Adelaide to Coober Pedy drive
Coober Pedy is about 845 km north of Adelaide, and the drive takes 8 to 10 hours on a road that is sealed all the way: Port Wakefield, the Augusta Highway to Port Augusta, then the Stuart Highway north. A standard hire car is fine on the highway. The thing people get wrong is what lies beyond it: the tracks around Coober Pedy are a different matter, and rental agreements can bar them.
Updated
Key facts
- Distance
- About 845 km north of Adelaide, and about 685 km south of Alice Springs
- Drive time
- Approximately 8 to 10 hours from Adelaide
- Route
- North to Port Wakefield, the Augusta Highway to Port Augusta, then the Stuart Highway to Coober Pedy
- Road surface
- The Stuart Highway is sealed from Adelaide to Darwin; it was fully sealed in February 1987
- Fuel spacing
- Fuel is available every 200 to 300 km along the Stuart Highway
- Outback road reports
- For unsealed roads, call 1300 361 033 for a recorded message on current outback SA road conditions
- Cars in Coober Pedy
- Two rental agencies operate in town, and there are no taxis
- Only fuel stop late in the run
- Glendambo is the only service centre between Pimba and Coober Pedy
- By coach
- Greyhound runs daily coaches between Adelaide and Coober Pedy, an 11 hour journey
Adelaide to Coober Pedy
about 845 km ยท approximately 8 to 10 hours
Port Wakefield
Where the route heads north from Adelaide and joins the Augusta Highway toward Port Augusta.
Port Augusta
Called the crossroads of Australia, where the Adelaide to Darwin and Sydney to Perth routes meet. It is the last large town with full services, so fill the tank and stock up on water before the Stuart Highway north.
Glendambo
The only service centre between Pimba and Coober Pedy, with two roadhouses and a hotel and motel. Fuel here even if the tank is half full.
Coober Pedy
846 km
Two rental agencies operate at the airport and there are no taxis. It is about 685 km south of Alice Springs.
How far is Adelaide to Coober Pedy, and how long does it take?
Coober Pedy is about 845 km north of Adelaide and about 685 km south of Alice Springs. The drive from Adelaide takes approximately 8 to 10 hours.
That is a long single day. A 15 minute break every two hours is standard outback advice, so with breaks and fuel stops allow well over 10 hours door to door, or split it with an overnight stop at Port Augusta. Greyhound's coach takes about 11 hours.
Is the road from Adelaide to Coober Pedy sealed?
Yes. The Stuart Highway is sealed from Adelaide to Darwin, and it was fully sealed in February 1987.
Outback road conditions can change very quickly with a small amount of rain, so for anything unsealed, call the recorded Outback SA message on 1300 361 033 before you leave.
Where do you get fuel on the way to Coober Pedy?
The Stuart Highway is well serviced, with fuel available every 200 to 300 km. Leave Port Augusta with a full tank and top up at each roadhouse rather than running the gauge down.
Remote service stations can have restricted opening hours, and electric cars have a much harder time: gaps between charging stations can exceed 400 km, particularly between Coober Pedy and Erldunda.
Can you hire a car in Adelaide and leave it in Coober Pedy?
It depends on the company and the car. Hertz, for example, can charge a one way fee for a return to another location and confirms at reservation whether that is allowed and the cost. Its terms also allow a daily kilometre cap, so check it against 845 km each way.
Two rental agencies operate in Coober Pedy and there are no taxis. If you only want a car in town, Rex flies Adelaide to Coober Pedy usually four times a week (about 2 hours), and you can hire locally instead of driving the highway twice.
What does a hire car agreement allow around Coober Pedy?
The highway is the easy part. The tracks leading out of the Stuart Highway are not. For example, Hertz lists driving on unsealed roads as a prohibited use, and names the Oodnadatta Track, the Strzelecki Track and the Birdsville Track in South Australia as roads that must not be driven unless the vehicle is a 4WD.
For the condition of unsealed roads, call the Marree Hotel, William Creek Hotel or the Oodnadatta Pink Roadhouse. Check what your own rental agreement allows before you leave the sealed highway.
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Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
How long is the drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy?
About 845 km, and roughly 8 to 10 hours of driving. Allow more with breaks, or split it with a night in Port Augusta.
Is the road from Adelaide to Coober Pedy sealed?
Yes. The Stuart Highway is sealed from Adelaide to Darwin, and has been fully sealed since February 1987.
Where is the fuel between Adelaide and Coober Pedy?
Fuel is available every 200 to 300 km on the Stuart Highway, so top up at each roadhouse.
Can I take a hire car from Adelaide to Coober Pedy?
Yes on the sealed highway if your agreement allows a one-way return and any kilometre allowance covers about 1,700 km return. Unsealed side roads can be barred by the agreement.
Is there car hire in Coober Pedy?
Yes, two rental agencies operate in town, and there are no taxis.