Mumbai to Pune by car: the one-minute answer
Pune sits about 150 km south-east of Mumbai, a drive of roughly 3 hours up the Mumbai–Pune Expressway through the Khandala ghat. RutzIndia.com charges Rs 5,400 Pay Now to Reserve for a sedan and Rs 8,550 Pay Now to Reserve for an Innova Crysta one way, plus 5% GST and tolls at cost. Local Pune hire of 8 hours / 80 km starts at Rs 7,200 Pay Now to Reserve.
Pune has worn many hats. It was the seat of the Peshwas, who ran the Maratha confederacy from here in the 18th century; the "Oxford of the East" with its colleges and research institutes; a cantonment town with tree-lined avenues; and now a sprawling IT and auto-manufacturing hub whose suburbs stretch from Hinjewadi to Kharadi. On the Deccan plateau at around 560 metres, it is noticeably cooler and drier than Mumbai, which is one reason so many Mumbaikars drive up for weekends, and why so many Punekars love their city.
Most people make the trip for a reason other than tourism: a new job, a college admission, a family function, a hospital appointment, a flight from Pune airport. But the city rewards a day of sightseeing, and the forts and hill stations around it are among the best drives in Maharashtra. This guide covers the road, the city's highlights, the seasons and our fares. For the route on its own, see the Mumbai to Pune taxi page.
The climb from Mumbai: route and timing
From the island city, the fastest route to the Expressway depends on where you start. From Colaba, Fort or Worli, Atal Setu across the harbour to the mainland is usually quickest. From Bandra, Andheri or the airport, head out via the Eastern Express Highway or the Santacruz–Chembur link to Vashi and Panvel. From Thane, use the Kalyan–Shil Phata side to Panvel.
At Kalamboli near Panvel you join the Expressway proper. The first stretch across the Konkan plain to the Khalapur toll is flat and fast. Then the road climbs the Bhor ghat, the Sahyadri escarpment, through tunnels and cuttings; in the monsoon the cliffs stream with waterfalls and the ghat is often in cloud. At the top, Lonavala and Khandala are the natural halt for tea, vada pav and chikki. The last 65 km across the plateau to Pune are straightforward, past Talegaon and Dehu Road into the city.
The old Mumbai–Pune highway (NH48) runs roughly parallel through Khopoli and Lonavala town and is useful when the Expressway has an incident, or if you want to stop at the Karla and Bhaja Buddhist caves near Malavli.
Timing matters more than distance. Leave Mumbai before 7 am to clear the city before the rush, or after 11 am. Friday evenings out of Mumbai and Sunday evenings back are the worst times on the ghat. Tolls at Khalapur and Talegaon, plus Atal Setu if used, are billed at actual cost; every car carries FASTag.
A city worth a day: what to see in Pune
- Shaniwar Wada. The fortified palace of the Peshwas, built in 1732, of which the massive stone walls and gateways survive. An evening sound-and-light show retells its history.
- Lal Mahal. Nearby, a reconstruction of the palace where the young Shivaji spent his early years.
- Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati. Pune's best-loved Ganesh temple, glittering with gold, open late into the night. The city's Ganeshotsav, which Lokmanya Tilak turned into a public festival in the 1890s, is the biggest event of the year.
- Aga Khan Palace. Where Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai were interned from 1942 to 1944; Kasturba and Mahadev Desai's memorials are in the grounds, and the museum rooms are moving in their simplicity.
- Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum. One man's collection of everyday Indian objects: lamps, locks, musical instruments, betel-nut cutters and much more.
- Pataleshwar cave temple. An 8th-century rock-cut Shiva shrine right in the middle of the city on Jangli Maharaj Road.
- Parvati hill. A climb of about a hundred steps to Peshwa-era temples and a view over the city.
- Koregaon Park. Leafy lanes, cafes, the Osho meditation resort and the city's dining scene.
The Pune Municipal Corporation website and the Pune district website list civic information, festival arrangements and heritage sites.
Who drives up to Pune, and how we plan for each
Students and parents. Every June and July, and again at the start of each term, families drive up from Mumbai with trunks, buckets and mattresses for hostels near Fergusson College, the university, Symbiosis in Viman Nagar or the engineering colleges around Hinjewadi. An Innova Crysta or Ertiga with a roof carrier is usually the right size; tell us the college and hostel so the driver can plan the approach and unloading point.
IT and manufacturing professionals. Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Magarpatta, Chakan and Talegaon draw a daily stream of visitors from Mumbai. For these trips punctuality matters more than scenery, so we plan an early start, the fastest entry into the city, and a car that waits outside the office while you work.
Families at functions. Pune weddings and thread ceremonies fill hotels in Koregaon Park, Baner and Wakad through the winter. A Tempo Traveller keeps relatives together between the venue, the hotel and the station.
Patients and caregivers. Pune's large hospitals attract patients from across the state. A comfortable car, a calm driver and a flexible return time make these journeys much less stressful.
Day trips from Pune by car
- Sinhagad fort (about 35 km). The hill fort of Tanaji Malusare's legendary 1670 assault, with pithla-bhakri stalls at the top and wide views of the Khadakwasla dam. Weekend mornings are crowded.
- Lavasa and Mulshi (50 to 60 km). Lakes and green hills, glorious in the monsoon.
- Lonavala and Khandala (65 km). Viewpoints, Karla and Bhaja caves and chikki shops.
- Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani (100 to 120 km). Strawberries, viewpoints and the Krishna's source temple; see Mahabaleshwar by road.
- Shirdi (about 185 km) for pilgrims; see the Pune to Shirdi taxi.
Which season suits the trip
October to February is the most comfortable time in Pune, with sunny days and cool nights; December mornings can drop close to 10 degrees. The Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival of Hindustani classical music usually takes place in December. March to May grows hot in the afternoons, though evenings stay bearable. The monsoon from June to September is the season for the ghats: the Expressway climb, Sinhagad, Mulshi and Lavasa turn intensely green, but drives take longer and landslides occasionally close ghat roads. Ganeshotsav in August or September transforms the old city with pandals and processions; roads in the peth areas close for the immersion day.
RutzIndia.com services and fares for Pune
- Mumbai to Pune one way from any address, station or either Mumbai airport.
- Pune to Mumbai for your return, flights or appointments.
- Pune airport transfers at Lohegaon, with flight tracking, a name board, and a free wait of one hour on international arrivals or half an hour on domestic ones; sedans within 40 km from Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve.
- Local 8 hours / 80 km in Pune for sightseeing or meetings; our Pune taxi service page lists every package.
- Tempo Travellers for family groups, college trips and corporate offsites; see Tempo Traveller hire in Pune.
- Luxury cars for weddings and executives through luxury car rental in Pune.
| Vehicle | Per km | Mumbai to Pune one way (150 km) | Round trip in a day (300 km) | Pune 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 7,200 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Ertiga / Carens | Rs 42 | Rs 6,300 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 12,600 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 9,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Innova Crysta | Rs 57.6 | Rs 8,550 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 17,100 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 12,600 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Tempo Traveller | Rs 78 | Rs 11,820 Pay Now to Reserve (minimum fare applies) | Rs 23,400 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 19,500 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 37,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
Figures exclude 5% GST. The Expressway tolls, any bridge tolls, parking and permits appear on your bill at the exact amount paid, nothing more. For stays of more than a day with the same car, the chauffeur's night allowance is Rs 1,500, and returns are costed on real kilometres or 250 km per calendar day, whichever is higher. We send cars that are four model years old or newer. Use the online booker to reserve and pay with card or UPI; corporate accounts receive GST invoices. Should you need to call off the trip, there is no charge before the 72-hour mark, 10% between 72 and 48 hours, 50% between 48 and 24 hours, and the full fare after that or for a no-show; the cancellation policy has the details.
A two-day Pune itinerary
Day 1: Mumbai to Pune and the old city (about 170 km). Leave Mumbai at 6.30 am, breakfast at Lonavala, reach Pune by 10. Shaniwar Wada and Lal Mahal, lunch of Maharashtrian thali or misal pav in the peths, Kelkar Museum, and Dagdusheth Ganpati in the evening lights.
Day 2: Aga Khan Palace and Sinhagad (about 90 km). Morning at the Aga Khan Palace, then drive out to Sinhagad for lunch at the top, back via Khadakwasla lake. Evening in Koregaon Park, then home to Mumbai or stay on.
Day 3 (optional): Mahabaleshwar or Lonavala. Continue into the Sahyadri hills, or return to Mumbai via Lonavala's viewpoints. Our Mumbai by road guide covers the city end of the Expressway.
Practical tips
- Traffic in the peths. The old city's lanes are narrow and busy; your chauffeur will drop you close and wait in a permitted spot. Parking charges are billed at actual.
- Weekend forts. Sinhagad and the Lonavala viewpoints are packed on Saturday and Sunday mornings; go on a weekday if you can.
- Monsoon buffers. Allow extra time on the ghat from July to September, especially for flights.
- Food. Misal pav, Puneri mastani (a thick milkshake with ice cream), bakarwadi and shrewsbury biscuits are the local specialities to take home.
- For regular commuters between the two cities, a corporate car rental account simplifies monthly billing.
