Citrusdal is about 175 km north of Cape Town — a two-hour drive up the N7, over the Piekenierskloof Pass and down into the valley. It's a self-drive town: bring a car and the whole valley opens up.
| From | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Town (via N7) | ~175 km | ~2–2½ hours |
| Cape Town Airport (CPT) | ~175 km | ~2 hours |
| Piketberg (south) | ~48 km | ~40 min |
| Clanwilliam (north) | ~58 km | ~45 min |
| The Baths hot springs | ~18 km south of town | ~20 min |
| GPS | 32°35′S, 19°01′E | |
Driving from Cape Town
It's one of the easiest routes in the Western Cape — almost entirely on the N7.
- Leave Cape Town heading north on the N7 (the West Coast / Malmesbury road).
- Stay on the N7 for about 170 km, through the Swartland farmlands and past Piketberg.
- Climb the Piekenierskloof Pass — the dramatic first view of the valley opens here.
- Take the signposted R303 turn-off and drop down into Citrusdal.
The Piekenierskloof Pass was first cut by the engineer Thomas Bain in 1857 and rebuilt to its easier modern gradient in 1958. It's the moment the drive turns into the destination. More on the history ›
Flying in
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is the nearest major airport — about 175 km and two hours by road, so most visitors fly into Cape Town and hire a car. Citrusdal has a small airfield for light aircraft only, with no scheduled flights.
Can you get here without a car?
Honestly, not easily. There's no passenger train, and public transport is limited — long-distance coaches on the N7 can drop you near the turn-off, but the farms, the hot springs and the Cederberg are spread across the valley and need a vehicle. Plan to drive, or hire a car in Cape Town.
Getting to The Baths
The hot springs are about 18 km south of the town along The Baths Road, on the far side of the valley — a short, signposted drive of around 20 minutes from the town centre.
The Baths hot springs ›Last updated July 2026 · distances are approximate road distances