Perth to Alice Springs road trip guide: Driving distance & best stops
The best stops on a Perth to Alice Springs road trip include Kalgoorlie, Eucla, Ceduna and Coober Pedy. On sealed roads, the distance from Perth to Alice Springs is 3,181km and the drive takes around 35 hours.
A Perth to Alice Springs drive is a major undertaking. But the drive is also an epic adventure through the Australian outback that heads through some of the most remote places on the continent.
Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.
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.
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.
The following guide will take you through the best stops you can make on the drive to Alice Springs from Perth. It also assumes you’re sticking to sealed roads and going via Port Augusta rather 4WDing via Laverton and Warburton.
Perth to Alice Springs distance and driving time
The distance from Perth to Alice Springs is 3,181km when travelling by car on sealed roads. This makes for a driving time of around 35 hours. You’re best off allocating at least a week for the journey.
DON’T MISS OUT! 9 fabulous Perth experiences to book today ✅
- ✅ See the Rottnest Island quokkas the smart way – with a ferry and bike package.
- ✅ Be amazed by the abundant wildlife – on a dolphin, penguin and sealion cruise.
- ✅ See clear night skies in a moon-like desert – on a Pinnacles stargazing experience.
- ✅ Indulge in chocolate, cheese & premium wines – on a Swan Valley food and wine tour.
- ✅ See the city sunset from the water – on a Swan River dinner cruise.
- ✅ Watch gold being melted and poured – on a Perth Mint gold tour.
- ✅ Combine nature with imperious city views – on Kings Park Segway tour.
- ✅ Face your fears and get the thrill of your life on a – on a 15,000ft skydive.
- ✅ Find all the best hidden hangouts – on a small bar and street art tour.
The best places to stay in Perth
You can check out deals on a wide range of Perth accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- The swankiest address in town: COMO The Treasury.
- The cool, fun one in the centre of the action: The Alex.
- For quality apartments next to Kings Park: Quest Kings Park.
- For quality apartments by the beach: Seashells Scarborough.
- On a backpacker budget: Spinners Hostel.
This Perth to Alice Springs road trip starts along the Great Eastern Highway, which starts off following the Swan River.
It then skims the edge of John Forrest National Park, the oldest national park in Western Australia. Here, there are several walking trails and two impressive waterfalls – National Park Falls and Hovea Falls.
Perth to Alice Springs road trip: Mundaring and Chidlow
Shortly afterwards, the highway goes through Mundaring. It’s a short diversion from here to Lake O’Connor, the artificial lake created by Mundaring Weir. The results of this weir will be seen later along the journey, but you can read the back story at the National Trust-run No. 1 Pumping Station.
Further along on the leg from Perth to Northam, you can visit the Karakamia Sanctuary in Chidlow, where critically-endangered wildlife is protected.
Before you reach Northam, there are a few nature reserves, none of which are exactly essential viewing.
Click through to the next section: Northam and Burracoppin.