Cape Town to George by hire car is a one-way rental from Cape Town: from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to George Airport (GRJ), 408 km along the N2, and Route 62 is the inland alternative. The form above opens with George as the drop-off, so the search lists only cars that can be returned at GRJ. The same booking works for a longer Garden Route trip, as long as the car ends at George Airport.
How far is George from Cape Town Airport?
George Airport is 408 km from CPT, about 4 h 50 without traffic or stops, and 401 km of that is the N2. George town is 417 km, about 4 h 55. Mossel Bay is 374 km from CPT on the N2, and George Airport is 43 km beyond it, about 35 minutes.
| Place | From CPT | On to George Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Mossel Bay | 374 km, about 4 h 30 | 43 km, about 35 min |
| George Airport (GRJ) | 408 km, about 4 h 50 | |
| George | 417 km, about 4 h 55 | |
| Wilderness | 426 km, about 5 h 05 | |
| Knysna | 472 km, about 5 h 45 | 71 km, about 1 h 10 |
| Plettenberg Bay | 506 km, about 6 h 15 | 103 km, about 1 h 40 |
Can I drive further than George and still drop the car there?
Yes. The drop-off is George Airport whatever the route, so the car can go on to Knysna or Plettenberg Bay first and come back west to GRJ. Check the kilometre allowance shown on your selected car for your dates against the direct 408 km route. CPT to Plettenberg Bay (506 km) and back to George Airport (103 km) is 609 km for the route alone; Knysna and back to George Airport is 472 km plus 71 km, 543 km. Every other kilometre, to a beach, a restaurant or a hotel, comes out of the same allowance, so count the whole trip, not only the route. Beyond the allowance the car's page shows a rate per extra kilometre, and some cars offer Unlimited mileage as an extra.
Is there an inland route instead of the N2?
Route 62 is the inland way east. The route runs between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn through farming and wine towns such as Montagu, Barrydale and Calitzdorp, and between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth it is the shorter, scenic alternative to the N2. To George Airport it is longer: 480 km by Route 62 against 408 km on the N2. From CPT it leaves on the N1, takes the R60 and joins the R62 for about 244 km; Oudtshoorn is 417 km from CPT, about 5 h 20, and George Airport 63 km beyond it, about 55 minutes. Going out on Route 62 and back along the coast is a loop that still ends at GRJ.
Can I stop at Hermanus on the way to George?
Yes, by leaving the N2 for the coast. Hermanus is 102 km from CPT on the N2 and the R43, or 124 km by the coast road to Hermanus, the R44, and from Hermanus to George Airport is 348 km, about 4 h 05. That makes 450 km via the N2 or 472 km via the R44, against the 408 km of the direct N2.
Which car suits the Garden Route?
Rental cars may only be driven on paved public roads, so plan every detour on tar. Cape Town listings include small hatchbacks, SUVs and seven-seaters, with automatic and manual gearboxes; the search shows which of them can be dropped at George on your dates.
What cover do I have on the drive?
What the cover excludes on a long drive is the same as on a short one: standard insurance does not cover damage to the wheels, the undercarriage, the windscreen or the interior, so read any higher cover on the car before a 408 km day. After any accident or theft, tell the rental agent at once and get a police report unless the agent agrees otherwise; without both, the insurance for the car no longer applies.
What are the costs on the road to George?
Fuel, tolls, parking and fines are the driver's cost. The car is returned at George Airport with the fuel level it had at CPT; a lower level is charged at the rental company's rates. The general speed limit is 120 km/h on freeway sections, 100 km/h on other roads outside towns and 60 km/h inside them, unless a sign shows otherwise.
How does the drop-off at George Airport work?
The voucher gives the office address and the rental agent's contact details; ask the agent where the car is handed back at George Airport (GRJ). Keep your booking phone number reachable until the car is handed back. A car returned too dirty to inspect is washed at your expense, and to keep the car longer, tell the agent in advance, because the rental is charged in 24-hour days. A trip that ends back at CPT instead is a return hire from Cape Town Airport, booked with CPT as the drop-off.