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Cities Near Tawau

Cities near Tawau, Malaysia: 8 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tarakan. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.

The closest notable city to Tawau, Malaysia is Semporna, about 52 mi (84 km) away — roughly 1 hr 34 min by road. Below, 8 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.

CityDistanceDriveFlightBest for
Semporna52 mi / 84 km1 hr 34 minDrive/railDay trip
Lahad Datu62 mi / 99 km1 hr 51 minDrive/railDay trip / overnight
Tarakan68 mi / 109 km2 hr 1 minDrive/railDay trip / overnight
Sandakan111 mi / 179 km2 hr 35 minDrive/railDay trip / overnight
Keningau141 mi / 227 km3 hr 17 minDrive/railWeekend getaway
Donggongon168 mi / 271 km3 hr 55 min49 minWeekend getaway
Bandar Labuan194 mi / 313 km4 hr 14 min51 minWeekend getaway
Bandar Seri Begawan208 mi / 335 km4 hr 32 min53 minShort break

Day trips from Tawau

Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tarakan. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.

Weekend getaways from Tawau

Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: Sandakan, Keningau, Donggongon. 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.

Frequently asked questions

Notable cities near Tawau include Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tarakan, Sandakan, Keningau. The closest is Semporna, about 52 miles (84 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.

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