Planning an Adelaide to Melbourne drive as part of your holiday? It’s a great trip to do in a motorhome, giving you the flexibility to travel at your own pace, stop for a cuppa along the way and have everything you need close at hand.
The big question is which way to go: take the more direct inland route, or allow extra time to head towards the coast and experience the iconic Great Ocean Road?
If you’re looking for a more direct route from Adelaide to Melbourne, then head inland and you can take in the Grampians, explore some of Victoria’s historic goldfields and travel through classic Australian country towns. Add in a few extra days and head towards the coast instead, where you’ll find beaches, rugged coastline, the Twelve Apostles and the forests of the Otways along the way.
Your choice may simply come down to what you enjoy doing on holiday and how much time you have available for your trip. We’ll take a look at the Adelaide to Melbourne distance and driving times for each route, along with what you can expect along the way.
What Is the Distance from Adelaide to Melbourne?
The Adelaide to Melbourne distance will depend on which route you decide to take.
The more direct inland route is around 730 kilometres. Depending on the route you choose, you could spend some time around Halls Gap and the Grampians, or explore towns such as Ballarat before heading on to Melbourne.
Take the coastal route and you’re looking at around 1,000 kilometres. Along the way you could visit Mount Gambier and its famous Blue Lake, explore some of the seaside towns around Port Fairy and Warrnambool, and perhaps spend a little time around Apollo Bay before continuing towards Melbourne.
Of course, those distances can easily increase once you start adding detours, and that’s all part of the fun of a motorhome road trip. You might discover a hidden gem along the way, stumble upon a favourite spot or simply decide to stay an extra night somewhere. Having that flexibility is one of the things we love about travelling by motorhome, and it’s why the kilometres only tell part of the story when deciding how much time to allow for your trip.
How Long Does It Take to Drive from Adelaide to Melbourne?
The Adelaide to Melbourne driving time will depend on the route you choose. Take the more direct inland route and you’re looking at around 12 hours of actual driving time, while travelling via the coast will add several more hours behind the wheel.
Of course, these are driving times only and don’t include fuel stops, lunch breaks or any sightseeing along the way. The driving hours are really only part of the equation. How long you actually allow for the trip is a very different question.
How Many Days Should You Allow?
How long is a piece of string? The beauty of a motorhome holiday is that there really isn’t one answer to how long an Adelaide to Melbourne road trip should take.
Your available time will obviously play a part. Work commitments, school holidays or fitting this section into a longer Australian motorhome holiday may determine the number of days you have to play with. The time of year can make a difference too, as can the pace you enjoy travelling at. Some people are happy moving on most mornings, while others would much rather settle in for a couple of nights before hitting the road once again.
Whichever route you choose, we’d recommend allowing at least seven days for your Adelaide to Melbourne road trip. There’s simply too much to see and do along the way to rush it, and seven days gives you a good starting point for planning your trip.
If you can stretch that to 10 to 14 days, even better. You’ll have more time for detours, longer stops and those places you decide you’re not quite ready to leave yet. Some of our retired clients allow two to three weeks for this trip, which gives you an idea of just how much time you can spend exploring between the two cities.
Ultimately, how long you take comes down to the holiday you want to have. Part of what we do at Gallivanting Oz is help you work through exactly that, taking into account the time you have available, the places you’d like to visit and the pace you enjoy travelling at.
Highlights Along the Route
Adelaide to Melbourne via the Inland Route
If you enjoy country towns, open landscapes and getting away from the busier coastal areas, the inland route has plenty going for it.
The inland route takes you east from Adelaide through towns including Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill and Horsham before continuing towards Melbourne. Much of the journey takes you through farming country and wide-open rural landscapes.
Around western Victoria, and particularly if you detour towards the Grampians, the scenery becomes much more dramatic, with mountain ranges, bushland, lookouts, walking trails and national parks to explore.
Why Choose the Coastal Route?
If sea air, coastal towns and ocean views are more your thing, then you’ll probably prefer heading south towards the coast.
The Adelaide to Melbourne coastal route takes you through South Australia’s Limestone Coast before crossing into Victoria and eventually joining the Great Ocean Road. Along the way you’ll find places such as Robe, Mount Gambier, Port Fairy and Warrnambool, with beaches, fishing towns and some spectacular stretches of coastline to enjoy.
Once you reach the Great Ocean Road, the scenery changes again as the road winds its way between the coast, cliffs and surrounding bushland towards Melbourne.
We’ve already put together a detailed Adelaide to Melbourne scenic touring route, including our suggested stops and places to visit along the way, so have a look at that when you’re ready to start planning.
Why the Coastal Route Works So Well by Motorhome
A coastal road trip and motorhome travel are a great combination. With so many beaches, lookouts, walking trails and small towns along the way, having your home on wheels with you makes it easy to stop and enjoy them as you go.
You’ve also got everything close at hand. Make some lunch when you find a great spot to stop, put the kettle on for a break or grab your walking shoes and head off to explore. There’s no need to plan your day around where you’re going to eat or constantly unpack and repack as you move from one place to the next.
The Adelaide to Melbourne coastal route is particularly good for this style of travel because there can be a lot to see within a relatively short distance. The Great Ocean Road is a perfect example. You may not cover a huge number of kilometres in a day, but once you start stopping at lookouts, heading down to beaches and taking a few walks, it can easily turn into a full day of exploring.
If motorhome travel is new to you, our motorhome and campervan hire guide has some useful information to help when choosing your vehicle and getting ready for your trip.
Inland or Coastal: Which Route Should You Choose?
So, which one would we choose? There really isn’t a right answer. If country towns, open landscapes, national parks and mountain scenery are your thing, you may find yourself leaning towards the inland route. If you’d rather have beaches, coastal towns and ocean views, then heading towards the coast will probably win you over.
The time you have available will naturally come into it too. The inland route is more direct, while the coastal route generally involves more time on the road, so keep that in mind when working out how much you want to fit into your holiday.
- Inland route: around 730 kilometres, about 12 hours of driving time, with the Grampians, goldfields and country towns along the way.
- Coastal route: around 1,000 kilometres, several more hours behind the wheel, via the Limestone Coast, Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles.
And if you really can’t decide, there is another option. Travel one way inland and come back along the coast. You’ll get to experience both routes and see two very different sides of this part of Australia. If you’re also looking at a longer crossing later, our Adelaide to Perth drive guide is a useful companion for planning the next leg.
Planning Your Adelaide to Melbourne Motorhome Trip
With motorhome hire available from both Adelaide and Melbourne, you can travel one way between the two cities or include them as part of a longer Australian road trip.
At Gallivanting Oz, we work with a range of Australia’s major motorhome and campervan companies, so we can compare the different vehicles, layouts and rates available for your travel dates. We can also share our experience to help you work out what will suit your trip, from choosing the right motorhome to allowing enough time to enjoy the journey.
Take a look at our motorhome and campervan hire options or get in touch with our friendly team and let us know what you have in mind.
