90 Mile Straight Rest Area – Eyre Highway, Western Australia

A Remote Roadside Stop on Australia’s Longest Straight Road

Few stretches of Australian highway are as famous as the 90 Mile Straight. Forming part of the Eyre Highway across Western Australia’s remote south-east, this extraordinary section of road runs for approximately 146.6 kilometres without a bend. For travellers crossing the Nullarbor between Western Australia and South Australia, the roadside rest areas along this stretch provide somewhere to pull off the highway, take a break and experience the extraordinary isolation of this part of the country. This is remote travel at its most basic. Don’t expect a caravan park, reception office or powered campsites. The attraction is the location itself – an enormous landscape, a seemingly endless highway and some spectacularly dark skies after sunset.

Rest Area Overview

What is the 90 Mile Straight?

The 90 Mile Straight is one of Australia’s great road-trip landmarks and a highlight of driving across the Nullarbor. Located on the Eyre Highway between Balladonia and Caiguna, the road travels for approximately 146.6 kilometres without a significant bend. It is generally recognised as the longest straight stretch of sealed road in Australia, and signs at the approaches have become popular photo stops for travellers making the east-west crossing. Once you’re on the straight itself, the scale of the landscape becomes obvious. The highway seems to disappear directly into the horizon, surrounded by seemingly endless stretches of remote bushland.

Stopping Along the 90 Mile Straight

Roadside rest areas along the Eyre Highway provide useful places to break up what can otherwise become a monotonous stretch of driving. These are generally basic roadside stopping areas rather than developed campgrounds. Travellers should therefore arrive expecting few, if any, amenities.

They are best suited to:

• Caravans
• Motorhomes
• Campervans
• Camper trailers
• Self-contained touring vehicles

If staying for an extended rest or where overnight stopping is permitted, being fully self-contained is strongly recommended.

How Much Does It Cost?

There is generally no fee for using designated roadside rest areas along the Eyre Highway. Remember that a rest area is primarily provided to allow motorists to stop and manage driver fatigue. Always follow current signs regarding permitted stays.

Facilities

Facilities along the 90 Mile Straight are extremely limited and can vary between individual stopping areas.

Carry enough food and drinking water to comfortably reach the next reliable service point, plus additional supplies in case of delays or vehicle problems.

Getting There

The 90 Mile Straight forms part of the Eyre Highway between Balladonia and Caiguna in Western Australia. The Eyre Highway is sealed, making the journey accessible to conventional 2WD vehicles, caravans, campervans and motorhomes. The challenge isn’t difficult road conditions under normal circumstances – it’s the enormous distances, fatigue, wildlife and limited services.

Balladonia

At the western side of this section of the Eyre Highway is Balladonia, an important fuel and service stop for travellers crossing the Nullarbor. Balladonia is also famous for its association with Skylab. Debris from the NASA space station fell across parts of Western Australia in 1979, and the Balladonia museum includes displays relating to the event.

Caiguna

At the other end of the famous straight is Caiguna, another important Nullarbor roadhouse stop offering fuel and other basic traveller services. One of the area’s interesting roadside attractions is the Caiguna Blowhole, located only a short distance from the roadhouse. The blowhole is connected to underground limestone cavities and can sometimes produce noticeable air movement as atmospheric pressure changes.

Mobile Phone Reception

Do not assume your mobile phone will work throughout the 90 Mile Straight. Coverage across remote sections of the Nullarbor can be intermittent or nonexistent, depending on your carrier and exact location. Download maps, fuel locations and important information before leaving reliable coverage. Travellers regularly exploring remote Australia may also consider carrying satellite-based emergency communications equipment.

Wildlife on the Eyre Highway

Wildlife is an important consideration when driving the Nullarbor. Kangaroos and other animals can enter the roadway unexpectedly, particularly around dawn and dusk. Travelling during daylight hours where possible provides better visibility and reduces some of the risks associated with wildlife on remote highways.

What Should You Bring?

Anyone stopping along the 90 Mile Straight should be prepared for remote travel. Useful supplies include:

The Night Sky

One of the unexpected highlights of stopping in such a remote part of Western Australia is the night sky. With virtually no major towns or cities nearby, artificial light pollution is extremely low. On a clear night, the stars can be extraordinary, with the Milky Way stretching prominently across the sky. For many travellers, sitting outside under the Nullarbor stars becomes one of the most memorable parts of the journey.

Best Time to Travel

The cooler months are generally the most comfortable time to tackle the Nullarbor. Conditions can become extremely hot during summer, while winter nights can be surprisingly cold. Regardless of the season, check weather and road conditions before travelling and always carry more drinking water than you expect to need.

Final Thoughts

A rest area on the 90 Mile Straight certainly isn’t a luxury campground.

But luxury isn’t really the point.

Stopping here is about experiencing one of Australia’s great road journeys – an immense landscape where the Eyre Highway appears to run endlessly toward the horizon. For self-sufficient travellers, taking a break along the 90 Mile Straight provides an opportunity to appreciate just how remote this part of Australia really is. And once the traffic disappears and darkness falls, the silence and enormous Nullarbor sky can make a simple roadside stop surprisingly memorable.