Free planner · India & Nepal
Road Trip Planner for India
Outline a road trip in India with typical driving times, sensible overnight stops, and food and stay costs in rupees. Free to use. Built for people driving from their city who want realistic days on the road and stops that fit the budget.
A road trip is only as good as its daily driving. Long days on mountain roads, a pass that isn't open yet, or nowhere to stay at the end of the day turn a scenic drive into an ordeal. A road trip planner needs to know what a day on that road actually takes, not just the distance.
Wayfitly's guides and city trip pages give typical travel times by road and rail, so you can plan stops around realistic driving days and end each one somewhere you can sleep.
Plan it in four steps
- 1
Check when the roads are open
High passes and mountain highways open seasonally. Plan the month around the road, not the other way round.
- 2
Limit driving hours
In the mountains, 5–7 hours of driving a day is plenty. Distances look short on the map and take far longer.
- 3
Place your stops
Pick overnight stops with accommodation and fuel, and keep one spare day for closures.
- 4
Decide: self-drive or hire
Hiring a local driver costs more but removes the stress of unfamiliar mountain roads.
Example: 8-day Spiti Valley road trip
Constraints: early July, four friends sharing a hired car and driver, Shimla in and Manali out, homestays along the way.
The plan
- Day 1: Shimla to Sangla or Chitkul
- Day 2: Kalpa, for acclimatisation
- Day 3: Nako and Tabo
- Day 4: Dhankar to Kaza
- Days 5–6: Key, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim, and Komic
- Day 7: Over Kunzum Pass to Chandratal
- Day 8: Down to Manali
What it costs (estimate)
- Car and driver, shared by 4
- ₹9,000–14,000
- Homestays (7 nights, shared rooms)
- ₹4,200–8,400
- Food
- ₹3,200–5,600
- Entry fees and extras
- ₹800–2,400
- Total
- ₹17,000–30,000 per person
Excludes getting to Shimla and home from Manali. Kunzum Pass and the Manali side usually open from about June to early October.
Read the Spiti Valley guide
Built for this kind of trip
Trips from your city
The trips-by-budget pages list places within reach of eight Indian cities, with typical travel times by road and rail and costs including the journey.
Overnight stops that work
Destination guides give typical travel times and where to base yourself, so each driving day ends somewhere you can sleep.
Pets and kids
The pet-friendly getaways list road trips from four cities with stays that welcome dogs, and every guide covers how a place works for families.
What experienced travellers do
- Fill up when you can
- Fuel stations are far apart in remote valleys; top up at every town.
- Start early
- Mountain roads are clearer in the morning, and water crossings are lower before snowmelt peaks in the afternoon.
- Carry offline maps
- Mobile data disappears for long stretches; download maps and your itinerary before you set off.
- Respect the altitude
- Gain height gradually and don't drive long days straight after arriving at altitude.
Start with a real constraint
Ask the trip assistant something like:
- “A 4-day drive from Bengaluru to Coorg and Chikkamagaluru with waterfalls.”
- “A coastal drive from Mumbai to Goa over 5 days.”
Places that suit this trip
Frequently asked
Does it give turn-by-turn directions?
No. It helps you choose places, stops and days; use a navigation app for directions while you drive.
Are fuel and tolls included?
Not separately. The city trip pages estimate typical transport for each route, so if you're driving your own car, adjust for fuel and tolls.
Can the planner check whether a road trip is realistic?
Not automatically. Use the travel times in the guides and city pages to keep driving days short, and confirm road conditions locally, especially in the mountains and during the monsoon.
Is self-driving in the Himalaya a good idea?
Only with mountain driving experience. Many travellers hire a local driver who knows the roads and conditions.
Plans and costs are starting points, not live prices or bookings. Check current prices, permits, weather, safety advice and schedules before you travel.