Delhi to Shimla by Road: A Self-Drive Guide to the Queen of Hills

Shimla is the classic hill-station weekend from Delhi: about 340–350 km and 7–8 hours, with the last stretch climbing from Parwanoo through pine forests to the old summer capital of British India. A car gives you the freedom to stay somewhere quieter outside town and take the side trips to Kufri, Chail and Narkanda. This guide covers the route, the tricky business of parking, the best time to go and a weekend plan.

Delhi to Shimla at a glance

• Distance: about 340–350 km.
• Driving time: 7–8 hours.
• Route: NH44 to Ambala, then Zirakpur, Parwanoo, Solan and Shimla.
• Best time: March to June; December to February for snow.
• Good for: a weekend of two or three days.

The route

Take NH44 north through Sonipat, Panipat and Karnal to Ambala, then head for Zirakpur and Pinjore, skirting Chandigarh. At Parwanoo the road enters Himachal Pradesh and climbs. It is four-lane up to Solan, after which the classic two-lane mountain road winds through Kandaghat and Shoghi into Shimla.

Parking in Shimla

The Mall Road and the Ridge, the heart of Shimla, are closed to cars. The usual plan is to park on Cart Road, where there is a large car park near the lift, and take the lift up to the Mall. Better still, book a hotel with its own parking and leave the car there while you're in town.

A weekend plan

1. Day 1: drive up in the morning, check in, and walk the Ridge and the Mall in the evening.
2. Day 2: visit Jakhoo Temple in the morning, the Viceregal Lodge after lunch, then drive out to Kufri.
3. Day 3: take a morning drive to Mashobra or Chail, then head back to Delhi after lunch.

With a fourth day, drive about 60 km to Narkanda for apple orchards and Himalayan views, or ride a section of the UNESCO-listed Kalka–Shimla toy train.

Driving tips for the hills

• Drive the Solan–Shimla stretch in daylight: it's winding and busy with buses.
• Use a low gear going downhill and honk on blind curves.
• From December to February, the roads to Kufri and Narkanda can be icy; drive slowly or wait for the sun.
• The monsoon can bring landslides on the hill road, so check conditions before you set out.
• Our cars have a 120 km/h speed limit, so plan the plains at a steady pace.

Tolls and fuel costs

Tolls come to a few hundred rupees each way, on NH44 in Haryana and on the Parwanoo–Solan highway, paid by the FASTag in the car. Himachal Pradesh also charges an entry tax on cars from other states.

For fuel, a petrol car doing 14 km a litre uses about 25 litres each way: roughly ₹2,400 at ₹96 a litre, or about ₹4,800 for the round trip.

Renting a self-drive car for Shimla

• 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.
• A compact SUV such as the Brezza or Venue is easy on the hill road and easy to park; for a family, the Ertiga.
• Collect the car at our Mahipalpur office near IGI Airport, or have it delivered anywhere in Delhi NCR.
• You need a driving licence held for at least a year, a government ID and a ₹5,000 refundable deposit.

Want to go higher? Our Delhi to Manali guide covers the drive up the Beas valley. See all our cars or read more about outstation trips from Delhi.