Driving Cost from Brisbane City, Queensland to Ballina, New South Wales

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The Cost of Your Next Road Trip: Brisbane to Ballina

Are you planning to travel between Brisbane City, Queensland, and Ballina, New South Wales? Driving can be a convenient and budget-friendly option, especially for families or groups looking to split the expenses. However, it's crucial to calculate the cost of your trip accurately to avoid surprises during or after your journey. In this article, we'll discuss the different routes available, their distances, fuel costs, and provide our recommendation for the most budget-friendly and efficient option.

Possible Routes

There are three main routes that you can take to travel between Brisbane City and Ballina:

  • Pacific Highway - This is the most direct route from Brisbane to Ballina. You'll need to drive south on the Pacific Motorway or the M1, then merge onto the Pacific Highway (M1) near Tweed Heads. The estimated driving time is around two hours, and the distance is 159 km.
  • Inland Way - This option takes you inland, passing through towns like Warwick, Stanthorpe, and Tenterfield. You'll need to take the Ipswich Motorway (M7) from Brisbane, then merge onto the Cunningham Highway (A15) towards Warwick. From Tenterfield, you'll head east towards Ballina, passing through Casino. The estimated driving time is around five hours, and the distance is 351 km.
  • Coastal Route - This route takes you along the coastline, passing through towns like the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and Lennox Head. You'll need to take the Pacific Motorway (M1) from Brisbane, then exit towards Coolangatta/Tweed Heads. From there, you'll drive south on the Gold Coast Highway and Pacific Motorway (M1) until you reach Ballina. The estimated driving time is around three hours, and the distance is 211 km.

Fuel Costs

Fuel is one of the significant expenses when driving between Brisbane City and Ballina. To calculate the cost of your trip, you need to know your vehicle's fuel consumption rate, the distance you'll travel, and the current fuel price. Here's a breakdown of the fuel costs for each route, based on a fuel consumption rate of 10 L/100km and the current fuel price of $1.50/L for unleaded petrol:

Pacific Highway

  • Fuel required: 15.9 L
  • Fuel cost: $23.85

Inland Way

  • Fuel required: 35.1 L
  • Fuel cost: $52.65

Coastal Route

  • Fuel required: 21.1 L
  • Fuel cost: $31.65

Keep in mind that fuel prices can vary, so make sure to check the current prices before your trip to get a more accurate estimate.

Our Recommendation

Based on the fuel costs and driving time, we recommend taking the Pacific Highway as the most cost-effective and efficient option. Although the Coastal Route may provide beautiful, scenic views of the coastline, it's slightly more expensive and takes longer than the Pacific Highway. The Inland Way is the most extended route and has the highest fuel costs, making it the least recommended option.

Conclusion

Traveling from Brisbane City to Ballina by car can be a budget-friendly and convenient option, and there are three different routes to choose from. The Pacific Highway is the most direct route, while the Inland Way and Coastal Route offer different scenery and attractions. However, it's crucial to calculate your fuel costs accurately before embarking on your journey to avoid unexpected expenses. For the most cost-effective and efficient option, we recommend taking the Pacific Highway, which takes an estimated two hours of driving time and costs around $25 in fuel. Happy travels!