Dehradun to Nainital Road Distance: 290 km · 7-8 hours · Cab from ₹3,300
Dehradun → Haridwar → Kotdwar → Haldwani → Nainital
Hairpins, tea stops and a driver who has done this climb a hundred times.
Cab fare, all inclusive
Distance
290km
Drive time
7hrs
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Driving Dehradun to Nainital: what this corridor is like
Hill-trained drivers
Every driver on this corridor has logged the climb in all four seasons and carries chains from December to February.
Start before sunrise
Leaving by 5 AM clears the plains before traffic and puts you on the ghat section in daylight, which is the whole point of a road trip here.
Permits and stops handled
Rohtang, Atal Tunnel timings, Kufri parking, Kempty falls — the driver knows which need a permit and which are worth the detour.
What the Dehradun to Nainital road is actually like
This is a long day across the whole width of Uttarakhand. You leave Dehradun on the Haridwar road, skirt the Rajaji forest and drop to the Ganga at Haridwar in a little over an hour, which is where a driver stops for breakfast before the plains. Then the road turns east across the Terai through Najibabad, where the Kotdwar road goes off to the left, and on through Kashipur to Haldwani. It is flat and quick but full of sugarcane tractors, and the good dhabas are around Kashipur. Haldwani is the last proper market, so fuel and water go in there. Only in the final thirty-five kilometres does the road climb, in a string of hairpins above Kathgodam, and Naini Lake appears suddenly as you come over the ridge. From July to September this last climb is the landslide section and can close without notice. In December and January there is ice in the shaded bends near the top early in the morning, so we aim to be climbing by mid afternoon and never after dark.
How far is Nainital from Dehradun?
The distance from Dehradun to Nainital is 290 km by road via Haridwar & Haldwani, and the drive takes about 7-8 hours. A one-way AC cab starts from ₹3,300 (sedan), with SUV and Tempo Traveller options also available. Toll and state tax are charged extra at actual.
By Road
290 km
Drive Time
7-8 hours
Cab From
₹3,300
Fuel (self-drive)
₹2,071
Confirm the final approach to your Nainital stay
Plan for approximately 290 km and 7-8 hours of driving from Dehradun to Nainital. Your pickup, drop, chosen road, traffic and breaks can change the actual distance and arrival time.
- Share the exact Dehradun pickup and Nainital property address before settling the departure time or fare.
- Ask your accommodation to confirm vehicle access and the best luggage drop or meeting point, then share those instructions with the driver.
- Include planned breaks and any Haldwani stop in the itinerary. Keep a buffer between this transfer and any fixed check-in or onward departure.
Use the vehicle fares below as planning estimates. Ask for a written quote confirming the route, minimum billing, tolls, parking, driver allowance, taxes and waiting charges, including which items are included or extra.
View cab options for this journeyDehradun to Nainital distance, time & cab fare
- Road distance
- 290 km (180 miles)
- Drive time by cab
- 7-8 hours
- Best route / highway
- Haridwar & Haldwani
- AC Sedan cab fare Swift Dzire / Etios · 4 seater
- ₹3,300 (₹11/km)
- Ertiga SUV cab fare Maruti Ertiga · 6 seater
- ₹4,500 (₹15/km)
- Innova Crysta cab fare Toyota Innova Crysta · 7 seater
- ₹5,400 (₹18/km)
- Tempo Traveller cab fare 12-seater AC
- ₹6,900 (₹23/km)
- Approx. fuel cost (self-drive)
- ₹2,071 one-way
* Cab fares are one-way and include fuel & driver. Toll and state tax are extra at actual.
Dehradun to Nainital: cab vs train vs bus vs flight
A quick comparison of travel time, cost and comfort for the 290 km journey to help you choose the right mode.
Cab / TaxiRecommended
- Travel Time
- 7-8 hours
- Cost
- From ₹3,300
- Comfort
- Door-to-door, private, flexible stops
- Best For
- Families, groups, comfort
Train
- Travel Time
- Nearest railhead + timetable
- Cost
- Budget (subject to availability)
- Comfort
- Fixed timing, station-to-station
- Best For
- Solo budget travellers
Bus
- Travel Time
- 8-11 hrs
- Cost
- Most economical
- Comfort
- Shared, fixed stops
- Best For
- Backpackers, low budget
Flight
- Travel Time
- Nearest airport + transfers
- Cost
- Highest
- Comfort
- Fastest leg, transfers both ends
- Best For
- Long distances, time-critical
For Dehradun to Nainital, a private cab offers door-to-door pickup, no fixed timetable and the freedom to stop anywhere en route.
Dehradun to Nainital cab fare
Fuel and driver included · Tolls and taxes extra
Sedan
Swift Dzire / Etios · 4 Seater
Ertiga SUV
Maruti Ertiga · 6 Seater
Innova Crysta
Toyota Innova Crysta · 7 Seater
Tempo Traveller
12-Seater AC · 12 Seater
* Toll & state tax extra at actual. Fares based on 290 km one-way.
Tips from drivers who run this route every week
Best time to travel
March to June, September to November.
Local insider tip
This is a long mountain drive. Consider a halt at Haridwar to break the journey.
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Dehradun to Nainital FAQs
What is the distance from Dehradun to Nainital by road?
The road distance from Dehradun to Nainital is 290 km via Haridwar & Haldwani, running through Haridwar, Kotdwar, Haldwani. That is the driving distance a car actually covers, not the straight-line distance.
How long does it take to drive from Dehradun to Nainital?
About 7-8 hours via Haridwar & Haldwani in normal traffic. Starting at 5-6 AM clears the city before it fills and usually saves most of an hour against a 9 AM departure.
How much does a cab from Dehradun to Nainital cost?
A cab from Dehradun to Nainital starts at ₹3,300 for an AC sedan, ₹4,500 for an Ertiga, ₹5,400 for an Innova Crysta and ₹6,900 for a 12-seater Tempo Traveller. Outstation trips are billed on a 300 km per day minimum. Toll and state tax are extra at actual.
How is the Dehradun to Nainital drive broken up?
The route passes Haridwar then Kotdwar then Haldwani. On a 7-8 hours journey that is a natural set of stages: take the first break around Haridwar before the traffic thins, and plan the longer halt near Kotdwar.
Which vehicle is best for the Dehradun to Nainital road?
This route includes hill sections, so the vehicle matters more than on a plains run. An Ertiga or Innova Crysta from ₹4,500 handles gradients and hairpins with a full load better than a sedan, and a Tempo Traveller from ₹6,900 is the usual choice for a group. The road-condition notes on this page describe the stretch in detail.
What is the best time to travel from Dehradun to Nainital?
March to June, September to November. For the drive itself, starting early leaves you daylight at the Nainital end, which matters more than the season on a route like this.
Is a one-way or round-trip cab better from Dehradun to Nainital?
A one-way cab is cheaper when you only need the drop - you do not pay for the empty return. Choose a round trip when you want the same car and driver waiting, which is normally better value for a same-day return on a 7-8 hours route.
What is the approximate fuel cost from Dehradun to Nainital?
Self-driving Dehradun to Nainital costs roughly ₹2,071 in fuel one way at about 14 km/l. A Triveni cab includes fuel in the fare, so toll and state tax are the only extras.
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