RoadAtlas
Stuart Highway — Australia — Desert
Australia & Pacific

Stuart Highway

Australia

Point-to-point
Adelaide Darwin

In short: Stuart Highway is a 2,835 km desert road trip in Australia, typically driven over 9 days, best in May-September. Highlights: Adelaide, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy.

Distance
2,835 km
Duration
9 days
Best Season
May-September
IconicModerateDesert

Australia’s legendary north-south spine, the Stuart Highway runs from Adelaide’s fringe to Darwin through red desert, relentless highway horizons, and iconic outback stops. It links Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, and Katherine, delivering a practical road trip through the country’s most expansive inland landscapes.

~5 refuels
~10 charges
Practical notes
Plan daylight-only driving, cap scheduled driving at eight hours a day and rest at least every two hours. Refuel at every planned outback town, carry water, food, offline maps, tyre repair equipment and remote communications, and give road trains space. Check SA Outback Roads and the NT Road Report (https://roadreport.nt.gov.au/) immediately before each leg. This direct highway plan excludes West MacDonnell, Barkly Highway and Litchfield detours.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Adelaide to Port Augusta

Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden · Standpipe Restaurant

Day 2Port Augusta to Coober Pedy

Woomera Heritage Centre and Missile Park · John's Pizza Bar and Restaurant

Day 3Coober Pedy to Erldunda

Coober Pedy-Erldunda transfer · Erldunda Roadhouse

Day 4Erldunda to Alice Springs

Alice Springs arrival · Epilogue Lounge

Day 5Alice Springs

Alice Springs Desert Park · Page 27 Cafe

Day 6Alice Springs to Tennant Creek via Karlu Karlu

Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles · Tennant Creek Memorial Club

Day 7Tennant Creek to Katherine

Tennant Creek-Katherine transfer · Katherine Country Club

Day 8Katherine and Nitmiluk

Nitmiluk Gorge cruise · Nitmiluk Cafe

Day 9Katherine to Darwin

Katherine-Darwin direct transfer · Hanuman Darwin

Stops along the route

Adelaide — Departure — Stuart Highway — Australia
Departure
Adelaide
Begin the direct Stuart Highway drive.
Hotels
Port Augusta — City — Stuart Highway — Australia
City
Port Augusta
First overnight and outback gateway.
Coober Pedy — City — Stuart Highway — Australia
City
Coober Pedy
Second overnight.
Erldunda — City — Stuart Highway — Australia
City
Erldunda
Break the long Coober Pedy-Alice sector.
Alice Springs — City — Stuart Highway — Australia
City
Alice Springs
Allow a separate Desert Park day.
Darwin — Arrival — Stuart Highway — Australia
Arrival
Darwin
Finish directly; Litchfield is not squeezed into this leg.
Hotels

Things to Do

Karlu Karlu and Tennant Creek — Landmark — Stuart Highway — Australia
Landmark
Karlu Karlu and Tennant Creek
Keep the boulders on the direct northbound leg.
Katherine and Nitmiluk — Nature — Stuart Highway — Australia
Nature
Katherine and Nitmiluk
Use a dedicated gorge day.
Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden — Botanic garden — Stuart Highway — Australia
Botanic garden
Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden
Visit only if arrival leaves opening-hours margin.
Woomera Heritage Centre and Missile Park — Roadside history stop — Stuart Highway — Australia
Roadside history stop
Woomera Heritage Centre and Missile Park
Use this as the single longer rest on the transfer.
Coober Pedy-Erldunda transfer — Long-distance transfer — Stuart Highway — Australia
Long-distance transfer
Coober Pedy-Erldunda transfer
Keep the day to scheduled two-hour rest and fuel stops.
Alice Springs arrival — Short town orientation — Stuart Highway — Australia
Short town orientation
Alice Springs arrival
Use the short transfer as a recovery day rather than detouring west.
Show 5 more
Alice Springs Desert Park — Desert wildlife and culture — Stuart Highway — Australia
Desert wildlife and culture
Alice Springs Desert Park
Give the park most of the day and check presentation times.
Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles — Conservation reserve — Stuart Highway — Australia
Conservation reserve
Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles
Make the direct-route reserve the selected break; follow cultural and heat advice.
Tennant Creek-Katherine transfer — Long-distance transfer — Stuart Highway — Australia
Long-distance transfer
Tennant Creek-Katherine transfer
Use named highway rest areas, refuel at Elliott and Mataranka as planned, and add no Barkly detour.
Nitmiluk Gorge cruise — Booked boat tour — Stuart Highway — Australia
Booked boat tour
Nitmiluk Gorge cruise
Prebook the cruise and check park and river conditions.
Katherine-Darwin direct transfer — Highway transfer — Stuart Highway — Australia
Highway transfer
Katherine-Darwin direct transfer
Drive directly with two-hour breaks; Litchfield requires a separate Darwin-based day.

Where to Eat

Standpipe Restaurant — Australian and Indian — Stuart Highway — Australia
Australian and Indian
Standpipe Restaurant
A well-placed Port Augusta dinner.
John's Pizza Bar and Restaurant — Pizza and Australian — Stuart Highway — Australia
Pizza and Australian
John's Pizza Bar and Restaurant
A Coober Pedy arrival meal; verify hours.
Erldunda Roadhouse — Roadhouse meals — Stuart Highway — Australia
Roadhouse meals
Erldunda Roadhouse
Reserve accommodation and reconfirm fuel and kitchen hours.
Epilogue Lounge — Modern Australian — Stuart Highway — Australia
Modern Australian
Epilogue Lounge
A correctly located Alice Springs dinner.
Page 27 Cafe — Cafe — Stuart Highway — Australia
Cafe
Page 27 Cafe
A central breakfast or lunch.
Tennant Creek Memorial Club — Club meals — Stuart Highway — Australia
Club meals
Tennant Creek Memorial Club
Confirm visitor access and kitchen hours.
Show 3 more
Katherine Country Club — Club meals — Stuart Highway — Australia
Club meals
Katherine Country Club
A correctly placed Katherine arrival dinner.
Nitmiluk Cafe — Cafe — Stuart Highway — Australia
Cafe
Nitmiluk Cafe
Use only during confirmed visitor-centre opening hours and carry a fallback meal.
Hanuman Darwin — Thai and Indian — Stuart Highway — Australia
Thai and Indian
Hanuman Darwin
Reserve a finish dinner after parking for the night.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Stuart Highway drive?

The Stuart Highway covers 2,835 km from start to finish.

How long does the Stuart Highway take to drive?

Most travellers spend 9 days on the Stuart Highway, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Stuart Highway?

The recommended season for the Stuart Highway is May-September.

Where does the Stuart Highway start and end?

The Stuart Highway runs from Adelaide to Darwin.

What are the main stops on the Stuart Highway?

The Stuart Highway passes through Adelaide, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy.

How difficult is the Stuart Highway to drive?

The Stuart Highway is rated moderate and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the Stuart Highway in a regular car?

Yes — the Stuart Highway is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.

How many fuel stops are needed on the Stuart Highway?

Plan around 5 refuels (or about 10 EV charges) along the Stuart Highway, based on its 2,835 km length.

Is the Stuart Highway safe to drive?

Plan daylight-only driving, cap scheduled driving at eight hours a day and rest at least every two hours. Refuel at every planned outback town, carry water, food, offline maps, tyre repair equipment and remote communications, and give road trains space. Check SA Outback Roads and the NT Road Report (https://roadreport.nt.gov.au/) immediately before each leg. This direct highway plan excludes West MacDonnell, Barkly Highway and Litchfield detours.

What scenic tier is the Stuart Highway?

The Stuart Highway is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.