Delhi to Shimla Road Distance: 350 km · 7-8 hours · Cab from ₹3,850
Delhi → Karnal → Ambala → Pinjore → Solan → Shimla
Hairpins, tea stops and a driver who has done this climb a hundred times.
Cab fare, all inclusive
Distance
350km
Drive time
7hrs
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Driving Delhi to Shimla: 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 Delhi to Shimla road is actually like
The road to Shimla is really two roads. The first is NH-44 out through Murthal, Panipat, Karnal and Ambala, a wide six-lane run where the main danger is complacency, with the Murthal dhabas the customary parantha stop and the toll gates behind you by Ambala. Then at Zirakpur you turn towards Pinjore and Kalka, cross into Himachal at Parwanoo, and there the hill road starts in earnest: NH-5 climbing through Dharampur towards Barog in a long chain of hairpins, with the old railway tunnel near the road. Barog is the halt our drivers swear by, for tea and the view, before Solan, Kandaghat and the final pine-lined climb into the town. From December to February there is snow around Kufri and black ice on the shaded bends in the early morning, so we start after eight rather than before. From July to September the Solan section throws landslides and closures. In May and June the whole Kalka road jams on weekends, and coming down we use low gear the entire way so the brakes never overheat.
How far is Shimla from Delhi?
The distance from Delhi to Shimla is 350 km by road via NH-44 & NH-5, and the drive takes about 7-8 hours. A one-way AC cab starts from ₹3,850 (sedan), with SUV and Tempo Traveller options also available. Toll and state tax are charged extra at actual.
By Road
350 km
Drive Time
7-8 hours
Cab From
₹3,850
Fuel (self-drive)
₹2,500
Delhi to Shimla distance, time & cab fare
- Road distance
- 350 km (217 miles)
- Drive time by cab
- 7-8 hours
- Best route / highway
- NH-44 & NH-5
- AC Sedan cab fare Swift Dzire / Etios · 4 seater
- ₹3,850 (₹11/km)
- Ertiga SUV cab fare Maruti Ertiga · 6 seater
- ₹5,250 (₹15/km)
- Innova Crysta cab fare Toyota Innova Crysta · 7 seater
- ₹6,300 (₹18/km)
- Tempo Traveller cab fare 12-seater AC
- ₹8,050 (₹23/km)
- Approx. fuel cost (self-drive)
- ₹2,500 one-way
* Cab fares are one-way and include fuel & driver. Toll and state tax are extra at actual.
Delhi to Shimla: cab vs train vs bus vs flight
A quick comparison of travel time, cost and comfort for the 350 km journey to help you choose the right mode.
Cab / TaxiRecommended
- Travel Time
- 7-8 hours
- Cost
- From ₹3,850
- 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 Delhi to Shimla, a private cab offers door-to-door pickup, no fixed timetable and the freedom to stop anywhere en route.
Toll plazas on this route
Total toll
₹390
01Panipat Toll
- At km
- 90 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹165
02Karnal Toll
- At km
- 130 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹130
03Ambala Toll
- At km
- 200 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹95
Total one-way toll
₹390
* FASTag accepted at all plazas. Rates approximate, may vary. Tolls are billed at actual on your trip.
Delhi to Shimla 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 350 km one-way.
Tips from drivers who run this route every week
Best time to travel
March to June for pleasant weather, December to February for snowfall experience.
Local insider tip
The Kalka-Shimla mountain stretch is scenic. Stop at Barog for tea and views.
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Delhi to Shimla FAQs
What is the distance from Delhi to Shimla by road?
The road distance from Delhi to Shimla is 350 km via NH-44 & NH-5, running through Karnal, Ambala, Pinjore. That is the driving distance a car actually covers, not the straight-line distance.
How long does it take to drive from Delhi to Shimla?
About 7-8 hours via NH-44 & NH-5 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 Delhi to Shimla cost?
A cab from Delhi to Shimla starts at ₹3,850 for an AC sedan, ₹5,250 for an Ertiga, ₹6,300 for an Innova Crysta and ₹8,050 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 Delhi to Shimla drive broken up?
The route passes Karnal then Ambala then Pinjore then Solan. On a 7-8 hours journey that is a natural set of stages: take the first break around Karnal before the traffic thins, and plan the longer halt near Pinjore.
Which vehicle is best for the Delhi to Shimla road?
This route includes hill sections, so the vehicle matters more than on a plains run. An Ertiga or Innova Crysta from ₹5,250 handles gradients and hairpins with a full load better than a sedan, and a Tempo Traveller from ₹8,050 is the usual choice for a group. The road-condition notes on this page describe the stretch in detail.
When should you avoid travelling from Delhi to Shimla?
March to June for pleasant weather, December to February for snowfall experience. Those windows are about the road rather than the forecast - a closed or damaged stretch changes the journey time, not just the comfort. Confirm conditions before booking in the months named above.
How much toll do you pay from Delhi to Shimla?
3 toll plazas on this route, ₹390 one way at current rates, the first being Panipat Toll at the 90 km mark. They are paid at actual by FASTag and itemised on your bill - the plaza-by-plaza breakdown is in the toll table on this page.
Is a one-way or round-trip cab better from Delhi to Shimla?
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 Delhi to Shimla?
Self-driving Delhi to Shimla costs roughly ₹2,500 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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