Vologda

Vologda
	<map lat='59.2205' lng='39.8915' zoom='9' view='0' />
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Information
Country:	Russia
State:	Vologda Oblast
Major roads:	M8, A114, A119
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Vologda (Russian: Вологда) is a city in Russia, located in Vologda Oblast in the north of the country.

It lies on the hitchhiking route from Moscow to Arkhangelsk on the M8 "Kholmogory" highway.
Vologda is an old Russian city 453 km from Moscow, known as the "Gateway to the North". It is of interest both for its landmarks (churches, bell towers, monastery) and as a transit point to get to Totma, Veliky Ustyug, Kirillov, Arkhangelsk, and other northern cities. Due to recent repairs on the A114 highway, Vologda also became accessible for travelers from Saint Petersburg.

Hitchhiking in

From Saint Petersburg, Cherepovets via A114

You will enter at the beginning of the ring road. There is a roundabout. Most cars continue straight onto Pankratova Street. The first intersection with Schetinina Street has bus stops for routes 1, 15, and others to the center, but your ride may take you further to Leningradskaya Street at the intersection with Petina Street, or Petina with Poshekhonskoye Highway.
At the roundabout, a car might also turn right onto the ring road, past the RIO shopping mall, from where many buses go to the center, and to Koneva Street, from which it is a 15-minute walk to the exit toward Moscow. RIO has a free shuttle to the railway station every half hour, stopping near the hospital and dairy on Poshekhonskoye Highway. Look for this stop in the RIO parking lot.
If your car goes onto the bypass before the checkpoint (not entering the city), you can exit before the interchange, walk past the checkpoint to the stop for bus 42, which will take you into the city, including its center.

From Moscow, Yaroslavl via M8

The first exit into town is at a traffic light toward Koneva Street. A 15-minute walk from the road brings you to the final stops for several bus routes across the city. A "Magnit" supermarket is nearby.
The second exit is at a roundabout toward Poshekhonskoye Highway. A 5–10 minute walk from the road is a stop for several buses toward the station.
The third exit and a large part of the city is Leningradskaya Street, which has many supermarkets and buses.
The ring road ends at a roundabout, where the road toward Saint Petersburg and Cherepovets (A114) begins; 3–4 km ahead is the junction with the bypass toward Arkhangelsk.

From Arkhangelsk via M8

At the city entrance, the bypass road branches right toward A114 for Saint Petersburg and Cherepovets. After the bypass, Chernyshevskogo Street begins, with buses running to the center.

From Medvezhyegorsk, Vytegra via A119

If your car takes the bypass and you need the city, exit at any bus stop after the village of Molochnoye. Bus 37 goes from here to the center and railway station.

Hitchhiking out

North towards Arkhangelsk via M8

Take any transport going to the airport (from "Stary Rynok" stop, for example). Get out just after the ring road at "Poselok Dorozhny" stop, right before the airport turnoff.

South towards Yaroslavl and Moscow via M8

Take public transport marked "BOLNICHNY KOMPLEKS." In the center, this is trolleybus #4 and buses #6, 23, 38, 31, 29, 40, etc. Get off at the last stop. Walk 5 minutes to the ring interchange and hitchhike just after it. The traffic police post is 1 km from the intersection of the ring road and Koneva Street.
Bus 43 from the center (Gertsena St.) to the highway. The bus passes the traffic light, turns back, and stops. Walk past the traffic light. This is preferable, since Koneva is a main way out toward Moscow.
Minibus 43 from the center to Kozitsyno (cemetery). This route takes you a few more km along the highway past the police post, but cars are already going fast here. There are speed cameras, but drivers are usually undeterred.

West towards Novaya Ladoga and Saint Petersburg via A114

First option: Bus 42 from Dalnyaya Street via Gorkogo Street, past Stary Rynok, then via Leningradskaya and past PZ. Get off at the turn before the police post. The junction with M8 is right after the police post.
Second option: Any bus going to the Bearing Plant (PZ). Get off on Ilyushina Street at the airplane. Walk to the start of the highway, where you will find a roundabout and a stop for hitchhiking.

Northwest towards Vytegra via A119

Take bus #37 or 37E "Vologda – Molochnoe", running about every half hour. Route 37 passes: Railway station, Mira St., Oktyabrskaya St., Pobedy Ave., Klubova St., Molochnoe, Lenina St. Route 37E: S. Orlova St., Leningradskaya St., Ring Road, road to Molochnoe, Lenina St. Exit as the bus turns off the highway. You can also visit the wooden architecture museum in Semenkovo by getting off at the stop of the same name.
Walking from the city center to the ring road is far. If moving along the ring road, start from the exit.

Places to avoid

Accommodation and Sleep

Free

Couchsurfing – as of early 2025, Vologda has 2,386 registered hosts, but only 2 were active in the past month.
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In your own tent – please add recommendations.
iOverlander — website and app for finding places, including wild camping, updated by travelers.
Group CS VK
Pilgrims’ house at Spaso-Prilutskiy Dimitriev Monastery, Monastyrskaya St. 2, tel. +7 (817-2) 55-92-05, +7 (817-2) 55-92-24
Government "Night stay house", Naberezhnaya VI Armii, 87
Rehabilitation center "Kalina Krasnaya", Sovetsky pr-t, 35-a