Queensland's Most Popular Road Trips: The Top 7 Routes Ranked

Few travel experiences are as uniquely Australian as hitting the open road. Whether it's cruising alongside turquoise waters, winding through ancient rainforest, or crossing vast stretches of red outback, road trips remain one of the nation's favourite ways to explore.

Queensland is home to some of Australia's most spectacular driving routes. The state offers an extraordinary variety of landscapes, from the tropical coastline of Far North Queensland and the lush Atherton Tablelands to remote outback highways that stretch for thousands of kilometres. For many travellers, the journey itself is just as memorable as the destination.

Scenic drives have become a major source of travel inspiration, with thousands of people turning to Google each month to research routes, discover hidden gems and plan their next adventure. But which Queensland road trips are generating the most interest?

We analysed online search behaviour and route data to uncover the most popular road trips across the Sunshine State. The primary ranking factor was average monthly Google search volume, and additional route characteristics were collected to provide further context, such as total route length, estimated driving duration, and the number of restaurants and petrol stations along the route.

While road trips offer unforgettable experiences, road safety remains an important consideration for travellers. A total of 325 people injured in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) have been helped this year, with eight individuals identified in the past month alone, highlighting the ongoing need for awareness and support on Queensland's roads.

The Top 7 Most Popular Queensland Road Trips

1. Great Barrier Reef Drive (Cairns to Port Douglas)

The Great Barrier Reef Drive attracts 2,900 monthly Google searches. The 140-kilometre route takes around three hours to complete and features 65 restaurants and 12 petrol stations along the way, making it one of the state's most accessible scenic drives.

The journey hugs the coastline between Cairns and Port Douglas, offering stunning views of the Coral Sea and tropical rainforest. Highlights include Palm Cove, Rex Lookout, Mossman Gorge and access to the Great Barrier Reef, helping cement its reputation as one of Australia's most spectacular coastal drives.

2. Capricorn Way (The Caves to Barcaldine)

Capricorn Way ranks second with 720 monthly searches. Stretching 583 kilometres and taking approximately six hours and 40 minutes to drive, the route features 18 restaurants and 13 petrol stations across Central Queensland.

Travellers can explore the impressive Capricorn Caves, discover historic outback towns and experience the transition from coastal landscapes to Queensland's rugged interior. The route finishes in Barcaldine, home to the famous Tree of Knowledge and a key site in Australia's labour history.

3. Black Mountain Road (Kuranda to Julatten)

With 480 monthly searches, Black Mountain Road is Queensland's third most popular road trip despite spanning just 43 kilometres. The two-hour route includes 24 restaurants and six petrol stations, making it an ideal option for a shorter scenic escape.

The drive winds through lush rainforest landscapes in Tropical North Queensland, with opportunities to enjoy spectacular mountain views, wildlife spotting and nearby attractions such as Kuranda, Barron Gorge and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

4. Highest Road in Queensland (Herberton to Ravenshoe)

Attracting 390 monthly searches, Queensland's highest road offers a unique journey through the Atherton Tablelands. The route covers just 20.3 kilometres in around two hours and is supported by six restaurants and two petrol stations.

Travellers can enjoy elevated scenery, rolling countryside and nearby attractions including Millstream Falls and Ravenshoe, Australia's highest town. The cooler climate and natural beauty make this short drive a popular addition to any Tablelands itinerary.

5. Matilda Way (Barrigun to Karumba)

Matilda Way ranks fifth in our research with 170 monthly searches and is one of Queensland's most iconic outback adventures. Covering 1,808 kilometres and taking almost 21 hours to complete, the route features 29 restaurants and 20 petrol stations.

The journey passes through legendary outback destinations including Charleville, Longreach and Cloncurry before reaching Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along the way, travellers can discover Australia's pioneering history, vast landscapes and renowned attractions such as the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame.

6. Savannah Way (Cairns to Georgetown)

Generating 140 monthly searches, the Savannah Way is the longest road trip in the ranking, stretching 5,282 kilometres and requiring more than 65 hours of driving time. Travellers have access to 109 restaurants and 41 petrol stations along the route.

Beginning in Cairns, the journey traverses rainforest, savannah and remote outback landscapes. Highlights include Undara Volcanic National Park, dramatic gorges and some of Australia's most remote and untouched natural environments.

7. Great Inland Way (Sydney to Cooktown)

The Great Inland Way attracts 110 monthly searches and spans 2,968 kilometres between Sydney and Cooktown. The route takes approximately 35 hours and 46 minutes to complete and is supported by 50 restaurants and 48 petrol stations.

This epic journey showcases a diverse mix of regional towns, agricultural landscapes and outback scenery before reaching Tropical North Queensland. Its variety of experiences makes it a popular choice for travellers seeking a long-distance Australian road trip.

Medical Educator Shares Emergency Tips

With many of Queensland’s popular road trips taking travellers through regional, rural and remote areas, help may take longer to arrive. In those moments, simple actions taken by bystanders, friends or family members can make a real difference while emergency services are on the way.

LifeFlight First Minutes Matter regional medical educator Tim said preparation should include knowing how to respond in a medical or roadside emergency.

“Road trips are a great way to explore Queensland, but emergencies can happen anywhere — on the roadside, at a rest stop, at a campsite, or in an area with limited phone reception,” Tim said.

“The first few minutes after an incident can feel overwhelming, but simple actions matter. Knowing how to call Triple Zero (000), give your exact location, identifying and controlling serious bleeding, supporting a person’s airway who is unwell can make a real difference until help arrives.”

To help more Queenslanders build these skills, LifeFlight delivers the First Minutes Matter program — a practical, free education initiative that gives people the confidence to act in the moments that matter most, before emergency services arrive.

At LifeFlight Lotteries, we know that some of the best adventures happen on the road. Every lottery ticket purchased helps support LifeFlight's critical care and aeromedical services, which assist Queenslanders across regional and remote communities when emergencies happen, helping keep travellers safe as they explore everything the Sunshine State has to offer.

Methodology & sources

LifeFlight Lotteries identified a selection of well-known road trips located wholly or partially within Queensland and analysed each route using publicly available travel and search data.

To determine popularity, average monthly Google search volumes were collected for each road trip.

All data was collected in May 2026.