Cairns to Darwin: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Cairns from Darwin?

The distance from Cairns to Darwin is 1044 miles (1680.1 km) as the crow flies. Darwin is located WNW of Cairns. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1688.8 miles, taking about 30h 27min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 36min. Both are located in Australia — Cairns in Queensland and Darwin in Northern Territory.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Cairns and Darwin. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.