Kroonstad is a town on the N1 National Route in Free State province of South Africa.
Kroonstad (also known as “Crown City”) is the fourth-largest city in the Free State (after Bloemfontein and Welkom, and Bethlehem) and lies two hours’ drive on the N1 linking major cities Gauteng, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town.
Kroonstad is the primary node town with Viljoenskroon and Steynsrus being the secondary nodes. Maokeng is an area within Kroonstad and is occasionally used as a synonym for the town itself. It is the second-largest commercial and urban center in the Northern Free State (after Welkom), and an important railway junction on the mainline from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Maokeng is Sesotho and means “place of the thorn trees (mimosa trees)”.
Kroonstad is Free State’s loveliest town and lies on the banks of the Vals River, a tributary of the Vaal, roughly two hours drive from Johannesburg. It is situated in an area characterized by open spaces and an abundant variety of vegetation that makes it particularly beautiful. It is a quaint town that serves as a good stopover en route between Johannesburg and Cape Town, lying as it does at virtually the halfway mark.
Kroonstad offers an array of activities that include flea markets, a tea garden, fishing on the Vals River or at the Bloemhoek Dam, walking trails and lion tours, and a lion and tiger interaction at Boskoppie Lion and Tiger Park.
The Department of Correctional Services and the School of Engineer’s Military bases are situated in the town.
Kroonstad has of late become a distinguished holiday destination due to the ultra-modern and popular holiday resort of Kroonpark, adjacent to the Vals River. The urban area is situated adjacent to the N1 National Road and is located adjacent to one of the largest and most important four-way railway junctions in South Africa.
Kroonstad is an important agricultural service center in the Free State with a predominantly agricultural-orientated economy served by a modern toll-road.
