Adelaide to Darwin in an EV
Adelaide to Darwin is about 3023 km on the Stuart Highway via Alice Springs, around 32.5 hours of driving. There are 13 fast-charging stops along the way, and the longest gap between chargers is 647 km (Three Ways to Katherine). No EV we track can cover the 647 km gap on one charge at highway speed, so you'll need a slow charge in between, usually overnight at a roadhouse, hotel or caravan park. This is a remote trip. Some chargers are off-grid, slow or unreliable, so carry a portable charger and plan overnight stops at roadhouses or caravan parks with three-phase power. Coming soon: NRMA fast chargers at Marla (splitting the Coober Pedy to Erldunda gap) and Elliott (splitting Three Ways to Katherine) were nearly finished as of 30 October 2026. Until they open, plan a slow overnight charge on those stretches.Darwin to Adelaide is about 3023 km on the Stuart Highway via Alice Springs, around 32.5 hours of driving. There are 13 fast-charging stops along the way, and the longest gap between chargers is 647 km (Katherine to Three Ways). No EV we track can cover the 647 km gap on one charge at highway speed, so you'll need a slow charge in between, usually overnight at a roadhouse, hotel or caravan park. This is a remote trip. Some chargers are off-grid, slow or unreliable, so carry a portable charger and plan overnight stops at roadhouses or caravan parks with three-phase power. Coming soon: NRMA fast chargers at Marla (splitting the Coober Pedy to Erldunda gap) and Elliott (splitting Three Ways to Katherine) were nearly finished as of 30 October 2026. Until they open, plan a slow overnight charge on those stretches.
Can your car do it?
Uses highway range: about 75% of the claimed range at 100–110 km/h. Leave home full, fast charge to 80% and arrive with at least 10%. Charging costs assume home power for the first battery and 70c/kWh at fast chargers. Driving the same trip in a typical petrol SUV costs about $529 in fuel.
Fast-charging stops on the way
In order from Adelaide, with the gap from the previous stop.
| Stop | From Adelaide | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| AdelaidePlenty of fast chargers | 0 km | |
| Port WakefieldNRMA, Chargefox | 98 km | 98 km |
| SnowtownChargefox | 149 km | 50 km |
| Port PirieChargefox · 5 km off the highway | 221 km | 72 km |
| Port AugustaChargefox, Tesla | 303 km | 82 km |
| PimbaRAA Charge · up to 150 kW | 480 km | 177 km |
| Coober PedyRAA Charge · up to 150 kW | 845 km | 365 km |
| ErldundaNRMA · up to 80 kW · off-grid: often slower, check it's working before you rely on it | 1330 km | 486 km |
| Alice SpringsNRMA | 1529 km | 199 km |
| Ti TreeNRMA · off-grid: often slower, check it's working before you rely on it | 1723 km | 193 km |
| Devils MarblesNRMA · off-grid: often slower, check it's working before you rely on it | 1922 km | 199 km |
| Three WaysNRMA · NRMA lists this site as Warumungu (Tennant Creek area): confirm the exact spot in the NRMA app | 2061 km | 139 km |
| KatherineNRMA · up to 150 kW | 2708 km | 647 km |
| Adelaide RiverNRMA | 2911 km | 203 km |
| Darwin2 fast-charger sites nearby | 3023 km | 112 km |
* Tesla Superchargers: many are open to all EVs through the Tesla app, but some are Tesla-only. We leave Tesla-only stops out of the plan for other cars. Power is the fastest charger listed at that stop, where known.
In order from Darwin, with the gap from the previous stop.
| Stop | From Darwin | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Darwin2 fast-charger sites nearby | 0 km | |
| Adelaide RiverNRMA | 112 km | 112 km |
| KatherineNRMA · up to 150 kW | 315 km | 203 km |
| Three WaysNRMA · NRMA lists this site as Warumungu (Tennant Creek area): confirm the exact spot in the NRMA app | 962 km | 647 km |
| Devils MarblesNRMA · off-grid: often slower, check it's working before you rely on it | 1101 km | 139 km |
| Ti TreeNRMA · off-grid: often slower, check it's working before you rely on it | 1300 km | 199 km |
| Alice SpringsNRMA | 1494 km | 193 km |
| ErldundaNRMA · up to 80 kW · off-grid: often slower, check it's working before you rely on it | 1692 km | 199 km |
| Coober PedyRAA Charge · up to 150 kW | 2178 km | 486 km |
| PimbaRAA Charge · up to 150 kW | 2543 km | 365 km |
| Port AugustaTesla, Chargefox | 2715 km | 172 km |
| Port PirieChargefox · 5 km off the highway | 2802 km | 87 km |
| SnowtownChargefox | 2874 km | 72 km |
| Port WakefieldNRMA, Chargefox | 2925 km | 50 km |
| AdelaidePlenty of fast chargers | 3023 km | 98 km |
* Tesla Superchargers: many are open to all EVs through the Tesla app, but some are Tesla-only. We leave Tesla-only stops out of the plan for other cars. Power is the fastest charger listed at that stop, where known.
Route map
Green dots are fast-charging stops; grey are Tesla-only; orange are EV-friendly places to stay. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
EV-friendly places to stay
Caravan parks and campsites along the way with an EV charger at the park or within a short walk (350 m), in order from Adelaide. Chargers at parks are often for guests only and may be slower than a fast charger, so check with the park when you book.
Charger within 350 m · ChargefoxBIG4 Stuart Range Outback ResortCaravan park · 844 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 m · TeslaOpal Inn Caravan ParkCaravan park · 845 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 m · ChargefoxMarla Travellers Rest Caravan ParkCaravan park · 1,077 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 mErldunda Desert Oaks ResortCaravan park · 1,330 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 m · NRMABarrow Creek Caravan ParkCampsite · 1,812 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 m · ChargefoxMidland Caravan ParkCampsite · 2,289 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 m · ChargefoxMataranka Roadhouse Caravan ParkCaravan park · 2,602 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 m · NRMAAdelaide River InnCaravan park · 2,911 km from Adelaide, on the route
Charger within 350 m · NRMA
From OpenStreetMap, which volunteers keep up to date, so some parks with chargers may be missing. NRMA Parks and Resorts has also added chargers at many of its parks. No charger? Most parks let you charge slowly from a powered site with your own portable charger. Ask first, as some charge extra.
Tips for this trip
- Check chargers before you go. Chargers do break down or get busy, especially on holiday weekends. The PlugShare app shows recent check-ins from other drivers.
- Charge to 80%, not 100%. Fast charging slows right down above 80%, so two short stops are usually quicker than one long one.
- Speed costs range. At 110 km/h most EVs use 20–30% more energy than their claimed figure. Dropping to 100 km/h on the longest gap gives you a buffer.
- Have two networks' apps ready. Most stops have more than one network, so if one charger is down you can use another.
- Towing or a full load can halve your range. Plan stops about half as far apart.
- Remote trips: pack a portable charger that can use a 15 amp or 32 amp three-phase socket, plus heavy-duty leads, and log into the NRMA, Chargefox and Tesla apps before you leave, as mobile coverage drops out. Roadhouses and caravan parks with three-phase power are your plan B, so ring ahead and ask before plugging in: some outlets are on small breakers, and tripping them can cost you. Carry a Type 2 cable for chargers without one, check the Chargefox, NRMA and PlugShare apps the day before and on the day, and expect higher energy use on coarse outback roads and in strong headwinds.
More road trips from South Australia
✓ You now know
- Charge to 80% rather than 100%, and have a second network's app ready in case a charger is down.
More: checklist, calculators, questions and more guides
EV road trip checklist
Apps and accounts, cables, planning your charging stops with a backup, and what to do on the day. One A4 page.
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Common questions
Can you drive adelaide to Darwin in an EV?
Yes. There are 13 fast-charging stops along the 3023 km route, and the longest gap is 647 km. Most EVs need a slow overnight charge.
How much does it cost to drive adelaide to Darwin in an EV?
About $0 in charging for a typical mid-size electric SUV, using South Australia home power prices for the first battery and fast chargers after that. A petrol SUV would use about $529 in fuel.
What about darwin to Adelaide?
It's the same 3023 km of road the other way. Tap '⇄ Darwin → Adelaide' at the top of the page to see the charging stops in that order, and where your car would stop.
Which charging networks are on this route?
Chargefox, NRMA, RAA Charge, Tesla. Many stops have more than one network.
More guides
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How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at November 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer. © 2026 EV Pick (T. Crouch). For personal use only; not to be copied, republished or sold without permission.