Canberra to Cootamundra drive: Distance, time & road trip stops

The best stops to add to a Canberra to Cootamundra road trip itinerary are Yass and Jugiong. By car, the distance from Canberra to Cootamundra is 166km. That makes for a driving time of around 2h2m.

Planning a Canberra to Cootamundra road trip itinerary

The Canberra to Cootamundra drive takes you from Australia’s capital city to a pilgrimage site for cricket lovers.

Canberra offers native wildlife and bird tours, wine and distillery tours, plus guided visits to the National Museum of Australia.

To investigate Canberra tour and experience options, head here. To find the best Canberra hotel deals, book here.

For Cootamundra accommodation deals, have a hunt here.

This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Canberra to Cootamundra road trip.

Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions.

If you need a hire car, search for the best car rental deals here – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.

Canberra to Cootamundra distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Canberra to Cootamundra is 166km. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and two minutes.

7 great Canberra experiences to book before you arrive

Full day city highlights tour – including Mount Ainslie, Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial.
Tidbinbilla wildlife and birds tour – see kangaroos, koalas, platypus and emus in the wild.
Hot air balloon flight – see Canberra’s unique design while floating above the city.
Small group wine tour – discover the amazing wineries and food producers of the Canberra region.
Australian Institute of Sport tour – see where Australia’s next generation of sporting greats train.
Australian Museum – expert-guided tour of the museum highlights.
Brewery tour – hop between Canberra’s best craft breweries.

The top Canberra accommodation picks

There is a large selection of Canberra accommodation options. But these are particularly good choices…

The one with the highest guest rating: A By Adina Canberra.
For something cool and stylish: East Hotel and Apartments.
The one where the VIPs stay: Hyatt Hotel Canberra.
For high quality apartments: Quest Canberra City Walk.
For something much cheaper and family-focused: Alivio Tourist Park.

Quickest route from Canberra to Cootamundra

The first leg of this drive is from Canberra to Yass along the Barton Highway. There are a few wineries you can stop at along the way, including Clonakilla in Murrumbateman. Things to do in Yass include learning about early pastoralists at Cooma Cottage.

Canberra to Cootamundra road trip: Yass to Jugiong

The route from Canberra to Cootamundra joins the Hume Highway just outside Yass, and continues on towards Jugiong.

Jugiong has a delightful location on the Murrumbidgee River, and the Long Track Pantry is arguably the top spot for lunch on the Canberra to Cootamundra drive.

Jugiong is also where you need to leave the Hume Highway, branching west along Rosehill Road.

Canberra to Cootamundra drive: Jugiong to Cootamundra

This is a relatively winding, bucolic affair that eventually reaches the Old Gundagai Road. Turn off to the north, then almost immediately turn west again down Jugiong Road.

Follow along until you reach Gundagai Road, then head north into Cootamundra.

Things to do in Cootamundra include paying tribute to Sir Donald Bradman at Bradman’s Birthplace Museum, wildlife spotting in Pioneer Park and admiring sculptures of Australian cricket captains on the Captains’ Walk.