Day trips

The 14 Best Day Trips from Calabar

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 14 good day trips from Calabar, Nigeria, led by Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo. The closest is Esuk Oron, about 30 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Calabar at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Port Harcourt147 km W2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight
Aba108 km W1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Uyo45 km W50 minHalf-day trip
Umuahia112 km NW1 hr 45 minFull-day trip
Ikot Ekpene72 km W1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Kumba129 km E2 hrFull-day trip
Ugep98 km N1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Malabo143 km S2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Buea135 km SE2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Limbe143 km SE2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Okigwe145 km NW2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Esuk Oron19 km SW30 minHalf-day trip
Bende102 km NW1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Ikom120 km N1 hr 55 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Calabar

  1. 1

    Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car147 km west of Calabar4 hr 40 min round trip

    Known for Port Harcourt Zoo.

    Also nearby: Okrika.

  2. 2

    Aba, Nigeria

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car108 km west of Calabar3 hr 20 min round trip
  3. 3

    Uyo, Nigeria

    Half-day trip
    About 50 min by car45 km west of Calabar1 hr 40 min round trip
  4. 4

    Umuahia, Nigeria

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-west of Calabar3 hr 30 min round trip
  5. 5

    Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car72 km west of Calabar2 hr 50 min round trip
  6. 6

    Kumba, Cameroon

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car129 km east of Calabar4 hr round trip
  7. 7

    Ugep, Nigeria

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car98 km north of Calabar3 hr round trip
  8. 8

    Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car143 km south of Calabar4 hr 30 min round trip
  9. 9

    Buea, Cameroon

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car135 km south-east of Calabar4 hr 10 min round trip
  10. 10

    Limbe, Cameroon

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car143 km south-east of Calabar4 hr 30 min round trip
  11. 11

    Okigwe, Nigeria

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car145 km north-west of Calabar4 hr 30 min round trip
  12. 12

    Esuk Oron, Nigeria

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car19 km south-west of Calabar1 hr round trip
  13. 13

    Bende, Nigeria

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car102 km north-west of Calabar3 hr 10 min round trip
  14. 14

    Ikom, Nigeria

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car120 km north of Calabar3 hr 50 min round trip

A sample day trip: Calabar to Port Harcourt

A realistic pace for Port Harcourt, 147 km from Calabar. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Calabar
  2. 09:50Arrive in Port Harcourt (2 hr 20 min drive)
  3. 10:05Port Harcourt Zoo
  4. 12:05Lunch
  5. 13:20Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Port Harcourt
  6. 15:50Head back to Calabar
  7. 18:10Home in Calabar

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Calabar?
The best day trips from Calabar are Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene. The closest is Esuk Oron, about 30 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Calabar?
Esuk Oron is the closest, 19 km south-west of Calabar, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Calabar?
2 places are within about an hour's drive of Calabar: Esuk Oron (30 min), Uyo (50 min).
What is the biggest city near Calabar for a day out?
Port Harcourt is the largest city in day-trip range, 147 km west of Calabar and about 2 hr 20 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Calabar?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Port Harcourt at 147 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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