Coober Pedy is on the main Stuart Highway. Its most notable feature is the moon-like landscape of opal mines, holes in the ground dug by several generations of miners and simply left there untended after being discarded. Care should be taken when walking around the area. The mines area is made up of around thirty working fields stretching outwards in a radius of up to fifty kilometres from the town. There are certain rules of behaviour visitors should observe - including avoiding fossicking for opal in and around miner's claims.
Visitors can stay in a choice of underground accommodation.
It has a hotel-motel, roadhouse, general store, caravan park , camping area, and fuel outlet. Will's grave can be seen near Cooper Creek, west of the town and a memorial-to Burke's last resting place is along the creek to the east. Another historic spot is King's Marker, a memorial on the spot where John King, the sole survivor of Burke and Will's tragic expedition was found. 243 Marla is a major service centre on the Stuart Highway between Coober Pedy and the Northern Territory border. Roads from here lead to Mintabie opal fields and the Oodnadatta Track.