Ask anyone who has driven it and they will tell you the same thing: Perth to Broome by campervan is one of those road trips that changes your sense of distance. Roughly 2,200 km separate the two, most of it straight, much of it empty, and almost all of it spectacular. You pass the limestone spires of the Pinnacles, the pink lake at Hutt Lagoon, the cliffs of Kalbarri, the shark-filled shallows of Shark Bay and the turquoise edge of Ningaloo Reef, before the red pindan soil finally meets the Indian Ocean at Cable Beach.
We are Joona and Alla, and we write from Rovaniemi, so we should be upfront: this is a researched guide, not a diary of a trip we have driven ourselves. We have studied the route, the seasons and the live prices on CampervanPlanet, and we have put it together the way we would plan it for ourselves. If you want a vehicle for the journey, our Perth campervan hire page is where the comparison starts, and our code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off at checkout.
Allow 10 to 14 days for Perth to Broome, with at least four or five driving days of 300–450 km and a few nights in the places you will not want to leave. The best window is May to October, when the north is dry rather than cyclonic. On CampervanPlanet the cheapest Perth campervan we saw was from A$81/day for a June 2027 start, with typical prices around A$216 a day over the year, so book early and compare one-way terms before you pay.
How far is it, and how long should you allow?
The direct run up the Great Northern Highway is a little over 2,200 km, and the coastal detours to Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, Coral Bay and Exmouth add several hundred more. Australian drivers will happily cover 700 km in a day, but in a campervan with a nine-to-five kind of speed limit (110 km/h on the open highway, less in a van you are not used to) we would plan for about 350–450 km a day on average.
That arithmetic gives you a sensible split:
- 10 days: the fast version. Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Exmouth or Coral Bay, then a long push to Broome. It works, but you will feel the distances.
- 12–14 days: our recommendation. Two nights at Kalbarri or Shark Bay, two at Ningaloo, a night each at Karratha and Port Hedland, and three at the end in Broome.
- 3 weeks: time to add Karijini National Park in the Pilbara, which is a detour from the highway but one of the best places in the state.
Our rule on any outback road trip is simple: do the long drives in the morning and keep the afternoon for a swim, a short walk or just sitting in the shade with a cold drink.
The route, stop by stop
Perth to Geraldton: the warm-up
Leave the city on the Brand Highway or the coastal road towards Cervantes, about two hours north, where the Pinnacles Desert is best at sunrise or late afternoon when the light turns the limestone gold. Continue to Geraldton, roughly 420 km from Perth, and stock up on groceries, water and fuel. This is the last proper shopping for a while.
Kalbarri to Shark Bay: red gorges and white beaches
Kalbarri National Park has river gorges and the Skywalk lookouts, best done early before the heat. From there the road runs north to the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, with the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool, the shell beaches and the dolphin feeding at Monkey Mia (check the current arrangements, as sessions depend on the dolphins turning up).
Coral Bay and Exmouth: Ningaloo
This is the part most people picture when they say Western Australia. The reef starts a few metres from the sand at Coral Bay, and in the right season you can snorkel with manta rays and, from roughly March to July, whale sharks. Humpback whales pass offshore during the winter months. Exmouth and Cape Range National Park give you turquoise bays and rock wallabies in the gorges.
Karratha, Port Hedland and the Eighty Mile stretch
The Pilbara is mining country, so expect road trains, red dust and long gaps between fuel stops. It is still worth slowing down for the Millstream Chichester National Park or the Burrup Peninsula rock art near Karratha. Port Hedland offers the surreal sight of ore ships sliding in at night.
Broome: the reward
Cable Beach, camel rides at sunset, the pearl shops of Chinatown and the Staircase to the Moon, a natural illusion over the mudflats at certain full moons. If you have a day or two spare, our guide to 4WD camper hire in Broome and the Kimberley shows where the road goes next.
When to go: dry season versus cyclone season
The north of Western Australia has two seasons that matter. From roughly November to April it is hot, humid and cyclone-prone, with road closures after heavy rain and temperatures that make sleeping in a van uncomfortable. From May to October it is dry and bright, with days in the high 20s °C and cool nights. That dry window is when we would travel.
It also lines up with the marine wildlife: humpback whales from June to October, whale sharks at Ningaloo through the first half of the year, and mild enough weather for the Kalbarri gorges, which can be dangerously hot in summer. Because it is also peak season, popular campsites at Coral Bay, Exmouth and Broome fill up, so book those ahead.
Check the weather and road conditions with Main Roads Western Australia before you leave each morning. The state’s warnings are quick to update, and a closed road in the Pilbara can mean a very long detour.
💡 Our campervan tip: prices for the same van vary a lot between rental brands. We compare Western Australia campervans across 160+ rental companies on CampervanPlanet — and code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off your booking.
What the campervan costs
We looked at the live price index on CampervanPlanet for Perth. Nine rental companies hire out campervans there, with pick-up at Perth Airport, and the cheapest vehicle we saw was from A$81/day for a start on 8 June 2027. For a 10 November 2026 start the cheapest was from A$115/day. These are the lowest offers, so treat them as a starting point rather than a promise for your dates.
The more useful number is the typical one. Across the year, a campervan from Perth typically costs about A$216 a day, and the pattern is interesting: June is the cheapest month (around A$190 a day), while October is the most expensive (around A$276). The ‘winter’ dry season is the sweet spot for the weather and, until the school holidays push things up, for the price too. If you want to compare against the rest of the country, our Australia campervan prices page shows the same index by month.
Remember that the daily rate is only part of the bill. Add:
- Excess cover: optional, but we would take it on remote roads. Prices are before this and other extras.
- Fuel: a diesel campervan will burn through serious litres over 2,500+ km. Budget more than you think and never pass a fuel stop on the Pilbara stretch with less than half a tank.
- Campsites: many are A$20–45 a night, with national park sites at the lower end and caravan parks in Broome higher in peak season.
One-way hire: Perth to Broome without driving back
The big question for this trip is whether you drive back. Returning the same 2,200 km is a lot of road, so many travellers either fly home from Broome or look for a one-way rental. One-way hire is often possible between major Australian locations, but it is not automatic: depots, fleets and the rules about which routes are allowed all vary by rental company, and a one-way fee may be charged. On CampervanPlanet each offer states what is included and what is paid locally, including one-way fees, so check that line before you book.
Some practical alternatives if one-way is not available on your dates:
- Do a loop instead, perhaps Perth to Exmouth and back, which is still around 2,500 km but avoids the Pilbara.
- Fly one way, either Perth to Broome or back, and rent a vehicle at each end for separate trips.
- Choose a 4WD camper if you want to add dirt roads such as the Gibb River Road. Our 4WD camper hire from Perth page lists those vehicles.
Driving tips for the long, empty bits
None of this is difficult, but it rewards respect. Here is what we would write on the dashboard:
- Drive on the left, and take a break every two hours. Fatigue is the main danger on straight roads.
- Avoid dawn, dusk and night. Kangaroos, emus and cattle are most active then, and a collision can end the trip.
- Give road trains space. They are up to 50 m long and need a long distance to pass safely, so be patient and pull off the road if one comes up behind you on a narrow section.
- Carry water. More than you would on a European trip: 10 litres of drinking water per person is a sensible emergency reserve.
- Tell someone your plan on any dirt road and do not rely on mobile coverage between roadhouses.
Our Perth campervan hire guide covers the city end of the trip in more detail, including airport pick-up and the first night.
How we would book it
If we were doing this trip, we would plan the route first, then the dates, then the van. Fix the number of nights and the direction (south to north is easier for the sun and the wind), then compare campervans for those dates on CampervanPlanet. Our Perth campervan search shows the live prices, and free cancellation is shown on the offers where it applies. If you book through the link, code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off at checkout, and the 30 days after you click are credited to us, so there is no rush to decide the same minute.
For a general overview of how renting a campervan works, from insurance to pick-up, start with our campervan rental guide. We keep it updated as the prices and the rules change.
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Check prices & availability →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Perth to Broome in a campervan?
Non-stop driving takes roughly 25–28 hours, but nobody should do it that way. In a campervan we would allow 10–14 days, with driving days of about 350–450 km and rest days at Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Ningaloo and Broome.
What is the best time of year for a Perth to Broome road trip?
May to October is the dry season and the best time, with comfortable temperatures and the marine wildlife at its best. From roughly November to April the north is hot, humid and cyclone-prone, and some roads close after heavy rain.
How much does a campervan cost in Perth?
On CampervanPlanet the cheapest Perth campervan we saw was from A$81/day for 8 June 2027, with typical prices around A$216 a day across the year. June is usually the cheapest month and October the most expensive. Prices are before excess cover and extras.
Can I rent a campervan one way from Perth to Broome?
Sometimes. One-way rentals depend on the rental company, the depots and the dates, and a fee may apply. Each CampervanPlanet offer states what is included and what you pay locally, so check the one-way terms before you book.
Is there a discount code for CampervanPlanet?
Yes. Use code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 at checkout on CampervanPlanet to take €20 off your booking when you book through our links.
Do I need a 4WD for this route?
No. The route up the Great Northern Highway and to the main coastal stops is paved, so a normal campervan is fine. A 4WD only becomes necessary if you add dirt tracks such as the Gibb River Road.