10 Best Road Trips in India: Routes and Seasons

Quick answer

India's best road trips are Manali–Leh and Srinagar–Leh (June–September), the Spiti loop, Mumbai–Goa along the Konkan coast, Bengaluru–Coorg, Chennai–Puducherry on the East Coast Road, Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady, Rajasthan's Jaipur–Jaisalmer desert run, Guwahati–Shillong–Sohra and Guwahati–Tawang. Mountain routes need a high-clearance car and acclimatisation; southern and desert routes are best from October to March.

Key takeaways

Ladakh's two roads, from Manali and from Srinagar, are open roughly from June to September or October; drive in via Srinagar and out via Manali to acclimatise.
Spiti works best as a loop from Shimla through Kinnaur to Kaza and out over Kunzum La, which opens only from around June to October.
The southern, coastal and Rajasthan routes are October-to-March drives on good roads, fine for any car and for families.
Keep a working FASTag, download offline maps for the mountains, and add a buffer day to any Himalayan route.

Which are India's best road trips?

Route	Distance	Days	Road quality	Season
Manali–Leh	About 430 km	2	Good tarmac with rough, high stretches	Mid-June to September
Srinagar–Leh via Kargil	About 420 km	2	Mostly good; Zojila section rough	May or June to October
Spiti loop (Shimla–Kinnaur–Kaza–Manali)	About 620–650 km	7–9	Rough in parts; landslide zones, stream crossings	June to September for the full loop
Mumbai–Goa via the Konkan	About 580–600 km	2–4	Highway widening still incomplete in parts; narrow coastal roads	October to February
Bengaluru–Mysuru–Coorg	About 260 km	3–4	Expressway to Mysuru, then a hill road	October to March
Chennai–Puducherry (ECR)	About 150 km	2–3	Good	December to February
Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey	About 360 km loop	4–5	Slow ghat roads	September to March
Jaipur–Jodhpur–Jaisalmer	About 620 km	4–6	Excellent highways	October to March
Guwahati–Shillong–Sohra–Dawki	About 450 km with day trips	3–4	Good to Shillong, narrower beyond	October to May
Guwahati–Tawang via Sela	About 450–500 km each way	2 each way	Mountain road; landslides	March–May, October–November

Which Himalayan road trips are worth it?

Manali–Leh

The classic. From Manali through the Atal Tunnel to Keylong and Jispa, then over Baralacha La, across the More Plains and over Tanglang La (about 5,300 m) to Leh. Break the journey at Jispa (about 3,200 m) rather than Sarchu (about 4,300 m), where many travellers get altitude sickness. Fill up at Tandi near Keylong, because the next fuel is a very long way on. The road usually opens fully from mid-June, once the Border Roads Organisation clears the passes. See the best time to visit Ladakh.

Srinagar–Leh

Gentler on the body because it climbs more gradually, with a night in Kargil. Zojila is the rough, dramatic section, and Drass is among the coldest inhabited places in India. Driving in via Srinagar and out via Manali is the best way to acclimatise. Ladakh land costs start around ₹28,000 per person for six nights; see the Ladakh trip cost.

The Spiti loop

Go in from Shimla through Kinnaur (Sangla, Kalpa, Nako) to Kaza, and out over Kunzum La to Manali; this direction also helps you acclimatise. Expect landslide-prone stretches in Kinnaur and stream crossings near Chandratal and Batal, so a high-clearance car is strongly advised. The Kinnaur side stays open most of the year, but Kunzum La opens only from around June to October. See the best time to visit Spiti and the Spiti trip cost.

Guwahati–Tawang

Two days each way via Bhalukpong, Bomdila and Dirang, crossing Sela Pass at about 4,170 m. The Sela tunnel has made the road more reliable in winter, but landslides still close it in the monsoon. Indians need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, applied for online. Avoid driving after dark.

Which coastal and southern road trips are worth it?

Mumbai–Goa along the Konkan

Leave the main highway for stretches of coastal road through Alibag, Murud, Dapoli, Ganpatipule and Tarkarli, with ferries across some creeks. The main highway, NH66, has been under widening for years, so check its current state before choosing a route. October to February is ideal. The monsoon drive is green and beautiful but slow and slippery.

Bengaluru–Mysuru–Coorg

The access-controlled Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway gets you to Mysuru in about two hours, and Coorg's coffee estates are about three more hours on. Stay two nights in a plantation homestay. See things to do in Coorg.

Chennai–Mahabalipuram–Puducherry

The East Coast Road runs close to the sea, with the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, the DakshinaChitra heritage village and plenty of seafood stops. Avoid the north-east monsoon from October to December.

Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey

Kochi to Munnar takes about four hours through tea and cardamom country, Munnar to Thekkady about three, and Thekkady to Alleppey about four. End with a houseboat night. The ghat roads are slow; avoid driving them at night in the monsoon. See things to do in Munnar.

Which desert and North-East road trips are worth it?

Jaipur–Jodhpur–Jaisalmer

Excellent highways, forts and palaces in every town, and a night at a desert camp near Sam or Khuri at the end. Add Bikaner or Pushkar on the way back. Go from October to March only, since summer temperatures pass 45 °C. See the best time to visit Rajasthan.

Guwahati–Shillong–Sohra–Dawki

A short, rewarding loop: Shillong as the base, Sohra (Cherrapunji) for waterfalls and living-root bridges, and Dawki for the clear Umngot river. Roads are good to Shillong and narrower beyond, and weekend traffic in Shillong is heavy. See the best time to visit Meghalaya.

Which road trip suits you?

First-time road-trippers and families with young children should start with Bengaluru–Coorg, the ECR to Puducherry, Kerala's hill loop or Rajasthan, where roads are good and towns are close together. Experienced drivers with a week or more can take on Ladakh, Spiti or Tawang. If you only have a long weekend, drive a single leg, such as Mumbai to Alibag and Murud or Guwahati to Shillong, rather than rushing a long route.

What should you know before driving?

Altitude. On the Ladakh and Spiti routes, spend a night at moderate altitude before going higher, drink plenty of water and descend if a headache worsens.
Vehicles. Use a high-clearance car or SUV for Ladakh, Spiti and Tawang; any well-maintained car will do for the southern and Rajasthan routes.
Local rules. Taxi unions in Ladakh and parts of Himachal and Sikkim restrict outside commercial vehicles from local sightseeing; private cars are fine. Protected areas in Ladakh need online registration and a fee.
Tolls. Keep a working FASTag; paying at toll plazas without one costs more.
Timing. Start mountain stages by 6 a.m., aim to arrive before dark, and keep a spare day for landslides or closures.

Download offline maps before the mountain stretches. Mobile signal disappears for hours on the Manali–Leh, Spiti and Tawang roads, and only some networks work at all in Ladakh.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best road trip in India?

Manali–Leh is the most celebrated, for its high passes and sheer scale, but it suits experienced drivers in June–September. For an easier drive, Bengaluru–Coorg and Jaipur–Jaisalmer have excellent roads from October to March. For the coast, the Konkan route from Mumbai to Goa is hard to beat in winter.

When is the Manali–Leh highway open?

Usually from mid-June to late September or early October, once the Border Roads Organisation has cleared the passes. Exact opening and closing dates vary with snowfall each year, and the first weeks can bring snow walls and water crossings. Check BRO and local police updates before setting out.

Is a normal car fine for Ladakh or Spiti?

The main Ladakh highways are mostly paved and a sedan can manage them in good conditions, but a high-clearance SUV is strongly recommended for Spiti, Chandratal, the Pangong side roads and stream crossings. Carry a spare tyre and basic tools, and note local union rules on outside taxis.

Do I need a permit for Ladakh, Spiti or Tawang?

For Ladakh, Indian citizens register online and pay a fee for protected areas such as Nubra, Pangong and Tso Moriri. Spiti needs no permit for Indians. Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang, needs an Inner Line Permit, applied for online. Rohtang Pass needs a separate vehicle permit. Rules change, so check before you go.

Which road trips work in the monsoon?

The Konkan coast, Coorg and Meghalaya are green and dramatic from July to September, if slow; drive only in daylight. Ladakh itself is in a rain shadow and July–August is its peak season, but the approach roads can see landslides. Avoid Spiti, Uttarakhand and Arunachal in the heaviest monsoon weeks.

How many days do I need for a Ladakh road trip?

Nine to eleven days from Manali or Srinagar and back: two days driving in, two acclimatising in Leh, two for Nubra, one or two for Pangong and two driving out. From Delhi, add two or three days of driving each way. Flying into Leh and driving out to Manali takes about seven or eight days.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.