Driving from Brisbane to Cairns
Cairns lies 1,390 km (864 mi) north-west of Brisbane, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 18 h 50 min without stops, over roughly 1,695 km (1,053 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Brisbane | Cairns | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 2.8 million | 153,075 |
| Elevation | 27 m (89 ft) | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) |
| Postal codes | 4000–9015 | 4870 |
Where to book car hire from Brisbane to Cairns
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.
Staying in Cairns
Live rooms and prices for Cairns are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Cairns
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Cairns from Brisbane?
1,390 km (864 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Brisbane; by road roughly 1,695 km (1,053 mi).
How long does it take to get from Brisbane to Cairns by car?
About 18 h 50 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Brisbane and Cairns?
No, both are on Australia/Brisbane at the moment.
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.