Pune to Mumbai by road: time, route and fare
Mumbai is about 150 km from Pune, typically 3 hours on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, longer at peak hours inside the city. A RutzIndia.com sedan costs Rs 5,400 Pay Now to Reserve one way and an Innova Crysta Rs 8,550 Pay Now to Reserve, before 5% GST, with Expressway and bridge tolls at actual. An 8 hr / 80 km Mumbai city package starts at Rs 7,920 Pay Now to Reserve.
There is no city in India quite like Mumbai: a long, narrow island city built on reclaimed land between the Arabian Sea and the harbour, with Victorian Gothic railway termini, Art Deco apartment blocks facing a cricket maidan, fishing villages beside glass towers, and a street-food culture that runs on vada pav and cutting chai. It is India's financial capital, the home of Hindi cinema and, for many travellers from Pune and the Deccan, the city you drive to for flights, business, hospitals, weddings and weekends by the sea.
The drive from Pune is one of the most travelled intercity routes in the country, and it is quick on paper. The real skill lies in timing it around the city's traffic and choosing the right way in for your destination. This guide covers the Expressway, the new sea bridges, what to see once you arrive, the seasons and what RutzIndia.com charges. For the route fare in one place, see the Pune to Mumbai taxi page.
The drive: Expressway, ghat and the way into the city
Pune to the Expressway (15 to 25 km). From central Pune, Kothrud or Hinjewadi you join the Expressway near Kiwale or Dehu Road. From Kharadi and Viman Nagar, allow extra time across the city.
The Bhor ghat: Lonavala and Khandala (about 65 km). The Expressway climbs to the Sahyadri crest at Lonavala and then drops steeply through the Khandala ghat, with tunnels, viewpoints and, in the monsoon, waterfalls pouring off the cliffs. Heavy vehicles crawl downhill in the left lanes; this is the section where fog and rain slow everything in July and August. If you want a break, the food courts on the Expressway and Lonavala's chikki shops are the traditional stops; our Lonavala by road guide covers the hill town.
Khalapur to Panvel (about 110 km). Down on the Konkan plain the road is fast again. The Khalapur toll plaza is the main Expressway toll; FASTag is fitted to all our cars and tolls are billed at actual cost.
Into Mumbai: three choices.
- Vashi bridge and the Eastern Freeway for Chembur, Wadala and South Mumbai when traffic on Sion is heavy.
- Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link), the long sea bridge from near Chirle to Sewri, opened in 2024, which can save a lot of time for South Mumbai, Fort and Colaba. It carries its own toll.
- Sion and the Western Express Highway for Bandra, Andheri, Juhu and the airport.
Inside the city, the Coastal Road from Marine Drive to Worli and the Bandra–Worli Sea Link have made north-south journeys along the western shore much faster. Your chauffeur picks the route by time of day and destination.
Timing. Leave Pune before 7 am, or between 11 am and 2 pm, to avoid the worst of Mumbai's morning and evening peaks. Sunday evenings bring the reverse problem: Mumbai families returning from Lonavala and Pune fill the Expressway.
What to see in Mumbai
- Gateway of India and Colaba. The basalt arch on Apollo Bunder, the Taj Mahal Palace hotel beside it, and the Colaba Causeway market behind.
- Elephanta Caves. Ferries from the Gateway cross the harbour to Gharapuri island and its rock-cut Shiva cave temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India; check timings and closed days on the ASI website before you go.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The Victorian Gothic railway station, itself a World Heritage Site, is spectacular at night when lit.
- Fort and Kala Ghoda. The Victorian and Art Deco ensembles around the Oval Maidan, the High Court, the university and the museums; the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival fills the lanes each February.
- Marine Drive. The curving sea face known as the Queen's Necklace, best at dusk.
- Haji Ali, Mahalaxmi and Siddhivinayak. The dargah on its causeway in the sea (reachable at low tide), the Mahalaxmi temple, and Prabhadevi's Siddhivinayak temple, all within a short drive.
- Banganga tank. An ancient tank and temple complex tucked into Walkeshwar on Malabar Hill.
- Bandra. Bandstand, Mount Mary church, and the cafes of Pali Hill and Hill Road.
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the Kanheri Caves. Forest and Buddhist caves inside the city limits in Borivali.
The Maharashtra government's tourism portal, Maharashtra Tourism, and the Mumbai City district website are useful for event listings and public information.
Eating your way through Mumbai
Food is reason enough to make the trip. Start the morning at one of the old Irani cafes in Fort or around Grant Road, with bun maska, akuri and sweet chai at marble-topped tables. At lunch, try a Maharashtrian thali, or a Malvani or Konkani seafood lunch of bombil fry, surmai and sol kadhi in Dadar or Fort. Afternoons are for the street: vada pav outside the railway stations, pav bhaji, bhel and pani puri at Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu beach, and kulfi on Mohammed Ali Road during Ramzan evenings.
A chauffeur makes the food trail practical in a city where parking is scarce: you hop out, eat, and step back into the car without hunting for a taxi in the heat. Tell your driver what you want to try and he will know which lanes to aim for and where he can wait.
When to go
- November to February: the best months, with dry, warm days and cooler evenings. Wedding season is in full swing, so decorated cars and guest shuttles are in heavy demand.
- March to May: hot and humid; mornings and late evenings are best for sightseeing.
- June to September: the monsoon. Heavy rain, waterlogging in low-lying areas and slow traffic, but the ghat drive from Pune is at its most beautiful. Allow generous buffers for flights.
- Ganesh Chaturthi (August or September) is the city's biggest festival, with ten days of pandals and immersion processions that close roads, especially on the final day. Diwali and Christmas–New Year are also busy.
RutzIndia.com services and fares for the Mumbai trip
- Pune to Mumbai one way, door to door, including to Mumbai's airports.
- Mumbai to Pune return trips and day round trips for meetings.
- Airport transfers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International and Navi Mumbai International, with flight tracking, a name board, and 60 minutes of free waiting after international arrivals and 30 minutes after domestic ones; see Mumbai airport taxi.
- Local hire in Mumbai: 8 hours / 80 km for sightseeing, shopping or a day of meetings; details on our Mumbai taxi service page.
- Luxury and wedding cars in Mumbai: Mercedes, BMW, Vellfire and more on luxury car rental in Mumbai.
- Groups in a Tempo Traveller for family functions or corporate offsites.
| Vehicle | Per km | Pune to Mumbai one way (150 km) | Same-day return (300 km) | Mumbai local 8 hr / 80 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan (Dzire class) | Rs 36 | Rs 5,400 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,800 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 7,920 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Premium sedan (City / Verna) | Rs 48 | Rs 7,200 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 14,400 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 11,880 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Innova Crysta | Rs 57.6 | Rs 8,550 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 17,100 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 13,860 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Tempo Traveller | Rs 78 | Rs 11,700 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 23,400 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 21,450 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Mercedes E-Class / BMW 5 | Rs 170 | Rs 24,750 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 49,500 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 41,250 Pay Now to Reserve |
Every figure above is pre-GST; add 5%. Expressway, Atal Setu and Sea Link tolls, parking in city lots and any permits are recovered at the amount paid. If your plans run over several days, the chauffeur's night allowance is Rs 1,500, and a car kept for a return is billed on the actual kilometres or 250 km a day, whichever is greater. Only cars from the current or previous three model years are sent. Reserve through the online booker and pay by card or UPI; firms get GST invoices for staff travel. You can cancel free up to 72 hours before pickup; after that the charge is 10% within 72 hours, 50% within 48 hours and the whole fare within 24 hours or on a no-show, as the cancellation policy explains.
A two-day Mumbai plan by car
Day 1: Pune to South Mumbai (about 170 km with city running). Leave Pune at 6.30 am, cross Atal Setu to Sewri, breakfast at an Irani cafe in Fort. Morning ferry to Elephanta from the Gateway, back by 2 pm. Afternoon walk through Kala Ghoda and the Oval Maidan, CSMT at dusk, dinner in Colaba, sunset on Marine Drive.
Day 2: Central and western Mumbai (about 60 km). Banganga tank and the Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill, Haji Ali at low tide, Siddhivinayak, lunch in Bandra, the Sea Link and Bandstand in the evening. Drive back to Pune after the evening peak, or on to the airport.
Extend it. Lonavala and Khandala make an easy stop on the way back; see Lonavala by road. And if you are visiting Pune from Mumbai rather than the other way round, read Pune by road.
Practical tips
- Low tide at Haji Ali. The causeway floods at high tide; check tide times before planning.
- Elephanta ferries stop in rough weather and during the monsoon at times; plan a backup.
- Parking. South Mumbai parking is tight; your chauffeur will drop you and circle or use pay-and-park lots, billed at actual.
- No-entry rules. Some roads in South Mumbai have timed restrictions; trust the driver's routing.
- Airport buffers. Allow at least 3 hours from Pune to either Mumbai airport, 4 in the monsoon or on Friday evenings.
- Corporate travel. For regular Pune–Mumbai commutes, ask about a corporate car rental account with monthly GST billing.
