Distance from Pietermaritzburg to Durban
Pietermaritzburg to Durban is 80 km by road, roughly a 51m drive on the N3. Fuel cost for your car is below.
80 km
Driving distance
51m
Drive time
at 95 km/h avg
68 km
Straight line
N3
Main road
What the drive costs in fuel
One-way energy cost over 80 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 | R121 | R241 |
| Toyota Corolla Quest | R143 | R286 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R164 | R327 |
| Toyota Hilux | R174 | R348 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R33 | R66 |
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
Pietermaritzburg and Durban are 68 km apart in a straight line, but the road covers 80 km — an extra 12 km, or about 18% 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 80 km — see Durban to Pietermaritzburg. For any other pairing, the distance calculator covers 121 South African towns.
Open the distance calculatorRelated distances
Frequently asked questions
How far is Durban from Pietermaritzburg?
Pietermaritzburg to Durban is 80 km by road, travelling mainly on the N3. In a straight line the two towns are 68 km apart, so the drive is about 18% longer than the direct route a plane would take.
How long does it take to drive from Pietermaritzburg to Durban?
About 51m of driving time, based on an average of 95 km/h over 80 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 Pietermaritzburg to Durban trip use?
At R25.58 a litre, a car using 7.5 L/100km burns about 6 litres over 80 km, costing roughly R153 one way. The table on this page shows the cost for specific South African models.
Which road do you take from Pietermaritzburg to Durban?
The N3 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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