| Typical Fare | Distance | Journey Time | Heavy Traffic / Peak Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15-$21 | 5-6 km | 8-13 mins | up to ~$27 |
Fare estimates last updated: September 2026
Enter your actual pickup and drop-off addresses for a rough fare estimate based on distance. Actual fares depend on traffic, tariff timing, tolls and route taken — this is a guide only, not a guaranteed price.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Why Richmond Generates Taxi Demand
Richmond pulls a wide mix of trips from Fitzroy, and the reasons are mostly geographic. Fitzroy itself has no train station — anyone heading to Richmond by rail from Fitzroy first has to get themselves onto a tram along Brunswick Street or Nicholson Street and connect elsewhere, which is exactly the kind of two-step journey a taxi skips entirely.
Match days and the MCG
Richmond station sits adjacent to the MCG, and on event days the whole precinct fills with foot traffic and road closures. A taxi from Fitzroy avoids the guesswork of navigating a packed tram or a station crowd, though drivers will tell you drop-off gets tight within a few blocks of the ground itself.
Bridge Road and Victoria Street
Plenty of the traffic this route carries isn’t football-related at all — it’s people heading to the Bridge Road shopping strip or booking a table along Victoria Street’s Vietnamese dining precinct. Neither strip sits directly on a single tram line from Fitzroy, which is part of why a direct taxi trip appeals, especially at night when connections thin out.
Add in the late finishers from Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street bars heading to Richmond for a change of scene, and you’ve got a route that runs busy well past the dinner hour.
Typical Fitzroy to Richmond Taxi Fares
| Fare tier | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Day (9am-5pm) | $15-$21 |
| Overnight (5pm-9am) | approx $24 |
| Heavy traffic / peak estimate (Fri/Sat night, public holidays) | up to approx $27 |
Estimates only — actual metered fare depends on traffic, waiting time and route taken.
What Affects the Cost on This Route?
There’s no toll on this trip — the direct road route via Hoddle Street doesn’t touch any of Melbourne’s tolled roads, so what you see on the meter is purely distance and time.
Hoddle Street congestion
Hoddle Street is the main variable here. It carries heavy volumes in both directions most of the day, and it’s genuinely slower at peak — a trip that clears in under ten minutes off-peak can stretch out considerably once you hit the evening commute or a Friday afternoon crawl.
Time-of-day tariff and traffic below 21km/h
Victorian taxis meter time as well as distance once traffic drops below 21km/h, so a stop-start crawl through Hoddle Street at peak adds to the fare in a way a clear run never does. Combine that with the overnight tariff and you get the higher end of the range — still no toll involved, just time and tariff stacking together.
What Route Do Drivers Take from Fitzroy to Richmond?
There’s no complicated road puzzle here — this is a short, direct trip and drivers overwhelmingly take the most direct road route via Hoddle Street, which runs straight through without needing any toll road. It’s the obvious choice because it’s also the fastest one on a clear run.
The direct route
Via Hoddle Street is as straightforward as this route gets — a driver picking up on Brunswick Street or Nicholson Street can be onto Hoddle Street within a couple of minutes and into Richmond shortly after. Off-peak, this is where you get trips at the lower end of the journey time range.
When drivers detour
When Hoddle Street backs up — school pick-up time, peak commute, or a big night at the MCG — an experienced driver will look for a parallel route through the back streets rather than sit in it. It won’t always save time, but it avoids the worst of the standing traffic that pushes a fare toward the higher end.
Best and worst times to travel
Early morning and mid-morning off-peak are the reliable quick runs — you’re realistically looking at the shorter end of the journey time range with a clear road. Weekday evening peak, and any MCG event night, are the two conditions that stretch this trip out the most, both from congestion and from the knock-on effect of slower time-based metering.
Taxi vs Public Transport and Rideshare: Fitzroy to Richmond
This is a route where the alternatives are genuinely worth weighing up, not just mentioning in passing.
Public transport
Fitzroy has no train station, so any rail-based trip starts with a tram along Brunswick Street or Nicholson Street before you can connect through to Richmond station, which is a major interchange serving multiple lines. For a single adult, myki fare for this distance runs approximately $3-$6 — hard to beat on price, but the connection adds time and a change that a direct taxi simply skips.
Rideshare
Uber and DiDi both operate across Melbourne, and on a non-surge trip this distance you’re typically looking at approximately $11-$14 — genuinely cheaper than a metered taxi in normal daytime conditions. That gap closes fast on Friday and Saturday nights, though: surge pricing of 1.3x-2.5x can push rideshare up to approximately $35, well above even the peak taxi estimate. Taxis don’t surge, so on a big weekend night out of Fitzroy, the taxi is often the cheaper and more predictable option of the two.
Fitzroy to Richmond: Transport Options Compared
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi (metered) | $15-$21 | 8-13 mins | Door-to-door, does not surge, luggage |
| Uber / DiDi (non-surge) | $11-$14 | 8-13 mins | Off-peak, app-based booking |
| Uber / DiDi (surge, e.g. Fri/Sat night) | up to ~$35 | 8-13 mins | Avoid if possible — taxis don’t surge |
| Public transport (myki) | ~$3-$6* | varies by route | Budget-conscious, no luggage |
*Approximate myki fare — verify current pricing. Uber/DiDi figures are estimates based on published per-km rates, not a live quote.
Is a Taxi from Fitzroy to Richmond Worth It?
A taxi earns its keep here for anyone travelling at night, heading to an MCG event, or carrying shopping bags back from Bridge Road — situations where a tram-to-train connection through Richmond station is more hassle than it’s worth. If you’re travelling solo in daylight hours with no luggage, the tram-and-train combination or an off-peak Uber will usually beat the taxi on price. Where the taxi genuinely wins is Friday and Saturday night, when rideshare surge pricing kicks in and a flat metered fare suddenly looks like the smarter call.
Tips for Your Fitzroy to Richmond Trip
Skip Hoddle Street at peak if you can
If your trip falls during evening peak, ask your driver about the back-street alternative rather than sitting in Hoddle Street traffic — it’s the single biggest variable in how long this trip takes.
Book ahead on MCG event days
Richmond station’s precinct gets heavily congested around match times, and taxi ranks near the ground fill fast. If you’re headed to the MCG, arrange pickup a few blocks back from the ground itself.
No toll to budget for
Unlike some cross-town Melbourne trips, this one carries no toll road — what’s on the meter is genuinely just distance and time, which makes it easier to estimate in advance.
Weekend nights favour the taxi
If you’re leaving Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street strip late on a Friday or Saturday, check rideshare pricing before you book — surge pricing often makes the taxi the cheaper option at that hour.
Frequently Asked Questions: Fitzroy to Richmond Taxi
How much is a taxi from Fitzroy to Richmond?
Fares typically range from $15 in daytime up to approximately $27 in heavy traffic or on the peak tariff. These are metered-fare estimates, not fixed prices — Melbourne has no regulated fixed fares.
How long does the journey take?
Most journeys take between 8 and 13 minutes under normal conditions.
Can I pay by card?
Yes. All licensed Victorian taxis are required to accept card payments — a 4% surcharge applies for standard cards, 6% for CPV-specific devices like Cabcharge.
Is the fare metered or fixed?
This route is metered like every Melbourne taxi trip — the fare depends on distance, time spent below 21km/h, and time of day, not a flat price agreed in advance.
Is there a direct train from Fitzroy to Richmond?
No — Fitzroy has no train station of its own. You’d need to take a tram along Brunswick Street or Nicholson Street to connect to the rail network, whereas Richmond station is a major interchange serving multiple lines once you arrive.
How much does Uber cost from Fitzroy to Richmond?
A non-surge Uber or DiDi trip this distance typically runs approximately $11-$14. On Friday or Saturday nights, surge pricing of 1.3x-2.5x can push that up to approximately $35, which is often more than a metered taxi.
Is there a toll on this route?
No. The direct road route via Hoddle Street doesn’t use any tolled road, so there’s no toll charge to factor into the fare.
Can I get a taxi from Fitzroy to Richmond on an MCG match day?
Yes, but expect congestion near the ground and around Richmond station on event days. It’s worth arranging pickup or drop-off a few streets back from the MCG rather than right at the venue.