Next 7 departures
- SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 12–24°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Adelaide7 AM ACDT Cloudy12°C Snowtown8:30 AM ACDT Cloudy13°C Port Augusta10:15 AM ACDT Partly sunny18°C Pimba11:45 AM ACDT Light rain15°C Glendambo1 PM ACDT Cloudy17°C Coober Pedy3:15 PM ACDT Heavy rain15°C Marla5:30 PM ACDT Mostly sunny24°C South Australia–Northern Territory line7 PM ACDT Clear21°C A87 southwest of Amoonguna8:15 PM ACST Mostly clear22°C Alice Springs8:30 PM ACST Mostly clear22°C - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 11–28°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Adelaide7 AM ACDT Fog11°C Snowtown8:30 AM ACDT Cloudy12°C Port Augusta10:15 AM ACDT Cloudy18°C Pimba11:45 AM ACDT Partly sunny20°C Glendambo1 PM ACDT Partly sunny22°C Coober Pedy3:15 PM ACDT Cloudy23°C Marla5:30 PM ACDT Sunny28°C South Australia–Northern Territory line7 PM ACDT Mostly clear24°C A87 southwest of Amoonguna8:15 PM ACST Clear27°C Alice Springs8:30 PM ACST Clear25°C - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 13–26°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Adelaide7 AM ACDT Light rain showers13°C Snowtown8:30 AM ACDT Sunny15°C Port Augusta10:15 AM ACDT Sunny19°C Pimba11:45 AM ACDT Sunny21°C Glendambo1 PM ACDT Sunny23°C Coober Pedy3:15 PM ACDT Sunny24°C Marla5:30 PM ACDT Mostly sunny26°C South Australia–Northern Territory line7 PM ACDT Partly cloudy22°C A87 southwest of Amoonguna8:15 PM ACST Clear26°C Alice Springs8:30 PM ACST Mostly clear25°C - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 11–28°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Adelaide7 AM ACDT Sunny11°C Snowtown8:30 AM ACDT Sunny14°C Port Augusta10:15 AM ACDT Sunny19°C Pimba11:45 AM ACDT Sunny22°C Glendambo1 PM ACDT Sunny24°C Coober Pedy3:15 PM ACDT Mostly sunny26°C Marla5:30 PM ACDT Cloudy28°C South Australia–Northern Territory line7 PM ACDT Clear25°C A87 southwest of Amoonguna8:15 PM ACST Clear27°C Alice Springs8:30 PM ACST Clear26°C - ThuOct 8
CautionNear 33°C near Marla around 5:30 PM ACDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Adelaide7 AM ACDT Partly sunny16°C Snowtown8:30 AM ACDT Sunny18°C Port Augusta10:15 AM ACDT Sunny23°C Pimba11:45 AM ACDT Sunny26°C Glendambo1 PM ACDT Sunny28°C Coober Pedy3:15 PM ACDT Sunny31°C Marla5:30 PM ACDT Sunny33°C South Australia–Northern Territory line7 PM ACDT Clear31°C A87 southwest of Amoonguna8:15 PM ACST Mostly clear31°C Alice Springs8:30 PM ACST Mostly clear29°C - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 19–31°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Adelaide7 AM ACDT Partly sunny19°C Snowtown8:30 AM ACDT Mostly sunny21°C Port Augusta10:15 AM ACDT Sunny24°C Pimba11:45 AM ACDT Heavy rain25°C Glendambo1 PM ACDT Rain26°C Coober Pedy3:15 PM ACDT Rain showers28°C Marla5:30 PM ACDT Light rain showers31°C South Australia–Northern Territory line7 PM ACDT Rain showers27°C A87 southwest of Amoonguna8:15 PM ACST Rain27°C Alice Springs8:30 PM ACST Rain26°C - SatOct 10
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 14–28°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Adelaide7 AM ACDT Rain showers14°C Snowtown8:30 AM ACDT Sunny15°C Port Augusta10:15 AM ACDT Sunny19°C Pimba11:45 AM ACDT Sunny19°C Glendambo1 PM ACDT Sunny20°C Coober Pedy3:15 PM ACDT Sunny25°C Marla5:30 PM ACDT Sunny28°C South Australia–Northern Territory line7 PM ACDT Clear26°C A87 southwest of Amoonguna8:15 PM ACST Rain showers24°C Alice Springs8:30 PM ACST Rain showers23°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Adelaide (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Adelaide, SAStart 45 melevation
- Snowtown, SAKm 148 · 1 h 34 min 105 melevation
- Port Augusta, SAKm 307 · 3 h 8 min 9 melevation
- Pimba, SAKm 481 · 4 h 48 min 191 melevation
- Glendambo, SAKm 594 · 5 h 53 min 147 melevation
- Coober Pedy, SAKm 847 · 8 h 18 min 226 melevation
- Marla, SAKm 1,078 · 10 h 32 min 324 melevation
- South Australia–Northern Territory lineState line · Km 1,236 · 12 h 3 min 529 melevation
- A87 southwest of Amoonguna, NTKm 1,493 · 14 h 9 min 630 melevation
- Alice Springs, NTKm 1,530 · 14 h 34 min 584 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Adelaide, A87 southwest of Amoonguna and Alice Springs.
| Month | Adelaide 48 m | A87 southwest of Amoonguna Alice Springs Airport station · 546 m | Alice Springs Alice Springs Airport station · 546 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 30° / 18° | 37° / 22° | 37° / 22° |
| Feb | 30° / 18° | 36° / 21° | 36° / 21° |
| Mar | 27° / 15° | 33° / 18° | 33° / 18° |
| Apr | 23° / 13° | 29° / 13° | 29° / 13° |
| May | 19° / 10° | 24° / 8° | 24° / 8° |
| Jun | 16° / 8° | 20° / 5° | 20° / 5° |
| Jul | 16° / 8° | 21° / 4° | 21° / 4° |
| Aug | 17° / 8° | 24° / 6° | 24° / 6° |
| Sep | 19° / 10° | 29° / 11° | 29° / 11° |
| Oct | 22° / 12° | 32° / 15° | 32° / 15° |
| Nov | 25° / 14° | 34° / 18° | 34° / 18° |
| Dec | 28° / 16° | 36° / 21° | 36° / 21° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): ADELAIDE KENT TOWN, AS (ASN00023090, 48 m); ALICE SPRINGS AIRPORT, AS (ASN00015590, 546 m); ALICE SPRINGS AIRPORT, AS (ASN00015590, 546 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for South Australia and Northern Territory rather than repeat them.
- South Australia · Traffic SATraffic SA
- Northern Territory · NT Road ReportNT Road Report
Check the official forecast from Bureau of Meteorology and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Adelaide to Alice Springs with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Adelaide to Alice Springs?
1,530 km (951 miles), about 15 hours of driving without stops, by way of A87. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
A87 southwest of Amoonguna, at 630 m (2,068 ft). It comes at km 1,493, about 14 h 9 min of driving after you leave Adelaide.
How cold is A87 southwest of Amoonguna in July?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Alice Springs Airport (546 m), averages a high of 21°C and a low of 4°C in July (1991–2020 averages).
How cold is Alice Springs in July?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Alice Springs Airport (546 m), averages a high of 21°C and a low of 4°C in July (1991–2020 averages).