Distance from Pretoria to Polokwane
290km via the N1 — about 3h 15m drive. There are 4 mainline toll gates, totalling R233 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 232,50
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
| PumulaniPretoria – Hammanskraal | R 16,50 |
| CarouselPretoria (N4 junction) – Bela-Bela | R 75,00 |
| KranskopBela-Bela – Mokopane | R 61,50 |
| NylMokopane – Polokwane | R 79,50 |
| Total tolls | R 232,50 |
Return trip: R 465,00 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 393,16 | R 625,66 |
| Volkswagen Golf 8 | R 474,76 | R 707,26 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R 593,46 | R 825,96 |
| Toyota Hilux | R 630,55 | R 863,05 |
| Ford Ranger | R 600,87 | R 833,37 |
| Mercedes-Benz C200 | R 497,02 | R 729,52 |
| BMW 3 Series | R 459,93 | R 692,43 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | R 578,62 | R 811,12 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R 318,98 | R 551,48 |
| BMW i4 | R 145,39 | R 377,89 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R 120,24 | R 352,74 |
How far is Polokwane from Pretoria?
The driving distance from Pretoria to Polokwane is 290 km along the N1. The trip takes about 3 hours 15 minutes 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: Bela-Bela (Warmbaths), Mokopane (Potgietersrus), Polokwane. 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 Pretoria to Polokwane
There are 4 mainline toll gates on the N1 from Pretoria to Polokwane, totalling R232.50 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumulani | R 16.50 | ||
| Carousel | R 75.00 | ||
| Kranskop | R 61.50 | ||
| Nyl | R 79.50 | ||
| Total (one way) | R 232.50 | ||
Source: foresightpublications.co.za · Tariffs effective 1 March 2026 · 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment
Cost by vehicle — Pretoria to Polokwane
Select your car to see the exact fuel and toll cost for this route.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
5.9L/100km
R 670
Toyota Corolla Quest
7L/100km
R 752
Toyota Starlet
5.4L/100km
R 633
Suzuki Swift
4.4L/100km
R 559
Suzuki Baleno
5.4L/100km
R 633
Haval Jolion
8.1L/100km
R 833
Volkswagen Polo
5.3L/100km
R 626
Volkswagen Golf 8
6.4L/100km
R 707
Toyota Corolla Cross
8.1L/100km
R 833
Hyundai i20
5.8L/100km
R 663
Kia Picanto
5.2L/100km
R 618
Renault Clio
5.7L/100km
R 655
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 Pretoria to Polokwane trip (290km), 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 (290 km) at the current inland price of R25.58/L, a car using 7L/100km would cost roughly R519 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 are 4 mainline plazas 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.
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Frequently asked questions
How many toll gates are there between Pretoria and Polokwane?
There are 4 mainline toll plazas: Pumulani, Carousel, Kranskop, and Nyl. Total toll cost is R232.50 for a standard car as of March 2026.
How long does it take to drive from Pretoria to Polokwane?
The drive is approximately 290km and takes about 3 hours 15 minutes without stops.
What is the Carousel toll gate?
Carousel is one of the larger toll plazas on the N1 North at R75 for a standard car. It's located near the Carousel Entertainment Centre, just before Bela-Bela.