Road trips
Kumasi to Tamale by Road: Distance, Hours, Route and Car Rental & Hire
Quick answer: Going from Kumasi to Tamale by road means driving north on the N10 through Techiman and Kintampo. The Ghana Highway Authority lists the whole N10, Kumasi to Paga, at 610 km, and Tamale is part of the way along it. Graphic Online gives the first section, Kumasi–Techiman, as 126 km. No official Kumasi–Tamale distance or journey time is published, so check a live map on the morning you leave. UK and US advice says to drive in daylight, and the US State Department says robberies have increased on the Kintampo–Tamale highway. For the trip itself, compare car rental and hire firms in Kumasi, with or without a driver.
This guide is for anyone starting the trip north in Kumasi: visitors on their way to Mole National Park, NGO and project staff, business travellers, students and families heading home to the Northern Region. If you're starting in Accra, read our Accra to Tamale by road guide first, as it covers the N6 leg to Kumasi as well.
Kumasi to Tamale at a glance
| Road | N10, north via Techiman and Kintampo |
| Kumasi–Techiman | 126 km (Graphic Online) |
| Whole N10 | Kumasi to Paga, 610 km (Ghana Highway Authority) |
| Kumasi–Tamale distance | No official figure published. Check a live map |
| Journey time | No official figure published. Plan for daylight only |
| Direct flights | None we could confirm on airline sites (20 October 2026) |
| Main safety point | US State Department: robberies have increased on the Kintampo–Tamale highway |
The route: Kumasi, Techiman, Kintampo, Tamale
The Ghana Highway Authority lists the N10 as running from Kumasi to Paga, a total of 610 km. Tamale is on the way, so you only drive part of it.
The road heads north out of Kumasi to Techiman, a section Graphic Online gives as 126 km. It then continues through Kintampo, in the Bono East Region, and on to Tamale. Citi Newsroom described this same line, Tamale, Kintampo, Techiman and Kumasi, as the route of a cyclist's Tamale to Accra ride planned for March 2026.
We haven't found an official figure for the Kumasi–Tamale distance on its own, so we don't give one. Your map app will give you a figure for your exact start and end points.
Turning off for Mole National Park
Graphic Online describes Fufulso as a town on the main Kumasi–Tamale road, and the start of the 147.5 km Fufulso–Sawla road that leads towards Mole National Park and Larabanga. If Mole is your goal, you may not need to go into Tamale at all. Our 4x4 car hire & rental guide for Mole and northern Ghana covers park access, the seasons and which vehicle to choose.
Fuel, food and rest stops
Techiman and Kintampo are the main towns named on this route, and natural places to plan a stop. Fill up in a big town rather than letting the tank run low, carry water and snacks, and agree regular breaks with your driver.
How many hours from Kumasi to Tamale?
No official driving time for Kumasi to Tamale is published, and we don't make one up. Here's what we can say from the sources:
- Intercity STC Coaches lists its Accra–Tamale coach as a 10-hour trip. That's the whole journey from Accra, so Kumasi to Tamale is only part of it.
- Broken-down vehicles slow the road. In October 2026 Graphic Online reported many disabled vehicles, many of them trucks, left on the shoulder or in the road on the Kumasi–Techiman, Kintampo–Tamale and Kumasi–Tamale roads.
- Traffic leaving Kumasi can add time at the start of the day.
Our advice: open a live map on the morning you travel, add time for stops and checkpoints, and compare the total with the daylight you have left. If it's tight, set off earlier or break the journey.
Is there a bus from Kumasi to Tamale?
Intercity STC's website lists Accra–Tamale among its top routes, but we couldn't confirm a Kumasi–Tamale timetable on its site on 20 October 2026. Ask at the bus station in Kumasi, or contact the operator directly, for current departure times.
If you're travelling as a group or with a lot of luggage, renting or hiring a vehicle with a driver lets you choose when you leave, so you can travel in daylight.
Can you fly from Kumasi to Tamale?
We couldn't confirm a direct flight. When we checked on 20 October 2026, PassionAir's booking site only offered Kumasi–Accra and Accra–Tamale, not Kumasi–Tamale. Africa World Airlines lists both Kumasi and Tamale among its destinations, but we couldn't confirm a direct flight between them on its site.
So flying means changing in Accra. Check each airline's own site on the day you book. If you do fly into Tamale, compare firms on our car hire & rental in Tamale page for the onward trip.
Safety on the Kumasi–Tamale road
Read our guide to whether it is safe to drive in Ghana first. These are the points that matter most on this route.
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 calls travelling at night outside the major cities "extremely dangerous", and says to drive with doors locked and windows up. Ghana's overall US advisory is Level 2, exercise increased caution (issued 7 July 2026).
What the police have reported. In July 2026 the Ghana News Agency reported that Bono East Police had arrested six suspected armed robbers on the Kintampo–Portor section of the Kintampo–Tamale highway. The regional commander expressed concern about a rise in armed robbery in the area and said patrols would be stepped up. In August 2026 Citi Newsroom reported the outgoing Kintampo police commander saying highway robberies in the municipality had reduced.
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
Crashes and tiredness. In April 2026 MyJoyOnline reported a fatal crash in the early hours at Dawadawa on the Kintampo–Tamale highway, a day after another fatal early-morning crash in the same municipality. Agree rest breaks with your driver, and don't push on when tired.
Broken-down vehicles. Graphic Online reports that Ghana's road traffic rules require a stationary vehicle on the road or shoulder to display at least one emergency warning sign, and that the National Road Safety Authority's compulsory towing policy starts in January 2027. Check that your hire car has a warning triangle.
Rain and flooding. The FCDO says flooding is common in the Northern and Savannah regions, among others, during the rainy season from March to November, and that it can disrupt road travel.
In an emergency, the US State Department lists 112 or 191 for police.
Car rental and hire for the Kumasi–Tamale trip
Option 1: Rent or hire in Kumasi
Most people start by comparing firms on our car hire & rental in Kumasi page. If you'd rather not drive, our guide to car hire & rental in Kumasi with a driver explains how drivers work and what to agree in advance.
Ask each firm for a fixed written quote that covers:
- fuel, or the fuel policy if you pay for it yourself
- the driver's meals and overnight stay in Tamale
- the driver's return journey to Kumasi if you aren't coming back with them
- any distance limit and the charge per extra kilometre
- whether the car can go to Mole or off the tarmac, and which vehicle they'll send
- what happens if the car breaks down, including towing
We don't publish price round-ups because prices change often. Each firm's page shows what it offers. Send the same request to two or three firms and compare.
Option 2: Fly via Accra and rent or hire in Tamale
If you don't need a car on the road north, you can fly via Accra and rent or hire locally. Compare firms on our car hire & rental in Tamale page.
Self-drive
The FCDO says you can drive in Ghana on a 1949 International Driving Permit or a Ghanaian licence. For self-drive, ask whether a one-way return in Tamale is possible, and get the breakdown and insurance arrangements in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Kumasi to Tamale by road?
No official Kumasi–Tamale distance is published. The Ghana Highway Authority lists the whole N10, Kumasi to Paga, at 610 km, and Tamale is part of the way along it. Graphic Online gives the first section, Kumasi to Techiman, as 126 km. Check a live map app for your exact distance.
How many hours is Kumasi to Tamale by road?
No official journey time is published. Intercity STC lists its full Accra–Tamale coach trip at 10 hours. Check a live map on the day, allow time for stops, and plan to arrive before dark.
Which route do you take from Kumasi to Tamale?
Take the N10 north from Kumasi through Techiman and Kintampo to Tamale. The N10 continues beyond Tamale to Paga.
Is there a bus from Kumasi to Tamale?
We couldn't confirm a Kumasi–Tamale timetable on Intercity STC's website on 20 October 2026. Its site lists Accra–Tamale as a top route. Ask at the station in Kumasi or contact the operator for current times.
Are there flights from Kumasi to Tamale?
We couldn't confirm a direct flight on airline sites on 20 October 2026. PassionAir's booking site only offered Kumasi–Accra and Accra–Tamale, so you would change in Accra. Check the airlines' own sites when you book.
Is the Kumasi–Tamale road safe?
Follow the official advice. The US State Department says robberies have increased on the Kintampo–Tamale highway and calls night travel outside major cities extremely dangerous. 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.
Can I rent or hire a car in Kumasi for a trip to Tamale?
Yes. Compare firms on our Kumasi page and ask for a written quote that covers fuel, the driver's meals, overnight stay and return journey, any distance limit, and breakdown cover.
Next steps
Compare firms on our car hire & rental in Kumasi page, check car hire & rental in Tamale if you're flying up or need a car when you arrive, and send two or three firms the same request so you can compare written quotes.
Sources
- Road network: trunk road lengths (N10 Kumasi–Paga, 610 km) (checked 20 October 2026) (Ghana Highway Authority)
- Taming road vampires: Vehicle towing policy takes off Jan. 2027 (126 km Kumasi–Techiman road on the N10; 10 October 2026) (Graphic Online)
- Cyclist to embark on 600km Independence day ride from Tamale to Accra (route via Kintampo, Techiman and Kumasi; 28 February 2026) (Citi Newsroom)
- Visit the Mole National Park! (Fufulso on the main Kumasi–Tamale road; 11 August 2015) (Graphic Online)
- Bono East Police arrest six suspected armed robbers on Kintampo-Tamale highway (24 July 2026) (Ghana News Agency)
- Stakeholder collaboration cuts highway robberies in Kintampo – Police (23 August 2026) (Citi Newsroom)
- Fatal crash on Kintampo–Tamale highway claims four lives (5 April 2026) (MyJoyOnline)
- Top routes: Accra–Tamale coach journey time (checked 20 October 2026) (Intercity STC Coaches)
- Flight booking: routes offered from Kumasi and Tamale (checked 20 October 2026) (PassionAir)
- Our destinations: Kumasi and Tamale (checked 20 October 2026) (Africa World Airlines)
- Ghana travel advice: safety and security (road travel, vehicle crime, flooding) (checked 20 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
- Ghana Travel Advisory, Level 2, and road conditions (issued 7 July 2026; checked 20 October 2026) (US Department of State)
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.
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Photo: Enock4seth, CC BY-SA 4.0
