Getting around Adelaide in a rental car

If you’re planning a trip to Adelaide and want to hire a rental car, hit the road running with our insider tips on getting the most out of your journey.

Read on to find out more.

Listed as one of the nine Great Wine Capitals of the World, the charming city of Adelaide is perfect for exploring in a rental car. There’s always fun things to do here, with many of Adelaide’s top tourist attractions and highlights spread evenly around South Australia’s vibrant capital. VroomVroomVroom can help you find and compare top rental cars in Adelaide as well as from locations right across Australia.

Hire a car in Adelaide

Where to drive your rental car in Adelaide

Kangaroo Island: Australia’s third largest island, there are plenty of things to see and do on Kangaroo Island. Not to be missed attractions include the Flinders Chase National Park, Vivonne Bay, and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.
Barossa Valley: There are several regions in South Australia which produce world-class wine, but one of the most historic and worth the visit is the Barossa Valley. It is easily visited on a road trip from Adelaide.
Port Lincoln: Only an hour away by plane, Port Lincoln is perfect for you if you dig nature and wildlife, as well as the natural wonders and pristine coastline.
Flinders Ranges: With its beautiful landscape, a visit to the Flinders Ranges is something every traveller should experience.
Adelaide to Mount Gambier: One of South Australia’s great coastal road trips runs from Adelaide to the border with Victoria.

Driving tips in Adelaide

In the urban area, the default speed limit is 50 kph unless otherwise signposted.
The speed limit on most Australian highways is 100 kph.
Take note that only a few roads permit you to travel at a maximum speed of 110 kph.
The driver and all passengers must wear a seatbelt or child restraint at all times.
Remember that the police conduct speed checks via speed cameras and radar on roads right across South Australia. Speeding fines can be high and result in the loss of your driving licence.

Parking in Adelaide

Adelaide has thousands of both on-street and off-street parking spaces, including almost ten thousand free time limit spots. Paid parking spaces in Adelaide are cashless, and accept both Mastercard and Visa (using a card or digital wallet) for payment. Fines for overstaying your paid time can be substantial. Adelaide also has accessibility parking, but you need to have a Disability Parking Permit to be able to park in these spots — if you park in one without a permit, the fine can be hefty. If you’re looking for parking near Adelaide Airport (ADL), check out our list of airport car parking providers to find the best Adelaide Airport parking deals for you.

When parking your rental car in Adelaide, be sure to read any time zone limitations, what payment (if any) is due, and how long you are permitted to park in a spot. Car parking rules should be displayed on signs beside the parking spots, and often show different rules depending on the day of the week and time of day — inner city Adelaide parking rules tend to be more restrictive on weekdays.

Important Information
Expert tip ...
Parking rules can change depending on the day of the week and the time of day, and as getting booked can be an expensive experience, it is a good idea to read before you park.

Are there toll roads in Adelaide?

There are currently no toll roads in Adelaide nor in South Australia.

Driving distances

The distances and trip times below are estimates only and will vary depending on time and day of departure, route taken, and traffic conditions.

Adelaide CBD to Adelaide Airport (ADL): 6 km (10 to 25 min)
Adelaide to the Adelaide Hills: 30 km (40 min to 1 hr)
Adelaide to Kangaroo Island: 210 km (3 hr 40 min to 4 hr 20 min)
Adelaide to Port Augusta: 308 km (3 hr 10 min to 4 hr 30 min)
Adelaide to Olympic Dam Airport: 575 km (5 hr 50 min to 6 hr 50 min)
Adelaide to Port Lincoln Airport: 638 km (6 hr 30 min to 7 hr 30 min)
Adelaide to Coober Pedy: 850 km (8 hr 40 min to 9 hr 40 min)

Fuel

Before you return your hire car to the rental car provider’s depot, make sure you’ve filled the fuel tank to avoid paying a premium rate to have the vehicle refuelled. The Vroom Fuel Price Compare app can help you find the cheapest fuel near you, but otherwise some centrally-located petrol stations in Adelaide include:

EG Ampol, 130-132 Marian Road, West Richmond, Adelaide, SA
BP, 79-81 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton, Adelaide SA
Perrys Shell Service Station, 174 Gilbert St, Adelaide SA
Caltex West Terrace, 111 West Terrace, Adelaide SA
bp X Convenience, 542 Cross Road, South Plympton, Adelaide, SA
Ampol Foodary, 509-511 Anzac Highway, Glenelg North, Adelaide, SA