Lucknow to Varanasi Road Distance: 300 km · 5-6 hours · Cab from ₹3,300
Lucknow → Sultanpur → Jaunpur → Varanasi
Darshan timings, ghat-side drops and drivers who know the aarti schedule.
Cab fare, all inclusive
Distance
300km
Drive time
5hrs
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Chhath Puja 2026 · Varanasi ghats
Lucknow to Varanasi cab for Chhath Puja — 13–16 November 2026
Sandhya Arghya on the evening of 15 November, Usha Arghya at dawn on the 16th. Ghat-side drops, overnight driver relay from Delhi available.
Driving Lucknow to Varanasi: what this corridor is like
Timed for darshan
Ram Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath and Har Ki Pauri run on temple time; the driver plans the departure so you arrive for the slot you booked.
Ghat-side drops
Most ghats are foot-only for the last stretch. We drop at the nearest vehicle point and wait, rather than leaving you to find a cab back.
Festival-week fares fixed
Deepotsav, Kanwar season, Chhath — fares are locked when you book, and the driver stays with you across multi-day yatras.
What the Lucknow to Varanasi road is actually like
There are two roads from Lucknow to Varanasi and the choice is the whole story. The Purvanchal Expressway is the quick one: you join it on the east side of the city and it runs across the flat Gangetic plain with nothing on it but fields, overbridges and the occasional rest plaza, so fill the tank and eat before you get on. The older NH-56 through Sultanpur and Jaunpur is slower but has life on it, and Sultanpur at the halfway mark is the usual chai and breakfast halt for drivers who take that way. Jaunpur is worth a slow pass for the Shahi Bridge, and its bypass carries heavy truck traffic by the afternoon, which is why we prefer leaving Lucknow early. Winter is the season for this run, but in December and January the fog on the open expressway is dense at dawn and we ease off until the sun burns through. Around Dev Deepawali in November the approach into Varanasi crawls, so allow extra for the last few kilometres.
How far is Varanasi from Lucknow?
The distance from Lucknow to Varanasi is 300 km by road via Purvanchal Expressway / NH-56, and the drive takes about 5-6 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
300 km
Drive Time
5-6 hours
Cab From
₹3,300
Fuel (self-drive)
₹2,143
Lucknow to Varanasi distance, time & cab fare
- Road distance
- 300 km (186 miles)
- Drive time by cab
- 5-6 hours
- Best route / highway
- Purvanchal Expressway / NH-56
- 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)
- ₹2,143 one-way
* Cab fares are one-way and include fuel & driver. Toll and state tax are extra at actual.
Lucknow to Varanasi: cab vs train vs bus vs flight
A quick comparison of travel time, cost and comfort for the 300 km journey to help you choose the right mode.
Cab / TaxiRecommended
- Travel Time
- 5-6 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
- 6-8 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 Lucknow to Varanasi, 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
₹185
01Sultanpur Toll Plaza
- At km
- 140 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹110
02Jaunpur Toll Plaza
- At km
- 230 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹75
Total one-way toll
₹185
* FASTag accepted at all plazas. Rates approximate, may vary. Tolls are billed at actual on your trip.
Lucknow to Varanasi 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 300 km one-way.
Tips from drivers who run this route every week
Best time to travel
October to March. Dev Deepawali in November is spectacular.
Local insider tip
Take Purvanchal Expressway for fastest route. Varanasi's Ganga Aarti is a must-see.
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Lucknow to Varanasi FAQs
What is the distance from Lucknow to Varanasi by road?
The road distance from Lucknow to Varanasi is 300 km via Purvanchal Expressway / NH-56, running through Sultanpur, Jaunpur. That is the driving distance a car actually covers, not the straight-line distance.
How long does it take to drive from Lucknow to Varanasi?
About 5-6 hours via Purvanchal Expressway / NH-56 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 Lucknow to Varanasi cost?
A cab from Lucknow to Varanasi 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.
Where can you stop between Lucknow and Varanasi?
Sultanpur and Jaunpur are the practical halts on this route - the right place for food, fuel and a restroom break on a 5-6 hours drive.
What is the best time to travel from Lucknow to Varanasi?
October to March. Dev Deepawali in November is spectacular. For the drive itself, starting early leaves you daylight at the Varanasi end, which matters more than the season on a route like this.
Is a one-way or round-trip cab better from Lucknow to Varanasi?
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 5-6 hours route.
What is the approximate fuel cost from Lucknow to Varanasi?
Self-driving Lucknow to Varanasi costs roughly ₹2,143 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.
Is Banaras to Lucknow the same as Varanasi to Lucknow?
Yes. Varanasi is also called Banaras (Benares) and, in its temple sense, Kashi. The distance, the road and the fare on this page are the same journey under either name.
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