I really don’t recommend trying to drive the whole of The Great Dolomite Road in one go. It’s much too much fun to be had on a longer journey, and there are so many reasons (and places) to stop.
However, on a damp weekday afternoon in August 2014, I was on a larger journey around Europe in my little sports car, and I had the opportunity to drive from Bolzano to Cortina with just a break for tea and cake at the top of Passo Pordoi.
I had a Garmin Virb video camera attached to the car, and filmed The Road in several sections, which I’ve posted to YouTube. These show what the Great Dolomite Road is really like nowadays, from a driver’s point of view, complete with holiday traffic, slow drivers, and so on. Over time, I may update these videos, if I get the opportunity to drive any of the sections again. Having the camera in a fixed position on the car had its limitations.
Anyhow, if you want an idea what to expect if you plan to drive it, these videos will help.
1) Eggental Tunnels to just above Welschnofen - video here
2) Welschnofen to top of the Karrer Pass - video here
3) Karrer Pass summit to Val di Fassa - video here
4) Vigo di Fassa to Canazei - video here
5) Pordoi Pass ascent - video here
6) Pordoi Pass to Pieve di Livinallongo - video here
7) Livinallongo to Passo Falzarego - video here
8) Descent from Passo Falzarego towards Cortina d’Ampezzo - video here
Much of the journey was on very wet roads and in rain or drizzle. It cleared up a little by the time we approached Cortina. Unfortunately I found out later that the video camera battery had run out part-way down the Falzarego Pass, about 15 minutes before we reached Cortina.
