Townsville to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

The distance from Townsville to Darwin is 2,504km. And that makes for an epic road trip, with the best stops including Hughenden, Mount Isa and Nitmiluk National Park.

A Townsville to Darwin road trip is an epic trip across the north of Australia. The only thing that’s hard work about it is the distances – this route is all along sealed roads. But you can expect distinctive outback towns, dramatic scenery and long stretches of vast open country along the way.

Townsville is where you can take the ferry to gorgeous Magnetic Island, enjoy sunset cruises and visit the Museum of Underwater Art. For more Townsville experiences, explore here. To ferret out the best Townsville accommodation deals, look here.

Darwin, meanwhile, brings schooner cruises, airboat tours and cage-swimming with massive crocodiles. To search for the best Darwin accommodation deals, head here. To check out the full range of tours and experiences available, go here.

However, some planning is required. You’ll need to make overnight stops on the Townsville to Darwin road trip, and this guide should help you work out the best places to stay.

Townsville to Darwin distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Townsville to Darwin is 2,504km. This makes for a nominal driving time of around 26 hours, but you’re better off spreading the adventure out over the course of a week. There are some national parks, idiosyncratic towns and natural wonders that you’ll probably want to explore along the way.

7 great Darwin experiences to book before arriving

Swim face to face with an enormous crocodile in the Cage of Death.
Enjoy the romance of Darwin Harbour on a sunset dinner cruise aboard a traditional fishing ketch.
Explore Darwin’s food and art scenes on a 3.5 hour walking tour – with lunch or dinner included.
Flit between Darwin’s top attractions with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
Combine a wildlife tour with the famous jumping crocodiles cruise.
Get a history fix on a Bombing of Darwin WWII tour and harbour cruise.
Get the adrenalin pumping on a high speed airboat or jetski tour.

Townsville to Darwin road trip: Flinders Highway to Charters Towers

There’s not much to see on the first leg of the Townsville to Darwin road trip, from Townsville to Charters Towers. The Majors Creek Swimming Hole near Woodstock and the fishing spot on the Burdekin River by the Macrossan Park camping area are the best of otherwise slim pickings.

Top Charters Towers experiences

Delve in to the gold-mining past – on a tour of the Venus Gold Battery. You’ll be wowed by the sheer size of it.
Hear entertaining stories from the golden era – on a Charters Towers walking tour.
Listen to spooky stories – on a Charters Towers ghost tour.

Things to do in Charters Towers include a guided tour of the historic Venus gold battery. The Towers Hill Lookout, meanwhile, offers great views, with movies about the region shown in the nearby amphitheatre every evening.