Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Alice Springs?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Alice Springs?

Many travelers spend two to four days in Alice Springs during their visit. After all, the charming town has plenty to explore such as the hiking, the small town charm, and the gorgeous scenery.

Alice Springs is the gateway to Australia's Red Center. It's near hiking and natural beauty. There are also several wildlife centers and interesting sights in the area.

Do you have one or two days to visit Alice Springs? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Alice Springs?

One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Alice Springs. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to get out into nature, explore the small town, take in the beautiful scenery, and wander through the museums. To genuinely appreciate the highlights, a more lengthy visit is recommended. Many travelers opt for two to four days to experience the outdoors here. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

How to spend a day in Alice Springs

Known for it's hiking, Alice Springs sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. Just outside of town there are wonderful walking routes and hiking trails. You can visit gorges, waterholes, and wander through the stunning red desert landscapes. One of the most famous trails in the area is the Larapinta Trail.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Ormiston Pound Hike and Day Tour Wednesdays ($161)

Alice Springs is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The surrounding area is filled with beautiful landscapes and dramatic views.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Alice Town And Country Half Day Sunset Tour - Small Group ($126)

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Alice Springs?

With only a weekend, you'll probably feel rushed to explore the outdoors and scenery. To fully embrace Alice Springs, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to two to four days to experience Alice Springs Desert Park as well as get out into nature, explore the small town, take in the beautiful scenery, and wander through the museums. However, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your time.

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Alice Springs Telegraph Station

How to spend 2 days in Alice Springs

With a weekend (two to three days) in Alice Springs, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.

The small-town atmosphere of Alice Springs is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. It's a relatively small town that is the gateway to Australia's Red Center.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. There are casual eateries with local food and decent prices. While it's a small town, there are plenty of tourists passing through so you'll find enough places to eat with a decent selection.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Alice Springs, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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