Road Trips in India: Routes, Distances & Tips
Popular road trip routes
Distances and times are approximate and change with traffic, season and road work.
Delhi to Manali
Kiratpur–Nerchowk expressway bypasses the old Swarghat ghats.
Delhi to Haridwar / Rishikesh
Fast dual carriageway. Ideal weekend pilgrimage escape.
Gorakhpur to Nepal Border
Direct highway to Lumbini and onward to Pokhara.
Raxaul to Kathmandu
Via the Hetauda bypass and mountain highway into the valley.
Delhi to Chardham Base
Staged through Rishikesh and the Devprayag confluence.
Lucknow to Ayodhya
Expressway drive right up to the Ram Mandir pilgrim parking.
Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu
Through the Chenani–Nashri and Banihal–Qazigund tunnels.
Chandigarh to Shimla
4-lane mountain expressway up to the Solan bypass.
Road trip tips
For 2–4 people a sedan works on most highways; for hills, luggage or 5–7 people an SUV like Innova Crysta is more comfortable. For 8+ people a Tempo Traveller or Force Urbania is usually the best value.
On hill roads plan 6–8 hours of driving at most and avoid driving after dark. On expressways longer days are fine with regular breaks.
Outstation cabs are billed per km, usually with a minimum km per day. Tolls, parking, state permits and the driver allowance are listed separately in your quote.
Some routes need permits (for example Rohtang, parts of Ladakh and Sikkim, or entering Nepal by road). Check the latest rules with the local administration before you travel.