Distance from East London to Mthatha
East London to Mthatha is 230 km by road, roughly a 2h 25m drive on the N2. Fuel cost for your car is below.
230 km
Driving distance
2h 25m
Drive time
at 95 km/h avg
179 km
Straight line
N2
Main road
What the drive costs in fuel
One-way energy cost over 230 km at R25.58 a litre (inland 95 ULP, effective 2026-08-05). Consumption figures are manufacturer combined-cycle numbers, so treat them as a floor — real-world use on a loaded car runs higher.
| Vehicle | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo Vivo | R347 | R694 |
| Toyota Corolla Quest | R412 | R824 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R471 | R941 |
| Toyota Hilux | R500 | R1 000 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R95 | R191 |
Electric vehicle cost is home-charging electricity, not petrol. Want a different car? Browse all 42 vehicles →
Why the drive is longer than the map suggests
East London and Mthatha are 179 km apart in a straight line, but the road covers 230 km — an extra 51 km, or about 28% further. Roads bend around terrain, follow passes and link the towns in between, so the driving figure is always the one that matters for fuel and time planning. The straight-line number is only useful for flights.
Going the other way?
The return leg is the same 230 km — see Mthatha to East London. For any other pairing, the distance calculator covers 121 South African towns.
Open the distance calculatorRelated distances
Frequently asked questions
How far is Mthatha from East London?
East London to Mthatha is 230 km by road, travelling mainly on the N2. In a straight line the two towns are 179 km apart, so the drive is about 28% longer than the direct route a plane would take.
How long does it take to drive from East London to Mthatha?
About 2h 25m of driving time, based on an average of 95 km/h over 230 km. That average allows for a mix of 100 and 120 km/h limits and does not include stops — add roughly 15 minutes for every fuel or rest break, and allow extra time on public holiday weekends.
How much fuel does the East London to Mthatha trip use?
At R25.58 a litre, a car using 7.5 L/100km burns about 17 litres over 230 km, costing roughly R441 one way. The table on this page shows the cost for specific South African models.
Which road do you take from East London to Mthatha?
The N2 carries most of this route. Always check live traffic and roadworks before you leave — SANRAL runs long-term maintenance on several national routes and detours can add time.
Data: Effective 2026-08-05 · Driving distances verified against Google Maps and AA South Africa · Fuel price — DMRE · Vehicle consumption — manufacturer combined-cycle specifications · See methodology
Was this page helpful?
Other driving tools