Car hire and driving in Aktau
Driving distances to the cities around, the rules that change at the border, and where to compare rental prices.
In Kazakhstan traffic drives on the right. Picking up at SCO means 23 km (14 mi) into the centre before the trip starts. The emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648794 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648798.
Drives from Aktau
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aktau to Zhanaozen | Kazakhstan | 141 km (87 mi) | about 2 h 9 min |
| Aktau to Atyrau | Kazakhstan | 387 km (240 mi) | about 5 h 54 min |
| Aktau to Oral | Kazakhstan | 844 km (524 mi) | about 12 h 52 min |
| Aktau to Aktobe | Kazakhstan | 866 km (538 mi) | about 13 h 12 min |
| Aktau to Kyzylorda | Kazakhstan | 1,148 km (713 mi) | about 17 h 30 min |
| Aktau to Rudnyy | Kazakhstan | 1,357 km (843 mi) | about 20 h 42 min |
| Aktau to Zhezqazghan | Kazakhstan | 1,360 km (845 mi) | about 20 h 44 min |
| Aktau to Turkistan | Kazakhstan | 1,377 km (855 mi) | about 21 h |
| Aktau to Kostanay | Kazakhstan | 1,400 km (870 mi) | about 21 h 21 min |
| Aktau to Shymkent | Kazakhstan | 1,503 km (934 mi) | about 22 h 55 min |
| Aktau to Taraz | Kazakhstan | 1,633 km (1,015 mi) | about 24 h 55 min |
| Aktau to Kokshetau | Kazakhstan | 1,709 km (1,062 mi) | about 26 h 4 min |
| Aktau to Astana | Kazakhstan | 1,731 km (1,076 mi) | about 26 h 24 min |
| Aktau to Karagandy | Kazakhstan | 1,797 km (1,117 mi) | about 27 h 24 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Where to compare car hire
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Common questions
Which side of the road do they drive on in Aktau?
The right, as everywhere in Kazakhstan.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.