Accra to Tamale by Road: Distance, Hours & 4x4 Car Hire

Quick answer: Going from Accra to Tamale by road means about 600 km, according to Citi Newsroom. You take the N6 to Kumasi, which the Ghana Highway Authority puts at 250 km, then the N10 north through Techiman and Kintampo. Intercity STC Coaches lists the Accra–Tamale coach journey as a 10-hour trip. In a car, check a live map on the morning you leave, because traffic, roadworks and breakdowns change the timing. Official UK and US advice warns against driving outside the main towns after dark, so think about stopping overnight in Kumasi. Hire a 4x4 or high-clearance SUV if you're heading off the main roads, to Mole National Park, or travelling in the rainy season.

This guide is for anyone making the long drive north: tourists heading to Mole, NGO and development staff, business travellers, students, and families going home to the Northern Region. It covers the route, how long to allow, official safety advice, and when to choose a 4x4. If you only need the first half of the journey, see our Accra to Kumasi road trip guide.

Accra to Tamale at a glance


Distance	About 600 km (Citi Newsroom says 600 km; GBC says 600-plus km)
First leg	N6 Accra–Kumasi, 250 km (Ghana Highway Authority)
Second leg	N10 north from Kumasi via Techiman and Kintampo. The Kumasi–Techiman section alone is 126 km (Graphic Online)
Coach time	Intercity STC Coaches lists the trip at 10 hours
Car time	Check a live map on the day. Allow a long day, or split the trip at Kumasi
Flights	Africa World Airlines and PassionAir fly to Tamale (Ghana Airports Company)
Airport code	TML (Ghana Civil Aviation Authority)

The route: Accra, Kumasi, Techiman, Kintampo, Tamale

The usual way north runs through Ghana's two largest cities. In February 2026 Citi Newsroom described a 600 km route from Tamale to Accra through Kintampo, Techiman, Kumasi and Nkawkaw. GBC's report on the same ride says it also passed Buipe, between Tamale and Techiman.

Leg 1: Accra to Kumasi on the N6

The Ghana Highway Authority lists the N6 Accra–Kumasi at 250 km. It runs north via Nsawam and Nkawkaw. Our Accra to Kumasi road trip guide covers this leg stage by stage, including current N6 roadworks.

Leg 2: Kumasi to Tamale on the N10

At Kumasi you join the N10, which the Ghana Highway Authority lists as running from Kumasi to Paga, a total of 610 km. Tamale is on the way, so you only drive part of the N10. Graphic Online gives the Kumasi–Techiman section as 126 km. After Techiman, the road continues through Kintampo and Buipe to Tamale.

We haven't found an official figure for the Kumasi–Tamale section on its own, so we don't give one. Check the distance in a live map app before you set off.

Fuel, food and rest stops

The larger towns along the route are the obvious places to plan stops: Nkawkaw and Kumasi on the N6, then Techiman and Kintampo on the N10. Fill up whenever you're in a big town rather than letting the tank run low, carry water and some snacks, and agree a stop roughly every two hours with your driver.

How many hours from Accra to Tamale by road?

There's no single official driving time. Here's what the sources say:

Intercity STC Coaches lists Accra–Tamale as a 10-hour trip by coach (checked 16 October 2026).
A car may be quicker than a coach, but don't count on it. In October 2026 Graphic Online reported that broken-down vehicles, many of them lorries, are often left on the shoulder or in the middle of the road on the Kumasi–Techiman, Kintampo–Tamale and Kumasi–Tamale roads. The National Road Safety Authority's compulsory towing policy is due to start in January 2027.
Traffic leaving Accra and getting through Kumasi can add a lot of time.

Our advice: open a live map on the morning you travel, add time for stops, and compare the total with the daylight you have left. If the numbers are tight, split the journey at Kumasi. Two shorter days in daylight are safer than one long day that finishes after dark.

Safety on the road north

Read our guide to whether it is safe to drive in Ghana first. These are the points that matter most for this route.

Drive in daylight. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises avoiding road travel outside the main towns after dark. For longer trips outside major cities it recommends:

travel during daylight hours
travel in a convoy of at least 2 vehicles
get advice from local police
don't stop if people at the roadside try to flag you down

The Kintampo–Tamale stretch. The US State Department says robberies have increased on the highways from Kintampo to Tamale and from Bole to Wa. It also calls night travel outside major cities "extremely dangerous". Ghana's overall US advisory is Level 2, exercise increased caution (issued 7 July 2026).

If you go beyond Tamale, check the advice for where you're heading:

The US State Department says to reconsider travel to the northern border areas of the Upper East Region, the North East Region, the Upper West Region, and areas west of the N12 highway in the Savannah Region.
The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Bawku Municipal area in the Upper East Region. It also reports attacks related to the Bawku conflict on the Nasia–Walewale–Bolgatanga road, where many people arrange police escorts. It reports tribal conflict in the western part of the Savannah Region, near the Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso borders.

Advice changes, so read both pages again in the week you travel.

Paperwork. The FCDO says you can drive in Ghana on a 1949 International Driving Permit or a Ghanaian licence. Our guide to driving in Ghana on a UK or US licence explains the rules and what to carry at checkpoints.

Do you need a 4x4 for the north?

The trunk roads (N6 and N10) are the main highways, but a 4x4 or high-clearance SUV makes sense when:

You're going to Mole National Park. The Forestry Commission describes Mole, in the Savannah Region, as Ghana's largest wildlife refuge, with a motel at the park headquarters. Graphic Online reported in 2015 that the 147.5 km Fufulso–Sawla road, which leaves the main Kumasi–Tamale road at Fufulso, had been rebuilt, making the park far easier to reach. Larabanga's ancient mosque and Mystic Stone are close by. Ask the park or your lodge about current road and track conditions before you go, and whether you can use your own vehicle on game drives.
You're travelling in the rainy season. The Forestry Commission says more than 90% of Mole's rain falls between April and October, and the dry season runs from November to March. The FCDO says flooding is common in the Upper West, North East, Northern and Savannah regions during the rainy season, which it gives as March to November, and that it can disrupt road travel.
You'll be leaving the tarmac for villages, project sites or farms, or carrying a full load of passengers and luggage.

Wildlife also crosses the Mole road, especially at night, Graphic Online noted, which is one more reason to arrive in daylight.

Car hire & rental for the trip

Option 1: Hire in Tamale and fly up

For most visitors the easiest plan is to fly from Accra and hire locally. Ghana Airports Company says Africa World Airlines and PassionAir run daily services with several flights a day to Tamale. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority lists the airport as Yakubu Tali International Airport (IATA code TML). Arrange a pickup in advance on our Tamale airport transfer page.

Then compare firms on our car hire in Tamale page. Examples from listings on GhanaCarHire (unclaimed and not yet verified; details compiled from the firms' own public pages):

Grassroot Tours Car Rental (Tamale) says it offers car hire with drivers across Ghana, including Mole National Park, Bolgatanga, Yendi and Wa, plus Toyota Prado self-drive for licensed drivers, with saloons, SUVs, 4x4s, minivans and buses, and delivery to your hotel or Tamale airport.
Naaya Tours & Car Rentals (Tamale) offers car rental with professional drivers and tours from Tamale to Mole National Park.
PSP Express Car Rentals (Tamale) offers self-drive rental across Northern Ghana.

None of the Tamale firms on GhanaCarHire publish prices, so we don't quote any. Ask two or three of them for a written quote for the same dates.

Option 2: Drive the whole way from Accra

If you want one car for the whole trip, book it in Accra. With a driver, ask for a fixed written quote that covers:

fuel, or the fuel policy if you pay for it yourself
the driver's meals and overnight accommodation (in Kumasi and Tamale)
the driver's return journey to Accra if you aren't driving back with them
any distance limit and the charge per extra kilometre
whether the firm allows the car to go to Mole or off the tarmac, and which vehicle it will send

For self-drive, also ask whether a one-way return in Tamale is possible, and get the breakdown and insurance arrangements in writing. Graphic Online's October 2026 report on broken-down vehicles along this route is a good reason to ask what roadside help the firm provides.

Browse firms across the region on our Northern Region car hire page.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Accra to Tamale by road?

About 600 km. Citi Newsroom describes the Tamale–Accra route through Kintampo, Techiman, Kumasi and Nkawkaw as 600 km, and GBC as 600-plus km. The first leg, the N6 from Accra to Kumasi, is 250 km according to the Ghana Highway Authority. Check the exact distance in a live map app before you leave.

How many hours is Accra to Tamale by road?

Intercity STC Coaches lists the Accra–Tamale coach trip at 10 hours (checked 16 October 2026). There's no official figure for a car. Check a live map on the day, add time for stops, and consider splitting the journey at Kumasi so that you only drive in daylight.

Which route do you take from Accra to Tamale?

Take the N6 from Accra to Kumasi, then the N10 north through Techiman and Kintampo to Tamale. The N10 continues beyond Tamale to Bolgatanga and Paga.

Is it safe to drive from Accra to Tamale?

If you drive, follow the official advice. The UK FCDO advises daylight travel, a convoy of at least two vehicles on long trips, and not stopping if people try to flag you down. The US State Department says robberies have increased on the Kintampo–Tamale highway and calls night travel outside major cities extremely dangerous.

Do I need a 4x4 to drive to Tamale?

Not necessarily for the main highways, but a 4x4 or high-clearance SUV is the better choice for Mole National Park, villages off the tarmac, and the rainy season. The FCDO says flooding is common in the Northern and Savannah regions from March to November.

Is it better to fly or drive to Tamale?

Flying is much quicker. Ghana Airports Company says Africa World Airlines and PassionAir operate daily flights to Tamale. Driving lets you stop on the way and keep one car for the whole trip. You can also fly up and hire a car with a driver in Tamale.

Can I hire a car in Tamale?

Yes. Several Tamale firms are listed on GhanaCarHire, including ones that offer drivers, self-drive and trips to Mole National Park. None publish prices on their listings, so ask for a written quote.

Next steps

Compare firms on our car hire in Tamale page, book a Tamale airport transfer if you're flying up, and send two or three firms the same request so you can compare written quotes.

Sources

Road network: trunk road lengths (N6 Accra–Kumasi, N10 Kumasi–Paga) (checked 16 October 2026) (Ghana Highway Authority)
Cyclist to embark on 600km Independence day ride from Tamale to Accra (28 February 2026) (Citi Newsroom)
Cyclist pedals 600km from Tamale to Accra for unity and TVET reset (March 2026) (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation)
Taming road vampires: Vehicle towing policy takes off Jan. 2027 (10 October 2026) (Graphic Online)
Top routes: Accra–Tamale coach journey time (checked 16 October 2026) (Intercity STC Coaches)
Airports in Ghana: ICAO and IATA codes (checked 16 October 2026) (Ghana Civil Aviation Authority)
Tamale Airport: history, development and domestic airlines (checked 16 October 2026) (Ghana Airports Company Limited)
Mole National Park: location, climate and facilities (checked 16 October 2026) (Forestry Commission of Ghana)
Visit the Mole National Park! (Fufulso–Sawla road, 11 August 2015) (Graphic Online)
Ghana travel advice: safety and security (checked 16 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
Ghana travel advice: regional risks (checked 16 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
Ghana Travel Advisory, Level 2 (issued 7 July 2026; checked 16 October 2026) (US Department of State)

Last checked: 16 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.

Accra to Tamale by Road: Distance, Hours, Route and 4x4 Hire for the North