Brisbane to Adelaide is about 2,050 km inland through three states, the quickest way across the east of the country without going near the coast. It is a working road, mostly the Newell Highway, with wheat and cotton country in the middle and the Murray River at the end, and three or four days gives time to enjoy it.
The route and how long it takes
From Brisbane the usual route climbs to Toowoomba, crosses the border at Goondiwindi and follows the Newell Highway through Moree, Narrabri and Dubbo, where it meets the Mitchell Highway. From Dubbo you can continue to Parkes and Condobolin, then take the Mid-Western Highway or the Cobb Highway towards the Murray River at Mildura or Balranald, and the Sturt and Dukes Highways on to Adelaide.
The Melbourne to Brisbane guide covers the Newell Highway in more detail, and the Sydney to Adelaide guide covers the Murray end of the drive. Allow three days if you are happy to drive eight to ten hours, or four for a more relaxed pace.
| Leg | Distance | Drive time | Where to stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane to Moree | About 640 km | About 7.5 h | Goondiwindi or Moree |
| Moree to Dubbo | About 410 km | About 5 h | Narrabri or Dubbo |
| Dubbo to Mildura | About 750 km | About 8.5 h | Condobolin, Hay or Mildura |
| Mildura to Adelaide | About 540 km | About 6 h | Renmark and Adelaide |
- Three days is a push
- Four days is comfortable
- Dubbo and Mildura are good stops
Fuel, towns and driving
Towns are close together on the Newell Highway, so fuel is easy, but the Mid-Western and Sturt Highways to the Murray have longer gaps. Fill up when you pass half a tank, and take rest breaks every two hours. The fuel planning guide covers range for a campervan, and the fatigue guide covers the stops that matter.
The Newell Highway carries a lot of trucks and road trains, so give them room and pass on the dual carriageway where you can. In the evening and early morning kangaroos and livestock are common beside the road.
- Fill up at half a tank
- Rest every two hours
- Avoid dusk and dawn
Camping and caravan parks
Caravan parks carry most nights: Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Moree, Narrabri, Dubbo, Parkes, Mildura and Renmark all have parks, and there are free rest areas and bush camps between the towns. The camping rules guides for New South Wales and South Australia explain where overnight stays are allowed, and the overnight rest area guide covers the signs and rules.
A stop at the Murray River, at Mildura or Renmark, makes a pleasant last night before Adelaide, and there are riverside camps along the way.
- Parks in every major town
- Free camps between towns
- Riverside camps at the Murray
Biosecurity and borders
Crossing between states means crossing fruit fly and biosecurity rules, and South Australia in particular runs roadside bins and checkpoints near its borders. Eat or bin fresh fruit and vegetables before you cross, and check the interstate biosecurity guide for the rules on honey, plants and firewood.
Daylight saving also changes at the borders, so check the time before you plan a long last day.
- Eat or bin fresh produce
- Check the biosecurity guide
- Mind daylight saving at the border
Plan the Brisbane to Adelaide drive in AussieCamps
Build the drive as a trip in AussieCamps: add Moree, Dubbo, Mildura and a final night in Adelaide in order and it shows the distance and drive time of each leg, with a forecast for the day you expect to arrive. AussieCamps lists 1,838 campgrounds, 5,552 rest areas and 1,393 dump points from park agencies, road authorities and public datasets, and each place page shows the facilities those sources publish.
Open the trip while you still have a connection, because map tiles, routing and weather need one. The iPhone app is free to download, with in-app purchases.
- Add each overnight stop in order
- Forecast for each arrival day
- Open the trip before you leave Brisbane
Places along the way
Check before you go
Rules and conditions change. Recheck the official source and the page for your exact park or campground before departure.
Common questions
How far is Brisbane to Adelaide by road?+
About 2,050 km, which is roughly 22 to 24 hours of driving. Most people take three to four days, with nights at Dubbo or Parkes, Mildura or Broken Hill and Adelaide.
Which route is best from Brisbane to Adelaide?+
The Newell Highway through Goondiwindi, Moree and Dubbo is the usual route, joining the Mid-Western and Sturt Highways towards Mildura and Adelaide. A coastal alternative through Sydney and Melbourne is much longer.
Is there a fruit fly checkpoint on the way?+
Yes. Moving between Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia crosses areas with biosecurity rules, and South Australia runs roadside bins and checkpoints near the border. Eat or bin fresh fruit and vegetables before you cross.
Can I drive Brisbane to Adelaide in two days?+
It is possible but long, at more than ten hours a day. Three or four days is far more comfortable and gives time to stop at Dubbo, Mildura or the Murray River.
Take it on the road
Save the stops. Plan the whole trip.
Build an ordered route from saved places, calculate the distance and keep dates, notes and to-dos attached.
