Gangneung Rental Car Guide 2026: KTX vs. Driving Costs

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Hey there, I'm Jju, your travel blogger!

Every time I plan a trip to Gangneung, I always face the same dilemma:

Should I drive all the way from Seoul to Gangneung?

When I think about driving from Seoul to Gangneung,

a 3-4 hour drive just feels like quite a burden.

But then, when I actually plan a trip to Gangneung relying solely on public transport and walking,

getting to Gangneung Station and Gangneung Central Market is fine, but

traveling to other tourist spots

becomes inefficient both in terms of cost and time.

After much deliberation,

I decided to take the KTX from Seoul to Gangneung 🚆

and rent a car for the middle part of my Gangneung trip 🚗.

It was so much more comfortable physically 💪

and it actually saved me money too! 💰

📆 Travel Itinerary	🚗 Car Rental Necessity
Central Market Around Gangneung Station	Car Rental Not Needed ❌️
🌈🌊Visiting various Gangneung beaches (Sageunjin, Jumunjin, etc.)	Consider Car Rental ⁉️
🌞 When traveling to other areas in Gangwon Province like Jeongdongjin, Sokcho, Yangyang, etc.	Car Rental Essential ⭕️

So today, based on my actual travel route,

I'll share with you when a car rental in Gangneung is a must

and when it's not truly necessary.

🚗 I used a rental car for 30 hours during my Gangneung trip,

💰 and the cost came out to about ~$51.

For this Gangneung trip,

after taking the KTX from Seoul to Gangneung Station,

I started using a rental car from Day 2 of my trip.

I used it for about 30 hours,

and the cost was about ~$51.

>>Check Gangneung Car Rental Costs<<

Car rental prices

can vary depending on the rental date, vehicle type, insurance conditions, and more,

so be sure to confirm the final amount before booking.

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Getting from Seoul to Gangneung:

🚆 KTX was definitely more comfortable! 🚆

While you *can* drive directly from Seoul to Gangneung!

If long-distance driving feels daunting for you, like it does for me,

the KTX is incredibly convenient!

Since it's public transportation, naturally,

the best part was not having to worry about traffic.

Just thinking about getting stuck in traffic on the highway...

...drains my energy even before the trip begins 😢.

From Gangneung Station to Gangneung Central Market:

👣 It's perfectly walkable! 👣

After arriving at Gangneung Station, just a 10-minute walk takes you to

Gangneung Central Market, a must-visit spot for any Gangneung trip!

I didn't feel any inconvenience at all getting here.

During your Gangneung travel itinerary,

if you're just casually exploring Jungang Market and downtown Gangneung,

you don't necessarily need to rent a car.

A walking tour is perfectly fine!

For Sacheonjin Beach and Jumunjin,

🚍you can also get there by bus or taxi🚍

From Gangneung Station to downtown and Gangneung Jungang Market,

taxis are just the basic fare🚕

👣and it's walkable, so I had no worries.

However, when it came to destinations a bit further from Gangneung Station,

I started to ponder a little.

To get to Sacheonjin Beach or Jumunjin,

you'll need to use a taxi or bus,

Taking a taxi felt a bit expensive💰

While taking the bus, considering transfers and wait times,

the travel time doubled,

and it took much longer than I expected.

Worrying about bus schedules and intervals,

and the long wait if you miss one,

I realized that if your itinerary involves exploring multiple places,

a rental car would definitely be more convenient.

If you want to visit various Gangneung attractions,

🚗a rental car is convenient!🚗

For a Gangneung trip, a rental car is

a convenient mode of transportation that allows you to move freely

according to your own schedule.

You don't have to adjust to bus schedules,

and you don't have to worry about taxi fares.

Best of all, if the wait at a desired restaurant or cafe is too long,

you can spontaneously decide, 'Shall we go somewhere else?'

That flexibility was what I loved most about it.

So, when it comes to renting a car for your Gangneung trip,

who really needs one?!

Having visited Gangneung countless times, I've noticed

who needs a rental vs. who absolutely doesn't.

I'll break it down perfectly for you.

👣 A trip where walking is perfectly fine

If your trip focuses mainly on areas around Gangneung Station

If you have a relaxed itinerary with fewer tourist spots

If your itinerary allows for 1-2 moderate taxi rides

In my case, on the first day of my Gangneung trip,

I only moved around downtown Gangneung and Jungang Market,

so I didn't need a rental car!

🚗 A trip where a rental car is worth considering

If you plan to explore various areas of Gangneung

If your itinerary includes outer Gangneung destinations like Jumunjin, Sacheonjin, or Jeongdongjin

If you're on a family trip with children or parents

If coordinating your trip with bus schedules is too bothersome

From the second day onwards,

I visited Jeongdongjin Sculpture Park and Haslla Art World,

and while it's possible to get there by public transport,

you have to take a train and then a taxi,

which made it a bit inconvenient.

On our final day, we had a packed itinerary exploring Sagunジン Beach's Rainbow Breakwater,

Jumunjin Goblin Breakwater,

and even the iconic BTS Bus Stop.

We used a rental car for about 30 hours during our second and third days of the trip,

and it was incredibly convenient!

Where to get a rental car?

As I was looking into rental cars in Gangneung,

I stumbled upon Zimcar!

You can pick it up right at Gangneung Station,

compare prices for different car types,

and they even have various discount promotions.

It might not be a huge amount,

but saving even a little bit is always a win, right?

If you're wondering whether to rent a car for your Gangneung trip,

try mapping out your itinerary first.

For parts of your trip where public transportation is sufficient,

like exploring Gangneung Station or Jungang Market, stick with that.

Then, consider renting a car only for the days you plan to travel further,

like to Jeongdongjin or Jumunjin.

You certainly don't need to rent one for your entire trip!

If you're contemplating a rental car for your Gangneung adventure,

why not just use it on the specific days📅

or even just for the particular hours⏰️ you really need it?