What it costs to drive from Bloemfontein to Pretoria right now
Should you live in the judicial capital of South Africa and feel like seeing its administrative capital before this week’s fuel price adjustment, you may want to make some calculations before setting off.
Flights between Bloemfontein and Pretoria aren’t as popular as they may seem, but are surprisingly affordable, costing only a few hundred rand either way, and a little more than R1,000 for return tickets.
The most popular way to travel between these two cities, however, is to drive, meaning drivers have to take into account both fuel costs and toll fees.
Current inland fuel prices are R20.64 per litre for petrol 93, R20.75 for petrol 95, R18.41 for wholesale 0.05% diesel, and R18.52 for wholesale 0.005% diesel.
There are three toll gates you’ll have to pass through on your trip north: the Verkeerdevlei plaza, which costs R76.00 to pass, the Vaal plaza to get you into Gauteng for R89.00, and the Grasmere plaza, which costs R27.00.
All of these costs add up, and the nearly 5-hour 456km drive makes an hour-long flight seem even more appealing.
Driving from Bloemfontein to Pretoria
Holding out for the expected fuel price decreases that are on the cards for later this week may shave some valuable rands off the price of this trip, but not everyone has the luxury of time.
If you are just too desperate to see the Voortrekker Monument, or have a family member to visit before Wednesday, here’s what your fuel bill may look like:
| Fuel economy | Fuel needed | Petrol 93 price | Diesel 0.05% price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0l/100km | 23 litres | R474.72 | R423.43 |
| 6.0l/100km | 27 litres | R557.28 | R497.07 |
| 7.0l/100km | 32 litres | R660.48 | R589.12 |
| 8.0l/100km | 36 litres | R743.04 | R662.76 |
| 9.0l/100km | 41 litres | R846.24 | R754.81 |
| 10.0l/100km | 46 litres | R949.44 | R846.86 |
Added to this are the R192 toll fees that need to be paid.
This table and totals also only represent the cost of driving one way, which means that the amounts can essentially be doubled for a return trip between Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
That being said, drivers can expect to pay anywhere from R1,333.44 to R2,077.72 for a return trip, depending on vehicle fuel economy and road and weather conditions.
For someone driving the most popular bakkie in South Africa, which is likely the most popular car on Free State roads, the Toyota Hilux, the expected bill could be up to R850 one way and R1,700 return.
By contrast, someone taking last month’s best-selling passenger car, the Toyota Corolla Cross, can expect to pay around R600 one way in a hybrid, or R1,200 both ways.
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