Car Rental

One-way car rental from Sydney to Canberra

Pick-up location

Drop-off location

Pick-up date

Pick-up time

Return date

Return time

Return car to a different location

174 mi Driving distance
3h Estimated drive time
Tolls likely Road charges

Check one-way rental prices from Sydney to Canberra

Prices depend on your travel dates, market, pickup type and available rental providers.

Check prices for your dates

Enter your dates to see currently available offers through AirTrackBot.

Distance and driving time are estimates. A one-way fee may apply. Final prices and conditions are confirmed by the rental provider.

How to save on a one-way car rental from Sydney to Canberra

One-way rental prices can vary by date, vehicle category and the exact pickup and return locations. Compare more than one option before booking.

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. One-way totals on this route can differ by size, so open neighbouring categories before assuming the smallest car is the best price.
Compare the full one-way total. The booking total is more useful than the daily rate alone on this Sydney to Canberra run. One-way pricing can depend on the vehicle, booking conditions and the exact Sydney pickup and Canberra return combination.
Compare practical Sydney pickup and Canberra return locations. In our sample, Sydney pickups included Mascot and airport-area desks, Lidcombe desks and city branches, while Canberra returns used city locations. The lowest observed totals sat at Mascot-area desks. Compare those with Lidcombe and city desks rather than assuming one type is always cheaper.
Compare automatic and manual options. In our sample, automatic cars were priced lower than the only comparable manual option. Check both transmissions before booking, since a manual is not always the cheaper choice.

Tips for a one-way car rental from Sydney to Canberra

For this 174 mi Sydney to Canberra rental (about 3h), check your exact Sydney pickup and Canberra return setup before you leave.

Leave the Hume on the Federal Highway
After Westlink M7 leaving Sydney — a toll road — this drive continues on the Hume Motorway (M31), then leaves the Hume onto the Federal Highway (M23) for Canberra. That Federal Highway turn is the Canberra routing; it does not stay on the Hume south to Melbourne. Check your rental company's toll arrangement before using a tolled Sydney road.
Confirm the Sydney street on your voucher
Sydney Airport lists Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar domestic pick-ups on Ross Smith Avenue, and Avis, Budget and Europcar on Keith Smith Avenue. This route also used Coward Street in Mascot and Parramatta Road in Lidcombe. Confirm the street on your voucher — companies do not share one car park.
City and Lidcombe desks use a different exit
A College Street or William Street pickup in Darlinghurst does not start on the same western-Sydney exit as a Lidcombe desk. An airport or Mascot start leaves on a different path again. Follow the directions for your exact desk rather than a generic Hume Motorway start.
Enter Canberra on Majura Parkway
After the Federal Highway, this drive uses Majura Parkway, then Fairbairn Avenue, Pialligo Avenue and Morshead Drive onto Parkes Way. Pialligo runs near the airport precinct; continue to the return address on your voucher rather than the passenger terminal.
Return to the Canberra address on your voucher
Finish at the Canberra address on your voucher. Returns on this route used Canberra city codes, not a named railway station or Canberra Airport desk. Check the company's opening hours before you leave Sydney and allow time to reach that street.
Budget fuel for the Federal Highway hop
Most listed cars used a full-to-full fuel policy, so return the tank as you collected it unless your offer says otherwise. Add fuel beside the rental total on this Federal Highway hop.

Sydney to Canberra car rental FAQs

Answers to common questions about one-way rentals and driving from Sydney to Canberra.

Message us

Is the one-way/drop-off fee included in a Sydney to Canberra rental?

It depends on the offer. A drop charge may already be inside the total or listed separately. Search Sydney and Canberra as different locations, then check the full price breakdown and the rental provider’s terms before booking.

How far is Sydney from Canberra by car?

Sydney and Canberra are about 174 mi (280 km) apart by road, or around 3 hours mainly on the Federal Highway. On this medium hop, daily rate and vehicle category often matter more than drive time alone.

Are there tolls or road charges between Sydney and Canberra?

Yes. Toll sections appear on this Sydney to Canberra drive on Westlink M7 leaving Sydney before the Federal Highway. No toll amount is published here, so check current charges for the route your navigation selects.

Fly or drive this route?

Compare the estimated cost and travel time of flying and driving.

Compare fly vs drive