One-way road trip
Sydney to Melbourne one-way car rental
The short answer
Driving Sydney to Melbourne is one of Australia's classic one-way road trips - an est. 876 km inland on the Hume Highway in about 9 hours before stops, or a longer, prettier run down the coast. Pick up in Sydney, drop off in Melbourne, and let the car do the sightseeing.
Last checked Oct 21, 2026By Brett Gould2 sources ↓
Distance876 km (544 mi) inland
Driving time9 hest., no stops
Allow2 days
Right carAny car
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The drive
- Inland (Hume Highway): est. 876 km (544 mi), about 9 hours before stops. Most people take 1-2 days.
- Coast road (Princes Highway via Batemans Bay, Eden and Lakes Entrance): est. 1,040 km (646 mi), about 13 hours before stops. Allow 5-7 days.
- This is a one-way rental: you collect in Sydney and return in Melbourne, so you never double back. Any one-way fee shows in your price before you pay and is paid to the rental company at pickup. It changes with your dates.
Highlights along the way
- Southern Highlands (Bowral, Berrima) - an easy first stop out of Sydney for lunch and a stretch.
- Canberra - a short detour off the Hume for the national museums and galleries.
- Gundagai and Glenrowan - classic country-highway towns steeped in Australian folklore.
- Coastal option: Jervis Bay, the Sapphire Coast and Lakes Entrance if you take the long way round.
Related questions
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Quick answers
How long does it take to drive from Sydney to Melbourne?
About 9 hours of driving (est. 876 km) on the direct Hume Highway, before stops - most people take 1-2 days. The coast road is est. 1,040 km, about 13 hours before stops: allow 5-7 days.
Can I rent a car one-way from Sydney to Melbourne?
Yes. Pick up in Sydney and drop off in Melbourne; set Melbourne as your return city when you search. Any one-way fee shows in your price before you pay and is paid to the rental company at pickup. It changes with your dates.
Is there a fee to drop the car in a different city?
Any one-way fee shows in your price before you pay and is paid to the rental company at pickup. It changes with your dates.
Can I rent a car one way from Melbourne to Sydney?
Yes, airport to airport (offered in our 10-21 check).
Can I pick up in Sydney city?
One-ways start at Sydney Airport; the depot is a short free shuttle ride from the terminal.
Which cars can I take one way?
In our check, small cars and SUVs; families needing a people mover should check the live search.
What's the best car for the Sydney–Melbourne drive?
Any comfortable automatic handles the Hume easily; a mid-size car or SUV is nicer for two people with luggage over the distance. Nearly all our cars are automatic.
Sources
1Google MapsDistance and drive time, no stops, rounded to 15 minutes.maps · checked Oct 21, 2026
2Rental company termsRoads, ferries, one-way fees, night driving and kilometers, as shown on each booking.rental terms · checked Oct 21, 2026
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