Curtin Springs to Uluru drive: Distance, time & stops

The Curtin Springs to Uluru drive covers a 100km distance in 1h08m. It’s a long way for anyone trying to avoid paying for accommodation in Yulara…

The drive from Curtin Springs to Uluru tends to be the last leg on the Alice Springs to Uluru drive through the Northern Territory’s Red Centre.

This once-in-a-lifetime dune-top dinner experience, with special stargazing session included, is our top Uluru recommendation.

Curtin Springs is a logical place to stop for fuel and snacks.

Uluru experiences include a lavish dune-top desert dinner with stargazing, a guided walk around the perimeter full of Aboriginal cultural stories and a sunrise tour to the perfect photo stop. To browse a wide array of memorable Uluru experiences, head here. For the best Uluru accommodation deals, search here.

However, some choose to use Curtin Springs as a base for exploring Uluru. Accommodation here is a lot cheaper than at the Ayers Rock Resort. The trade-off is having a fairly hefty extra drive.

Curtin Springs to Uluru distance and driving time

The distance from Curtin Springs to Uluru is 100km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and eight minutes.

Sort out your Red Centre transport now

Transfers: Alice Springs to Uluru | Uluru to Alice Springs | Uluru to Kings Canyon | Kings Canyon to Uluru | Kings Canyon to Alice Springs.
Day tours: Uluru from Alice Springs | Kata Tjuta from Uluru | Kings Canyon from Uluru | West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs.

This is largely a long, boring drive through the desert along the Lasseter Highway. This might be fine in the morning, although you’ll have to set off early if you want to do the Uluru Base Walk. It’s likely to be less pleasant coming back after watching the Uluru sunset or doing the Sounds of Silence dinner.

Night driving in Australia can be dangerous, mainly because kangaroos have a habit of leaping out into the road. In the Red Centre, the roos are the big, red kangaroos. They can cause an awful lot of damage if you hit one.

8 great Uluru experiences to book before you arrive

1. Understand Uluru’s caves, bulges, gullies and spiritual stories on a guided base walk.
2. Be awe-struck by the changing colours on a SUNRISE tour.
3. Eat great food on a dune top, and enjoy an expert-guided stargazing session during a once-in-a-lifetime desert dune-top dinner.
4. See an entirely different kind of dramatic outback scenery on Kings Canyon day trip.
5. Do a lap of Uluru by Segway.
6. See the big picture on an outback helicopter flight.
7. See Australia’s most spectacular light show – the Field of Light at sunrise.
8. Admire the colour-shifting giant rock domes on a Kata-tjuta sunset trip.

Stops on the Curtin Springs to Uluru drive

Aside from the Sandy View rest area, the only stop on the Curtin Springs to Uluru drive before entering Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is Yulara.

This settlement is home to the Ayers Rock Resort, and it acts as the service hub for Uluru. You can fill up with fuel here and do any shopping you need at the IGA Supermarket.

Once inside the national park, you’ll go past the sunset viewing area before reaching the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.

Which Uluru accommodation should I book?

Let’s not sugar-coat it: Accommodation at Uluru is expensive. Specialist Australian accommodation website Wotif lists Uluru accommodation for from $300. Check the top deals page to search through the options.

However, if you stay for three nights rather than two, hefty discounts tend to kick in.

The Uluru accommodation options are designed with different target markets in mind. Book which one fits you best.