What day trips can I take from Pietermaritzburg?

Good day trips from Pietermaritzburg (roughly under 100 miles) include Mpumalanga, Durban, KwaDukuza, Port Shepstone — close enough to visit and return in a day.

Which nearby cities are best for a weekend getaway from Pietermaritzburg?

For an overnight or weekend trip from Pietermaritzburg, consider Dundee, Richards Bay, Phuthaditjhaba, Vryheid — far enough to feel like a change of scene but still an easy hop.

How do I get from Pietermaritzburg to nearby cities?

Most nearby cities are reachable by car, train or bus; for the longer hops a regional flight can be quicker. Tap any city in the table for its full distance, drive-time and flight-time breakdown, or use our distance and flight calculators for a specific route.

Cities Near Pietermaritzburg

Cities near Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: 10 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Mpumalanga, Durban, KwaDukuza. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.

The closest notable city to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa is Mpumalanga, about 20 mi (32 km) away — roughly 39 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.

City	Distance	Drive	Flight	Best for
Mpumalanga	20 mi / 32 km	39 min	Drive/rail	Day trip
Durban	42 mi / 67 km	1 hr 15 min	Drive/rail	Day trip
KwaDukuza	58 mi / 93 km	1 hr 43 min	Drive/rail	Day trip
Port Shepstone	78 mi / 125 km	1 hr 49 min	Drive/rail	Day trip / overnight
Dundee	101 mi / 162 km	2 hr 20 min	Drive/rail	Day trip / overnight
Richards Bay	115 mi / 185 km	2 hr 40 min	Drive/rail	Day trip / overnight
Phuthaditjhaba	122 mi / 196 km	2 hr 49 min	Drive/rail	Weekend getaway
Vryheid	130 mi / 209 km	3 hr 1 min	Drive/rail	Weekend getaway
Newcastle	131 mi / 212 km	3 hr 3 min	Drive/rail	Weekend getaway
Bethlehem	158 mi / 255 km	3 hr 41 min	47 min	Weekend getaway

Day trips from Pietermaritzburg

Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Mpumalanga, Durban, KwaDukuza, Port Shepstone. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.

Weekend getaways from Pietermaritzburg

Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: Dundee, Richards Bay, Phuthaditjhaba, Vryheid, Newcastle. Worth an overnight or a full weekend.

Getting around

Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.

Distance calculator Flight time calculator

Frequently asked questions

Notable cities near Pietermaritzburg include Mpumalanga, Durban, KwaDukuza, Port Shepstone, Dundee. The closest is Mpumalanga, about 20 miles (32 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.

Cities Near Pietermaritzburg

Day trips from Pietermaritzburg

Weekend getaways from Pietermaritzburg

Getting around

Frequently asked questions

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