Darwin to Townsville: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Darwin from Townsville?

The distance from Darwin to Townsville is 1159.3 miles (1865.7 km) as the crow flies. Townsville is located ESE of Darwin. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1553.6 miles, taking about 27h 33min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 50min. Both are located in Australia — Darwin in Northern Territory and Townsville in Queensland.

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. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. 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 Darwin and Townsville. 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.