how far to drive from sydney to orange

Short answer: about 255–260 km from Sydney to Orange via the M4/A32 over the Blue Mountains, and roughly 3.5–4 hours of sensible driving.

It’s an easy run: Katoomba, Mount Victoria, Lithgow, Bathurst, then Orange—expect weekend traffic and mountain weather with a flair for drama.

Fuel up before the climb, stretch at a lookout, and keep an eye out for highway patrol with a keen interest in donations to state revenue.

Take a scenic detour if you like, but you’ll still be in the 260‑ish ballpark unless your sat-nav fancies goat tracks.