Launceston to Hobart drive
Launceston to Hobart, or Hobart to Launceston, is about 200 km and 2 hours 20 minutes on the direct Midland Highway before stops. For a one-way hire, search the actual pickup and return airports in your chosen direction; the rental company sets availability, any return fee and the card or bond conditions for your dates.
Updated
Key facts
- Direct route
- Launceston to Hobart, 200 km, 2 hours 20 minutes
- Midland Highway length
- The Heritage Highway is a 176 km road connecting Hobart and Launceston, taking about 2 hours 30 minutes
- East coast leg 1
- Launceston to Bicheno via Lake Leake Highway: 160 km, 2 hours
- East coast leg 2
- Bicheno to Hobart via Sorell: 178 km, 2 hours 25 minutes
- Daily distance guide
- Plan no more than 300 km per day and take frequent breaks
- Wildlife
- Wildlife and roadkill are a hazard, especially at night and early morning
- Launceston Airport pick-ups
- Operators in the Arrivals Hall will not accept bookings for pick-up after 9pm
- Hobart Airport rental options
- 16 rental companies, seven of them in the forecourt in front of the terminal
Launceston to Hobart
200 km · 2 hours 20 minutes
Perth
about 15 km
A collection of about 40 historic buildings, 15 km south of Launceston.
Longford
Just outside town are Woolmers Estate and neighbouring Brickendon, which together form a World Heritage-listed convict site.
Campbell Town
The Red Bridge, described as Australia's oldest surviving brick arch bridge.
Ross
About 12 km from Campbell Town: Ross Bridge with 186 carvings, and the Ross Female Factory Historic Site.
Oatlands
About 85 km north of Hobart, with more than 150 colonial sandstone buildings.
- Hobart
How long is the drive from Launceston to Hobart?
The direct route is 200 km and 2 hours 20 minutes between the two cities, and the same figures apply in the other direction for anyone driving Hobart to Launceston. The Midland Highway itself is 176 km and about 2 hours 30 minutes, so allow up to about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Those are driving times without stops. Add time for fuel, lunch and any stop at Longford, Campbell Town, Ross or Oatlands. The official advice is to plan no more than 300 km a day with frequent breaks, and this direct route sits well inside that.
Launceston to Hobart via the east coast: what does it add?
Add up the legs. Launceston to Bicheno is 160 km (2 hours) via the Lake Leake Highway, and Bicheno to Hobart is 178 km (2 hours 25 minutes) via Sorell. That is 338 km and roughly 4 hours 25 minutes of driving before any stops, against 200 km on the Midland Highway.
Going out via St Helens is longer again. Launceston to St Helens via Scottsdale is 166 km (2 hours 35 minutes) and St Helens to Hobart via the Tasman Highway is 255 km (3 hours 30 minutes), a total of 421 km and about 6 hours 5 minutes. Both coastal routes are over the 300 km a day guide before you add walks or detours, so plan an overnight stop. The east coast guide covers the stops in detail.
Best stops on the Midland (Heritage) Highway
The towns on the Midland Highway are close together. Perth is about 15 km south of Launceston, followed by Longford, near the Woolmers Estate and Brickendon convict sites. Campbell Town is in the central part of the state, and Ross is 12 km further on with its bridge and carvings.
Oatlands is about 85 km north of Hobart and has more than 150 colonial sandstone buildings. Ross Bridge, with its 186 carvings, is the other big draw.
- Wildlife and roadkill are a hazard, especially at night and early morning, so a late-evening arrival into Hobart needs more care.
- Black ice and moss can make shaded roads slippery, especially in colder weather.
How do you book the airports in either direction?
For a north-to-south trip, select Launceston Airport as pickup and Hobart Airport as return. For south-to-north, start at Hobart Airport and set Launceston Airport as return. The search below starts north to south; swap those fields to compare the reverse quote. Keep the city or airport return exactly as shown on the agreement.
A different return location may carry a one-way fee and must be accepted by the rental company. Compare both full quotes, not just the daily rate. Check the permitted return time, fuel policy, excess, kilometre allowance, accepted card and security bond before you pay. Launceston Airport rental operators do not accept new pickup bookings after 9pm, which matters particularly if you fly in late for the southbound direction.
The direct highway is sealed, but an east coast detour changes the distance and day count. Confirm any restricted roads or ferry use against your own agreement. For an early flight, check the actual company return procedure at the airport rather than assuming a key drop.
Compare one-way cars: Launceston Airport to Hobart Airport
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Pickup and return points for this trip
Questions people ask
How far is Launceston from Hobart by road?
About 200 km and 2 hours 20 minutes by the direct route.
How long is the drive from Hobart to Launceston?
The same as the reverse: about 200 km and 2 hours 20 minutes with no stops. Plan longer if you want to stop at Ross, Campbell Town or Oatlands.
Can you drive from Launceston to Hobart via the east coast?
Yes, but it is much longer. Launceston to Bicheno is 160 km and Bicheno to Hobart is 178 km, about 338 km in total, which is over the 300 km a day guide once you add stops.
What are the best stops between Hobart and Launceston?
On the Midland (Heritage) Highway the main ones are Perth, Longford, Campbell Town, Ross and Oatlands. Ross Bridge and Oatlands' colonial sandstone buildings are the best known.
Can I pick up a hire car at Launceston Airport and drop it at Hobart Airport?
Availability and any one-way fee depend on the rental company, and the search results show it for your dates.
Is there a late pick-up at Launceston Airport?
Operators at Launceston Airport will not accept bookings for pick-up after 9pm, so contact your company if your flight is delayed.
Can I hire at Hobart Airport and return at Launceston Airport?
Search Hobart Airport as pickup and Launceston Airport as return. The supplier decides whether a car is offered and what one-way fee, if any, is quoted for those dates.
Does a Tasmanian one-way rental need a credit card?
Check the chosen supplier and car. Hertz, for example, accepts some debit cards at pickup but still reserves the expected rental cost and a security bond on an accepted card.