Distance from Durban to East London
700km via the N2 — about 7h drive. There is 1 mainline toll gate, totalling R41 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 41,00
Fuel cost
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Total trip cost
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See your exact fuel cost and total trip price.
Toll breakdown
Class I (standard car) · mainline plazas only · effective 1 March 2026
| OribiHibberdene – Southbroom (South Coast KZN) | R 41,00 |
| Total tolls | R 41,00 |
Return trip: R 82,00 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 949,02 | R 990,02 |
| Volkswagen Golf 8 | R 1 145,98 | R 1 186,98 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R 1 432,48 | R 1 473,48 |
| Toyota Hilux | R 1 522,01 | R 1 563,01 |
| Ford Ranger | R 1 450,39 | R 1 491,39 |
| Mercedes-Benz C200 | R 1 199,70 | R 1 240,70 |
| BMW 3 Series | R 1 110,17 | R 1 151,17 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | R 1 396,67 | R 1 437,67 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R 769,96 | R 810,96 |
| BMW i4 | R 350,95 | R 391,95 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R 290,24 | R 331,24 |
How far is East London from Durban?
The driving distance from Durban to East London is 700 km along the N2. The trip takes about 7 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: Port Shepstone, Kokstad, Mthatha, King William's Town. These are useful waypoints for fuel, food and rest stops.
Distance and drive time refer to the standard driving route via the N2. 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 N2 from Durban to East London
There is 1 mainline toll gate on the N2 from Durban to East London, totalling R41.00 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Oribi | R 41.00 | ||
| Total (one way) | R 41.00 | ||
Source: foresightpublications.co.za · Tariffs effective 1 March 2026 · 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment
Cost by vehicle — Durban to East London
Select your car to see the exact fuel and toll cost for this route.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
5.9L/100km
R 1097
Toyota Corolla Quest
7L/100km
R 1294
Toyota Starlet
5.4L/100km
R 1008
Suzuki Swift
4.4L/100km
R 829
Suzuki Baleno
5.4L/100km
R 1008
Haval Jolion
8.1L/100km
R 1491
Volkswagen Polo
5.3L/100km
R 990
Volkswagen Golf 8
6.4L/100km
R 1187
Toyota Corolla Cross
8.1L/100km
R 1491
Hyundai i20
5.8L/100km
R 1080
Kia Picanto
5.2L/100km
R 972
Renault Clio
5.7L/100km
R 1062
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 Durban to East London trip (700km), 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 (700 km) at the current inland price of R25.58/L, a car using 7L/100km would cost roughly R1253 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 N2 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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much are the tolls from Durban to East London?
One mainline toll: Oribi at R41, on the KZN South Coast near Port Shepstone. The Eastern Cape section of the N2 has no toll plazas.
How long does the drive from Durban to East London take?
About 700km via the N2, taking approximately 6–7 hours. The route passes through the KZN South Coast, Wild Coast and Mthatha.