Nizhny Novgorod

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Nizhny Novgorod
<map lat='56.3269' lng='44.0059' zoom='9' view='0' />
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Information
Country:	Russia
State:	Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
Major roads:	M7, R158, R125, R159, R152, M12
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Nizhny Novgorod (Russian: Нижний Новгород) is a city in Russia, the center of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. It is a large city about 420 kilometers east of Moscow, at the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers. With its rich history and many sights, Nizhny Novgorod has long been a good option for weekend hitchhiking trips from Moscow or Kazan.

Hitchhiking out

West towards Vyazniki, Vladimir and Moscow via Template:M

• Trolleybus #10 from Moskovsky railway station (Gordeevka), a bit to the right from the bus stop is the trolleybus stop. Hitchhike right after the trolleybus loop. It's about 300 meters to the city exit sign — before that, there are a lot of entries/exits, gas stations, and service areas. You can walk further ahead, about 1.5 km, to the former post; it makes sense to stand there if you take the bus, but trolleys run every 10 minutes and buses are very rare. Average waiting time (at the exit sign) is 10–20 minutes.
• In the second half of 2019, minibus t93 was launched experimentally and goes to the end point of the above-mentioned trolleybus, useful if starting from V. Pechory, Kuznechikha, Prioksky, Leninsky, or Sortirovka, but reports say it runs very irregularly.
• Bus #210 (formerly #22, rare, from Dolgopolova) from Moskovsky railway station (Gordeevka) and from Meshcherka along Moskovskoye shosse to Beryozovaya Poyma. Get off at Orlovskie Dvoriki or Lesnaya Polyana, hitchhike right there after the post. There is a bypass here and the spot is good. Sometimes you can catch a ride from the intersection of Moskovskoye shosse and Kuzbasskaya St. (where M7 makes a sharp turn), stand before the traffic light and bus stop. This option is good as you can wait for bus #210 and, at the same time, thumb rides from cars coming from Kuzbasskaya.
• For those starting from the Nizhegorodsky district: minibus #71 (famous IP Kargin) will take you to its terminus at Fedoseenko, from which, if you have the previous ticket, you can switch to a free shuttle to Torfopredpriyatie 1–2 times an hour. Sormovo residents can also take bus #6, which goes directly to Torf. Ask the driver to stop before the right turn onto the settlement (drivers usually agree), then hitchhike to the M7. Note: there is no lighting at this spot in Torfy at night.
• For fans of railways: commuter trains NN-Ilyino or Ilyino-Chicherovo (runs 3 times daily) drop you off on the M7 in Chicherovo (similar to Edrovo on M10), from which it's easy to thumb a ride all the way to Moscow. Cars slow down a lot here, and it's very easy to stop them at the crossing. There is lighting here at night.

Southeast towards Cheboksary and Kazan via Template:M

• Take a bus to the "Ankudinovka" stop (the last stop within city limits before the exit sign), as buses go to MEGA or Kstovo from stops at Shcherbinki-2, "Avtozavodskaya" metro, or "Proletarskaya" metro. After the stop, there is a long acceleration lane and wide shoulder. If you miss it, the next stop "Fedjakovo" also has good hitching conditions. At the positions near "MEGA" mall, where it used to be convenient to hitch, they now installed "No stopping" signs, so it's not recommended to thumb within the signed zone.

South towards Arzamas and Saransk via Template:R

• Go to the new bus station "Shcherbinki-2", then walk ahead in the same direction to the traffic police post at the traffic circle (10–15 minutes). For Arzamas and Saransk, take the second exit from the roundabout. Right after the turn there's a convenient spot. There's also water and a toilet nearby.

Southwest towards Pavlovo, Murom and Kasimov via Template:R

• Go to the new bus station "Shcherbinki-2", then walk in the same direction to the traffic police post at the roundabout (10–15 minutes). For Pavlovo and Murom, take the first exit from the roundabout. From the roundabout, walk straight a few dozen meters to a convenient hitching spot.

North towards Uren, Kirov and Syktyvkar via Template:R

• Commuter train from Moskovsky station to Rekshino platform — fast, without traffic, and filters out local traffic to Bor and Gorodets. From the platform to the highway is a couple minutes on foot, and you can thumb from the edge of the village, near the entry sign.

Northwest towards Balakhna, Shuya, and Ivanovo via Template:R

• Buses #10, 57, 95, minibuses #T20, T72, T76 to the final stop "ul. Dubravnaya". The spot is after the railway crossing.

To the M12 "Vostok" toll motorway

• Leave via Template:R towards Arzamas. You can get to the interchange by buses headed to Sarov or Arzamas. The stop is called "Vodopr".

Accommodation and Sleep

Free

• Couchsurfing — as of early 2025, there are almost 14,000 registered couch hosts in the city, but only 35 of them have visited the site in the last month.
• BeWelcome, Servas, Trustroots, Couchers, and other free hospitality networks. Check and contribute to support alternatives to Couchsurfing!
• You can also find a host through CouchBot: write the city name in a message to the VK group chat or via CouchBot in Telegram.
• For tips on how to write a good request: Read here.
• Wild camping is possible in the park on the Oka river bank memorializing those fallen in local wars.
• Temporary accommodation at the skete of Annunciation Monastery — per. Melnichny, 1, tel. +7 (831) 430-07-97, +7 (908) 720-03-05

Paid

• Rest rooms at the train station. From the 5th to the 7th floors, there are rooms for transit passengers (single, double, triple, and even five-bed rooms). Booking: 8 (831) 248-21-07. Accommodation with children under 14 in maternal/child rooms (single, double, triple). Booking: 8 (831) 248-20-41.