Alice Springs to Uluru road trip: Distance, drive time & fuel stops

The drive from Alice Springs to Uluru in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre takes around five hours. But you can skip the 468km drive through the outback by taking a direct flight to Ayers Rock Airport. Between them, Qantas and Jetstar offer flights to Yulara from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin and Alice Springs.

The Alice Springs to Uluru drive is often taken in error. One of the most common mistakes visitors to the Northern Territory’s Red Centre make is assuming that Alice Springs makes a convenient hub. Most people don’t realise just how far Uluru is from Alice Springs.

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.

Alice Springs is by far the biggest city in the Red Centre, albeit with a population of just over 26,000. There are also several worthwhile attractions nearby. The Old Telegraph Station is one of Australia’s most important historic sites, while Standley Chasm is 50km west of the city. Rainbow Valley is about an hour and 20 minutes’ drive away, too.

Alice Springs offers hot air ballooning over the rugged outback, spectacular adventures in the West MacDonnell Ranges and quirky camel rides. For a bigger range of Alice Springs activities, step this way, and for Alice Springs accommodation, book here.

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.

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

Alice Springs to Uluru drive: Red Centre attractions

Alas, these don’t tend to be the attractions that people come to the Red Centre for. Most tourists coming to Central Australia want to see Uluru (which, back in the days when you could climb it, was known as Ayers Rock). They might also want to take in Kata-Tjuta (the Olgas), camel rides, helicopter tours and scenic flights over Kings Canyon.

These icons on the Australian outback might look fairly close to Alice Springs on the map, but you need to factor in the size of the Northern Territory when working out where Uluru is located.

How far is Uluru from Alice Springs?

The drive from Alice Springs to Uluru in a hire car is 468km long, starting on the Stuart Highway, then switching to the Lasseter Highway.

This Alice Springs to Uluru drive goes past several Northern Territory roadhouses on what is a phenomenally boring drive with very few road trip stops. Don’t be fooled into thinking Mount Conner is Uluru, either – you’ve nowhere near covered the full Alice Springs to Uluru distance.

Alice Springs to Uluru fuel stops

There are four possible fuel stops between Alice Springs and Uluru – Stuarts Well and Erldunda on the Stuart Highway, then Curtin Springs and Yulara on the Lasseter Highway.

Alice Springs to Uluru driving time

If you complete the full Alice Springs to Uluru driving distance in less than five hours, you’ve probably been breaking the speed limit in your hire car.

For UK residents, this is slightly further than the distance from London to Newcastle

The distance from Alice Springs to Yulara, home of the Ayers Rock Resort, is a smidgeon shorter. That’s 447km long, with a driving time of around four hours and 40 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take the Alice Springs to Uluru bus, which takes around six hours.

Direct Alice Springs to Uluru flights to Ayers Rock Airport

It’s also a completely unnecessary drive. Ayers Rock Airport (sometimes known as Connellan Airport) is just outside Yulara. It’s surprisingly busy, too, receiving flights from Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and Darwin – as well as Alice Springs Airport. What’s more, it can often be cheaper to fly direct to Ayers Rock Airport than it is to fly to Alice Springs. Qantas and Jetstar keep prices pretty affordable on the Yulara routes. It’s also possible to hire a car at Uluru, should you wish to have the freedom of your own transport.

If you’re doing a road trip up the Stuart Highway through the centre of Australia, then there is sense in taking on that drive. If you’re coming from Adelaide in South Australia, just branch off at the Erldunda Roadhouse before you reach Alice Springs. Try doing this between May and October, when the Australian heat isn’t as fierce.

There’s also plenty to see and do around Alice Springs, which makes hiring a car in Alice Springs worth it. But if the main aim is seeing Uluru, book a direct flight to Ayers Rock Airport instead.

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.

• For the lowest prices: Ayers Rock Campground.
• For best quality: Sails in the Desert.
• For families and self-caterers: Emu Walk Apartments.
• For mid-range solidity: Desert Gardens.

More Northern Territory travel

Driving times in the Northern Territory

Is it worth doing a Katherine Gorge day trip from Darwin?

Brisbane to Uluru road trip itinerary.

Highlights of the Mount Isa to Daly Waters drive.

Where to stop on the Daly Waters to Mataranka drive.