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The best and only way to get from Port Douglas to Cairns is normally by road and the highway is part of The Great Barrier Reef Drive. It is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world. The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas hugs the coast offering stunning views of the Coral Sea with mountains and beaches on either side. There are scenic lookouts, and places of interest and attractions that you may like to explore along this drive. At certain times, if the road is closed, a boat shuttle service may operate between Port Douglas and Cairns, but this is rare. Ubers are scarce, you may be able to book a taxi, but it will be expensive. The easiest way to get from Port Douglas to Cairns Airport is to book a shuttle cheaply, here, online. For the shuttle to Cairns City, book here. Both of these services operate from 9.30am. If you have an early morning flight you may have to book this private transfer service, or a taxi. Please check this as timings do change.
A stay in a Cairns hotel (like this one) may be your best option if you need to be at the airport very early in the morning.
Alternatively, you could hire a car in Port Douglas and return it in Cairns city or maybe at Cairns airport. This car hire price comparison tool will let you find the best deal.
Allow at least an hour, ideally 2 hours for the journey as road works cause delays. Check for road delays in QLD on this official site.
There is no train line between the two. A bike or cycle path is under construction. The distance between Port Douglas and Cairns is about 65 KM. Cairns International Airport is about 7 km north of Cairns city, near Smithfield. Cairns does have a train station with connections to the south.
What’s in this post?
- Drive Time From Port Douglas to the airport or Cairns City
- Distance
- Map
- Private Transfers
- Taxi
- Bus
- Uber
- Shuttle (Best Option)
- Car Hire
- Accommodation in Cairns with transfer service
- Things to see along the way
- Cycling
- Alternative (inland) route
Port Douglas To Cairns, Further Information
How To Travel Between Port Douglas and Cairns
From Port Douglas you can reach Cairns City, or Cairns International Airport CNS, by road along the Captain Cook Highway. This road was badly damaged at the end of 2024 by a tropical storm. It’s still under repair, but it is normally open. There are traffic lights and some delays still, in 2025. There is no public transport to Port Douglas from Cairns City or Cairns Airport, so book the shuttle here. The cost is around $21 US ($56 Au) for an adult, kids are cheaper, which is much cheaper than a taxi or Uber. This is the best price we’ve seen on this shuttle ticket, cheaper than other options, and this company have a best price guarantee.
Alternatively, you can choose from a selection of shared and private transfers. Reserve a shuttle transfer on GetYourGuide here.
The Captain Cook Highway is a 2 lane winding road with a few overtaking spots between Port Douglas, Palm Cove and Cairns. Drivers should take care, especially in the wet season when it can be dangerous. Passengers can enjoy the fabulous views, or you can stop at one of several view points. There’s even a good place to spot crocodiles, with parking, just south of Port Douglas.
This drive is spectacular. so try to experience it in daylight. If necessary stay overnight at a Cairns Airport Hotel and drive or take the shuttle in the morning for spectacular views, if possible, at dawn. The sun rising over the Coral Sea to the East is usually beautiful.
You may have noticed a train line and stations marked on some maps, these relate to cane trains and the Ballyhooley railway. St Crispin’s Station and Port Douglas Marina stations are disused and serve as cafes today. There is no passenger train service between Port Douglas and Cairns.
If the road is closed, which is very rare, a ferry service has operated between Port Douglas Marina and Cairns Marina.
Drive Time From Port Douglas to Cairns
It is an easy scenic drive from Cairns to Port Douglas to Cairns either to Cairns airport or Cairns city itself. The drive can take as little as 40-minutes to the airport airport and or 50-minutes to Cairns City along the Captain Cook Highway, State Route 44. The road is winding but is easy to navigate, being a direct route.
You should allow more time than this to account for possible delays. I’d suggest at least 2 hours if you have a plane to catch.
The road is very scenic and you shouldn’t get lost get lost if you just head south. Driving conditions aren’t always good and slow drivers may experience aggressive tailgating. On this road slower drivers should pull over at various passing points along the way.
If you book a shuttle bus, try to sit on the left. These private buses are probably the best way to travel from Port Douglas to the airport or city if you don’t have a car.
If you’re not used to driving on Australian roads keep a close eye on speed limits, they fluctuate with various restrictions and road repairs. Police speed traps are common.
If you’re prone to car sickness, or have dogs or children who struggle with travel sickness, you, or they, are very likely to feel unwell on this road.
Port Douglas To Cairns – Map
The four points marked on our Port Douglas to Cairns map are Cairns City, Cairns International Airport, Mareeba, and Port Douglas Macrossan St.
As you can see the coastal route to Cairns passes the airport about 7km to the north of Cairns City. Port Douglas is closer to the airport (by about a 15-minute drive) than Cairns Itself.
If the coastal route highway is closed, you can take the inland route via Mareeba.
Private Transfer From Port Douglas to Cairns
Numerous private transfer companies run services between Cairns, Cairns Airport and Port Douglas. Prices vary and you can expect to pay maybe $150+ for a transfer per vehicle or $50-$60+ Au per person. Around $30-$40 US per ticket. Off-peak prices can be lower, the cheapest price I’ve seen for these shared shuttles is about $33 Au. Look at private transfer options here.
You can book a Port Douglas shuttle transfer here at a very good price. (Cheaper option than private transfer) But these shuttles don’t normally operate 24 hours. For a nighttime departure from Port Douglas, look into the private transfer services, or travel to Cairns the night before and stay at a Cairns Hotel. There are no hotels actually at the airport. Try this hotel.
This will be more if you want a luxury car or limousine, which isn’t uncommon for Port Douglas visitors. You’ll also find these on this site.
Private transfers need to be pre-arranged and booked in advance.
SR Transport and Coaches offer private transfers from Port Douglas to Cairns and Cairns Airport.
Oasis also offers private transfers to Cairns and the Northern Beaches including Palm Cove.
Port Douglas Private Transfers, is another company that will offer transfers from Cairns and Cairns Airport to Port Douglas.
Cairns by Taxi
The most expensive way to get between Port Douglas to Cairns, by taxi, isn’t one I’d recommend.
For the cost and comfort, you’re much better off with a private pre-arranged transfer unless you need to travel at night.
Expect to pay upwards of $200 for the taxi journey to Cairns.
Travel To Cairns by Public Bus
Unfortunately, the public buses run from Port Douglas. Cairns buses only run as far North as Palm Cove.
They do cover all of Cairns Metropolitan areas from Palm Cove to Gordonvale but not the Douglas Shire. Find out more about Cairns bus service here.
You Can Get To Cairns Airport From Port Douglas by Shuttle Bus
A shuttle bus or minivan is one of the best ways of getting to Cairns if there are three people or less in your party. The shuttle buses are the cheapest way and there is a frequent service. This is probably the cheapest shuttle to book, during working hours.
Children are normally free up to 3 years old and then child rate to 12 years but check as each operator can be slightly different.
Several companies run shuttle services with some having a fixed timetable, others offer services on request.
SR Transport and Coaches offers mini bus transport between Cairns Airport and Port Douglas, as do Exemplar coaches. This is on request and is best booked at least a day ahead of your travel.
BTS Port Douglas buses offers a set service between anywhere in Cairns and Port Douglas. BTS also services Hartley’s Creek Crocodile farm and runs tours to the Daintree Rainforest.
With a set schedule, this is probably the easiest bus to catch if you’re not sure exactly when you’ll be travelling. During busy holiday periods the popular times (such as early morning and afternoon) will fill up fast.
Uber
Uber still isn’t very big in either Cairns or Port Douglas compared to other places. While you can probably get an Uber in either, catching one between the two won’t be easy.
The cost is significantly less than a taxi if you can arrange one. Expect to pay between $130-$160 depending on the time and day of the week.
At the time of writing, there was just one Uber driver in Port Douglas and no Grab or Grab bikes available. This may change, so check your Uber app for availability.
Car Hire in Port Douglas
You can use this car hire rental comparison tool to find your best option. We used to find Budget Car Hire in Port Douglas was the cheapest, but Budget seems to have closed permanently, replaced by Sixt.
There was a branch of Europcar at Cairns Airport in the terminal building. There is a Sixt Car Hire office just outside the airport too, with a shuttle bus for customers.
Formerly, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Paradise Wheels Car Rentals, Port Douglas Car Hire and Comet Car Hire were all located in central Port Douglas within easy walk of the main hotel and accommodation areas. We now have a Sixt where Budget used to be. Many of these companies can rent cars to cruise ship visitors.
Prices vary depending on the hire company and also the time of year. Low season, February, will see prices plummet while in July you’ll need to book ahead to reserve a car as there is limited stock and cars can sell out quickly.
Shop around to get the best deal and read the fine print. Australia has some of the highest excess levels in the world with some companies charging up to $5000.
Hotels and Hostels in Cairns with Airport or City Transfer Services
Port Douglas’s famous backpacker resort and campsite, Dougies (book here) usually has a pickup service from Cairns, 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Dougies has been sold and is due to close but it is still open at the time of publication.
The huge central Cairns hostels, Gilligan’s , Central YHA and Mad Monkey may be able to help you with transport to Cairns.
What to See on the Way?
The Great Barrier Reef Drive is beautiful but the road is winding. It can be car sickness-inducing and is potentially dangerous. Don’t let those stunning views distract you from the road.
Heading north of Cairns on the road to Port Douglas, you’ll pass through The Northern Beaches before hitting The Douglas Shire. There are places to stop, campsites, and tourist attractions along the way.
This is a list of things to see or places to stop between Cairns and Port Douglas. We’ll cover these fully in other posts.
- Yorkey’s Knob
- Trinity Beach
- Smithfield (Major shops here between Cairns and Port Douglas, fast food, Bunnings, supermarkets, cinema, etc.)
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (takes visitors to Kuranda and Barron Falls, return by scenic train.)
- The Military Museum
- Tjapukai (closed down recently)
- Clifton Beach
- Palm Cove
- Ellis Beach
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
- The crocodile lookout point on the Mowbray River just south of Port Douglas, with off-road parking.
- Hartley’s Creek Falls (this is a hike from the road)
- Wangetti Beach
- Oak Beach
- Pebbly Beach
Port Douglas to Cairns Distance
The distance between Cairns and Port Douglas is 58 Km, 36 miles, as the crow flies and just under 67 Km, 42 miles, by road. The drive should take you roughly an hour but there are roads under repair and delays on this road currently.
The Cycle Path
There is a cycle path under construction between Cairns and Port Douglas and Mossman. It is not finished. The Captain Cook Highway is not a very safe road for cycling, but people do cycle this route.
The Captain Cook highway is a part of the Cairns Ironman cycle route (normally held in June). If you happen to arrive on that day the road will most likely be closed for several hours and you’ll need to take the Alternative route via the Tablelands.
Port Douglas to Cairns, Alternative Routes
If you can’t, or don’t want to take the coastal road, you can drive to Cairns from Port Douglas via Julatten, Mt Molloy, Mareeba and Kuranda. This route will take longer.
Start by driving north of Port Douglas, towards Mossman and take a left turn up the Range Road. At Mareeba you need to turn left for Kuranda and head down the Range Road to Smithfield.
So people do cycle these very steep hills.
