Adelaide is a junction rather than a destination. West is Perth at 2,613 km, north is Alice Springs at 1,531, east is Melbourne at 726. No other city here offers a long route in three separate directions.
The short trips sit beside that: the Fleurieu at 85 km, the Barossa at 75. They are not the trip, but they are how you find out what kind of driving you want before committing a thousand kilometres to it.
Five distances, one decision
- Barossa Valley75 km
- Fleurieu Peninsula85 km
- Melbourne726 km
- Alice Springs1,531 km
- Perth2,613 km
Port Augusta splits the north from the west. Ceduna is the last town before the plain.
The three long routes
| Direction | Km | Staging town | What day one covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| West | 2,613 | Port Augusta, then Ceduna | the Eyre Highway and the empty middle |
| North | 1,531 | Port Augusta | the Stuart Highway, straight and fast |
| East | 726 | the Victorian coast | the Princes Highway, town after town |
The shortest drive out of Adelaide is 75 km. The longest is 2,613.
The staging towns matter more than the total
On the western road the fuel and the food are at the towns, not between them, and those gaps are what you plan around. Harvest adds grain trucks to the same corridors, and passing one takes longer than passing a car.
Direction first, then vehicle
North and west ask for different things. The Stuart is sealed and busy, the Eyre is sealed and empty with long gaps between services. Pick the direction, then the vehicle that suits it.
Explore Wicked Campers for campervan hire in Adelaide. Check vehicle availability and road restrictions with the operator.
Adelaide questions
Which route should I do first?
East to Melbourne, because 726 km is the shortest of the three and the road is the busiest. It shows you whether long days suit you before you commit to 2,613.
Is the Barossa worth a day?
Yes, as reconnaissance. At 75 km it is close enough to drive out and back, and one full day of Australian road teaches you how far you actually get.
Where does the Nullarbor begin?
Past Ceduna, where the last town gives way to the plain. The 2,613 km counts from Adelaide, so the empty part is the middle rather than the start.