with a story about hotels on the Don highway, where you can stay overnight on the way to the south. It is based on statistics of the most popular hotels among travelers, which I have as a Booking partner.
Here's the plan. So, let's go!
First, I will show our path in photographs. So I will introduce you to the track and its condition. You'll know what to expect. :)

Moscow. MKAD

We change lanes and turn

M4 is not a road, but a runway :)

In the Tula region, the M4 is somewhat ornate...

Tula gingerbreads are sold along the road in the Tula region

Toll roads are good because they have emergency commissioners and motorist assistants.

At toll sections there are electronic announcement boards (including with the telephone number of the emergency commissioner, information about speed and air temperature).

Highway M4 in Lipetsk region

Stele "Lipetsk region"

We are entering the Voronezh region

The weather turned bad before our eyes, it started to rain...

and then it poured out like a bucket...

Tollbooth near Voronezh

We go around Voronezh

M4 is not yet finished. Some areas are being renovated...

Another area under renovation

Chalk mountains of the Voronezh region

820th kilometer of the Don highway

One of the hotels on the M4 highway - "Bike" in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky

Hotel "Pharaoh" at 937 km.

We pass the Meridian-South hotel in Krasny Kolos (1040 km M4)

Motel "Eurasia" in Aksai

Rostov-on-Don

Entry to the Krasnodar region

Hospitable Kuban greeted us with rain and greyness

Chapel, monument, museum in honor of the Kushchev attack (events of August 2, 1942)

At this turn we turned off the Don highway and drove along the villages to Anapa.

Toll sections of the road on the M4 highway

I heard on TV that in August 2016, the next, eighth, toll section of the M4 highway opened. Judging by our experience, as of June 2016 there were already nine of them. In my “piggy bank” there are 7 checks + 1 check we forgot to take + 1 section we drove on a free road.
Yes, Kostya decided to be a researcher and find out what these free bypass roads are. Alternative, as they are called. I was categorically against it - there are a thousand kilometers ahead, I have no time for experiments. As a result, we only drove around the first toll section from Moscow. The detour is quite good. Although it is two-strip, the fabric is normal.

The quality of the road on this bypass section is normal

The next time we left the road following the “free travel” sign, we immediately returned - the normal road ended... Kostya didn’t want to experiment anymore, fortunately...

Exit to the free road around Efremov

Toll sections of M4

Moscow region.
1/ The first toll section we drove around: 21 - 93 km. Cost: 50 rub. at night (on the way back)

Sign to the free bypass of the toll section

2/ 93 - 211 km. Put into effect later than we were driving. We passed it without paying.

Toll booths before they open

Tula region.
4/ M4 "Don" bypass of Bogoroditsk. 225.6 - 260 km. Toll booth at km 228. passed at 8.56. Fare: 60 rub.

5/ M4 bypass of the city of Efremov. 287.8 - 323.3 km. Toll point at 322 km. passed at 10.29. Cost: 60 rub.

Lipetsk region.
6/ M4 bypass of Yelets. 330.8 - 414.7 km. Toll point at 339 km. passed at 10.43. Cost: 120 rub.

7/ M4 bypass of Zadonsk and village. Khlevnoye. 414 - 464 km. We passed the toll booth at km 416 at 11.40. Cost: 80 rub.

Voronezh region.
8/ M4 bypass of Voronezh. 492.7 - 517 km. Toll booth at km 515. passed at 12.54. Cost: 35 rub.

9/ M4 PVP-545 km. 544 - 588.7 km. 545 km passed at 13.18. Cost: 70 rub.

10/ M4 PVP-620 km. 588.7 - 633 km. 620 km. passed at 14.12. Cost: 60 rub.

Total: at this point in time there are 10 toll sections on the M4. We passed at eight. We paid about 550 rubles.

Gas station on the M4

Still in Moscow We refueled at a Shell gas station (41 liters for 1,680 rubles). Gasoline turned out to be bad. The car constantly stalled. There was one more time during the entire 3.5 week trip when we refueled at Shell, and the problem was the same. Here's your favorite dressing...
The rest of the time on the way south we refueled at Lukoil, and everything was fine:

• Gas station "Lukoil" at 720 km. in the Voronezh region 38 l. - 1,437 rub.
• Gas station "Lukoil" in st. Kushchevskaya 28 l. - 1,119 rub.

The new Lukoil complex in Kushchevskaya (1145 km, on the right) consists of a hotel, shopping center, restaurant, service station and gas station.

In total, on the way to the south we refueled for 4,240 rubles. (I'm rounding). This gasoline was enough for us to get from Moscow to Anapa, drive there for a week and then get to Gelendzhik.
In Gelendzhik we refueled again at Lukoil (43 liters for 1,705 rubles). And the next time was in Sochi a week later...

Toilets on the M4

Along the highway you can often find brick toilets of the “hole in the floor” type - and free-standing ones, most often near public transport stops and at large recreation areas.

These toilets are mostly dirty. In order not to drag all this into the car later, I recommend choosing gas stations for sanitary stops. In any case, the toilets there are much cleaner, and you can wash your hands and drink coffee in a cafe.
If you are coming from Moscow, stop somewhere at a large gas station in the Moscow region (Shell, Gazpromneft, etc.). In the Tula region there is a huge problem with gas stations where there are toilets, and in the Lipetsk region, in general, too. Skip the Moscow region, then wait for the Voronezh region. By the way, the same applies to the return journey. Don’t count too much on the Tula and Lipetsk regions! On the forest too. This is the wrong route.

Where to eat on the M4

We have a tradition - we always stop at the new generation Lukoil gas station in the Voronezh region at 720 km. (there are gas stations on both sides of the highway!). These are not just gas stations - these are modern complexes with a cafe, toilets, a store, children's playgrounds (both indoors and outdoors) and so on.

Food in a cafe at a Lukoil gas station at 720 km. M4 highway

"Wind Rose" (almost on the border of the Voronezh and Rostov regions).

If you are not an extreme sports enthusiast by nature, book your hotel room in advance. Don't know what time you will arrive at your hotel? This doesn't matter at all. You know the day. Check-in - at any time of the day.

Analyzed booking statistics by city and hotel. Most often, the following cities and towns are chosen for an overnight stop on the way south (M4 highway):

• Voronezh,
• Millerovo,
• Mines,
• Red ear,
• Kovalevka,
• Aksai,
• Rostov-on-Don,
• Mayakovsky,
• Kushchevskaya.

The choice depends on where people started from. It is more convenient for Muscovites to stay in Rostov and its neighborhood. For St. Petersburg residents - in Voronezh. Tula - in the Krasnodar region. There are, of course, personal preferences, but everything is individual.
Now the most popular hotels based on the results of May, June and July 2016. The list is very different from what I would recommend to you. I suspect that the majority of hotels are popular due to economic preferences (the same "Alpha" in Rostov) and a smaller part - due to comfort and coziness (for example, the Rodina Hotel in Mayakovsky). What to choose - decide for yourself.

Voronezh

Millerovo

Mines

Red ear

Kovalevka

Aksai

Rostov-on-Don

Mayakovsky

Kushchevskaya

"5 seasons" (7.9 rating)

Conclusion

People often ask me whether it’s difficult to travel south by car, and how we cope with the road, because these are such impressive distances. Yes, we tolerate it fine. We're used to it. We have everything worked out. We know where we will stop to eat, when it’s time to rest, and where there are proper toilets. We never pick up a bunch of food and then choke on it. The only thing we take is fruit (apricots, peaches), cut into slices into plastic containers and drink. Kostya can’t stand the pungent sausage smells in the car and is afraid that he won’t be able to get rid of them later. And we don’t have a traditional road snack.
We always stop overnight. We don’t take risks, we don’t strain ourselves. Driving without rest is not about us. It’s not about us to go into the unknown, looking for where to stop for the night along the way. We spend the night in pre-booked and verified hotels, where a relaxing rest and good food are ensured.
We never force ourselves. We get up at a comfortable time and drive at a calm speed. And we enjoy the driving process. Yes, it's a long way. About 1,600 kilometers. But on a highway like the M4, it’s not at all scary. Great track, God grant there are more like this!