Driving from Sydney to Canberra
Canberra lies 247 km (153 mi) south-west of Sydney, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 3 h 21 min without stops, over roughly 301 km (187 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Sydney | Canberra | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 5.6 million | 367,752 |
| Elevation | 58 m (190 ft) | 571 m (1,873 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Sydney) | UTC+10 (Australia/Sydney) |
| Postal codes | 1001–2001 | 2600–2601 |
Where to book car hire from Sydney to Canberra
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 Canberra
Live rooms and prices for Canberra are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Canberra
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 Canberra from Sydney?
247 km (153 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Sydney; by road roughly 301 km (187 mi).
How long does it take to get from Sydney to Canberra by car?
About 3 h 21 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sydney and Canberra?
No, both are on Australia/Sydney 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 13 September 2026. Hotel 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.