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Federal Route 3 from JB
From central Johor Bahru, take Federal Route 3 (Jalan Kota Tinggi) eastbound out of the city. Pass through suburban JB and enter the rural coastal route.
The journey from Johor Bahru to Tioman Island takes approximately 5 hours total, comprising a 3.5 to 4 hour scenic coastal drive north on Federal Route 3 to Tanjung Gemok jetty in Pahang, followed by a 90-minute Tioman SpeedBoat crossing. The total driving distance is approximately 270 kilometres through Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Endau, and on to Kuala Rompin.
confirmation_number Book your speedboatFederal Route 3 is a coastal road with multiple food stops, fishing villages, and beach views, making this drive notably more pleasant than toll highway routes. Mersing — the traditional Tioman jetty — sits roughly halfway between JB and Tanjung Gemok, and many JB-based travellers stop there for a meal en route. The total distance is approximately 270 km with minimal toll charges.
The recommended route from central JB is Federal Route 3 northbound — a coastal drive through Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Endau, and Kuala Rompin to Tanjung Gemok jetty.
From central Johor Bahru, take Federal Route 3 (Jalan Kota Tinggi) eastbound out of the city. Pass through suburban JB and enter the rural coastal route.
Continue Federal Route 3 northbound through Kota Tinggi (~45 minutes from JB). Major junction town with fuel stations, food stalls, and a hospital — useful as a quick break.
Drive approximately 1.5 to 2 hours north to reach Mersing. Mersing is the traditional Tioman ferry jetty and the recommended food stop — famous for fresh seafood and Mersing-style otak-otak.
Continue north on Federal Route 3 from Mersing for approximately 30 minutes to Endau. Small fishing town with fuel stations and basic restaurants — short rest break only.
From Endau, drive approximately 30 minutes north to Kuala Rompin. Tanjung Gemok jetty sits roughly 5 km north of Kuala Rompin town centre — follow local signage for "Jeti Tanjung Gemok".
For travellers in eastern JB or near Senai International Airport, this route is slightly faster and has fewer stops.
From Senai Airport or eastern JB, take the Senai-Desaru Highway eastbound towards the coast.
Exit at the Kota Tinggi interchange and connect to Federal Route 3 northbound.
Follow the canonical Federal Route 3 plan above through Mersing, Endau, and Kuala Rompin to the jetty.
Federal Route 3 passes through three towns worth stopping in. Mersing is the standout for a proper sit-down meal.
Roughly halfway between JB and Tanjung Gemok — the natural lunch break.
Small fishing town between Mersing and Kuala Rompin.
5 km south of the jetty — last fuel before boarding.
There is no direct bus to Tanjung Gemok. The options below cover practical alternatives for travellers without a car.
Daily routes from Larkin Sentral to Mersing and Kuala Rompin. From either town, take a taxi or e-hailing (Grab) on to Tanjung Gemok jetty.
Some operators offer combined bus + ferry packages from JB to Tioman via Mersing. Note that these typically use Mersing's traditional ferries (90 to 120 minute crossing) rather than the faster Tioman SpeedBoat from Tanjung Gemok.
Specifics that come up most often for travellers driving north from Johor Bahru.
Fuel stations between Mersing and Tanjung Gemok are limited. Top up at Kota Tinggi or Mersing.
Excellent seafood, especially for lunch — Mersing's waterfront is a destination in its own right.
Long-term parking lots near Tanjung Gemok jetty are cash only. Bring small notes.
Federal Route 3 is congested with Singapore-bound traffic on Friday evenings — leave Tanjung Gemok by mid-afternoon.
For sailings before 9 AM, consider staying overnight in Mersing or Kuala Rompin to avoid pre-dawn driving.
The drive from Johor Bahru to Tanjung Gemok jetty takes 3.5 to 4 hours via Federal Route 3 through Kota Tinggi, Mersing, and Endau. Total distance is approximately 270 km.
Yes. Federal Route 3 is a coastal road passing through fishing villages and small towns including Mersing (famous for seafood). The drive is more scenic than the toll highway alternatives from KL.
For most JB residents, Federal Route 3 from central JB is the simplest route. For travellers near Senai Airport or eastern JB, the Senai-Desaru Highway is slightly faster, connecting to Federal Route 3 at Kota Tinggi.
There is no direct bus to Tanjung Gemok jetty, but buses operate from Larkin Sentral to Mersing and Kuala Rompin. From there, take a taxi or e-hailing to the jetty.
JB is closer at approximately 270 km (3.5 to 4 hours), while Singapore is approximately 320 km (4.5 to 5 hours) from Tuas Second Link, accounting for border crossing time.
Mersing is the best food stop, located approximately halfway between JB and Tanjung Gemok. Famous for fresh seafood and Mersing-style otak-otak. Endau and Kuala Rompin also have basic food options.
Yes, Mersing is approximately 50 km south of Tanjung Gemok and is reached first when driving from JB. Some travellers choose Mersing's traditional ferry over the Tioman SpeedBoat from Tanjung Gemok, but the Tioman SpeedBoat crossing is shorter in sea distance (~56 km vs ~70 km) and uses dedicated full-cabin speedboats rather than larger open-deck ferries.
Book your JB-friendly Tanjung Gemok to Tioman speedboat — 90-minute crossing, daily sailings, instant e-ticket. Or compare jetty options if you’d rather sail from Mersing.