Distance from East London to Cape Town
1050km via the N2 — about 11h drive. There is 1 mainline toll gate, totalling R73 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 73,00
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
| TsitsikammaStorms River (Garden Route) | R 73,00 |
| Total tolls | R 73,00 |
Return trip: R 146,00 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 1 423,53 | R 1 496,53 |
| Volkswagen Golf 8 | R 1 718,98 | R 1 791,98 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R 2 148,72 | R 2 221,72 |
| Toyota Hilux | R 2 283,02 | R 2 356,02 |
| Ford Ranger | R 2 175,58 | R 2 248,58 |
| Mercedes-Benz C200 | R 1 799,55 | R 1 872,55 |
| BMW 3 Series | R 1 665,26 | R 1 738,26 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | R 2 095,00 | R 2 168,00 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R 1 154,94 | R 1 227,94 |
| BMW i4 | R 526,42 | R 599,42 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R 435,36 | R 508,36 |
How far is Cape Town from East London?
The driving distance from East London to Cape Town is 1050 km along the N2. 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: King William's Town, Port Elizabeth, Storms River, Knysna, George. 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 East London to Cape Town
There is 1 mainline toll gate on the N2 from East London to Cape Town, totalling R73.00 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsitsikamma | R 73.00 | ||
| Total (one way) | R 73.00 | ||
Source: foresightpublications.co.za · Tariffs effective 1 March 2026 · 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment
Cost by vehicle — East London to Cape Town
Select your car to see the exact fuel and toll cost for this route.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
5.9L/100km
R 1658
Toyota Corolla Quest
7L/100km
R 1953
Toyota Starlet
5.4L/100km
R 1523
Suzuki Swift
4.4L/100km
R 1255
Suzuki Baleno
5.4L/100km
R 1523
Haval Jolion
8.1L/100km
R 2249
Volkswagen Polo
5.3L/100km
R 1497
Volkswagen Golf 8
6.4L/100km
R 1792
Toyota Corolla Cross
8.1L/100km
R 2249
Hyundai i20
5.8L/100km
R 1631
Kia Picanto
5.2L/100km
R 1470
Renault Clio
5.7L/100km
R 1604
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 East London to Cape Town trip (1050km), 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 (1050 km) at the current inland price of R25.58/L, a car using 7L/100km would cost roughly R1880 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.
Other popular routes from Gauteng
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drive from East London to Cape Town?
The total toll cost from East London to Cape Town is R73.00 (1 mainline toll gate). Fuel cost depends on your vehicle — use the calculator above for an exact figure.
How far is it from East London to Cape Town?
The distance from East London to Cape Town via the N2 is 1050 km, which takes approximately 11 hours without stops.
How many toll gates are there from East London to Cape Town?
There are 1 mainline toll plaza on the N2 from East London to Cape Town, totalling R73.00 for a standard light vehicle (Class I) as of March 2026.
What is the fastest route from East London to Cape Town?
The N2 is the main and fastest route. The drive covers 1050 km and takes about 11 hours in normal traffic.
Can I pay tolls by card on the N2?
Yes. All major toll plazas on the N2 accept contactless tap-and-go card payments — you do not need cash. No e-tag is required; Gauteng e-tolls were scrapped.