Cost to drive from Cape Town to East London
Toll fees effective 1 March 2026 · Fuel: R23.36/L inland (updated 2026-04-01)
Toll cost
R 73,00
Fuel cost
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Total trip cost
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See your exact fuel cost and total trip price.
Toll breakdown
Class I (standard car) · mainline plazas only · effective 1 March 2026
| TsitsikammaStorms River (Garden Route) | R 73,00 |
| Total tolls | R 73,00 |
Return trip: R 146,00 in tolls · Source: foresightpublications.co.za
How does your vehicle compare?
Select a row to use that vehicle · tolls are the same for all · WLTP figures
| Vehicle | Fuel / Elec. | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo | R 1 299,98 | R 1 372,98 |
| Volkswagen Golf 8 | R 1 569,79 | R 1 642,79 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R 1 962,24 | R 2 035,24 |
| Toyota Hilux | R 2 084,88 | R 2 157,88 |
| Ford Ranger | R 1 986,77 | R 2 059,77 |
| Mercedes-Benz C200 | R 1 643,38 | R 1 716,38 |
| BMW 3 Series | R 1 520,74 | R 1 593,74 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | R 1 913,18 | R 1 986,18 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R 1 054,70 | R 1 127,70 |
| Tesla Model 3 | R 423,98 | R 496,98 |
| Tesla Model Y | R 480,89 | R 553,89 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R 435,36 | R 508,36 |
Toll gates on the N2 from Cape Town to East London
Mainline toll plazas only — ramp tolls apply to specific exits and are not included in the total.
| Plaza | Class I fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsitsikamma | R 73.00 | ||
| Total (one way) | R 73.00 | ||
Source: foresightpublications.co.za · Tariffs effective 1 March 2026 · 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment
Cost by vehicle — Cape Town to East London
Select your car to see the exact fuel and toll cost for this route.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
5.9L/100km
R 1520
Toyota Corolla Quest
7L/100km
R 1790
Toyota Starlet
5.4L/100km
R 1398
Suzuki Swift
4.4L/100km
R 1152
Suzuki Baleno
5.4L/100km
R 1398
Haval Jolion
8.1L/100km
R 2060
Volkswagen Polo
5.3L/100km
R 1373
Volkswagen Golf 8
6.4L/100km
R 1643
Toyota Corolla Cross
8.1L/100km
R 2060
Hyundai i20
5.8L/100km
R 1496
Kia Picanto
5.2L/100km
R 1348
Renault Clio
5.7L/100km
R 1471
Tips for saving money on this trip
Fuel economy matters more than tolls on longer routes. A Polo 1.0 TSI uses about 38% less fuel than a Fortuner over the same distance. On the Cape Town to East London trip (1050km), that difference can be R200–R500 depending on the vehicle.
Tyre pressure and speed have a measurable effect. Under-inflated tyres increase fuel use by up to 3%. Driving at 110km/h instead of 120km/h can reduce fuel consumption by 10–15% on a highway trip.
Toll payments. All major toll plazas on this route now accept contactless tap-and-go card payments — no need to keep cash. E-tags (Sanral e-toll) no longer apply in Gauteng as the e-toll system was scrapped.
Other popular routes from Gauteng
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drive from Cape Town to East London?
There is one mainline toll — Tsitsikamma at R73. Fuel for the 1,050km trip will be the main cost, ranging from roughly R1,100 to R1,600 depending on your vehicle.
How long does the Cape Town to East London drive take?
Approximately 1,050km via the N2, taking 10–11 hours without stops. Most drivers split this into two days, with an overnight stop in George, Knysna or Port Elizabeth.