Distance from Bloemfontein to Cape Town
1000km via the N1 — about 11h drive. There is 1 mainline toll gate, totalling R55 one-way. Select your vehicle below to calculate the exact fuel and total trip cost.
Toll fees effective 1 March 2026 · Fuel: R25.58/L inland (updated 2026-08-05)
Toll cost
R 54,50
Fuel cost
—
Select your vehicle below
Total trip cost
—
Select your vehicle below
Add your vehicle
See your exact fuel cost and total trip price.
Toll breakdown
Class I (standard car) · mainline plazas only · effective 1 March 2026
| HuguenotRawsonville – Paarl | R 54,50 |
| Total tolls | R 54,50 |
Return trip: R 109,00 in tolls · Source: foresightpublications.co.za
How does your vehicle compare?
Select a row to use that vehicle · tolls are the same for all · WLTP figures
| Vehicle | Fuel / Elec. | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo | R 1 355,74 | R 1 410,24 |
| Volkswagen Golf 8 | R 1 637,12 | R 1 691,62 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R 2 046,40 | R 2 100,90 |
| Toyota Hilux | R 2 174,30 | R 2 228,80 |
| Ford Ranger | R 2 071,98 | R 2 126,48 |
| Mercedes-Benz C200 | R 1 713,86 | R 1 768,36 |
| BMW 3 Series | R 1 585,96 | R 1 640,46 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | R 1 995,24 | R 2 049,74 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R 1 099,94 | R 1 154,44 |
| BMW i4 | R 501,35 | R 555,85 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R 414,63 | R 469,13 |
How far is Cape Town from Bloemfontein?
The driving distance from Bloemfontein to Cape Town is 1000 km along the N1. The trip takes about 11 hours under normal traffic, before fuel and rest stops. Add roughly 30–60 minutes for a typical road trip with stops on a route this length.
Notable towns en route: Trompsburg, Beaufort West, Touws River. These are useful waypoints for fuel, food and rest stops.
Distance and drive time refer to the standard driving route via the N1. Straight-line ("as the crow flies") distance is shorter, but roads don't run in straight lines — driving distance is what matters for trip planning and fuel cost.
Need a different town pair? The distance calculator covers driving distance and fuel cost between any two of 120+ South African towns.
Toll gates on the N1 from Bloemfontein to Cape Town
There is 1 mainline toll gate on the N1 from Bloemfontein to Cape Town, totalling R54.50 one-way for a Class I vehicle (effective 1 March 2026). Ramp tolls apply to specific exits only and are not included in the total.
| Plaza | Class I fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Huguenot | R 54.50 | ||
| Total (one way) | R 54.50 | ||
Source: foresightpublications.co.za · Tariffs effective 1 March 2026 · 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment
Cost by vehicle — Bloemfontein to Cape Town
Select your car to see the exact fuel and toll cost for this route.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
5.9L/100km
R 1564
Toyota Corolla Quest
7L/100km
R 1845
Toyota Starlet
5.4L/100km
R 1436
Suzuki Swift
4.4L/100km
R 1180
Suzuki Baleno
5.4L/100km
R 1436
Haval Jolion
8.1L/100km
R 2126
Volkswagen Polo
5.3L/100km
R 1410
Volkswagen Golf 8
6.4L/100km
R 1692
Toyota Corolla Cross
8.1L/100km
R 2126
Hyundai i20
5.8L/100km
R 1538
Kia Picanto
5.2L/100km
R 1385
Renault Clio
5.7L/100km
R 1513
Tips for saving money on this trip
Fuel economy matters more than tolls on longer routes. A Polo 1.0 TSI uses about 38% less fuel than a Fortuner over the same distance. On the Bloemfontein to Cape Town trip (1000km), that difference can be R200–R500 depending on the vehicle.
Tyre pressure and speed have a measurable effect. Under-inflated tyres increase fuel use by up to 3%. Driving at 110km/h instead of 120km/h can reduce fuel consumption by 10–15% on a highway trip.
Toll payments. All major toll plazas on this route now accept contactless tap-and-go card payments — no need to keep cash. E-tags (Sanral e-toll) no longer apply in Gauteng as the e-toll system was scrapped.
How trip costs are calculated
Fuel cost
Fuel cost is calculated as: (distance ÷ 100) × L/100km × fuel price. For this route (1000 km) at the current inland price of R25.58/L, a car using 7L/100km would cost roughly R1791 in fuel one-way. Fuel figures are manufacturer-published combined-cycle values (WLTP or NEDC where WLTP is unavailable).
Toll fees
Only mainline toll plazas are counted — those that every driver on the route passes through. Ramp plazas (which only apply to specific on- or off-ramps) are excluded from the total. There is 1 mainline plaza on the N1 for this route. Tariffs are sourced from Foresight Publications and reflect the 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment effective 1 March 2026.
Electric vehicle cost
For EVs, electricity cost is calculated as: (distance ÷ 100) × kWh/100km × Eskom tariff. The current Eskom Homelight 20A flat rate is 271c/kWh (effective April 2026, sourced from the NERSA-approved schedule). EVs pay the same mainline toll fees as petrol and diesel vehicles.
Data sources and update schedule
Fuel prices are updated monthly after each DMRE announcement (effective the first Wednesday of the month). Toll tariffs are updated each March 1 following the SANRAL CPI-linked adjustment. Vehicle fuel consumption figures are manufacturer-published specs — actual consumption varies with driving style, load, and conditions.
Other popular routes from Gauteng
Frequently asked questions
How many toll gates are there between Bloemfontein and Cape Town?
Just one: the Huguenot Tunnel plaza (R54.50 for a standard car) on the N1 near Paarl. The entire 950 km stretch from Bloemfontein to the tunnel is completely toll-free.
How long does it take to drive from Bloemfontein to Cape Town?
Roughly 10 to 11 hours covering 1,000 km on the N1. Most drivers break the trip in Beaufort West (roughly the halfway point at ~460 km), which has petrol stations, restaurants, and overnight accommodation.
What is the best route from Bloemfontein to Cape Town?
The N1 is the standard and most direct route. Head south through Springfontein, Colesberg and Beaufort West, then through the Hex River Valley and the Huguenot Tunnel into the Cape Winelands.
How much is the Huguenot Tunnel toll in 2026?
R54.50 for a Class I (standard light vehicle) as of 1 March 2026 (SANRAL CPI-linked increase).