Seoraksan National Park Drive: The Ultimate Gangwon Road Trip

Seoraksan National Park is the kind of place that makes you pull over just to stare. Sheer granite peaks rise above dense forests, waterfalls cut through gorges, and temple bells echo off the cliffs. It's Korea's most visited national park — and renting a car is by far the best way to experience it.

A bus will get you to the main gate, but it won't take you up the mountain pass, into the hidden inner valleys, or along the coastal approach road at sunrise. With a car, you control the pace — and Seoraksan rewards slow, exploratory driving.

Getting to Seoraksan by Car

From Seoul, take the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway (Route 65) east — it cuts straight through the mountains and comes out on the coast near Yangyang, then north to Sokcho. The total distance is about 200km, and you'll be at the park entrance in roughly 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic. Leave before 7am on summer weekends — the expressway backs up badly by mid-morning.

• From Seoul (Dongseoul): ~200km via Route 65, 2.5–3 hours
• From Busan: ~370km via Donghae Expressway (Route 65/7), ~4 hours
• Toll (Seoul–Sokcho): approximately 9,000–12,000 KRW
• Main entrance parking: Seoraksan Sogongwon lot, 5,000 KRW/day
• Gas: Fill up in Sokcho city — no stations past the park gate

If you're coming from Busan or the south, drive up the East Sea coastal highway (Route 7) — it hugs the shoreline past Pohang, Samcheok, and Gangneung before hitting Sokcho. It adds an hour but the scenery is worth it for a multi-day trip.

Outer Seorak: Sokcho Gate and the Cable Car

The main entrance is Sogongwon (소공원), the outer Seorak visitor center in Sokcho. Park here and you're within walking distance of Sinheungsa Temple (신흥사) — a working Buddhist monastery backed directly by the granite cliffs. The temple dates to 652 CE and the approach road through pine forest is one of the most atmospheric walks in Korea. Free to enter.

From Sogongwon, the Seorak Cable Car (설악케이블카) carries you up to Gwongeumseong Fortress — a 5-minute ride to 900m altitude with views of the entire park and the East Sea beyond. The fortress walls are 1,300-year-old Silla-era ruins. It's genuinely stunning. On a clear day you can see all the way to the coast.

• Cable car price: 16,000 KRW round trip (adults), 11,000 KRW (children)
• Hours: 8:00–17:00 (varies by season and weather)
• Tip: Arrive before 9am in summer — queues get long by 10am
• Closes: During strong winds or heavy rain — check conditions
• Gwongeumseong: 15-minute walk from the upper station along a ridgeline trail

Inner Seorak: The Baekdam Valley Shuttle

Inner Seorak (내설악) is the remote side of the park — deeper, wilder, and far fewer tourists. You approach from the west, through Inje County, via Route 44 (Hangyeryeong Highway). Drive to the Yongdae parking lot (용대주차장) and board the shuttle bus that runs into the valley — private vehicles cannot proceed past this point to protect the ecosystem.

The shuttle drops you near Baekdamsa Temple (백담사) — a serene mountain monastery famous for being where poet Han Yong-un and former president Chun Doo-hwan were exiled. From the temple, trails continue deeper into the valley to waterfalls and high ridges. The shuttle runs May through November.

• Shuttle cost: ~4,000 KRW round trip (subject to change)
• Distance from Yongdae to temple: ~7km, about 20 minutes by shuttle
• Trail from temple to Bongjeongam hermitage: 1.7km, 30 minutes
• Best season: May (azaleas) and October (foliage)
• Caution: No shuttle in winter (December–April) — walk only

The Hangyeryeong Mountain Pass Drive

Hangyeryeong Pass (한계령, Route 44) is the scenic road connecting the west side of Seoraksan to the east coast. At 920m elevation, it snakes through switchbacks above the treeline before descending toward Yangyang and the sea. It's one of the most beautiful mountain drives in Korea — narrow in places, but fully paved and well-maintained.

Stop at the Hangyeryeong Rest Area (한계령휴게소) near the summit — a small shelter with outdoor seating and instant noodles, set right against the cliffs. In October, the entire ridge turns orange and red. It's worth timing your drive for mid-month to catch the foliage at peak. From the summit, drive 30 minutes down to Osaek Village (오색) for a soak in the famous mineral springs.

• Route 44 length: 28km from Inje town to Yangyang coast
• Elevation: Summit reaches 920m
• Osaek mineral spring: Natural iron-rich water, free public tap near the village
• Road condition: Closed during heavy snowfall (usually December–February)
• Drive time: Allow 45 minutes from Inje to Yangyang with stops

Best Season to Drive Seoraksan

Autumn (late September to late October) is peak season — the maple and birch forests ignite in red, orange, and gold. The foliage at Seoraksan typically peaks around October 15–25, a week or two earlier than Seoul. Expect crowds, but the scenery is genuinely spectacular. Book accommodations in Sokcho at least 2 months in advance for mid-October dates.

Summer (June–August) is great for hiking — the forests are lush, waterfalls are full, and the East Sea coast is right next to the park for beach days. Winter brings snow to the granite peaks, making for dramatic photography, but the Hangyeryeong Pass may close and inner Seorak trails get icy. Spring (April–May) brings cherry blossoms near the coast and azaleas in the valleys — excellent and less crowded.

Quick Tips

1. 1Book cable car tickets online — the Seorak Cable Car has an official reservation site (설악케이블카). Avoid same-day queues in peak season.
2. 2Fill up in Sokcho city — there are no gas stations inside the national park. The city has multiple stations on Route 7.
3. 3Drive Hangyeryeong at dusk — the mountain pass at sunset light is extraordinary. Check the weather and road conditions first.
4. 4Combine with the East Sea coastal drive — Seoraksan and Gangneung form a natural 2-day loop. See our [Sokcho East Coast Drive guide] for the full route.
5. 5Carry cash — the shuttle bus to Baekdam Valley is cash only. Some food vendors at Sogongwon are too.

FAQ

Seoraksan rewards the drivers who explore beyond the main gate. Take the mountain pass, park at the inner valley shuttle terminal, and let the afternoon fog roll through the peaks — this is Korea's mountain country at its finest. Rent a car and give yourself at least two days.