Emerald to Charters Towers: Distance, drive time & road trip stops

The Emerald to Charters Towers drive is 477km in distance, with a driving time of around four hours and 56 minutes. Road trip stops include the Clermont Historical Centre and Blackwood National Park.

The drive from Emerald to Charters Towers links two of Queensland’s biggest inland towns. The drive is almost entirely along the Gregory Highway and Gregory Developmental Road, running roughly parallel to the Queensland coast. Overseas visitors are unlikely to take this journey on, but might conceivably do so if taking the inland route from Sydney to Cairns.

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Emerald to Charters Towers distance and driving time

The distance from Emerald to Charters Towers by car is 477km. This makes for a driving time of around four hours and 56 minutes.

Where to stay in Emerald

The best Emerald accommodations options are:

For central location: Motel 707.
For a more stylish motel: Abode37.
For a good quality motel with cheap rates: A&A Lodge Motel.
For families: Discovery Parks Emerald.

The first town of any size on the Emerald to Charters Towers drive is Capella, which has a golf course and racecourse but not much else. You’re better off heading straight on through to Clermont. Here, the Clermont Historical Centre tells tales of gold prospecting and the devastating 1916 flood that killed 65 people.

Top Clermont accommodation options

The best places to stay in Clermont are:

For a cheap, decent motel for a one night stay: Clermont Hotel Motel.
For a bit of character, plus a pool, restaurant and gardens: Clermont Country Motor Inn.
For overall quality: Smart Stayzzz Inns.

After Clermont, the Gregory Highway becomes the Gregory Developmental Road.

Emerald to Charters Towers drive: National Parks

After the Emerald to Clermont leg, the Emerald to Charters Towers drive skirts east of the Apsley State Forest and Blair Athol State Forest. Then comes Mazeppa National Park on the eastern side of the highway. Alas, this really isn’t set up for tourism – there’s no vehicle access or camping. Further north, Nariana National Park is also set aside for conservation purposes.

The next logical stop on the Clermont to Charters Towers section of the drive, therefore, is the Belyando Crossing Roadhouse. Here you can restock on fuel and snacks.

Emerald to Charters Towers road trip attractions: Blackwood National Park

Shortly afterwards, you’ll come to Blackwood National Park. Finally, this is a national park that has something to offer visitors. There are two walking trails here, with the 1km Brigalow Circuit taking in the wetlands. The 6km return Creek Walk delves further in, heading along the creek to a few rock pools.

From Blackwood National Park, the Emerald to Charters Towers drive is rather rural and lonely. You’ll cross the Cape River, then drive alongside the Campapse River for a while, before continuing north and finally meeting the Flinders Highway just outside Charters Towers.

Things to do in Charters Towers include the ghost tours run by Ghost Tours Australia and the farm experiences with Texas Longhorn Tours.

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.