How to travel from Adelaide to Ballarat, Australia

The distance between Adelaide and Ballarat is around 615km (382 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 35m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Adelaide to Ballarat by bus, train, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out BallaratAdelaide if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Adelaide (ADL) to Melbourne (MEL) then take the train to Ballarat.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    A$105($69)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Ararat Station and then to Ballarat.

  • Duration7h 55m
  • Departstwice a week
  • Typical cost
    A$100($68)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Ballarat.

  • Duration8h 15m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$65($44)
Operated by

Firefly Express

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Ballarat.

  • Duration6h 55m
  • Distance615km (382 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Adelaide and Ballarat

There are several options for getting from Adelaide to Ballarat by bus, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$65 ($44) and will take around 8h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$105 ($69).

The distance between Adelaide and Ballarat is around 615km (382 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 555km (345 miles)

It takes around 8h 15m to get from Adelaide and Ballarat by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Adelaide to Ballarat is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 35m and will set you back approx A$105 ($69).

The cheapest way to travel between Adelaide and Ballarat, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$65 ($44) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Adelaide and Ballarat. It typically takes around 7h 55m and departs twice a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Adelaide to Ballarat. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Ararat Station. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 7h 55m.

PTV Overland and V-Line run train services between Adelaide and Ballarat. Trains depart twice a week and will take around 7h 55m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Adelaide and Ballarat. It typically takes around 8h 15m and departs 4 times a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Adelaide and Ballarat with no changeovers required. The bus runs 4 times a week and takes 8h 15m.

Firefly Express and V-Line run regular bus services between Adelaide and Ballarat. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 8h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Adelaide to Ballarat. We recommend that you fly from Adelaide (ADL) to Melbourne (MEL) then take the train to Ballarat. instead which will take 3h 35m.

The closest major airport to Ballarat is Avalon Airport (AVV) (AVV) which is approximately 75km (46 miles) from Ballarat. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) (MEL) and King Island Airport (KNS) (KNS) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Adelaide and Ballarat. The distance is around 615km (382 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Adelaide to Ballarat is to take the bus which takes, on average, 8h 15m and will usually cost around A$65 ($44).

How do I get from Adelaide to Ballarat

Compare travel optionsbetween Adelaide and Ballarat

Transport options from Adelaide to Ballarat
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train
3h 35m
A$105($69)
hourly785km (488 miles)
Train
7h 55m
A$100($68)
twice a week654km (407 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
8h 15m
A$65($44)
4 times a week620km (386 miles)
Bus via Dundas St9h 55m
A$95($65)
5 times a week696km (433 miles)
Drive
6h 55m
A$82($55)
on demand615km (382 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Adelaide and Ballarat

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Ballarat

The following major airports near Ballarat offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.

AVV
Avalon Airport (AVV)
International Airport
Distance
75km (46 miles) from Ballarat
MEL
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
International Airport
Distance
87km (54 miles) from Ballarat
KNS
King Island Airport (KNS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
258km (160 miles) from Ballarat