Table Mountain, wine estates and coastal forest
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek to Knysna & Plettenberg Bay
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek and Knysna & Plettenberg Bay sit about 386 km (240 mi) apart in a straight line, with Knysna & Plettenberg Bay to the east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route itinerary, a 10-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 386 km · 240 mi
- Est. road distance
- 463–541 km
- Est. drive time
- 5 h – 8 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 463–541 km (288–336 mi) of road and 5 h – 8 h 15 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Rent a car in Cape Town; the Winelands are 45 to 60 minutes away and Knysna is about 6 hours on the N2. Use Uber within Cape Town and a wine-tour driver or the Wine Tram so nobody has to drive between tastings.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Knysna & Plettenberg Bay
Lagoon town and beach town at the heart of the Garden Route, framed by forest and sea. Stay 3 days.
Knysna Heads
Twin sandstone cliffs at the narrow mouth of the Knysna Lagoon, with lookouts on the eastern head.
Featherbed Nature Reserve
Ferry across the lagoon to the western head, then a guided walk down through the private reserve.
Diepwalle Forest
Old-growth Knysna forest in Garden Route National Park, with the Elephant Walk trails among yellowwoods.
East Head Café
Waterside cafe at the Knysna Heads, popular for breakfast and seafood lunches on the deck.
Bramon Wine Estate
Coastal vineyard in The Crags making Méthode Cap Classique sparkling, with a relaxed restaurant.
Thesen Islands
Former timber-mill island turned marina village with shops, galleries and cafes on the lagoon.
Before you leave Stellenbosch & Franschhoek
The Cape Winelands: historic Dutch towns ringed by mountains and estates. Stay 2 to 3 days.
Dorp Street
Oak-shaded street of Cape Dutch and Georgian houses in Stellenbosch's historic center.
Delaire Graff Estate
Hilltop estate on the Helshoogte Pass with wine tastings, art and wide views of the Simonsberg.
Spier Wine Farm
One of the oldest farms in the Cape, with tastings, picnics, Segway tours and Creative Block art.
On this curated route
Where Stellenbosch → Knysna sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Knysna & Plettenberg Bay to Stellenbosch & Franschhoek is the same 386 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in August, when Knysna & Plettenberg Bay averages highs 4°C warmer than Stellenbosch & Franschhoek. Over a year, Stellenbosch & Franschhoek gets about 210 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stellenbosch high | 27° | 28° | 26° | 23° | 20° | 17° | 16° | 16° | 18° | 21° | 23° | 26° |
| Knysna high | 28° | 28° | 27° | 24° | 22° | 20° | 20° | 20° | 22° | 23° | 25° | 26° |
| Stellenbosch rain | 20 | 15 | 25 | 48 | 71 | 135 | 124 | 121 | 62 | 47 | 46 | 20 |
| Knysna rain | 38 | 40 | 57 | 44 | 33 | 38 | 39 | 56 | 42 | 48 | 56 | 38 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Knysna & Plettenberg Bay month guides.
Stellenbosch to Knysna: questions travelers ask
How far is Stellenbosch & Franschhoek from Knysna & Plettenberg Bay?
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek is about 386 km (240 mi) from Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in a straight line, with Knysna & Plettenberg Bay to the east. By road, we estimate 463–541 km (288–336 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Stellenbosch & Franschhoek to Knysna & Plettenberg Bay?
An estimated 5 h – 8 h 15 min, assuming 463–541 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Stellenbosch & Franschhoek to Knysna & Plettenberg Bay?
Our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route itinerary includes this leg. Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route runs about 10 days across 3 stops, best in Oct – Apr.
Getting to Stellenbosch
Guides for both ends
- Stellenbosch & Franschhoek travel guide
- Stellenbosch & Franschhoek weather best time to visit
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay travel guide
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay weather best time to visit
Knysna by month
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in January
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in February
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in March
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in April
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in May
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in June
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in July
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in August
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in September
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in October
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in November
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay in December
Plan Stellenbosch → Knysna with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.