Delhi to Rishikesh by Road: A Self-Drive Guide to the Yoga Capital

Rishikesh is the easiest escape from Delhi to the mountains: about 240–250 km and 5–6 hours to where the Ganga leaves the Himalayas. Come for the evening aarti, white-water rafting, yoga, cafes with river views, or simply the quiet. With a car you can add Haridwar on the way and the sunrise at Kunjapuri. This guide covers the route, tolls, when to go and a weekend plan.

Delhi to Rishikesh at a glance

• Distance: about 240–250 km.
• Driving time: 5–6 hours.
• Tolls: about ₹250–300 one way.
• Best time: October to June. Rafting is paused in the monsoon.
• Good for: a weekend, or a long weekend with Haridwar and Mussoorie.

The route

Take the Delhi–Meerut Expressway east out of Delhi, then NH334 north past Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, both on bypasses, to Roorkee and Haridwar. Rishikesh is about 25 km beyond Haridwar. The road is a divided highway most of the way, with dhabas and fuel along it.

Since April 2026 there's a second option: the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway from Akshardham to Dehradun, about 213 km and 2.5–3 hours, then about 45 km down to Rishikesh via Doiwala. It suits East Delhi but costs more in tolls; our Delhi to Mussoorie guide covers the expressway. Its spur to Haridwar was still being built in 2026.

A weekend plan

1. Day 1: leave Delhi by 7 am, stop in Haridwar for lunch, and reach Rishikesh by mid-afternoon.
2. Day 1 evening: the Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat.
3. Day 2: rafting from Shivpuri in the morning (in season), then the Beatles Ashram and the cafes near Ram Jhula.
4. Day 3: sunrise at Kunjapuri Temple, about 25 km away, then drive back to Delhi.

Coming back via Haridwar? Stop for the evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri, one of the most moving sights in India.

Parking and getting around

Ram Jhula, the ghats and the lanes around them are pedestrian areas. Park in the paid lots near Ram Jhula or in Tapovan, or at your hotel, and walk or take a shared auto. Note that Rishikesh is a vegetarian, alcohol-free town.

Tolls and fuel costs

Tolls come to about ₹250–300 each way for a car, across around three plazas, paid by the FASTag in the car.

For fuel, a petrol car doing 15 km a litre uses about 16 litres each way: roughly ₹1,600 at ₹96 a litre, or about ₹3,200 for the round trip.

Renting a self-drive car for Rishikesh

• Unlimited kilometres and an All-India permit on every car; you pay any state entry taxes.
• Trips over 48 hours get 10% off, so a three-day weekend costs less per day.
• For two, a Swift or Fronx; for a group, the Ertiga or Scorpio N.
• Collect the car at our Mahipalpur office near IGI Airport, or have it delivered in Noida, Ghaziabad or anywhere in Delhi NCR.
• You need a driving licence held for at least a year, a government ID and a ₹5,000 refundable deposit.

See all our cars or read more about outstation trips from Delhi.