Marla to Alice Springs drive: Distance, time & road trip stops
The Marla to Alice Springs drive covers a distance of 454km in a driving time of around 4h41m. You can stop at the Kulgera, Erldunda and Stuarts Well roadhouses on the way.
The drive from Marla to Alice Springs is not the most exciting one you’re likely to do in Australia. It’s a straight slog up the Stuart Highway from the last roadhouse in South Australia to the hub town of the Red Centre.
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.
Seven essential Alice Springs activities to add to your trip.
- See imposing red rock cliffs and stunning swimming holes – on a West MacDonnell Ranges day trip.
- Glide across the changing morning colours of the outback – on a hot air balloon ride.
- See how education works across the outback – at the School of the Air.
- Take in the epic outback scenery – on a scenic flight.
- See the outback wildlife come to life – on a Desert Park nocturnal tour.
- Try camel rides through the red dirt landscape – and learn the weird history of Aussie camels.
- See stunning, often unvisited outback sites – on a Palm Valley 4wd tour.
Marla to Alice Springs distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Marla to Alice Springs is 454km. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 41 minutes. Most drivers won’t bother stopping overnight at Marla – they’ll take the full grinding slog from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs in one day instead.
If you do just one thing in Alice Springs…
Make it a West MacDonnell Ranges day tour. It’ll show off many of the Red Centre’s most dramatic gorges, photogenic swimming holes, rugged landscapes and weird rock formations. (FIND OUT MORE).
Australia travel expert David Whitley.
Marla to Alice Springs road trip attractions
The main attraction on the drive from Marla to Alice Springs is the Northern Territory border sign. You might as well make a photo stop there as there’s not a lot else to come.
The first snack and fuel stop on the Northern Territory side of the border is the Kulgera Roadhouse. In practice, though, you’re better off holding on for the Erldunda Roadhouse, 200km south of Alice Springs. This is where you’ll find the turn-off for the Lasseter Highway, which will eventually take you to Uluru.
Sort out your Red Centre transport now
Marla to Alice Springs drive: Stuarts Well
Perhaps the most fun roadhouse on the Marla to Alice Springs drive, however. This Stuart Highway stop is home to Camel Tours NT, which allows visitors to try out a short camel ride.
Best Alice Springs accommodation choices
These are the best Alice Springs accommodation picks:
- For a solid, relatively affordable motel: Elkira Court Motel.
- For villas, gardens and a lagoon-style pool: Desert Palms.
- For backpackers: Alice’s Secret Travellers Inn.
- For a kid-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Alice Springs.
- For business-friendly serviced apartments: Quest Alice Springs.
Things to do in Alice Springs include the fascinating Alice Springs Desert Park the Museum of Central Australia and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base.
There are also several Alice Springs tour options. Plump for a camel tour, a West MacDonnell Ranges day trip and a hot air balloon flight.
More Northern Territory travel
Do the Guluyambi Cultural Cruise in Kakadu National Park.
Eat big steaks at the Char restaurant in Darwin.
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When does the Skyline Darwin ferris wheel operate?
Why take a four day Kakadu tour from Darwin?