Townsville to Mount Isa road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

The Townsville to Mount Isa road trip covers a distance of 904km, with a driving time of around 9h58m. The best road trip stops are Charters Towers, Hughenden, Richmond and Cloncurry.

The Townsville to Mount Isa drive takes you across north Queensland, deep into the outback. For most, it will be a leg on a longer drive, such as from Townsville to Darwin or Airlie Beach to Alice Springs.

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.

Mount Isa has a surprising amount to offer visitors, including an eerie uranium mine and ghost town tour, outback scenic flights and sunset drinks overlooking Lake Moondarra.

Townsville to Mount Isa distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Townsville to Mount Isa is 904km. This makes for a driving time of around nine hours and 58 minutes.

Unless you’re prepared for an exceptionally gruelling day behind the wheel, you’re going to need to make a road trip stop or two along the way. Luckily, there are a few decent options.

6 Townsville experiences to book in advance

Magnetic Island ferry tickets – head over to one of the most beautiful islands in Australia.
SS Yongala wreck dive – sea how coral and marine life have made the shipwreck home.
Great Barrier Reef and Museum of Underwater Art cruise – witness the extraordinary underwater art project up close.
Helicopter ride along the coast – get amazing views from above.
Sunset sailing cruise – watch the colours over the water, with alcoholic drinks included.
Jetski tour to Cape Pallarenda – whizz past beaches and giant boulders.

Townsville to Mount Isa road trip: Flinders Highway to Charters Towers

There’s not much to see on the first leg of the Townsville to Mount Isa 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.

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.

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.

Best Charters Towers accommodation

The best accommodation options in Charters Towers are:

For families: Big4 Outback Aussie Oasis Holiday Park.
For high quality adults-only apartments: Kernow Charters Towers.
For a good value motel with a pool: Charters Towers Motel.

Townsville to Mount Isa drive: Hughenden and Richmond

The highlight of the next leg, from Charters Towers to Hughenden, is White Mountains National Park. Alas, most of it is off-limits if you don’t have a 4WD vehicle. But for everyone else, there’s always the Burra Range Lookout on the Flinders Highway.

In Hughenden, the Flinders Discovery Centre is all about locally-unearthed dinosaurs at the Flinders Discovery Centre. You can also take in the volcanic plains from the lookouts on Mount Walker or make a significant detour north to Porcupine Gorge.

It’s another 400km from Hughenden to Cloncurry and the first town en route is Richmond, a decent bet for an overnight stay. Here, you can look at marine and dinosaur fossils inside Kronosaurus Korner or splash to your heart’s content at the Kronosaurus Water Park.

The Midway Motel is the best bet for Richmond accommodation.

Attractions between Townsville and Mount Isa: Julia Creek and Cloncurry

Next comes Julia Creek, which has an artesian pool to bathe in and a caravan park. But you’re better off continuing to Cloncurry.

Things to do in Cloncurry include John Flynn Place, which will teach you about the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. There’s also Cloncurry Unearthed, which is ostensibly about the local mining industry and mineral discoveries. The best bit looks at the tragic Burke and Wills expedition, however.

Cloncurry accommodation picks include the charming Gidgee Inn and the solid Leichhardt Hotel Motel.

Townsville to Mount Isa road trip: The final stretch

The Flinders Highway becomes the Barkly Highway in Cloncurry. And the Cloncurry to Mount Isa drive goes down the Barkly, pass the moving Burke and Wills Memorial and Corella Dam swimming spot.

Things to do in Mount Isa include the largely interesting Riversleigh Fossil Centre and the child-friendly Mount Isa Family Fun Park.

7 great Mount Isa experiences you really ought to know about

Hard Times underground mine tour – led by a miner.
Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre tickets – with optional laboratory tour.
Combo ticket for Isa Experience Heritage Display, Outback Park and Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Small group scenic flight – flying over the vast mines.
Lake Moondarra sunset tour – with drinks and food platter.
Pay a visit to the bizarre World War II era Underground Hospital.
Mary Kathleen abandoned mine and ghost town tour.

Mount Isa activity picks include the two hour best-of Mount Isa tour, outback scenic flights, a sunset tour to Lake Moondarra and a oddly gripping visit to the abandoned Mary Kathleen uranium mine.

Top Mount Isa accommodation options include the likeable four star Copper City Motel, the handily central Icon on Isa and the Discovery Parks Argylla caravan park.