Best road trips in South Australia

Looking for the best road trips in South Australia? With huge stretches of picture-perfect coast, rugged cliff faces that drop into endless valleys and an assortment of delicious wines just waiting to be sampled, South Australia is the perfect place to pick up a campervan and hit the road exploring.

Whether you’re planning to check out the Flinders Ranges, Barossa Valley, Adelaide or elsewhere, we have found the perfect adventures for you to set off on. Load up the van and head off on one of these five South Australian road trips today!

Best road trips in South Australia: 5 routes you can’t miss

1. The best route from Adelaide to Port Lincoln

Total distance: 741km (one way) | Recommended days: 7 to 10 days | Best time to do the route: between June and August | Route Map

It’s time to tackle rugged coastal cliffs and adventurous sand dunes, starting in Adelaide and making your way to Port Broughton, Melrose, Port Augusta, Cowell, Eyre Peninsula and then arriving at Port Lincoln.

Adelaide is the perfect spot to base yourself and soak up a little culture before you hit the open road. Head to the Art Gallery of South Australia, Ayers House Museum, The South Australian Museum, or head to the National Wine Centre for a sampling of their local delicacies.

Next stop, Port Broughton, where you can enjoy a little R&R by the seaside. Feast on some of the local snapper and even take the Port Broughton historical walk to discover a little more about the area.

Melrose is the perfect stop to take a hike and see some incredible views in the Flinders Ranges. Head to Mount Remarkable National Park and choose from a number of trails that will take you to the peak.

Port Augusta is known as the entry point for the outback, where you can explore the Aboriginal history of the area. If you’re in search of a thrill, you can even swim with cuttlefish between June and August.

Cowell will provide you with idyllic sheltered waters for swimming, while the Eyre Peninsula is known as Australia’s seafood hub!

End your trip in Port Lincoln, where you can test that sense of adventure with some yachting, windsurfing, kayaking and more.

Want to learn more about this route? Check out our guide to the ultimate Adelaide to Port Lincoln road trip.

2. The best route from Adelaide to Adelaide Hills

Total distance: 1,561km | Recommended days: 9 to 14 days | Best time to do the route: between September and February | Route Map

Want to soak up a little bit of everything on the one road trip? Then this is the one for you! Start in Adelaide and make your way to McLaren Vale, Cape Jervis, Kangaroo Island, Victor Harbour, Robe, Mount Gambier, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills.

Just 40 minutes from Adelaide, hit the 8km shiraz trail in McLaren Vale and enjoy some great wines. There are more than 80 cellar doors to check out.

Head to Cape Jervis for a little beach time, or head to the Deep Creek Conservation Park for some hiking. From here, it’s just a ferry ride across to the famous Kangaroo Island and check out the incredible wildlife.

Victor Harbour is the place for wine and adventure, and you can even go whale watching between May and October. In Robe, you have more than 12km of sand to explore. Make your way to Mount Gambier and see the Umpherston Sinkhole, and stay for nighttime to say hello to the possums who come out to play.

Barossa Valley is well-known for its amazing food and wine, so you really want to take your time at this stop. Drive the Barossa Heritage Trail as well and learn all about mining history.

Then head on to Clare Valley before making your way to Adelaide Hills to get out in nature with the Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Walk.

Want to learn more about this route? Check out our guide to the ultimate South Australia road trip.

3. The best route from Adelaide to Uluru

Total distance: 1,705km | Recommended days: 4 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: between April and August | Route Map

This one takes you through the heart of South Australia and across the Northern Territory border to Uluru. So while it’s not all in South Australia, it takes you to a magical place that should feature on everyone’s bucket list. And it’s so easy to make the trip from Adelaide to Uluru, visiting some amazing places in the process!

Start in Adelaide and head to Woomera, Coober Pedy and all the way to Uluru. You can stop off for a night or two along the way, or keep driving and spend even more time at your destination.

Welcome to the Australian outback. Woomera and Coober Pedy will offer you the perfect insight into outback desert towns. You can take an underground tour of a church or a working opal mine and really immerse yourself in the culture of the area.

Make some time for the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, which is a registered aboriginal heritage park. There are two lookout points for you to really see the wilderness that stretches out in all directions.

Make a stop at the Painted Desert Lookout for some more spectacular views, before continuing to Uluru. It’s one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, and also a deeply spiritual place. You won’t forget your visit anytime soon!

Want to learn more about this route? Check out our guide to the best road trips from Adelaide.

4. The best route on Limestone Coast

Total distance: 1,107km (one way) | Recommended days: 5 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: between September and March | Route Map

Soak up the best Mother Nature has to offer with a stunning trip along the Limestone Coast. Start in Adelaide and make your way to Victor Harbor, Robe, Mount Gambier, then head back via Coorong National Park before returning to Adelaide.

Take a drive through the Fleurieu Peninsula and enjoy a spot of wine and nature, before continuing on to Victor Harbor. Hop on a boat tour and check out the fur seals, sea lions and dolphins in the water! You can also take a horse-drawn tram.

Continue onto Robe where you can feast on some delicious Seafood. Be sure to make a booking at the popular Sails and get ready to indulge. And if you’ve hired a 4WD campervan, you can then take a drive over Long Beach.

Next up, Mount Gambier is a stunning place to visit, with two extinct volcano craters and an amazing lake that changes colour throughout the year. There’s plenty of natural beauty to take in, so don’t rush this stop!

Finally, make the trip to Coorong National Park on the way back, which is 150km waiting to be explored. You can do some walking trails, kayak, 4wd or even jump on a cruise to see everything on offer.

5. The best route along Mighty Murray Way

Total distance: 390km (one way) | Recommended days: 4 days | Best time to do the route: between August and November | Route Map

The Murray River flows more than 2,500km and you can travel alongside it on this amazing road trip. Start in Adelaide and travel to Goolwa, Waikerie and then onto Renmark.

Make your way to Goolwa, an old river port town where the Murray River meets the sea. You can jump on a cruise to check out the surrounding areas, where you can spend your time spotting birds, fish and other animals. You can also make the drive to check the Currency Creek and Langhorne Creek wine regions in the area.

On your way to Waikare, head to Monarto Safari Park, which is the largest open-range safari park in the world, with more than 500 animals for you to spot. Then head to Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre, where you can enjoy food, wine and nature in one.

Final stop, head to Renmark, where you can take a walking or cruising tour of the area and really see the surrounding environment.

Organise your South Australia road trip

We've done the hard yards to bring you five amazing road trips in South Australia that won’t disappoint. After sorting out campervan hire in Adelaide, you can start ticking off that to-do list of yours and checking out everything South Australia has to offer!

From hiking adventures that will reward you with some stunning views, to sitting back and sampling the local wine and produce while you enjoy a little R&R, there really is something for everyone to enjoy. All you have to do is get driving!

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