Shimla to Delhi Road Distance: 350 km · 7-8 hours · Cab from ₹3,850
Shimla → Solan → Kalka → Ambala → Karnal → Delhi
Airport, office and intercity runs across the capital region, around the clock.
Cab fare, all inclusive
Distance
350km
Drive time
7hrs
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Driving Shimla to Delhi: what this corridor is like
Expressway-first routing
Delhi–Meerut, Dwarka and Yamuna expressways change the drive time by an hour; the driver picks the one that is open, not the one on the map.
Airport and terminal exact
IGI T1, T2, T3, Jewar and Hindon each have their own pickup zone and fare; the booking names the terminal so nobody circles.
Night and early-morning runs
The NCR fleet runs 24×7 with no night surcharge — the same fare at 3 AM as at 3 PM.
What the Shimla to Delhi 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 Delhi from Shimla?
The distance from Shimla to Delhi is 350 km by road via NH-5 & NH-44, 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
Shimla to Delhi distance, time & cab fare
- Road distance
- 350 km (217 miles)
- Drive time by cab
- 7-8 hours
- Best route / highway
- NH-5 & NH-44
- 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.
Shimla to Delhi: 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 Shimla to Delhi, 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
01Ambala Toll Plaza
- At km
- 150 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹95
02Karnal Toll Plaza
- At km
- 220 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹130
03Panipat Toll Plaza
- At km
- 260 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹165
Total one-way toll
₹390
* FASTag accepted at all plazas. Rates approximate, may vary. Tolls are billed at actual on your trip.
Shimla to Delhi 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
Year-round.
Local insider tip
Start before 8 AM to reach Delhi by afternoon. The descent from Shimla is scenic.
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Shimla to Delhi FAQs
What is the distance from Shimla to Delhi by road?
The road distance from Shimla to Delhi is 350 km via NH-5 & NH-44, running through Solan, Kalka, Ambala. That is the driving distance a car actually covers, not the straight-line distance.
How long does it take to drive from Shimla to Delhi?
About 7-8 hours via NH-5 & NH-44 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 Shimla to Delhi cost?
A cab from Shimla to Delhi 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 Shimla to Delhi drive broken up?
The route passes Solan then Kalka then Ambala then Karnal. On a 7-8 hours journey that is a natural set of stages: take the first break around Solan before the traffic thins, and plan the longer halt near Ambala.
Which vehicle is best for the Shimla to Delhi 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.
What is the best time to travel from Shimla to Delhi?
Year-round. For the drive itself, starting early leaves you daylight at the Delhi end, which matters more than the season on a route like this.
Is a one-way or round-trip cab better from Shimla to Delhi?
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 Shimla to Delhi?
Self-driving Shimla to Delhi 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.
Book Shimla to Delhi or explore the cities
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