One-way rental prices can vary by date, vehicle category and the exact pickup and return locations. Compare more than one option before booking.
Car Rental
One-way car rental from Cairns to Townsville
Cairns to Townsville by car
Check the driving distance, estimated time, fuel cost and road-charge information for the Cairns to Townsville route.
- 214 mi Driving distance
- 4h 20m Estimated drive time
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$28–$52
Estimated fuel cost
Estimated from the route distance, country fuel prices and a documented passenger-car fuel-consumption range.
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No tolls indicated
Road charges
This does not confirm the route is free of charges. Local access rules, low-emission zones and other local fees may still apply.
Car rental prices from Cairns to Townsville
See example prices for a three-day one-way rental.
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Small
Volkswagen Polo or similar
From $162 per day
$487 for 3 days
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Medium
Kia Ceed or similar
From $161 per day
$483 for 3 days
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Large
Toyota Corolla or similar
From $83 per day
$249 for 3 days
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SUV
Toyota C-HR or similar
From $83 per day
$249 for 3 days
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Luxury
Skoda Kodiaq or similar
From $240 per day
$721 for 3 days
Example prices observed in a real search. Prices may vary by dates and availability.
How to save on a one-way car rental from Cairns to Townsville
- Check nearby dates. Rental prices can change by pickup date, inventory and availability. If your schedule is flexible, compare a day or two either side of your planned dates. Another day is not guaranteed to be cheaper.
- Compare more than one car category. In our three-day sample, Large and SUV tied as the lowest observed totals at $249. Medium and Small started much higher at $483 and $487, so the cheapest tier is not the smallest cabin.
- Compare the full one-way total. The booking total is more useful than the daily rate alone on this Cairns to Townsville run. One-way pricing can depend on the vehicle, booking conditions and the exact Cairns pickup and Townsville return combination.
- Compare practical Cairns pickup and Townsville return locations. In our sample, Cairns pickups included city branches and Cairns Airport, while Townsville returns used city locations. City pickups included the lowest observed totals. Compare the combinations that fit your trip rather than assuming the airport or the city is always cheaper.
- Compare transmission options. In our sample, the priced Cairns to Townsville offers were automatic. If both transmissions are available when you book, compare them rather than assuming a manual will cost less.
Tips for a one-way car rental from Cairns to Townsville
For this 214 mi Cairns to Townsville rental (about 4h 20m), check your exact Cairns pickup and Townsville return setup before you leave.
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Join the Bruce Highway south of Cairns
From a Cairns city desk, this drive uses Abbott Street and Wharf Street, then Kenny Street, Draper Street and Comport Street on the A1, before the Bruce Highway ramp toward Innisfail. The A1 south is not one continuous motorway. This drive does not use a toll road.
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Confirm the Cairns street on your voucher
City desks on this route included 153 Lake Street and 147 Lake Street, Cairns Square and Shop 14 at 56-60 Abbott Street, and 37-41 Sheridan Street. These streets sit in the city, not at the airport. Follow the address on your voucher. Companies do not share one car park.
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If collecting at Cairns Airport
Cairns Airport lists on-site counters in the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 (international) and Terminal 2 (domestic). Budget is listed at Terminal 2 only. Offers also used Airport Avenue and Beaufort Street in Aeroglen. An airport start sits north of the city and joins the Bruce Highway from a different first stretch than a Lake Street or Abbott Street desk.
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Leave the Bruce Highway at Dalrymple Road
On the Townsville approach, this drive stays on the Bruce Highway (A1), including the Ring Road stretch west of the city, then leaves it for Dalrymple Road. It does not use Shaw Road, Woolcock Street or Ingham Road. Follow Dalrymple Road toward the return address on your voucher, not a generic city-centre path.
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Return to the Townsville address on your voucher
Finish at the Townsville address on your voucher. Returns on this route used Townsville city codes, not a named Townsville Airport desk or railway station. Check the company's opening hours before you leave Cairns and allow time to reach that street.
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Budget fuel for this regional hop
Our estimate puts fuel at about $28 to $52 for this drive. Most listed cars used a full-to-full fuel policy, so return the tank as you collected it unless your offer says otherwise.
Cairns to Townsville car rental FAQs
Answers to common questions about one-way rentals and driving from Cairns to Townsville.
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Large and SUV cars both start at $83 per day for Cairns to Townsville, well under Medium at $161 per day and Small at $162 per day. Prices vary depending on your dates and vehicle availability. Check live prices on AirTrackBot for your trip.
Large and SUV tied as cheapest at $83 per day, while Medium and Small started much higher at $161 and $162 per day on Cairns to Townsville.
Treatment varies by offer. A drop charge may already sit in the total or appear separately. Search Cairns and Townsville as different locations, then check the full price breakdown and the rental provider’s terms before you book.
Cairns and Townsville are about 214 mi (345 km) apart by road, or around 4 hours 20 minutes mainly on the A1. On a hop of this length, daily rate and category choice usually matter more than drive time alone.
No toll roads are indicated on the calculated Cairns to Townsville drive via the A1. Other routings can differ, so check your navigation before departure if you change the planned route.
Plan on roughly $28–$52 for fuel on this Cairns to Townsville run. The final amount still depends on the car and where you refill.
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