Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu by bus
Kota Kinabalu lies 271 km (169 mi) north-west of Lahad Datu, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
A coach takes about 5 h 7 min including stops, over roughly 331 km (206 mi) of road.
Open Kota Kinabalu in Google Maps
| Lahad Datu | Kota Kinabalu | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Malaysia |
| Population | 105,622 | 500,421 |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
| Postal codes | 91100–91150 | 88000–88999 |
Where to book buses from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu
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Staying in Kota Kinabalu
Our booking partner lists 1,131+ places to stay in Kota Kinabalu (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 624 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (258), and 12 are five-star. Across 332 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.2 out of 10. Guests have left 149,522 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Kota Kinabalu
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 Kota Kinabalu from Lahad Datu?
271 km (169 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Lahad Datu; by road roughly 331 km (206 mi).
How long does it take to get from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu by bus?
About 5 h 7 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Lahad Datu and Kota Kinabalu?
No, both are on Asia/Kuching at the moment.
Where can I stay in Kota Kinabalu?
Our booking partner lists 1,131+ places to stay in Kota Kinabalu, bookable on this site.
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.