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Johannesburg to Durban drive weather

568 km (353 miles), about 5½ hours of driving via N3. The high point is N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba at 1,779 m (5,836 ft), about 2 h 51 min in.

Distance
568 km
Drive time
~5½ hours
High point
1,779 m
Country
South Africa

Next 7 departures

Leaving Johannesburg at 7 AM each day · Updated · Forecast: MET Norway

  1. SatOct 3

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 11–24°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Johannesburg7 AM SASTSunny11°C
    Villiers8 AM SASTSunny13°C
    Warden9:15 AM SASTSunny16°C
    N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba9:45 AM SASTSunny17°C
    Van Reenen's Pass10:15 AM SASTSunny18°C
    Mooirivier11:15 AM SASTSunny20°C
    Pietermaritzburg11:45 AM SASTSunny24°C
    Durban12:30 PM SASTSunny24°C
  2. SunOct 4

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 11–23°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Johannesburg7 AM SASTPartly sunny11°C
    Villiers8 AM SASTPartly sunny13°C
    Warden9:15 AM SASTPartly sunny14°C
    N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba9:45 AM SASTCloudy13°C
    Van Reenen's Pass10:15 AM SASTLight rain14°C
    Mooirivier11:15 AM SASTCloudy17°C
    Pietermaritzburg11:45 AM SASTRain showers21°C
    Durban12:30 PM SASTMostly sunny23°C
  3. MonOct 5

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 11–25°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Johannesburg7 AM SASTCloudy11°C
    Villiers8 AM SASTSunny14°C
    Warden9:15 AM SASTSunny14°C
    N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba9:45 AM SASTSunny16°C
    Van Reenen's Pass10:15 AM SASTSunny19°C
    Mooirivier11:15 AM SASTLight rain showers19°C
    Pietermaritzburg11:45 AM SASTMostly sunny25°C
    Durban12:30 PM SASTSunny25°C
  4. TueOct 6

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 13–26°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Johannesburg7 AM SASTMostly sunny13°C
    Villiers8 AM SASTRain showers16°C
    Warden9:15 AM SASTSunny17°C
    N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba9:45 AM SASTSunny17°C
    Van Reenen's Pass10:15 AM SASTSunny20°C
    Mooirivier11:15 AM SASTSunny21°C
    Pietermaritzburg11:45 AM SASTSunny26°C
    Durban12:30 PM SASTSunny25°C
  5. WedOct 7

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 16–23°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Johannesburg7 AM SASTSunny17°C
    Villiers8 AM SASTSunny17°C
    Warden9:15 AM SASTSunny18°C
    N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba9:45 AM SASTLight rain16°C
    Van Reenen's Pass10:15 AM SASTLight rain16°C
    Mooirivier11:15 AM SASTRain17°C
    Pietermaritzburg11:45 AM SASTCloudy20°C
    Durban12:30 PM SASTCloudy23°C
  6. ThuOct 8

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 15–25°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Johannesburg7 AM SASTMostly sunny15°C
    Villiers8 AM SASTLight rain17°C
    Warden9:15 AM SASTCloudy18°C
    N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba9:45 AM SASTCloudy18°C
    Van Reenen's Pass10:15 AM SASTMostly sunny21°C
    Mooirivier11:15 AM SASTCloudy20°C
    Pietermaritzburg11:45 AM SASTMostly sunny25°C
    Durban12:30 PM SASTSunny24°C
  7. FriOct 9

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 18–31°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Johannesburg7 AM SASTSunny18°C
    Villiers8 AM SASTSunny19°C
    Warden9:15 AM SASTSunny20°C
    N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba9:45 AM SASTSunny20°C
    Van Reenen's Pass10:15 AM SASTSunny24°C
    Mooirivier11:15 AM SASTSunny25°C
    Pietermaritzburg11:45 AM SASTSunny31°C
    Durban12:30 PM SASTSunny30°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 Johannesburg (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.

N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba · 1,779 m 0 km 568 km
Elevation along the route (Terrain Tiles, sampled every 8 km).
  1. Johannesburg, South AfricaStart 1,749 melevation
  2. Villiers, South AfricaKm 117 · 1 h 7 min 1,516 melevation
  3. Warden, South AfricaKm 219 · 2 h 11 min 1,634 melevation
  4. N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba, South AfricaKm 282 · 2 h 51 min 1,779 melevation
  5. Van Reenen's Pass, South AfricaMountain pass · Km 307 · 3 h 8 min 1,561 melevation
  6. Mooirivier, South AfricaKm 426 · 4 h 14 min 1,404 melevation
  7. Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaKm 489 · 4 h 51 min 649 melevation
  8. Durban, South AfricaKm 568 · 5 h 37 min 12 melevation

Typical weather by month

Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Johannesburg, N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba and Durban.

MonthJohannesburg
Johannesburg Airport station · 1,694 m		N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba
Van Reenen station · 1,680 m		Durban
Durban Airport station · 10 m
High / low °CHigh / low °CHigh / low °C
Jan26° / 15°26° / 13°29° / 21°
Feb26° / 14°26° / 13°30° / 21°
Mar25° / 13°25° / 12°29° / 20°
Apr23° / 10°23° / 9°27° / 17°
May20° / 7°21° / 4°26° / 14°
Jun18° / 4°18° / 2°25° / 11°
Jul18° / 3°18° / 1°24° / 11°
Aug21° / 6°21° / 4°24° / 13°
Sep25° / 9°24° / 7°25° / 15°
Oct26° / 11°25° / 10°25° / 17°
Nov26° / 12°26° / 11°27° / 18°
Dec26° / 14°26° / 13°28° / 20°

1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): JOHANNESBURG INTERNATIONAL, SF (SFM00068368, 1,694 m); VAN REENEN, SF (SF003336820, 1,680 m); DURBAN INTERNATIONAL, SF (SFM00068588, 10 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 Africa rather than repeat them.

Check the official forecast from South African Weather Service and each road report before you leave.

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Questions about this drive

How long is the drive from Johannesburg to Durban?

568 km (353 miles), about 5½ hours of driving without stops, by way of N3. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.

What is the highest point on the drive?

N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba, at 1,779 m (5,836 ft). It comes at km 282, about 2 h 51 min of driving after you leave Johannesburg.

How cold is N3 northeast of Phuthaditjhaba in July?

The nearest long-term NOAA station, Van Reenen (1,680 m), averages a high of 18°C and a low of 1°C in July (1991–2020 averages).

How cold is Durban in July?

The nearest long-term NOAA station, Durban Airport (10 m), averages a high of 24°C and a low of 11°C in July (1991–2020 averages).

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