Hitting the highway? Here’s what the average Australian traveller spends on a road trip

Road trips are a big part of our nation’s DNA. From the Great Ocean Road to the Red Centre Way, these roads wind along the coast and into the heart of the outback, forming the backbone of unforgettable family holidays, mates’ trips and solo getaways. And with the current cost-of-living crisis hitting hard, road trips are now more popular than ever – with the average Australian spending just above $1,100 on their latest four-wheel adventure.

Of the 2,000 travellers surveyed in Youi’s Great Australian Road Trip report, 35 per cent admitted that the whole reason they hit the road was because it’s cheaper than other types of holidays. With the average Aussie road trip costing around $1,108, you could cover everything – accommodation, transport, fuel, meals and entertainment – for the price of a one-way flight to Athens. We know which we’d pick!

According to the survey, 74 per cent of people cited fuel as their biggest expense, closely followed by accommodation. This checks out given that almost half of Aussie travellers drove up to 500 kilometres on their last roadie, with a quarter spending more than 17 hours on the road. Hey, time flies when you’ve got some great snacks and a playlist of anthems queued up.

Photograph: Tourism Western Australia | Eagle Bay Beach, near Dunsborough

Queenslanders are the most enthusiastic road trippers, clocking more hours behind the wheel on average than any other state or territory. Meanwhile, Western Australians are the least likely to travel interstate – and who can blame them when they have more than 10,000 kilometres of coastline to explore in their own backyard? The Coral Coast Highway from Perth to Exmouth and the South West Edge from Perth to Esperance are both on our bucket list.

More than half of Aussies surveyed are gearing up for a road trip in the next few months. If you’re one of them, we’ve rounded up all the best drives across the country for your wanderlusting pleasure. Buckle up and don’t forget to pack a box of Chicken Crimpy Shapes.

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