adelaide to brisbane driving

Driving from Adelaide to Brisbane is a long but doable slog of roughly 2,000 km, about 20–22 hours behind the wheel if you behave. The quickest inland run is usually the Sturt Highway to the Newell, then across to Brisbane—flat, fast, and full of road trains; the coastal detour is prettier but adds hundreds of kilometres. Plan it over 2–3 days, stop often, and watch for roos at dusk; they’re not great at reading speed limits. Fuel maths: at 7–10 L/100 km you’ll burn roughly 140–200 L, so budget about AUD 300–400 depending on prices and your right foot. Summer heat can be brutal through the interior, so carry water and check tyre pressures; in wet season, keep an eye on flood advisories. There are no mandatory permits, but some QLD corridors have occasional roadworks and variable limits—keep the maps live and the expectations realistic.