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 Sydney to Canberra
Sydney to Canberra by car
Check the driving distance, estimated time, fuel cost and road-charge information for the Sydney to Canberra route.
- 174 mi Driving distance
- 3h Estimated drive time
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$23–$42
Estimated fuel cost
Estimated from the route distance, country fuel prices and a documented passenger-car fuel-consumption range.
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Tolls likely
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 Sydney to Canberra
See example prices for a three-day one-way rental.
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Small
Suzuki Swift or similar
From $71 per day
$213 for 3 days
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Medium
Toyota Corolla or similar
From $72 per day
$215 for 3 days
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Large
Mitsubishi Lancer or similar
From $74 per day
$223 for 3 days
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SUV
Toyota Yaris or similar
From $74 per day
$222 for 3 days
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Luxury
Toyota Highlander or similar
From $134 per day
$403 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 Sydney to Canberra
- 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, Small had the lowest observed total at $213. Medium, SUV and Large stayed unusually close at $215, $222 and $223, so open neighbouring sizes before assuming cabin size sets the price order.
- 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, with Small automatics from $213. 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Budget fuel for the Federal Highway hop
Our estimate puts fuel at about $23–$42 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.
Sydney to Canberra car rental FAQs
Answers to common questions about one-way rentals and driving from Sydney to Canberra.
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Small cars start at $71 per day for Sydney to Canberra, and Medium, SUV and Large stay within a few dollars of that floor at $72, $74 and $74 per day. Prices vary depending on your dates and vehicle availability. Check live prices on AirTrackBot for your trip.
Small was cheapest at $71 per day, but Medium, SUV and Large stay close at $72, $74 and $74 per day, so the ladder stays unusually flat on Sydney to Canberra.
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.
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.
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.
Budget roughly $23–$42 for fuel on the Sydney to Canberra drive.
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