Distance from Kimberley to Cape Town
Kimberley to Cape Town is 960 km by road, roughly a 10h 6m drive on the N1, N12. Fuel cost for your car is below.
960 km
Driving distance
10h 6m
Drive time
at 95 km/h avg
833 km
Straight line
N1, N12
Main road
What the drive costs in fuel
One-way energy cost over 960 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 | R1 449 | R2 898 |
| Toyota Corolla Quest | R1 719 | R3 438 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R1 965 | R3 929 |
| Toyota Hilux | R2 087 | R4 175 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R398 | R796 |
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
Kimberley and Cape Town are 833 km apart in a straight line, but the road covers 960 km — an extra 127 km, or about 15% 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 960 km — see Cape Town to Kimberley. For any other pairing, the distance calculator covers 121 South African towns.
Open the distance calculatorRelated distances
Frequently asked questions
How far is Cape Town from Kimberley?
Kimberley to Cape Town is 960 km by road, travelling mainly on the N1, N12. In a straight line the two towns are 833 km apart, so the drive is about 15% longer than the direct route a plane would take.
How long does it take to drive from Kimberley to Cape Town?
About 10h 6m of driving time, based on an average of 95 km/h over 960 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 Kimberley to Cape Town trip use?
At R25.58 a litre, a car using 7.5 L/100km burns about 72 litres over 960 km, costing roughly R1 842 one way. The table on this page shows the cost for specific South African models.
Which road do you take from Kimberley to Cape Town?
The N1, N12 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
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