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It crosses the [[A31 (Germany)|A31]] ([[Emden]] - [[Bottrop]]) near Schüttorf, the A1 ([[Heiligenhafen]] - [[Saarbrücken]]) and the A33([[Osnabrück]] - [[Paderborn]]) in Osnabrück. At it's its end in [[Bad Oeynhausen]] it is possible to go over to the [[A2 (Germany)|A2]], but you have to cross the whole city. A direct connection ''A30 -> A2'' is planned and seems to be finished in April 20142015/2016.

Traveling Travelling along the '''A30''' is seems differentbut it's not. Coming from the [[Netherlands]], it hitching at the service station [[Het Lonnekermeer]] near [[Hengelo]] is very easy to get for getting rides at least towards [[HannoverOsnabrück]] or [[Osnabrück]]even further. The part between [[Bad Bentheim]] (where it the motorway begins) until [[Osnabrück]] seems to be a bit more difficult to hitchhike, especially towards the [[Netherlands]] the traffic will be a bit less. From [[Osnabrück]] til [[Bad Oeynhausen]] you will find enough traffic because of the cars coming from the [[A1 (Germany)|A1]] going towards [[Hannover]].  There is only It might be much easier to ''jump'ONE''' petrol station located along this highway between two or three on-ramps (''Tankstelle Grönegau''usual traffic: Bad Bentheim, Rheine-Nord, Ibbenbüren) near [[Melle]] between [[instead of denying cars in hope for longer rides. Enschede-Osnabrück can be done like this within 1.5 hours or even faster. From Osnabrück]] and on towards [[Bad Oeynhausen]]. A second ''Raststätte'' is located at the border between [[Germany]] and the [[Netherlands]], but without a petrol station. Some maps you will tell you that there is a petrol station at ''Brockbachtal'' between [[Ibbenbüren]] and [[Osnabrück]]. That's a goddam joke, but nevertheless a good parking area for hitchhiking, even without a service stationfind enough traffic.

|<map lat='52.234' lng='7.970' zoom='9' view='0' country='Germany' width='800' height='220'/>

==Hitching the '''A30'''==

*'''(1) Border crossing [[Bad Bentheim]]''' {{average}}**At the border you'll find a big parking area for trucks, a police station and toilets. There's a bridge to walk over the highway motorway to a restaurant on the other side of the road and another parking area (for people going into the [[Netherlands]]). Hitchhiking there is quite easy if you prefer trucks. Many trucks stops stop there and will give you a ride when they start their journey through [[Germany]]. Don't expect too much cars on the parking area, there is no petrol station and many people just don't want to stop because the police is hanging around there. Sometimes they close the border and check every car that is coming into [[Germany]]. If so, ''don't panic'' but be happy, because all cars have to pass the parking area, ideal for hitchhiking. Unfortunately, the police is not announcing the border controls.[[File:Gildehaus1.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Gildehaus ramp at winter-time]]*'''(2) {{Ramp}} [[Gildehaus]]''' {{south}} {{goodaverage}} -- {{north}} {{badaverage}}**This is the first [[Germany|German]] ramp behind the border. Next to the ramp you'll find a small industrial park. Hitchhiking on the traffic island is not the best spot ever, but not many carspretty doable. Try to avoid this ramp if you want to go westwardsMostly local traffic going towards [[Nordhorn]], Bad Bentheim or Oldenzaal. If you only get a lift until here, try to ask Good enough for getting towards one of the driver to let you out at the border or the next parking area just 3 kilometer furtherbetter on-ramps nearby, waiting times can differ largely depending on time of day and resp. Only possibility to hitch is on a traffic islandconditions. After hitchhiking this spot several times it* '''{{Parking}} Bentheimer Wald'''s not that bad than thought. Traffic towards the [[Netherlands]] is rare, but quite a lot traffic going towards {{average}}** Just 3 km behind the next 1st ramp [[Nordhorn]]/[[Bad Bentheimdrivers will recognize a small parking area with a toilet building. Hitchhiking from here is OK, some trucks stopping here and maybe some travellers from the [[Netherlands]] want to make a first stop in direction [[Germany]]. [[User:Platschi|Platschi]] waited five times for going towards the next ramp or further: 3x 5 Just prepare yourself for waiting some 40-50 minutes, 1x 10 minutes, 1x 15 minutes. Doable!*'''{{Parking}} Bentheimer Wald''' {{average}}**Just 3 km behind the 1st ramp drivers will recognize a small the A30 is sometimes very empty and then cars on this parking area with are rare. Maybe you can ask one of the many passing border police cars to give you a toilet buildingride. Hitchhiking from here is okay, some trucks stopping here Questions about you and maybe some travellers from your stay in the [[Netherlands]] want to make find out if you have marijuana with you are normal, especially when you are a first stop in hitchhiker somewhere on the road from Amsterdam to [[Germany]]. :-) Just prepare yourself for waiting some 40-50 minutesrelax and stay cool, the A30 is sometimes very empty and then cars on this parking area are rare. Maybe you can ask one of guys from the many passing border police cars to give you a ridealso do. Mostly. Questions about you and your stay in the :-)* '''(3) {{Ramp}} [[NetherlandsNordhorn]] to find out if you have Marihuana with you are normal, especially when you are a hitchhiker somewhere on the road from Amsterdam to [[Germany/ [[Bad Bentheim]] :-) Just relax and stay cool, the guys from the border police also do. Mostly. :''' {{south}} {{Very Good}} --)*'''(3) {{Rampnorth}} [[Nordhorn]] / [[Bad Bentheim]]''' {{south}} {{Very Good{{average}} -- {{north}} {{goodbad}}**Small traffic-island to stand on, some space for cars to stop behind. [[User:platschi|platschi]] was standing here several lots of times and got lifts within only some minutes. Good for both directions, towards in direction [[[SchüttorfRheine]] or further much faster than towards . Towards the [[Netherlands]], not much traffic going there. But possible for sure, mostly locals heading towards Oldenzaal, which is a much better place to hitch already. [[User:Platschi|Platschi's]] waiting time eastwards: average 5 minutes, westwards average 15 40 minutes. A lot of traffic here on weekdays between 3 15:00 and 4 pm16:00!*'''(4) {{Ramp}} [[Schüttorf]]-Nord''' {{south}} {{averagebad}} -- {{north}} {{bad}}**This ramp is quite small, there is not much space to stop cars when they go onto the highwaymotorway. No hard shoulder to stand on, just a tiny traffic island. But if there is not much traffic (and that seems to be quite often), people can and will stop for you. It is directly at the highway motorway junction, so take care where people are going to! [[User:Platschi|Platschi]] was standing here twice and got rides eastwards within seconds. For the other direction towards ''NL'', you're definitely wrong. Nobody is going up here for that direction, better try to hitch through the city though traffic towards [[Bad Bentheim]] and take the ramp there!occurs. Waiting time can differ from 10 minutes to 1 hour.*'''(5) {{Junction}} [[Schüttorf]] (highway motorway junction)''' {{senseless}}**You can't get out here, and if you do so: it's illegal! Take care, often border police driving around this junction. Here the '''A30''' crosses the [[A31 (Germany)|A31]].*'''(6) {{Ramp}} [[Salzbergen]]''' {{average}}-{{bad}}**Quite small and tight ramp at the beginning of a little village. Few traffic, but [[User:Platschi|platschi]] had luck in December 2007 and got a ride within 5 minutes towards [[Osnabrück]]. Within this time three cars drove eastwartseastwards, but havnhaven't seen any cars direction [[Netherlands]]. In January 2008 he waited for a ride into the other direction (NL) but recognized that 80% of the traffic went into direction [[Osnabrück]]. It seems that only a small bunch of cars is going onto the highway motorway at all. Expect some longer waiting time. In Sep 08, he got a ride offer from here towards Amsterdam within 5 minutes. Luck?*'''{{Parking}}{{WC}} Emstal''' {{average}}-{{good}}[[ImageFile:ramp_kanalhafen.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Ramp (here: ''[[Rheine]]-Kanalhafen'') with traffic island.]]**The 2nd parking area along the '''A30'''. It is smaller than the first one, but it seems that more cars stop here. It has no petrol station, only a small toilet building and some space for parking. Nevertheless a god good spot to get lifts. If people are only going towards , especially some cars in direction [[RheineNetherlands]]stop here. In direction Osnabrück, try to get out here!you might be much better off using the next on-ramp in Rheine.*'[[File:Rheine dreierwaldea30.jpg|thumb|250px|right|On-ramp Rheine (8) westwards. For the nature lovers.]]* '''(7) {{Ramp}} [[Rheine]]-Nord''' {{south}} {{bad}} -- {{north}} {{Very Goodgood}}**This ramp is on a nice spot with traffic lights and much cars passing, but there is no place to stand if going towards HannoverOsnabrück. No hard shoulder or anything to let the cars stop for you. You , only can ask drivers some small space when they are standing at you walk up the traffic lightsramp for some meters. The place is doable, though, but stopping for them with waiting times mostly is too dangerous. Maybe then try it at the nearby ''Autohof'', just some 100m down the street you'll see the petrol stationnot longer than 10 minutes. For the other direction towards [[Netherlands|NL]] it's good, also with space to stop some green for stopping cars. If you want, you can force cars to stop by pushing the button at the traffic lights :-){. Mostly rides towards [[Bad Bentheim]] on-ramp or south direction [[Oberhausen]], waiting time differs from 5 to 40 minutes.* '''(8) {Roadworks{Ramp}} - Ramp [[Rheine]] is currently '''closed''' because of roadworks. Expect traffic jams between Rheine-Nord and Rheine-Kanalhafen until November 2008.*'''(8) {{Ramp{average}} [[Rheine]]''' {{bad}}**Another ramp to avoid** On-ramp with only a few cars passing by. Not much traffic going on hereWaiting could be long, and but mostly it's outside of the city towards the countrysidepossible to get rides within 15 minutes at least to one of the next on-ramps. Also standing here seems not Due to be that good because lack of a missing hard shoulder, but maybe better traffic it's ok to stop cars stand on the side of the on-ramp, though there is no hard shoulder available (that are facing you with more than 70 km/h per hour, so take care!see photo) here than at the last ramp. If it's impossible here, try to go around 500m down towards [[Rheine]], there's a traffic light and a restaurant where you maybe can ask people that are stopping.*'''(9) {{Ramp}} [[Rheine]]-Kanalhafen''' {{average}}**Small ramp next to a tiny industrial park. Some traffic going on towards [[Osnabrück]], but again not much space to stop cars. Best option is to stand on the traffic island and smile to every passing car saying you want to go out of here. Might help, waiting time depends. Never try on a Sunday, but on normal working days it should be possible to get rides at least towards [[Rheine]]-Nord within 20-30 minutes, sometimes faster.*'''(10) {{Ramp}} [[Hörstel]]''' {{goodsouth}} {{Very Good}} - {{north}} {{good}}**This ramp is located behind a bridge where mostly some cars are parked, so it is sometimes difficult for you to see coming cars (also for them!) just before they head in the ramp. Best would also be here to stand on the traffic island, make yourself ''visible'' and try to catch some people going to [[Ibbenbüren]], [[Osnabrück]] or further. Seems to be not that difficultIt's pretty easy. For going towards the [[Netherlands]] it's a bit more difficult, most cars only ride towards [[Rheine]]. Best is to catch a ride to [[Rheine]]-Nord.*'''(11a) {{Ramp}} [[Ibbenbüren]]-West''' {{average}}-{{bad}}**This is a new ramp. Not much traffic, mostly from an (not yet existing) industrial park. You can hitchhike on top of the bridge, so cars will recognize you early and can stop while going up the bridge.*'''(11b) {{Ramp}} [[Ibbenbüren]]''' {{goodsouth}}*{{Very Good}} - {{north}} {{good}}**2 well-known fastfood fast-food restaurants next to the ramp, much traffic in both directions. Stand before along the hard shoulder of the ramp, but expect not that much there's plenty of space for cars to stop cars. Maybe stay before or behind the roundabout with a ! A sign '''OS''' (for [[Osnabrück]])might help wonders. For direction [[Netherlands|NL]], just stand at the 3rd exit of the roundabout! Good spot though.*'''(12) {{Ramp}} [[Laggenbeck]]{{south}} {{average}}**At this ramp there's enough space to stand on the hard shoulder, hitchhiking is okay, with all traffic going to [[Osnabrück]] anyway. *'''{{Parking}}{{WCgas}} Service area Brockbachtal''' {{average}}-{{good}}**Parking area with ''no'' gas a petrol station or and restaurant, newly opened in May 2014. Some maps will tell you that, but that* ''s a lie. A gas station is planned for the next decade, but no constructions yet. In '(13) {{Ramp}} [[Lotte]]'2005'' it was reconstructed into a bigger parking area. Nevertheless {{senseless}}** Well, enough space for you to stand on, but nearly no traffic eastwards, sometimes people get lost there thinking there's a gas station. Luck for you!*'''(1314) {{RampJunction}} [[Lotte]](motorway junction)''' {{senseless}}**Well, enough space for you to stand on, but nearly no traffic.*'''(14) {{Junction}} [[Lotte]] (highway junction)''' [[ImageFile:ramp_os_nahne.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Ramp along the A30 (here: ''OS-Nahne'') with hard shoulder.]]**Here the [[A1 (Germany)|A1]] crosses the '''A30'''. It's of course not allowed to stand here, so if you want to go north towards [[Hamburg]] or south direction [[Münster]] or [[Ruhr Area]], be sure to get off the A30 here!*'''(15) {{Ramp}} [[Osnabrück|Hasbergen]]-Gaste''' {{average}} - {{bad}}** This is the ramp where many people go up coming from the nearby IKEA. There's a traffic island where you can stand on inbetween the traffic lights, but it's quite dangerous for cars to stop. No hard shoulder or any grass to stand on. On weekdays there might be a lot of traffic going only to the other nearby ramps of [[Osnabrück]]. Try your luck, [[User:Platschi|platschi]] got a ride on a Sunday after 5 minutes waiting towards the ramp of Nahne. If you get stuck here, it might be also possible to ask people at the parking area of IKEA. A sign might be useful (even if it only says ''OS-Nahne''!)*This spot is also an alternative when you can'''(16) {{Ramp}} [[Osnabrück]]-Hellern''' {{bad}}**There's a big traffic lightt find a ride onto the A1. Get out here, but it's hard hitch/walk your way to stop traffic the roundabout ~500m north, thereat the bus station hitch your way towards Atter. Just before Atter the road makes a sharp 90 degree corner, even get out there. Walk into the ramp is very small little road northwards and no hard shoulder to stand onfollow it through the forest for some 1,5 km. Only safe possibility is At the small way for cars coming from end, just behind the left side. But anywayrailway crossing, ityou's possible. [[User:Platschi|Platschi]] hitchhiked here twice ll find yourself at a big factory and a service station. Walk up the road and got rides within ~30min towards you'll see the next on-ramp in ''NahneOS-Hafen''at the A1, where you can easily hitch a ride along the A1 north/south.*'''(1716) {{Ramp}} [[Osnabrück]]-Sutthausen''' ?*Hellern'''(18) {{Rampnorth}} [[Osnabrück]]{{bad}} --Nahne''' {{Very Goodsouth}} {{bad}}**Perfect rampFor going east: There's a big traffic light, take a look at the [[Osnabrück]] page for closer information. Nice but it's hard to stop traffic there, even the ramp is very small and no hard shoulder to stand on! But take care, there are 2 ramps for going eastwards. Best Only safe possibility is to take the one small way for traffic cars coming out of OSfrom the left side.*But anyway, it'''(19) {{Junction}} s possible. [[Osnabrück]]-Süd (highway junction)'''**Here the [[A33 (Germany)User:Platschi|A33Platschi]] crosses hitchhiked here twice and got rides within ~30min towards the next ramp in '''A30'Nahne''. ItFor direction west, it's not allowed to stand hereeven harder, so traffic is fast and if you want to go south towards [[Bielefeld]]they stop, try to get out at it's dangerous because of drivers coming from behind can't overtake them properly. Also no hard shoulder on the ramp in ''Nahne''!itself.*'''(2017) {{Ramp}} [[NatbergenOsnabrück]]-Sutthausen''' {{averagebad}}**Ramp has enough space to stand onNo hard shoulder, quite a lot of traffic , no spot for cars to stop. Only chance is normal, mostly going towards [[Melle]]at the traffic light.*Better don't get off here, but kindly ask your driver to go to ''(21) {{Ramp}} [[Bissendorf]]Nahne''' ?.*'''(2218) {{Ramp}} [[GesmoldOsnabrück]]-Nahne''' ?*'''(23) {{Ramp{{Very Good}} ** Perfect ramp, take a look at the [[MelleOsnabrück]]-West''' ?page for closer information. Nice hard shoulder to stand on! But take care, there are 2 ramps for going eastwards. Best is to take the one for traffic coming out of OS.*'''(2419) {{RampJunction}} [[MelleOsnabrück]]-OstSüd (motorway junction)''' ?** Here the [[A33 (Germany)|A33]] crosses the '''A30'''. It'{{gass not allowed to stand here, so if you want to go south towards [[Bielefeld]], try to get out at the ramp in ''Nahne''!* '''(20) {{Ramp}}} Service station ''Grönegau'' {{good}}**The [[Natbergen]]''' {{average}}** Ramp has enough space to stand on, traffic is normal, mostly going towards [[Melle]].* '''(21) {{Ramp}} [[Bissendorf]]''' {{average}}** Not much traffic towards Osnabrück and with police station, seems not very popular for people to stop for you.* '''(22) {{Ramp}} [[Gesmold]]''' ?* '''(23) {{Ramp}} [[Melle]]-West''' ?* '''(24) {{Ramp}} [[Melle]]-Ost''' {{south}} {{very good}}** Very good for direction east. Just hitch behind the roundabout, there's enough space for cars to stop, and traffic drives slow. Perfect!* '''{{gas}} Service station ''Grönegau'' {{good}}** For a long time this was the only service station along the '''A30'''. Your spot for hitching further towards [[Bad Oeynhausen]] or the [[Netherlands]]. Quite good, always some traffic there, many Polish trucks going towards NL.*'''(25) {{Ramp}} [[Riemsloh]]''' ?{{Roadworks}} - Ramp '''Bruchmühlen''' closed in both direction until 6 November 2008 because of roadworks!*'''(26) {{Ramp}} [[Bruchmühlen]]''' ?*'''(27) {{Ramp}} [[Bünde]]''' ?*'''(28) {{Ramp}} [[Hiddenhausen]]''' ?*'''(29) {{Ramp}} [[Kirchlengern]]''' ?*'''(30) {{Ramp}} [[Löhne]]''' ?*'''(31) {{junction}} Dreieck-[[Löhne]]''' {{senseless}}**No way!*'''(32) {{Ramp}} [[Gohfeld]]''' ?

[[Category:NiedersachsenLower Saxony]][[Category:NordrheinNorth Rhine-WestfalenWestphalia]]

[[Category:A30_A30 (Germany)]]