Kota Kinabalu to Tawau by bus
Tawau lies 279 km (173 mi) south-east of Kota Kinabalu, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
A coach takes about 5 h 15 min including stops, over roughly 340 km (211 mi) of road.
| Kota Kinabalu | Tawau | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Malaysia |
| Population | 500,421 | 372,615 |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
| Postal codes | 88000–88999 | 91000–91035 |
Where to book buses from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau
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Staying in Tawau
Live rooms and prices for Tawau are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Tawau
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 Tawau from Kota Kinabalu?
279 km (173 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Kota Kinabalu; by road roughly 340 km (211 mi).
How long does it take to get from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau by bus?
About 5 h 15 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Kota Kinabalu and Tawau?
No, both are on Asia/Kuching 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.