Durban to Pietermaritzburg: N3 Quick-Hop Guide

The Durban to Pietermaritzburg drive is deceptively short on paper — 80 km, around one hour on the N3 — but it is one of the most traffic-dense corridors in KwaZulu-Natal. Thousands of commuters make this trip daily, the industrial corridor between the two cities generates constant freight movement, and the N3 itself is the primary route connecting the port city to the entire South African interior. Drive it at the right time and it is fast and uneventful. Drive it at 7:30am on a Monday and it is a different experience entirely.

The road

The N3 west from Durban climbs immediately from the coastal plain. Durban sits at sea level; Pietermaritzburg is at around 640 m above sea level. The altitude gain happens in the first 40 km, through the Mariannhill toll area and past Pinetown. The road carries four lanes through most of this section and the interchanges are complex — Pinetown in particular has multiple exits and merges that catch infrequent travellers out.

Past Pinetown and the Fields Hill descent, the road opens slightly and the traffic volume moderates. The Valley of 1000 Hills is visible to the north of the highway — rolling green KZN hills with scattered Zulu homesteads. This is genuinely beautiful country but the N3 only offers glimpses; the R103 alternative (discussed below) is the route that puts you in it.

Pietermaritzburg’s approaches are signalled by the N3/N9 interchange — the road splits for the city centre and the bypass. PMB’s urban roads are well-maintained for a KZN city.

Toll plazas

One SANRAL toll plaza:

1. Mariannhill — between Durban and Pinetown, westbound

Class 1 tolls at Mariannhill are around R 35–40 for a sedan. Note that this plaza also applies on the Johannesburg–Durban route, so if you have driven from Joburg you will pass it twice (inbound and outbound from Durban) across the full round trip.

The Comrades route

Pietermaritzburg and Durban are famous to millions as the endpoints of the Comrades Marathon — the world’s largest ultramarathon, run annually in late May or early June. The route alternates direction each year: the “up run” starts in Durban and finishes in PMB; the “down run” is the reverse. On Comrades Sunday, the R103 — the historic alignment of the route — is closed to traffic, and N3 access is managed. If you are planning to drive this route over the Comrades weekend, check KZN traffic advisories in advance.

The R103 alternative: Valley of 1000 Hills

The R103 is the old road between Durban and PMB — winding, slower, and thoroughly beautiful. It adds 20–30 minutes but threads through the Valley of 1000 Hills properly, past a number of roadside padstals, craft sellers, and the Comrades route landmarks. If you have never driven it and you have time, do the N3 one direction and the R103 the other. The contrast between the two roads is dramatic.

When to drive

The commuter peaks — weekday mornings 7–9am and afternoons 4–7pm — are genuinely congested. This is not a drive to schedule around commuter hours unless necessary.

Weekends and mid-morning weekdays are fast. The N3 between Durban and PMB is empty enough by 10am on a Saturday to feel like a different road entirely.

What it actually costs

For a sedan at current fuel prices:

• Fuel: around R 55–60 for 80 km at 7 L/100km
• Tolls: around R 35–40 (Class 1, Mariannhill plaza)
• Total: around R 90–100 one-way

Cheap to drive but the toll makes up a meaningful fraction of the total cost given the short distance. Monthly commuters should calculate whether an e-tag saves enough to justify the monthly subscription fee.

Practicalities

• Distance: 80 km
• Drive time: Around 1 hour off-peak; 1h 30m–2h in peak hour
• Peak hours to avoid: 7–9am (Durban → PMB) and 4–7pm (PMB → Durban)
• PMB parking: The city centre is manageable; there are parking garages around the central business area and near the Botanical Garden
• Continuing to Joburg: The N3 continues from PMB northwest towards Harrismith and Johannesburg — see the full Johannesburg to Durban guide for the onward route details

Verified May 2026. We refresh after major route changes or toll tariff increases.