Jakarta–Padang Road Trip by Car: 36 Hours Behind the Wheel, Tolls and Fuel Costs
Road trip from Jakarta to Padang by private vehicle remains a popular option for some travellers, offering flexibility and comfort during the journey. However, costs are not insignificant, as travellers must cover thousands of kilometres of roads and cross the Sunda Strait by ferry.
If calculated from Jakarta to Padang via land, the distance is around 1,300 kilometres, with a travel time of roughly 30 to 36 hours, depending on traffic and rest breaks.
From Jakarta, the journey begins along the Trans-Java toll road to Merak Port in Banten. The vehicle then crosses to Bakauheni Port in Lampung by ferry before continuing on road across Sumatra to Padang.
For Category I vehicles or private cars, the toll from Jakarta to Merak is currently around Rp60,000. After crossing the Merak–Bakauheni ferry route, travellers must pay around Rp419,000 for private vehicles including occupants.
Arriving in Lampung, the journey continues via the Trans-Sumatra toll roads. Some segments include the Bakauheni–Terbanggi Besar Toll at around Rp189,000 and the Terbanggi Besar–Kayu Agung Toll at about Rp170,000.
After exiting tolls in South Sumatra, the journey continues via national roads to West Sumatra until reaching Padang.
If all toll and ferry costs are added together, travellers should budget around Rp838,000 for a one-way trip from Jakarta to Padang by private car.
In addition, fuel costs are a major component of such a long journey. Assuming the car uses Pertalite or Pertamax with an average consumption of 1 litre per 12 kilometres, a 1,300-kilometre trip would require about 108 litres of fuel.
If using Pertalite at around Rp10,000 per litre, fuel costs would be about Rp1.08 million.
Thus, total costs for a road trip from Jakarta to Padang by private car are estimated at around Rp1.9 million to Rp2 million for a one-way journey.
These costs do not include other expenses such as meals during the journey, parking, or accommodation if travellers decide to rest en route.
By comparison, air travel from Jakarta to Padang in normal periods typically ranges from about Rp1 million to Rp1.8 million per person for a one-way journey, depending on the airline and how far in advance tickets are booked.
An alternative is to use sea transport from Jakarta to Padang, usually operated by PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia. Ferry fares typically range from Rp400,000 to Rp700,000 per passenger, though travel times can exceed two days.
With the various transport options, travellers can tailor their journey to suit their needs, the number of family members, and comfort during the Lebaran exodus.