Delhi has a long list of places you can reach by road in a day. This guide compares eight popular weekend drives by distance, driving time and what fuel and tolls cost, so you can pick one that fits your budget and the time you have.
Weekend drives from Delhi at a glance
| Destination | Distance (one way) | Drive time | Fuel + toll, one way | Per person, return (4 people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vrindavan | 165 km | 3.1–3.8 h | ₹1,375 | ₹690 |
| Haridwar | 220 km | 4.0–4.8 h | ₹1,833 | ₹920 |
| Agra | 230 km | 4.2–5.0 h | ₹1,917 | ₹960 |
| Rishikesh | 240 km | 5.0–6.0 h | ₹2,028 | ₹1,015 |
| Jaipur | 280 km | 5.0–6.0 h | ₹2,427 | ₹1,215 |
| Mussoorie | 290 km | 6.0–7.4 h | ₹2,451 | ₹1,225 |
| Nainital | 300 km | 6.2–7.6 h | ₹2,535 | ₹1,270 |
| Shimla | 345 km | 7.1–8.7 h | ₹2,943 | ₹1,470 |
Planning estimates from the CostMyTrip model (petrol car at 15 km/litre, indicative state fuel prices, toll allowance of about ₹2/km on plains). Not live prices; confirm before you travel.
How to choose
- Under 4 hours: Vrindavan is the easiest day trip; you can go and come back the same day.
- Two-day trips: Agra, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Jaipur work well with one night away.
- Hill weekends: Mussoorie, Nainital and Shimla need a full day of driving each way, so plan at least two nights or leave on Friday night. Hill roads use more fuel, which is already included above.
What the table does not include
The figures cover the car only. Add stay, food, parking and entry tickets on top. As a planning habit, many travellers add 8–10% for small costs they forget. For a full budget with stay and food, enter the trip in the planner.
Tips for a smoother weekend
- Leave Delhi before 7 am to avoid the worst city and exit traffic.
- Keep your FASTag funded; most of these routes use tolled expressways or highways. See our FASTag guide.
- Festival weekends (Holi in Braj, Kanwar season in Haridwar, long weekends in the hills) bring heavy traffic; check advisories first.
Want just the fuel bill for your own car? Use the fuel cost calculator.
Common questions
Which is the cheapest weekend trip from Delhi by car?
Of these eight, Vrindavan is the cheapest: about ₹1,375 one way for fuel and tolls in a petrol car, or roughly ₹690 per person for a return trip shared by four people.
Which hill station near Delhi is closest by road?
Of the hill towns in this guide, Mussoorie (about 290 km) is slightly closer than Nainital (about 300 km) and Shimla (about 345 km). All three need most of a day of driving each way.
Do these costs include hotels and food?
No. They cover fuel and a toll allowance for the car only. Use the CostMyTrip planner to add stay, food and activities.
Choose by usable time, then by the complete budget
A destination within a few hours one way still requires a return drive. Make a two-day calendar before comparing the table: subtract both drives, meals, check-in and the time you want to spend at the destination. Keep a rest margin rather than allocating every hour.
A hypothetical one-night budget for four
If your selected route costs ₹2,000 each way, the vehicle total is ₹4,000. Add two rooms at a quoted ₹2,000 per room for one night (₹4,000), food at your chosen ₹500 per person per day for two days (₹4,000), and ₹1,000 for agreed parking and activities. The subtotal is ₹13,000; a chosen 10% buffer adds ₹1,300, giving ₹14,300 or ₹3,575 each. These are invented round numbers to demonstrate budgeting, not hotel prices or a package offer.
Why a cheaper drive may not produce a cheaper weekend
A lower fuel bill can be outweighed by a room minimum, an extra night or attraction tickets. Compare the same traveller count and room arrangement for every destination. If comparing a train or bus, add both city transfers and any destination transport that a private car would otherwise cover.
For a hill weekend, check conditions for the actual dates and avoid making a Friday-night drive the default solution to a tight schedule. The route calculators give a driving model; they do not decide whether the driver is rested or a road is open.
Worked examples and planning analysis by CostMyTrip Team · 24 October 2026. Hypothetical amounts explain the method; they are not available fares, room quotes or activity prices.
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