Ipswich to Toowoomba drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops on the Ipswich to Toowoomba drive include the Kholo Botanic Gardens and Lockyer National Park. By car, the distance from the Ipswich to Toowoomba is 90km, and the driving time 1h5m.

The Ipswich to Toowoomba drive connects two of the biggest cities in South-East Queensland. Neither is really on the tourist radar, but you might pass this way if heading from the Gold Coast to Toowoomba or Brisbane to Roma.

Ipswich to Toowoomba distance and driving time

The distance of the drive from Ipswich to Toowoomba is 90km. That makes for a Ipswich to Toowoomba driving time of about one hour and five minutes.

The quickest driving route leaves Ipswich to the north past the Workshops Rail Museum and towards the Kholo Botanic Gardens. Turn left onto the Warrego Highway before reaching the gardens, however.

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Ipswich to Toowoomba drive: Marburg to Gatton

The landscape west of Ipswich turns agricultural, with Marburg and Minden having little to hold the attention.

Hatton Vale has a golf course and Plainland has a decent pub. It’s also home to the Big Red Elephant, should collectors of Australian roadside kitsch be interested.

Laidley, a little to the south, offers 1930s-style Das Neumann House and watersports on Lake Dyer.

Ipswich to Toowoomba road trip: Entering Toowoomba

The highway then skips north of Gatton, where you’ll find the Queensland Transport Museum. The Lockyer National Park and Lockyer State Forest are to the north.

You’ll come off the highway to the west of Helidon Spa and join the Toowoomba Connection Road.

Just before entering Toowoomba you’ll go close to the Table Top/ Meewah hiking area, Redwood Park and the Picnic Point Lookout.

Attractions in Toowoomba include the Botanic Gardens in Queens Park, steam train tours at the DownsSteam railway museum and the National Carriage Collection at the Cobb & Co Museum.

Top Toowoomba accommodation recommendations

The best Toowoomba accommodation options are:

For central location and undercover parking at a 4.5 star with a pool: Oaks Toowoomba.
For well-equipped apartments: Athena Motel Apartments.
For a holiday park with plenty for the kids: Big4 Toowoomba Garden City.
For a surprisingly good motel at cheapish rates: Applegum Inn.