Traffic in Darwin

In 2024, Darwin's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population relying on bicycles and walking.

Despite the heavy reliance on cars, there are opportunities to improve public transport and reduce CO2 emissions.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 14.44 minutes of driving and a total travel time of 21.11 minutes over a distance of 15.53 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 30 minutes on the bus, with additional walking and waiting times, covering 16 km.
  • Car - Car users drive for approximately 18.57 minutes, with minimal walking, over a distance of 17.63 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes take about 15 minutes, with additional time for biking, covering a short distance of 2 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
78%
Bicycle
11%
Walking
6%
Bus
6%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 18 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
9.7 miles
Walking
1.6 mins
Waiting
0.3 mins
Driving Car
14.4 mins
Bus / Trolley
1.7 mins
Bicycle
2.9 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Other
0.3 mins
Total:
21.1 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
9.9 miles
Walking
5.0 mins
Waiting
5.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
30.0 mins
Total:
40.0 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
11.0 miles
Walking
0.6 mins
Driving Car
18.6 mins
Total:
19.1 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
1.2 miles
Walking
15.0 mins
Bicycle
7.0 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Other
5.0 mins
Total:
27.0 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the wet season due to road conditions, affecting commute times.

The dry season sees a rise in bicycle usage as weather conditions become more favorable.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transport options lead to longer commute times for non-car users.

Traffic congestion during peak hours is a common issue for car commuters.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are the best times to avoid traffic congestion.

Midday travel can also be less congested, particularly for non-car commuters.

Event Impacts

Public events such as festivals and sports games can significantly increase traffic congestion, particularly in the city center.

Planning alternative routes during major events can help avoid delays.

Sustainability Efforts

Darwin is exploring initiatives to expand bicycle lanes and improve pedestrian pathways.

Efforts to increase the efficiency and coverage of public transport are underway to reduce car dependency.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are gaining popularity, offering flexible commuting options and reducing the need for personal car ownership.

These services help alleviate parking issues and contribute to reduced traffic congestion.

Worldwide
Australia

Traffic Rankings

The Traffic Index for Australia combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Australia, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025