Road trips
8 Best road trips from Adelaide - Your 2024 adventure guide
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Plan the adventure of a lifetime using our guide to the 8 best road trips from Adelaide. Our Camplify travel experts have compiled a range of ideas, from quick weekend getaways to week-long coastal cruises. Whether you’re after sun, sand, seafood or Shiraz, you’ll find it all on this list.
The open road, the promise of adventure, the thrill of discovery - is there anything quite like a camping road trip? From Adelaide's doorstep, a world of possibilities unfolds. Pristine beaches, rugged outback, rolling vineyards - they're all within reach. But first, you need the right wheels.
Enter**Camplify** - Australia's largest van sharing platform. Right here in Adelaide, you can hire the perfect affordable van for your journey from a local owner. Compact campervan or luxurious motorhome? Family-friendly caravan or 4WD for those off-road adventures? You can even **take your pet**with you on the road.
In this guide, we'll take you through 8 unforgettable road trips from
. For each, we'll share:
Must-see attractions and hidden gems
Ideal camping spots
Detailed route info
The perfect Camplify van for your adventure
Whether you're planning a weekend escape or an epic journey, we've got a trip (and a van) that's perfect for you.
The 8 Best Road Trips From Adelaide
1. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to Second Valley
Total distance: 90 km | Recommended days: 2 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Summer or Spring | Route Map
Feel like a sunny weekend in the sand and surf? Take a road trip from Adelaide to Second Valley Beach, a seaside paradise and one of South Australia's most photographed locations. Hire some snorkelling gear from the Jetty Store and explore an underwater world of leafy sea dragons and colourful fish at the Encounter Marine Park. If you'd prefer to stay dry, hire a kayak or paddleboard from the jetty and explore the secret caves and grottos that dot the shoreline. Stay at the highly-rated Rapid Bay Beach Campground for a nearby beachfront campsite.
Recommended van types:
Campervan: Perfect for this short trip. Easy to drive and park, ideal for couples or solo travelers exploring the coastline.
Pop top: A great option for families, providing extra space when parked but still easy to maneuver on coastal roads.
2. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to Clare Valley
Total distance: 296 km | Recommended days: 2 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Winter or Autumn | Route Map
This road trip from Adelaide is for all the lovers of fine food and wine. Leave the city behind and head straight for the rolling hills of the Barossa Valley, one of the world's best wine regions. Spend a day or two trying different Shirazes and lovely local produce in charming towns like McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills .
Then continue northward through the lush countryside surrounding the Clare Valley, home to another 50 cellar doors over a beautiful 40km stretch. Visit the oldest winery in the area, Sevenhill Cellars, and be sure to try the region's signature Riesling. On the way home, detour via the bubblegum-pink waters of Lake Bumbunga.
Recommended van types:
Campervan: Ideal for wine enthusiasts, easy to park at various cellar doors.
Motorhome: For those wanting more luxury and space to store wine purchases.
3. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to Innes National Park
Total distance: 290 km | Recommended days: 2 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Summer or Spring | Route Map
Innes National Park is one of the best road trips you can take from Adelaide if you enjoy coastal camping, outdoor activities and a touch of history. There's a heap of walking tracks that range in difficulty, however, one of the most popular is the easy 1-hour return walk to Cape Spencer Lighthouse. We also recommend the 4km Inneston historical walk, which passes through an abandoned mining town built in the early 1900s and takes about 2-hours to complete. If you don't feel like walking, most of the park's best attractions, including the famous Ethel Shipwreck, are easily accessible by 2WD vehicles.
Recommended van types:
Camper trailer: Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, easy to tow and set up in national park campgrounds.
Pop top: Offers a good balance of comfort and maneuverability for national park roads.
4WD Vehicle: While most attractions are accessible by 2WD, a 4WD can be useful for exploring some of the more remote areas of the park.
4. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
Total distance: 442 km | Recommended days: 3 to 5 days | Best time to do the route: Summer or Spring | Route Map
If you're a nature lover, Kangaroo Island is a must-do road trip from Adelaide. After a short ferry ride from the mainland, take a walk through Flinders Chase National Park. Here you'll find an abundance of wildlife like kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, goannas and even a colony of long-nosed fur seals.
Don't forget to visit photo-famous sights like Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, which have been worn by the weather and sea over millions of years. In the evening, dine and drink at the cellar doors and boutique restaurants in seaside towns like Kingscote and Penneshaw.
Recommended van types:
Motorhome: Ideal for longer stays, providing ample space and comfort for exploring the island.
Caravan: Great for families, can be delivered to a campsite on the island if you're not comfortable with ferry transport.
4WD Vehicle: While not necessary for most of the island, a 4WD can be useful for accessing some of the more remote beaches and wilderness areas.
5. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to Flinders Ranges
Total distance: 494 km | Recommended days: 3 to 5 days | Best time to do the route: Winter or Autumn | Route Map
If you want a taste of the outback without travelling too far from Adelaide, try a road trip to the remarkably rugged Flinders Ranges. Ride the historic Pichi Richi Railway on a century-old steam train or take a guided Aboriginal walking tour to learn about local indigenous traditions and culture. For a unique dinner experience, head to the Prairie Hotel and ask for their signature dish, the Feral Mixed Grill (emu, kangaroo, goat and camel!). Stay at the Wilpena Pound Resort and watch the sunset over this ancient landscape from the comfort of your outback campsite.
Recommended Van Types:
Campervan: Good for navigating potentially rougher roads in the outback.
Expander: Offers extra space when parked but still manageable on outback roads.
4WD Vehicle: Highly recommended for this trip, as it allows you to explore the more rugged and remote areas of the Flinders Ranges.
6. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to the Eyre Peninsula
Total distance: 1,012 km | Recommended days: 4 to 6 days | Best time to do the route: Summer or Spring | Route Map
The rugged coastline of the Eyre Peninsula is home to some of the best seafood and aquatic attractions in all of Australia. Start in Whyalla, one of the only places in the world where every year between May and August, thousands of Giant Cuttlefish gather to mate. Continue to the artistic country town of Tumby Bay, where the streets are a living art gallery and grain silos serve as giant canvases.
Pop down to Port Lincoln for the opportunity to swim with great white sharks or visit the seaside paradise that is Lincoln National Park. For a detailed guide on this part of the journey, read our Adelaide to Port Lincoln road trip guide.
Recommended van types:
Motorhome: Comfortable for longer journeys, with space for storing fishing gear and seafood purchases.
Caravan: Ideal for families or those wanting more space, suitable for longer stays at coastal campsites.
4WD Vehicle: Useful for accessing some of the more remote beaches and fishing spots along the peninsula.
7. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to Melbourne
Total distance: 962 km | Recommended days: 4 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: Summer or Spring | Route Map
The Great Ocean Road between Adelaide and**Melbourne** was built by returned soldiers in the early 1900s and today serves as a memorial to the lives lost during WW1. It is one of the best road trips from Adelaide and home to a whole heap of amazing sights such as Twelve Apostles , Loch Ard Gorge , London Bridge and the Great Otway National Park. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of time to stop and relax at famous coastal towns like Torquay and Mt Gambier (famous for its Blue Lake**).**
For a more detailed guide on this spectacular journey, check out our Adelaide to Melbourne via Great Ocean Road guide .
Recommended van types:
Motorhome: Comfortable for long-distance driving, with amenities for extended time on the road.
Expander: Good balance of space and ease of towing for the varied terrain of this route.
Campervan: Easy to maneuver on the winding coastal roads, ideal for couples or solo travelers.
8. The Best Road Trip from Adelaide to Uluru
Total distance: 1,705 km | Recommended days: 4 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: Winter or Autumn | Route Map
If you want to see the heart of the Australian outback coming from Adelaide, you can't beat an Adelaide to Uluru road trip. Start by visiting iconic desert towns like Woomera and Coober Pedy, where the people live and work underground. Tour an underground church or a working opal mine before ascending to the surface and visiting the lunar-like landscape of the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park. Stop at the Painted Desert Lookout before continuing to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). If you want to see even more, add an extra day and visit Kings Canyon and Glen Helen Gorge on the way to Alice Springs.
Recommended Van Types:
Motorhome: Ideal for long outback journeys, providing comfort and ample storage.
Campervan: For those comfortable with a more rugged experience, easier to maneuver on outback roads.
Toy hauler: Perfect if you want to bring along ATVs or bikes for exploring the outback.
4WD Vehicle: Highly recommended for this outback adventure, allowing you to explore off-road areas and providing better handling on unsealed roads.
For those looking to extend their journey even further, consider our Adelaide to Brisbane road trip guide for an epic cross-country adventure.
Ready to explore Adelaide and beyond? Hire a van from Camplify
Start your Adelaide adventure with Camplify today. Hiring your ideal campervan, motorhome, caravan, and even a towing vehicle from a local owner is easy and convenient. Here's how it work:
Browse available vans : Visit our Adelaide page to see vans from local owners near you.
Request to book : Once you've found your perfect van, request to book without any upfront payment.
Verify your identity : Complete a quick identity verification process for security.
Complete payment : Once your booking is accepted by the owner, complete the payment to secure your rental.
Start your adventure : Pick up your van and hit the road for your Adelaide road trip!
For more details about the hiring and handover process,, check out our How It Works page.
Find your van for your perfect getaway from Adelaide
The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.