Driving from Cairns to Townsville
Townsville lies 283 km (176 mi) south-east of Cairns, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 3 h 50 min without stops, over roughly 345 km (214 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
Open Townsville in Google Maps
| Cairns | Townsville | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 153,075 | 201,313 |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) |
| Postal codes | 4870 | 4810 |
Where to book car hire from Cairns to Townsville
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 Townsville
Live rooms and prices for Townsville are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Townsville
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 Townsville from Cairns?
283 km (176 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Cairns; by road roughly 345 km (214 mi).
How long does it take to get from Cairns to Townsville by car?
About 3 h 50 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Cairns and Townsville?
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.