The Tanzania one-way car hire from Arusha to Dar es Salaam is a practical option for visitors who fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and depart from Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) — or vice versa — as part of a Tanzania safari circuit. Instead of doubling back from the northern parks to Arusha, a one-way Tanzania car hire allows visitors to drive south through Tarangire, Mikumi, and the Morogoro highlands before returning the vehicle at a Dar es Salaam depot. The Arusha to Dar es Salaam distance is 660km — an 8 to 9 hour drive on the A23 Arusha-Dodoma highway (via Dodoma) or via the faster but less direct Nairobi-Arusha-Morogoro-Dar A23/A7 route. One-way drop fee from Arusha hire companies: USD 150 to 300 depending on operator and vehicle class. This guide covers the route options, the Mikumi transit option, and what to confirm with the hire company before booking a Tanzania one-way car hire.
Route Option 1: Arusha to Dar via Dodoma (A23, 680km, 9 hours)
The direct A23 highway from Arusha runs southwest through Kondoa (the UNESCO prehistoric rock art site) to Dodoma (Tanzania’s administrative capital, 450km from Arusha, 5.5 hours) and then southeast to Dar es Salaam (230km from Dodoma, 3.5 hours). The A23 is good tarmac throughout and is the most direct Arusha-Dar route. Fill fuel at Dodoma (the only major fuel point on the Arusha-Dodoma section). Total Tanzania one-way car hire Arusha to Dar on the A23: 680km, 8.5 to 9 hours driving time excluding stops.
Route Option 2: Arusha to Dar via Tarangire and Mikumi (A104+A7, 700km with park stop)
The Mikumi route allows the Tanzania one-way car hire visitor to include a half-day or full-day park stop en route. From Arusha, drive south to Tarangire (120km, 1.5 hours) for a morning game drive, then continue southwest on the B141 toward Dodoma or south on the A7 Morogoro highway through Mikumi National Park (290km south of Arusha, 3.5 hours). Mikumi is bisected by the A7 highway — wildlife is visible from the road without a park entry fee, and a brief entry (USD 29 per adult) opens the park’s main circuit for a 2 to 3 hour game drive. From Mikumi, continue south on the A7 through Morogoro (200km further) to Dar es Salaam. Total on the Mikumi route: approximately 700km, 9 to 10 hours including a 2-hour Mikumi game drive.
Tanzania One-Way Car Hire: What to Confirm Before Booking
- One-way drop fee: Confirm the exact one-way repositioning fee with the Arusha hire company before booking. The fee varies from USD 150 to 300 depending on whether the company has a Dar es Salaam depot or must reposition the vehicle by delivery driver. Get the fee in writing.
- Dar es Salaam return location: Confirm the exact address of the vehicle drop-off in Dar es Salaam — most Arusha companies either use a partner depot in Dar or require the vehicle be driven to the airport (Julius Nyerere International Airport area).
- Fuel: Confirm full-to-full policy applies on the one-way hire — fill the tank at the last petrol station before the Dar drop-off point.
- COMESA Yellow Card valid for Tanzania only: If the one-way hire vehicle has a Tanzania-only Yellow Card (not pan-COMESA), confirm this is sufficient for the domestic Tanzania drive. No border crossing occurs on Arusha-Dar, so Tanzania-only insurance is adequate.
One-Way Hire vs Round Trip: When Does Each Make Sense?
- One-way Tanzania car hire: Best for visitors flying into one Tanzania airport (Kilimanjaro) and departing from another (Dar es Salaam). Saves the 660km double-back from the northern parks to Arusha. The one-way drop fee (USD 150 to 300) is less than the fuel cost and time cost of the return drive.
- Round trip Tanzania car hire from Arusha: Best for visitors doing only the northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara) with no planned visit to the southern parks or coast. Return to Arusha for the fly-out at KIA — no need for the one-way drop.
