Road conditions

If you're referring to the northern approach to KC (Mereenie Loop), via Glen Helen Gorge there is around 160km unsealed (more via Hermannsburg). This varies from quite reasonable until the Mereenie gasfield turnoff, and from there to KC is gets quite corrugated. Obviously depends on the usual variables - when the grader last visited and immediate past weather.

It does save you quite a lot of kms though.

Thanks Zippo, the other way looks to be from Lasseter Hway on the way to Ayers Rock, have you done that trip.

Hi Terry

We travelled both roads back in January with a camper trailer in tow, the Merrinie Loop was fine, we passed plenty of 2wd cars travelling it. The other approach from the Lassiter is Bitumen all the way. If you go via the Merrinie Loop and are in a 4WD a great side trip is into Palm Valley, great camping in there as well.

I have a 4WD and be towing a caravan, duel axle 17ft , this road from Alice seems a quicker way to Kings an on to Ayers, thanks.

Hi Terry

From Google maps (times based on not towing) Alice Springs to Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop is 322 kilometres and 5.5 hours.

Via good sealed roads (Stuart Highway, Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road) totals 471 kilometres with a time estimate of 5.8 hours.

As Google times are computer generated, they would not take into account the varying and often bad conditions on the Mereenie Loop. It is not "off road driving" as such, just another corrugated inland road. We engaged 4wd in sandy patches, but not needed for most of the road.

I consider it "a long short cut" i.e. less in kilometres, but depending on condition may be longer in time.