Driving Cape Town to Hermanus Along Clarence Drive: Where to Stop

The coastal route via Gordon's Bay and Rooi-Els takes roughly two hours without stops, but the pull-offs are the point.

The Route and When to Drive It

Clarence Drive is the R44 between Gordon's Bay and Kleinmond, cut into the mountainside below the Hottentots Holland range. From central Cape Town, take the N2 east past the airport turnoff and leave at Gordons Bay, roughly 55 kilometres and 45 minutes from the city bowl. The coastal stretch itself is about 22 kilometres to Rooi-Els and another 20 to Kleinmond. November to March brings the clearest light and calmest sea, though December and January traffic along the drive is heavy. June to August can close sections in bad weather, so check conditions before setting out.

Leave Cape Town by 08:00 to reach Hermanus before the afternoon wind picks up. The full run is about 115 kilometres and two hours without stops, but plan four to five hours with proper pauses. Fuel up in Gordon's Bay or Somerset West; there is no petrol station between there and Kleinmond. Weekday mornings are noticeably quieter than Saturdays, when day-trippers from the northern suburbs pack the lay-bys. If you are staying in Cape Town, an early start from a Sea Point or Gardens hotel beats fighting the N2 outbound traffic after nine.

First Stops: Gordon's Bay to Kogel Bay

Gordon's Bay is the last proper town before the drive and a sensible coffee stop. Bikini Beach on the harbour side is sheltered and good for a quick swim. A few kilometres on, Steenbras River mouth marks the start of the dramatic section, and the Kogel Bay resort turnoff leads to a long pebble beach popular with surfers and braai-goers. Parking is informal and free along most lay-bys. Watch for baboons near the picnic areas, keep food out of sight and doors locked.

The Kogel Bay stretch, also called Cool Bay, is where the cliffs rise sharply and the road narrows. There are several signed viewpoints; the best look back toward False Bay and the Hangklip headland. Allow 20 minutes here. The water is cold, roughly 14 to 16 degrees Celsius even in summer, so swimming is for the hardy. If you have children, keep hold of them at the unfenced viewpoints. This is the section to drive slowly: cyclists use the R44 on weekend mornings and the bends are blind.

Rooi-Els, Pringle Bay and Kleinmond

Rooi-Els is a tiny hamlet wedged between mountain and sea, worth 30 minutes for the penguin colony at Stony Point. Entry is inexpensive and the boardwalk is easy. The village has one small cafe; do not expect a full service centre. Pringle Bay next door offers a wider beach and a handful of places for lunch, and the gravel road to the Hangklip lighthouse is a short detour with a view back across False Bay towards Table Mountain on clear days.

Kleinmond is the first real town after the coastal run and a good place to break for a proper meal. The harbour area and the lagoon behind the main beach are calm and family-friendly. From Kleinmond, the R43 turns inland past Bot River and down to Hermanus, about 40 minutes. Alternatively, continue on the coastal R44 through Onrus River, which brings you into Hermanus from the west. I would take the R43 for speed and the Onrus route if you want one more beach stop.

Arriving in Hermanus and Where to Base Yourself

Hermanus centres on Walker Bay, and the cliff path runs about 12 kilometres from the New Harbour to Grotto Beach. Whale watching peaks from roughly June to November, when southern right whales come close to shore; the town's own whale crier works the cliff path in season. The Old Harbour area is the busiest for restaurants, while Voelklip and Grotto Beach suit families wanting space and quieter evenings. Westcliff and Eastcliff are walkable to the centre and good for a short stay without a car in the evenings.

Book a Hermanus hotel rather than treating the town as a day trip; the drive back to Cape Town after a long coastal day is tiring and the N2 at dusk is not where you want to be. For a first visit I would choose a seafront property between the Old Harbour and Westcliff, close enough to walk to dinner. In the high season, roughly December and January, seafront rooms fill weeks ahead. Shoulder months, March to May and September to October, offer the best balance of weather, whales and availability.

Questions, answered

How long does Clarence Drive take?

Allow four to five hours from Cape Town to Hermanus with stops at Kogel Bay, Stony Point and Kleinmond. The driving itself is about two hours over roughly 115 kilometres, but the lay-bys and the penguin colony are the reason to take this route rather than the faster N2.

Is the R44 safe to drive?

The road is tarred and generally in good condition, but it is narrow and winding in places. Drive slowly, watch for cyclists and baboons, keep doors locked at lay-bys, and avoid the pass in heavy winter rain or after dark. Check local road reports before setting out.

When is the best time to see whales from Hermanus?

Southern right whales are typically present from June to November, with the highest numbers around September and October. The cliff path gives the best land-based viewing. Book accommodation in Hermanus well ahead for those months, particularly on weekends, when Cape Town visitors drive out for the day.

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