By Car

Ballarat is centrally located as an important regional hub in Victoria’s road network. Some of the more important road links are:

  • The Western Highway - provides excellent commuter access via freeway to Melbourne, is the principal freight route within western Victoria, and carries most of the interstate vehicle tourist traffic to and from Adelaide.
  • The Midland Highway - is an important regional route, linking some of Victoria’s major regional centres, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton.
  • The Glenelg Highway - provides an important connection between Ballarat and Portland, transporting live sheep to Portland’s export facilities, and petroleum and raw timber in the other direction.
  • The Sunraysia Highway - carries grains from the Mallee to Geelong, and is a tourist route to Mildura.

Travel Times

Ballarat to Melbourne

110 kilometres / 75 minutes / Western Freeway


Ballarat to Geelong

85 kilometres / 60 minutes / Midland Highway


Ballarat to The Grampians National Park

135 kilometres / 1 hour 30 minutes / Western Highway


Ballarat to Warrnambool

175 kilometres / 2 hours / Glenelg Highway


Ballarat to Adelaide

614 kilometres / 6 hours 30 minutes / Western Highway


Ballarat to Avoca

75 kilometres / 50 minutes / Sunraysia Highway


Ballarat to Daylesford

45 kilometres / 40 minutes / Midland Highway


Ballarat to Bendigo

122 kilometres / 1 hour 30 minutes / Midland Highway