Adelaide to Alice Springs Road Trip | An Outback Itinerary

Road-tripping across Australia's starkly beautiful outback and into the Red Centre, you'll discover spectacular rock formations, underground towns, and Uluru—one of the world's most iconic natural landmarks, recognised for its geological uniqueness and deep Indigenous cultural and spiritual significance.

The endless stretches of long, straight roads, wide-open desert landscapes, vivid red sand, and sparkling salt lakes, from Adelaide to Uluru, are breathtaking, and sealed roads make this epic drive a breeze. The Explorers Way road trip (which begins in Port Augusta) is also one of the best ways to experience the Australian outback in a motorhome. Our recommended camp stops are RV-friendly, and with proper planning, it's a safe and seamless road trip you'll never forget.

Distance: Adelaide to Alice Springs

Distance: ~1500km

Route: Follows the Stuart Highway (which is fully sealed and suitable for 2WD and motorhomes)

Suggested Travel Period: ~13 days minimum

Itinerary Travel Tips

Before you begin driving from Adelaide to Alice Springs, check road conditions, fuel stops, and weather updates—especially in remote areas—to stay safe, well-prepared, and make the most of your journey.

• Road Conditions: The Entire Stuart Highway is sealed and safe for 2WD and large vehicles.
• Fuel Stops: Available every 200–300 km. Always fill up when you can, especially between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy.
• Accommodation: Caravan and motorhome parks are available in all major towns. There are also many free or low-cost roadside rest areas available.
• Packing: Pack for the conditions, weather and activities—and make sure you bring emergency gear and repair kits.
• Regularly inspect your RV for maintenance: Especially on outback stretches between Coober Pedy, Erldunda, and Uluru, where roads can be rough.
• Camping Options: Freedom camping is available in parts of SA and NT, but check local laws.
• Between Stops: The stretch from Port Augusta to Coober Pedy is long and remote—be sure to carry extra water, fuel, and food.
• Plan kid-friendly stops: National parks like the Flinders Ranges and wildlife spots near Coober Pedy are perfect for breaking up the trip.
• Wildlife on Roads: Especially at dawn/dusk—drive cautiously.
• Heat & Weather: It gets extremely hot in summer; ensure your motorhome's cooling systems are reliable.
• Limited Services: Phone signals can be patchy—download offline maps while you're in range and let someone know your travel plans.

Adelaide to Alice Springs Drive: 13-Day Itinerary Snapshot

• Day 1: Adelaide
• Day 2: Adelaide to Port Augusta
• Day 3: Port Augusta to Coober Pedy
• Day 4: Coober Pedy
• Day 5: Coober Pedy to Uluru
• Day 6: Uluru
• Day 8: Alice Springs

Alice Springs to Adelaide - Your Return Journey

• Day 9: Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
• Day 10: Kings Canyon to Kulgera
• Day 11: Kulgera to Coober Pedy
• Day 12: Coober Pedy to Flinders Ranges
• Day 13: Wilpena Pound to Adelaide

Across the Outback: 8 Days from Adelaide to Alice Springs

Begin your journey in Adelaide and travel through Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, and remote Marla before crossing into the NT. Marvel at Uluru's magic, explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, then continue to Alice Springs via Glen Helen Gorge, Ellery Creek, and Simpsons Gap—an unforgettable outback adventure packed with colour, culture, and contrast.

Day 1: Adelaide: The City of Churches

University of Adelaide, Adelaide

Stay: Discovery Parks – Adelaide Beachfront, Semaphore Park, SA 5029

Road Trip Tips: Stock up on fresh food, water, fuel, and camping supplies in Adelaide before you leave, as this is a semi-remote adventure—you need to be prepared!

Adelaide is a great city to stay in and explore, with stunning churches like St Peter's Cathedral and the historic St Francis Xavier's. If you're a foodie, head to Adelaide Central Market. Open Tuesday to Saturday, it features over 80 stalls where you can purchase supplies for your trip—especially bread, local wine, and gourmet snacks. If you're keen to hit the road straightaway, then head to Port Augusta. It's also known as the Crossroads of Australia, and it's where the Explorers Way begins.

Day 2: Adelaide to Port Augusta: Gateway To The Outback

Red Cliff Lookout, Port Augusta

Distance: ~309kms

Drive Time: ~3.5 hrs

Stay: Discovery Parks - Port Augusta, Cnr Highway One & Stokes Terrace, Port Augusta West SA 5700

Road Trip Tips: Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for pink salt lakes (especially between Lochiel and Port Wakefield)—they're a great photo opp from your motorhome window!

Your first destination from Adelaide is Port Augusta, a former seaport town located just over three hours away. Located on the edge of the desert, with views of the Flinders Ranges, it's a stunning place to start your trip. Before then, go inland on the Main North Road through the Clare Valley. It's a 30-minute detour, but well worth it if you're a fan of boutique wines, as the area is renowned for its high-quality Riesling and fine Shiraz.

Once you've stocked up, head to Port Augusta, which is your last chance to see the ocean for a while! When you're there, visit Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout. Walk along the cliffs and soak up the stunning views of the ranges and the red cliffs. Combine your walk with a visit to the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, featuring native arid-zone plants, scenic walks, and educational displays.

Day 3: Port Augusta to Coober Pedy: The Underground Town

Lake Hart, South Australia

Distance: 540 km

Drive Time: ~6 hrs 

Stay: Oasis Tourist Park, Hutchison St, Coober Pedy SA 5723

Road Trip Tips: Fuel up, carry extra water, and stock snacks—it's a long, remote stretch with limited stops, high heat, and unpredictable conditions.

You'll be on the road for around six hours today and headed for an epic destination. Coober Pedy is renowned as the opal capital of the world, and a Fun Fact—many of Coober Pedy's residents actually live underground! Along the way, you'll feel like you've entered another world,  including in the ex-military town of Woomera.

Woomera was once a top-secret location hidden from the world, and today features a vast, dazzling salt pan known as Lake Hart. Once you reach Coober Pedy, prepare for a moon-like landscape and underground bars, hotels, churches and accommodation. It's memorable! Make sure you visit the Catacomb Church and Faye's Underground Home.

Day 4: Coober Pedy: Opal Mines & Desert Landscapes

Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park

Spend your day in the unique and unforgettable town of Coober Pedy. Explore the stunning desert landscapes and vibrant rock formations at Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park and the colourful Anna Creek Painted Hills. Discover the fascinating history of opal mining at the Union Opal Mine and Museum. For some fun, try a round at the famous Opal Fields Golf Club—an unusual course set in the desert. After a day full of adventure and discovery, be sure to get a (really early) night's sleep. Tomorrow, you've got a big day of travel ahead—at least eight hours, so buckle up!

Day 5: Coober Pedy to Uluru: Subterranean Caves & Sacred Culture

Mount Conner Lookout

Distance: 760 km

Drive Time: 8 hrs

Stay: Ayers Rock Campground (Yulara), 173 Yulara Dr, Yulara NT 0872 (20 km/30 mins from Uluru)

Road Trip Tips: Along the way, there are a couple of great roadhouses to stop at for a refuel, stretch your legs, and meet the locals, such as the iconic Kulgera Roadhouse.

Today is one of the longest legs of your road trip, where you'll enter the NT and head even closer to Uluru. Just 25 kilometres north of Coober Pedy, stop at the Kanku-Breakaways, which were once a vast inland sea. As you drive, you'll be amazed by this imposing landscape that stretches far off into the horizon.

The Northern Territory border makes for a great photo stop before you cross into the Red Centre, the spiritual heart of Australia. The hub town for Uluru begins at Erldunda. Along the way, you'll pass the Mount Conner Lookout. It looks quite similar to Mount Conner, so it is locally known as "Fooluru" as many take this for the real thing!  Stop here and stretch your legs. 

Yulara is the gateway to World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. If you've timed your journey right, you may even experience the magic of Uluru at sunset, before heading back to your motorhome camp for the night, which is around 30 minutes from Uluru.

Day 6: Uluru: Awe-inspiring Ayers Rock

Sunset at Uluru

Stay: Ayers Rock Campground (Yulara), 173 Yulara Dr, Yulara NT 0872

Rise before the sun to experience sunrise over Uluru before spending the day exploring the area. We recommend walking around Uluru, exploring the Field of Light art installation, or visiting Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas —a group of large, ancient rock formations located 20 minutes west of Uluru. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta are sacred sites of great importance to the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people, the traditional owners of the land.

Learn the history of the area and its people at the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre. Explore the park on one of the designated bushwalks, like the Uluru base walk, Mala walk, and Walpa Gorge walk. Another option is to explore the desert landscape on a camel, or take a ranger-guided Uluru tour and savour some bush tucker cuisine.

Day 7: Uluru to Alice Springs: Mparntwe Magic

Glen Helen Gorge

Distance: ~470 km

Drive Time: ~5 hrs

Stay: Alice Springs Tourist Park, 70 Larapinta Drive, Araluen NT 0870

Road Trip Tips: Fuel up at Yulara before leaving, as roadhouses are few and far between. Start early to avoid driving in the outback heat or low-light conditions.

Wave goodbye to Uluru and continue your unforgettable journey north toward Alice Springs. Along the way, make time to explore the stunning natural attractions of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Stop at Glen Helen Gorge for towering red cliffs and swimming holes, take a dip in the tranquil waters of Ellery Creek Big Hole, and marvel at the striking rock formations of Simpsons Gap. All of these iconic locations offer a unique snapshot of the region's rugged beauty and geological history, making this stretch of the road one of the most scenic and rewarding parts of the entire trip.

Day 8: Alice Springs: More Mparntwe Magic

Anzac Hill Lookout

Alice Springs is the heart of the Red Centre, offering rich Indigenous culture, outback adventure, and striking desert landscapes. The Alice Springs Desert Park is a must-visit destination to experience the diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and rich Aboriginal culture of Central Australia. In the Araluen Cultural Precinct, you can explore the Museum of Central Australia and its Indigenous art collections, particularly those from the Arrernte people and Western Desert artists.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum is also worth a visit, where you can learn the story of this vital outback service with interactive exhibits and displays in one of the original RFDS bases. And for some Insta-worthy photos, don't miss the Anzac Hill Lookout, which offers the best panoramic view of Alice Springs and the surrounding ranges, especially at sunrise or sunset.

Alice Springs to Adelaide: Your Return Journey

On your way back to Adelaide, we highly recommend taking a different route that includes a visit to Kings Canyon's breathtaking rim walk and the Flinders Ranges.

Day 9: Alice Springs to Kings Canyon: Wildly Wonderful Watarrka

Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Distance: ~330 km

Drive Time: ~4 hrs

Stay: Discovery Resorts Kings Canyon, Luritja Road, Petermann NT 0872

Highlights: Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Day 10: Kings Canyon to Kulgera: The Outback Pub Stop

Distance: ~350 km

Drive Time: ~4 hrs

Stay: Kulgera Roadhouse Hotel, 18 Stuart Hwy, Ghan NT 0872

Highlights: Kulgara Roadhouse Inn—The NT's southernmost pub.

Day 11: Kulgera to Coober Pedy: The Opal Capital Catch-up

Distance: ~420 km

Drive Time: ~4.5 hrs

Stay: Oasis Tourist Park, Hutchison St, Coober Pedy SA 5723

Highlights: Whatever you didn't get time to do on your way here!

Day 12: Coober Pedy to Flinders Ranges: The Backbone of SA

Huck's lookout in Flinders Ranges National Park of South Australia to Wilpena Pound

Distance: ~700 km 

Drive Time: ~7.5 hrs

Stay: Wilpena Pound Campground, Wilpena Road, Hawker, SA 5434

Highlights: Wilpena Pound (Ikara)—A natural amphitheatre of mountains—the crown jewel of the Flinders.

Day 13: Wilpena Pound to Adelaide: Homeward Bound!

Distance: ~430 km

Drive Time: ~5.5 hrs

Highlights: Stop off halfway for lunch or a last-minute wine tasting in the Clare Valley.