The drive to Canberra is easy and scenic. There are plenty of places along the way to rest, refuel and revive.
Canberra's petrol stations are off the main roads. Look out for the signs to petrol and shopping centres.
Get a copy of Canberra’s Driving Holidays for routes between Sydney and Melbourne.
From Sydney
Direct driving route: 3.5 hours
Leave Sydney via the M5 tollway, connecting to Hume Highway 31. Turn left after Goulburn on to the Federal Highway to Canberra. This route is a dual carriage freeway.
Scenic drive routes
Follow the coastal Princes Highway to Batemans Bay. Turn onto the Kings Highway and head to Canberra via the historic towns of Braidwood and Bungendore.
Take the Mittagong exit from the F5 Freeway and follow the Old Hume Highway through picturesque Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale and Sutton Forest. Rejoin the F5 to continue to Goulburn and Canberra. This route includes single carriage highway.
From Melbourne
Direct driving route: 8 hours
Follow the City Link tollway to the western ring road then join the Hume Highway. Near Yass, take the Barton Highway turn off to Canberra. This route is a dual carriage freeway.
Scenic drive routes
Follow the coast road through Genoa, Bairnsdale and Eden to Batemans Bay. Turn onto the Kings Highway and head to Canberra via the historic towns of Braidwood and Bungendore. This route includes single carriage highway.
Take an inland drive through Bendigo, Echuca and Albury-Wodonga. Travel direct to Canberra. Alternately take a scenic detour through the Snowy Mountains and visit Khancoban, Tumut, Jindabyne, Thredbo and Cooma. This route includes single carriage highway.
From Adelaide
Direct driving route: 14 hours
Take the South Eastern freeway towards the Mallee Highway and Sturt Highway. At Yass, take the Barton Highway turn off to Canberra. This route includes single carriage highway.
Scenic drive routes
Explore the Murray River area via Mildura, Swan Hill and Echuca to Albury-Wodonga. Travel direct to Canberra or go via the Snowy Mountains.
Take a coastal route to Murray Bridge and Mt Gambier and travel the spectacular Great Ocean Road to Melbourne. Then choose the coastal or inland route to Canberra.
From Brisbane
Direct driving route: 16 hours
Follow the Pacific Highway south to Sydney then take the Hume Highway to Goulburn. Turn on to the Federal Highway to Canberra. This route is a dual carriage freeway.
Scenic drive routes
Travel along the scenic Pacific coast to Sydney. Continue to Canberra by the coastal route to Batemans Bay, or inland via the Southern Highlands and Goulburn. This route includes single carriage highway.
Travel the inland route via Tenterfield, Tamworth, and Muswellbrook. Turn off to Dubbo and head to Canberra through Bathurst, Cowra and Yass. This route includes single carriage highway.
From the Snowy Mountains
Direct driving route: 2.5 hours
Follow the Kosciuszko Road to Cooma, and then follow the Monaro Highway to Canberra. This route includes single carriage highway.
From the South Coast
Direct driving route: 2.5 hours
Take the Kings Highway to Queanbeyan and continue on to Canberra. This route includes single carriage highway.