How to travel from Geelong to Ballarat, Australia

The distance between Geelong and Ballarat is around 86km (54 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take a taxi which takes around 1h 5m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Geelong to Ballarat by bus, train, taxi and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

💰 Cheapest
1
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Ballarat.

  • Duration1h 30m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    A$12($8)
Operated by

V-Line

2
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Deer Park and then to Ballarat.

  • Duration1h 45m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    A$28($19)
Operated by

V-Line

🚀 Fastest
3
taxi
+

Taxi

Take a taxi to Ballarat.

  • Duration1h 5m
  • Departson demand
  • Typical cost
    A$180($120)
Operated by

Geelong Taxi Network

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Ballarat.

  • Duration1h 5m
  • Distance86km (54 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Geelong and Ballarat

There are several options for getting from Geelong to Ballarat by bus, train, taxi and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$12 ($8) and will take around 1h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take a taxi and arrive in approximately 1h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$180 ($120).

The distance between Geelong and Ballarat is around 86km (54 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 79km (49 miles)

It takes around 1h 30m to get from Geelong and Ballarat by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 5m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Geelong to Ballarat is to take a taxi which takes around 1h 5m and will set you back approx A$180 ($120).

The cheapest way to travel between Geelong and Ballarat, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$12 ($8) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Geelong and Ballarat. It typically takes around 1h 45m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Geelong to Ballarat. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Deer Park. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 1h 45m.

V-Line run train services between Geelong and Ballarat. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 45m, 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 Geelong and Ballarat. It typically takes around 1h 30m and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Geelong and Ballarat with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 1h 30m.

V-Line run regular bus services between Geelong and Ballarat. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 1h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Geelong to Ballarat. We recommend that you take the bus to Ballarat. instead which will take 1h 30m.

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 Geelong and Ballarat. The distance is around 86km (54 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 5m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Geelong to Ballarat is to take the bus which takes, on average, 1h 30m and will usually cost around A$12 ($8).

How do I get from Geelong to Ballarat

Compare travel optionsbetween Geelong and Ballarat

Transport options from Geelong to Ballarat
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
1h 30m
A$12($8)
every 20 mins89km (56 miles)
Train
1h 45m
A$28($19)
hourly159km (99 miles)
Taxi
1h 5m
A$180($120)
on demand86km (54 miles)
Drive
1h 5m
A$12($8)
on demand86km (54 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Geelong and Ballarat

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