Charters Towers to Townsville drive: Distance, driving time & attractions

The Charters Towers to Townsville drive is 136km in distance, with a driving time of around one hour and 31 minutes. Road trip attractions along the way include Macrossan Park, the Mingela State Forest and Majors Creek Swimming Hole.

This independent, Australia travel expert-researched guide is aimed at travellers planning a road trip itinerary from Charters Towers to Townsville in Queensland.

Townsville is where you can take the ferry to gorgeous Magnetic Island, enjoy sunset cruises and visit the Museum of Underwater Art. For more Townsville experiences, explore here. To ferret out the best Townsville accommodation deals, look here.

To learn more about the Charters Towers to Townsville drive, including the distance, driving time and the best stops along the route, read on…

Planning a Charters Towers to Townsville road trip itinerary

The Charters Towers to Townsville drive is a pretty easy one by Queensland standards. Former outback gold mining town Charters Towers lies to the south-west of Townsville, the biggest city in North Queensland. They are both connected by the Flinders Highway.

Top Charters Towers experiences

Delve in to the gold-mining past – on a tour of the Venus Gold Battery. You’ll be wowed by the sheer size of it.
Hear entertaining stories from the golden era – on a Charters Towers walking tour.
Listen to spooky stories – on a Charters Towers ghost tour.

Exploring Townsville, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Destination and Events Queensland.

Charters Towers to Townsville distance and driving time

The distance from Charters Towers to Townsville is 136km. This journey is easily doable in one stint, with a Charters Towers to Townsville driving time of around one hour and 31 minutes.

6 Townsville experiences to book in advance

Magnetic Island ferry tickets – head over to one of the most beautiful islands in Australia.
SS Yongala wreck dive – sea how coral and marine life have made the shipwreck home.
Great Barrier Reef and Museum of Underwater Art cruise – witness the extraordinary underwater art project up close.
Helicopter ride along the coast – get amazing views from above.
Sunset sailing cruise – watch the colours over the water, with alcoholic drinks included.
Jetski tour to Cape Pallarenda – whizz past beaches and giant boulders.

Don’t expect a cavalcade of excitement on the drive, however. There’s not an awful lot to see on this section of the Flinders Highway.

You might choose to stop for a coffee at the Burdekin Duck Roadhouse, which is just before the bridge over the Burdekin River. The Macrossan Park camping area in Dotswood is right next to the bridge, and camping is free. Some people choose to go fishing or kayaking here.

Charters Tower to Townsville drive: Mingela State Forest

Further along the Flinders Highway comes more roadhouse action at the Reid River Rest Area, then the Mingela State Forest. There are a few hills here, but the Mingela State Forest is not really set up for visitors.

Next on the Charters Towers to Townsville road trip is the small village of Woodstock. Here’s where you’ll find the Townsville Motocross and Majors Creek Swimming Hole. This is hardly Queensland’s most beautiful swimming hole, but will do for a dip on a hot day.

From Woodstock, you’ll enter Townsville’s southern suburbs, passing the Townsville Gateway Holiday Park and Fairfield Central Shopping Centre.