An autonomous vehicle operating apparatus is installed in an autonomous vehicle having two autonomous traveling modes of a first autonomous traveling mode for traveling without operation by a driver and a second autonomous traveling mode for traveling in accordance with an operation by the driver. The autonomous vehicle operating apparatus defines an operating section according to traveling conditions and circumferential conditions, and controls the autonomous vehicle in the second autonomous traveling mode to travel in accordance with the operation by the driver during a period in which the autonomous vehicle is located in the operating section.