Day trip from Sandakan to Tawau
Tawau lies 179 km (111 mi) south of Sandakan, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 179 km (111 mi) apart, Tawau is a realistic day trip from Sandakan: about 2 h 55 min each way by road.
| Sandakan | Tawau | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Malaysia |
| Population | 439,050 | 372,615 |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
| Postal codes | 90000–90741 | 91000–91035 |
Where to book tours and tickets in Tawau
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 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 Sandakan?
179 km (111 mi) in a straight line, south of Sandakan; by road roughly 219 km (136 mi).
How long does it take to get from Sandakan to Tawau by road?
About 2 h 55 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sandakan 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.