How Long Does It Take to Get to the Airport in Melbourne?
Short answer: from CBD, allow 25–65 min to Melbourne Airport by car. The range is almost all traffic: the same trip can take much longer in weekday rush hour than early in the morning.
When should I leave? Pickup time calculator
Find your pickup time in Melbourne
Choose where you are leaving from and your flight details. We use the slow end of the typical range and add a buffer.
Drive times from every part of Melbourne
Typical time in a private car from each area. Choose an airport:
| Pickup area | Early morning / late night | Midday & weekends | Weekday rush hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | 25–35 min | 30–45 min | 40–65 min |
| Southbank | 25–35 min | 30–45 min | 40–65 min |
| South Yarra | 30–40 min | 35–50 min | 45–70 min |
| St Kilda | 35–45 min | 40–55 min | 50–75 min |
| Docklands | 20–30 min | 25–40 min | 35–60 min |
Melbourne Airport: on CityLink and the Tullamarine Freeway. More about Melbourne Airport car service.
These are typical ranges based on distances, published averages and normal traffic patterns, not guarantees. Weekday rush hour means about 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. Weather, events and holidays can add more.
How early to get to the airport
Domestic and short-haul flights
- Arrive 2 hours before departure
- Bag drop usually closes 45 minutes before
- Add 30 minutes at peak times
International flights
- Arrive 3 hours before departure
- Check-in often closes 60 minutes before
- Have passports ready in the car
Busy times to plan around
Roads to the airport are usually slowest in weekday rush hour (about 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays), on the evening before a weekend or public holiday, at the start and end of school holidays, and during major events and trade fairs. On those days, tick the peak-day box in the calculator.
Tips for each airport
Melbourne Airport (MEL)
Most trips from the city go on CityLink and the Tullamarine Freeway. Tell your chauffeur your terminal so they can plan the drop-off.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from CBD to Melbourne Airport?
Usually 30–45 min by car at midday, and 40–65 min in weekday rush hour. Early in the morning or late at night it can take 25–35 min.
Which airport is quickest to reach from CBD?
Melbourne Airport (MEL) is usually the quickest commercial airport from CBD, at about 30–45 min at midday.
How early should I leave for the airport in Melbourne?
Plan to reach the airport 2 hours before a domestic or short-haul flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Add the drive time for your area and time of day, plus a 15-minute buffer. The calculator on this page does the math for you.
What is the worst time to drive to Melbourne Airport?
Weekday rush hour, about 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. Traffic can add a lot of time compared with early morning, so leave earlier at those times.
Let a chauffeur handle the timing
Your chauffeur tracks your flight, plans the route around live traffic and arrives early.
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