Port Pirie to Whyalla drive: Distance, time & best road trip stops

The best attractions on the Port Pirie to Whyalla drive include Mount Remarkable National Park and the Wadlata Outback Centre. By car, the distance from Port Pirie to Whyalla is 168km, with a driving time of around 1h52m.

The Port Pirie to Whyalla drive connects two industrial cities on opposite shores of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Roadtrippers may pass along the route as part of a longer journey – probably from Adelaide to Port Lincoln or Adelaide to Whyalla.

To find the best accommodation in Port Pirie, look here.

For Whyalla accommodation deals, hunt here.

This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Port Pirie to Whyalla road trip itinerary.

If you need to hire a car, find the best rental deals. And don’t forget to do all your pre-road trip shopping.

Port Pirie to Whyalla distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Port Pirie to Whyalla is 168km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 52 minutes.

Top Port Pirie accommodation options

The best places to stay in Port Pirie are:

For the highest guest ratings: Ellen Hotel.
For a solid motel with low rates: John Pirie Motor Inn.
For a restaurant and outdoor pool: Comfort Inn Flinders On Main.

Port Pirie to Whyalla drive: Port Pirie to Port Augusta

The first attraction after leaving Port Pirie is the Telowie Gorge Conservation Park. Winter is the best time to come here, as that’s when water flows through the gorge and it’s easier to spot native wildlife.

The next place that’s possibly worth a stop on the Port Pirie to Port Augusta leg of the drive is Mambray Creek. This is the gateway to the Mount Remarkable National Park. There are a few good hikes here, with the Daveys Gully Loop Hike being easily accessible from the Mambray Creek campground.

But the next town is Port Augusta.

The best things to do in Port Augusta include the Wadlata Outback Centre, which looks at Aboriginal and outback life, and the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden.

Port Pirie to Whyalla road trip: Port Augusta to Whyalla

From Port Augusta to Whyalla, there’s a relatively short stretch along the Eyre Highway. This goes past Port Augusta Airport and the Port Augusta Free Camping Ground.

At Lincoln Gap, branch south down the Lincoln Highway towards Whyalla.

The main attraction on the Port Augusta to Whyalla drive is the Whyalla Conservation Park, about 10km north of the town.

Here, you can take in the view from Wild Dog Hill or spot both red and grey kangaroos in their natural environment.

However, you can also take a slight detour to Point Lowly, where there’s a beach, a lighthouse, a campground and the opportunity to swim with cuttlefish.

The best things to do in Whyalla include tours of the Whyalla Steelworks and spotting dolphins from the unusually-shaped Whyalla Jetty.