India’s Expressway Boom Has Changed Road Trips Forever
If you still think Indian road trips mean dodging potholes on two-lane highways, it is time to update your mental map. Over the past three years, India has commissioned over 5,000 kilometres of world-class expressways — smooth, six-lane corridors that have slashed travel times and opened up destinations that once felt painfully far away.
From the Samruddhi Mahamarg cutting across Maharashtra to the nearly complete Amritsar-Jamnagar corridor, 2026 is shaping up as the golden year for driving holidays in India. Whether you are behind the wheel of an SUV or testing your new EV’s highway range, these routes deserve a spot on your travel calendar.
Top Expressway Road Trips to Take This Year
1. Mumbai to Nagpur via Samruddhi Mahamarg (701 km)
The Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is no longer just an engineering headline — it is a genuine road trip corridor. The full 701-km stretch now connects Mumbai to Nagpur in roughly eight hours, a journey that previously consumed 12 to 14 hours.
What makes it special for travellers is not just the speed. The route passes through the Ajanta-Ellora belt near Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), the orange orchards of Vidarbha, and the tiger country near Tadoba. Pack a weekend bag and plan stops at Shirdi, Lonar Crater Lake, and Pench National Park on the way.
- Toll estimate: ₹1,500–₹1,800 one way for a car
- Best time: October to March, though the monsoon greenery along Vidarbha is stunning
- EV-friendly: Charging stations available at roughly 100-km intervals
2. Delhi to Jaipur via NH-48 Expressway (280 km)
The Delhi-Jaipur stretch on NH-48 has been a favourite for years, but recent upgrades have made it smoother than ever. You can now cover the distance in under three hours, leaving plenty of daylight to explore Jaipur or detour to Neemrana Fort for a heritage lunch.
Extend the trip into a loop — drive from Jaipur to Pushkar (150 km), then on to Ranthambore (160 km) for a tiger safari, before heading back to Delhi via Agra. The full loop covers about 900 km and fills a perfect long weekend.
- Toll estimate: ₹800–₹1,000 (Delhi to Jaipur one way)
- Must stop: Neemrana Fort Palace, Bhangarh Fort, Abhaneri Stepwell
- Fuel tip: Fill up at the Manesar cluster where fuel prices tend to be slightly lower
3. Bengaluru to Goa via NH-748 (560 km)
This route has benefited enormously from highway upgrades through Karnataka. What was once a gruelling 10-hour slog through narrow hill roads is now a comfortable seven-hour drive through the Western Ghats. The stretch between Chitradurga and Hubli is particularly scenic, and the descent into Goa through the Chorla Ghats remains one of India’s most beautiful drives.
For a twist, skip North Goa’s crowded beaches and head straight to Agonda or Palolem in the south. Midweek rates at beachside shacks drop to as low as ₹2,000 per night in the off-season.
- Toll estimate: ₹600–₹900
- Monsoon alert: Ghat sections can get tricky in heavy rain — check conditions before July drives
- Detour: Jog Falls near Shimoga is a three-hour side trip that rewards monsoon travellers
4. Lucknow to Varanasi via Purvanchal Expressway (340 km)
The Purvanchal Expressway has been a revelation for eastern Uttar Pradesh. The 340-km, six-lane highway connects Lucknow to the cultural heartland of Varanasi in about four hours. The road surface is excellent and traffic is still relatively light compared to older NH routes.
Use Varanasi as your base and add Sarnath, Chunar Fort, and even a boat ride at the Ganga ghats to your itinerary. On the return leg, stop at Ayodhya, which has seen a surge in visitor infrastructure since 2024.
- Toll estimate: ₹700–₹900
- Cultural tip: Time your arrival for the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
- Food stop: Sultanpur district is famous for its roadside makkhan malai in winter
5. Hyderabad to Vijayawada via NH-65 (275 km)
This compact route is ideal for a day trip or a short weekend escape. The highway quality between these two Telugu-speaking cities is consistently good, and the drive takes around three and a half hours. Vijayawada offers Kanaka Durga Temple, Prakasam Barrage, and the spectacular Undavalli Caves carved into hillside rock.
Adventure seekers can continue to Amaravati (30 km further) to see the ongoing capital development and ancient Buddhist sites, or head to Kondapalli for its famous toy-making village.
- Toll estimate: ₹400–₹500
- Best for: Weekend warriors who want culture without a long drive
Planning Tips for Expressway Road Trips in 2026
Modern expressways have made driving holidays far more accessible, but smart planning still makes the difference between a great trip and a stressful one.
- FASTag is mandatory: Ensure your FASTag is active and has sufficient balance. Most expressways are fully electronic tolling with no cash lanes.
- Download offline maps: Cell coverage can be patchy on newer stretches. Google Maps and MapmyIndia both support offline downloads for Indian highways.
- Check your tyres: Expressway speeds of 100–120 km/h demand properly inflated, well-treaded tyres. A blowout at those speeds is no joke.
- Carry a basic emergency kit: Jumper cables, a reflective triangle, a torch, and a first-aid box. Roadside assistance is improving but not yet reliable on every corridor.
- EV drivers, plan your charges: Apps like Kazam and Tata EV Charging Network now show real-time charger availability on major expressways. Aim to charge at 20% rather than waiting until you are nearly empty.
- Budget wisely: Between tolls, fuel, and food, a 500-km expressway trip typically costs ₹4,000–₹6,000 for a mid-size car. Still far cheaper than flights for a family of four.
The Road Ahead
India is expected to add another 4,000 kilometres of expressways by 2028, including the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Expressway’s full completion and the Chennai-Bengaluru corridor. For travellers, this means destinations that once required flights or overnight trains will soon be a comfortable half-day drive away.
The Indian road trip is no longer about endurance — it is about enjoyment. Pick an expressway, load up a playlist, pack some snacks, and discover a side of India that airports simply cannot show you. The open road has never looked this good.
