Onslow to Karratha, WA: Distance, driving time & best stops

The Onslow to Karratha drive covers a distance of 303km. You can expect a driving time of around 3h11m. Potential road trip stops include the Fortescue River Roadhouse and Miaree Pool.

The drive from Onslow to Karratha in Western Australia is usually a largely unwelcome leg on a longer road trip. You might tackle it while going from Exmouth to Port Hedland or Perth to Broome, and stop for an Indigenous-guided rock art tour.

Karratha accommodation is fairly scarce. Find the best options and book in advance here.

Onslow to Karratha distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Onslow to Karratha is 303km. This makes for a driving time of around three hours and 11 minutes.

The first stretch of the journey is a lengthy backtrack to the NW Coastal Highway at Cane. But at least this passes some of Onslow’s top attractions, including the Termite Mound Viewing Area and the massive salt pans of the Onslow Salt Field.

Onslow to Karratha road trip stops: Fortescue River Roadhouse

Once you reach the highway, there is absolutely nothing of interest for 118km, when you’ll hit the Fortescue River Roadhouse. Do not expect gourmet cuisine here, but it is somewhere you can stop for fuel and something resembling food.

Further along, Devil’s Creek Village is basically one large gas plant, so you can safely ignore it.

Onslow to Karratha drive: Miaree Pool

The best stop before you reach Karratha is Miaree Pool on the Nullagine River. This swimming hole has a campground and picnic area.

From Mairee Pool, it’s about 30km into Karratha, which is indisputably a mining town, albeit one with a bit more to it than most expect.

Things to do in Karratha, WA

Things to do in Karratha include walking the 3.5km Yaburara Aboriginal Heritage Walk Trail, seeing the Indigenous rock engravings on the Burrup Peninsula. Experience Murujuga runs 1.5 hour tours at Nganjarli – formerly known as Deep Gorge.

Other options around Karratha include diving tours around the Dampier Archipelago with Pilbara Dive and Tours and fishing charters to the Montebello Islands with Pelican Charters.

Meanwhile, Ngurranga Tours offers Indigenous cultural tours of the Pilbara region. These include tours to the greatest concentration of rock art in Australia.

Where to stay in Karratha

Booking ahead in Karratha is strongly advised, as hotels can fill up with mine workers and get very expensive if you just rock up on the day. The best Karratha accommodation options are:

For a relatively cheap, decent bed for the night: Econo Lodge Karratha.
For overall quality, a pool and a restaurant: Best Western Plus The Ranges or Karratha International Hotel.
For facilities, space and self-catering: Karratha Central Apartments.