Adelaide to Perth road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The Adelaide to Perth drive is 2,695km long, with a driving time of 29 hours. Highlights of an Adelaide to Perth road trip itinerary include the Mount Remarkable National Park, the Gawler Ranges, whale-watching at Head of Bight and the Superpit in Kalgoorlie.
The drive from Adelaide to Perth in Australia is a mammoth undertaking. Much of the route passes through remote outback, interspersed very occasionally by outback roadhouses.
Adelaide brings food tours of the fabulous Central Market, Torrens River cruises, swimming with dolphins and the chance to walk across the roof of the Adelaide Oval. To book Adelaide accommodation, step this way. For a full range of Adelaide tours and experiences, explore here.
Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.
The quickest Adelaide to Perth drive is 2,695km in distance. Without stopping, that makes for an Adelaide to Perth driving time of 29 hours.
Pick your perfect Adelaide day trips
- Barossa Valley tours: 1. Wine-tasting with lunch 🍷. 2. Food and wine tour. 3. Small group wine tour with exclusive VIP tastings.
- Kangaroo Island in a day – including sea lions 🦭, koalas 🐨and national parks.
- Adelaide Hills tours: 1. Sights plus Murray River lunch cruise combo. 2. Small group cheese, chocolate & wine tour with Hahndorf German village.
- McLaren Vale tours: 1. Small group wine tour with lunch. 2. Hop-on hop-off wineries tour 🍷. 3. Food and wine indulgence tour, including the gloriously weird d’Arenberg Cube.
- Victor Harbor and southern highlights tour – including the Granite Island horse-drawn tram.
No-one’s going to do the full Adelaide to Perth distance in one stint – you’re going to need to turn this into a road trip.
Don’t want to drive the Nullarbor? Then consider a ten day camping adventure tour from Perth to Adelaide (or in the opposite direction).
Adelaide to Perth road trip: The first leg
The first leg of an Adelaide to Perth road trip is from Adelaide to Port Augusta. This 309km drive should take three hours and 21 minutes. On the way from Adelaide, you’ll pass Port Wakefield, Lake Bumbunga, Port Pirie and Mambray Creek. The latter is the gateway to the Mount Remarkable National Park and arguably the best stop en route.
However, you can make it more interesting by taking the main north road and going through the Clare Valley instead. The change of route won’t add much to the driving time, although stopping for wine tasting will.
Port Augusta accommodation picks
Port Augusta accommodation tends towards the functional. Few people stay here more than one night. Booking site Wotif lists options for from $89, if you’d like to check what’s available.
However, these Port Augusta accommodation choices are particularly worth looking at:
- For heritage and character: Pampas Motel.
- For green credentials: Crossroads Ecomotel.
- For overall quality: Majestic Oasis Apartments.
- For cheap rates and a pool: Discovery Parks – Port Augusta.
Port Augusta is at the top of the Spencer Gulf. From here, you head west along the seemingly interminable Eyre Highway.
Click through to the next section: Eyre Peninsula.