If you only do one road trip from Cape Town, make it this one. In a single day you can drive the Atlantic Seaboard and Chapman's Peak, stand at the Cape of Good Hope, watch African penguins at Boulders and finish with fish and chips in Kalk Bay. The full loop is roughly 150–160 km and about four hours of actual driving, which leaves plenty of time for stops. Here's how to plan it — direction, timings, park fees, where to eat and the mistakes visitors make.
Route map and timings
The classic loop runs down the Atlantic (west) coast and back up the False Bay (east) coast. Start early — leaving the City Bowl or V&A Waterfront by 08:00 gets you to Cape Point before the tour buses.
| Time | Leg | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | V&A Waterfront → Camps Bay → Llandudno → Hout Bay (Victoria Road, M6) | ≈ 20 km | 30–35 min |
| 09:00 | Hout Bay → Chapman's Peak Drive → Noordhoek | ≈ 9 km | 20 min + stops |
| 10:00 | Noordhoek → Kommetjie → Scarborough → Cape Point gate (M65) | ≈ 25 km | 30–35 min |
| 10:45 | Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope (inside the reserve) | ≈ 25 km of park roads | 2–3 hours with walks |
| 13:30 | Cape Point gate → Simon's Town (Boulders) (M4) | ≈ 20 km | 25 min |
| 15:30 | Simon's Town → Kalk Bay → Muizenberg (M4 Main Road) | ≈ 15 km | 25–30 min |
| 17:30 | Muizenberg → City Bowl (M3) | ≈ 25 km | 30–45 min (traffic) |
Short on time? Skip the detour to Llandudno and go straight from Camps Bay to Hout Bay, and choose either Boulders or Kalk Bay, not both.
The stops, in order
Camps Bay and Llandudno
Victoria Road (M6) hugs the coast under the Twelve Apostles. Camps Bay's palm-lined strip is best before 09:00, when parking is easy. Llandudno is a small, beautiful cove with very limited parking — a quick look from the road is enough on a busy day.
Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak
Hout Bay harbour is worth a stop for coffee. Then pay the toll and drive Chapman's Peak, stopping at the marked lookouts. Read our Chapman's Peak Drive guide for tolls, closures and viewpoints — and check the road is open before you leave.
Noordhoek, Kommetjie and Scarborough
From Noordhoek the M65 runs past Kommetjie's lighthouse and the wild, empty beaches at Misty Cliffs and Scarborough — some of the most dramatic coastline on the Peninsula and far less visited.
Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
Inside the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park, drive first to the Cape of Good Hope sign (the south-westernmost point of the continent) and then to Cape Point, where you can walk or take the funicular up to the old lighthouse. Allow at least two hours; three if you want to walk the clifftop path between the two.
Boulders Beach, Simon's Town
Boulders is home to a colony of endangered African penguins, viewed from boardwalks. It's part of the national park, with its own entry fee. Simon's Town itself, the naval town next door, has a pretty main road and waterfront.
Kalk Bay and Muizenberg
Kalk Bay is a working fishing harbour with antique shops, galleries and cafés along Main Road. Muizenberg, a few minutes on, is known for its brightly painted beach huts and gentle surf.
Park fees
Both Cape Point and Boulders are run by South African National Parks (SANParks) and charge a daily conservation fee per person, with lower rates for South African citizens and SADC nationals and the highest rate for international visitors. As at October 2026, the international adult fee for the Cape of Good Hope section runs to several hundred rand per person; Boulders is cheaper. Children pay reduced rates.
- SANParks sets new fees each year, with the tariff year starting 1 November. Check the current table on the SANParks Table Mountain rates page before you go.
- Gates are cashless — bring a card.
- A SANParks Wild Card covers entry if you're visiting several national parks.
- The Cape Point funicular is a separate ticket, bought inside the reserve.
Where to eat
- Hout Bay harbour — fish and chips and coffee by the water.
- Noordhoek Farm Village — relaxed cafés and family-friendly restaurants at the foot of Chappies.
- Inside Cape Point — a restaurant and take-away near the lower funicular station, convenient if you're short of time.
- Simon's Town — cafés and seafood along the main road and waterfront.
- Kalk Bay — the harbour fish-and-chip spots and the long-running cafés on Main Road. Busy on weekends; arrive before 13:00 or after 15:00.
Pack water and snacks regardless: there are long stretches inside the reserve with nothing to buy.
Clockwise or anticlockwise?
| Anticlockwise (Atlantic first) | Clockwise (False Bay first) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Morning light on the Atlantic, beating the Cape Point crowds | Sunset on Chapman's Peak at the end of the day |
| Cape Point | Arrive mid-morning | Arrive around midday (busiest) |
| Traffic home | M3 from Muizenberg can be slow after 16:30 on weekdays | Victoria Road and the Sea Point traffic at sunset |
| Risk | Little | If Chappies closes in the afternoon, a long detour inland |
Our pick: anticlockwise in winter (shorter days), clockwise in summer if you want a Chapman's Peak sunset — just get through the park gates before they close and be off the quieter roads by dark.
Practical tips
- Fuel up in the city or Noordhoek. Petrol stations thin out south of Noordhoek and there are none inside the reserve.
- Wind. The southern Peninsula is often far windier than the city. Bring a jacket even on hot days.
- Parking. Use marked car parks and tip the car guard on your way out. Keep everything out of sight.
- Cyclists. The Peninsula roads are popular with cyclists, especially on weekend mornings. Give them at least a metre and a half when passing.
- The right car. A comfortable SUV or luxury car makes the day; a compact is easier to park in Kalk Bay. Families of six or seven should consider a people carrier.
Staying on the Atlantic Seaboard? We'll deliver your car to your hotel in Camps Bay or Sea Point — see car hire delivered in Cape Town — or treat yourself to luxury car hire for the day.
Mylz Rentals
Plan your trip
Meet & greet at Cape Town International, or delivery and collection across Cape Town and the Winelands. No rental desk, no queue.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Cape Point drive take?
The full Peninsula loop from the city is about 150–160 km and roughly four hours of driving. With stops at Chapman's Peak, Cape Point and Boulders, plan for a full day of 8–10 hours.
Can you see penguins on the way to Cape Point?
Yes. Boulders Beach in Simon's Town is on the False Bay side of the loop, about 25 minutes from the Cape Point gate. It has its own SANParks entry fee and boardwalks for viewing the African penguin colony.
Do you need to book Cape Point in advance?
Not normally. You pay the conservation fee by card at the gate. In peak summer, arrive early to avoid queues at the entrance.
Is it safe to drive to Cape Point?
Yes. The roads are good and well signposted. Keep valuables out of sight, keep windows up around baboons, and aim to be off the quieter southern roads by dark.
