where to stop when driving from melbourne to adelaide

Melbourne to Adelaide via the Western/Dukes Highway is about 730–760 km and 8–9 hours, so plan civilised pit stops before your legs stage a mutiny.

Easy breaks: Ballarat, Ararat or Stawell early; Horsham for lunch; then Nhill, Bordertown and Keith as the energy drink wears off; Tailem Bend or Murray Bridge for the home stretch.

Got time? Detour to Halls Gap in the Grampians for views and a pie that tastes like victory.

Fuel and food are frequent, but don’t be a hero—stop every two hours, swap drivers, stretch, hydrate.

If you fancy scenery over speed, the Great Ocean Road route is gorgeous but adds hours—save it for when the schedule isn’t cracked by a ruler.