Mumbai to Pune by Cab: Expressway Timing, Choosing a Car and Planning the Return

A Mumbai to Pune cab is one of the simplest outstation trips you can book: about 150 km, mostly on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, and usually about 3 to 3.5 hours door to door. The word "usually" is doing a lot of work there. Where you start in Mumbai, where you are going in Pune and the time you leave can each add an hour, so a little planning goes a long way.

The drive in four stretches

1. Getting out of Mumbai. From South Mumbai or the western suburbs, the first part of the trip runs through city traffic towards Sion, Chembur and Vashi, and on a weekday morning it is often the slowest part of the whole journey. Starting from Navi Mumbai or Thane, you skip much of it.
2. The expressway plains. The expressway begins at Kalamboli, near Panvel, and runs wide and quick towards Khalapur. The food courts along this stretch are a common place to stop for tea and a washroom break.
3. The ghat. Between Khopoli and Lonavala the road climbs the Western Ghats. Heavy vehicles slow down on the climb, and in the monsoon the ghat can be wrapped in fog and rain, so everyone drives more carefully.
4. Into Pune. The expressway ends on the Mumbai side of Pune, near Dehu Road. Wakad, Hinjewadi and Baner are close to that end, while Kharadi, Viman Nagar, Hadapsar or Kondhwa mean crossing the city, which can take longer than you expect at office hours.

When to leave

On a weekday, the most comfortable window is early: leave before the morning rush builds and you reach the expressway on clear roads. Mid-morning to early afternoon is usually workable too. Leaving in the evening rush means sitting in Mumbai traffic before the expressway even begins.

Weekends have their own pattern. Friday evenings are busy going out of Mumbai as people head off for the weekend, and Sunday evenings are busy coming back. Long weekends make both worse. If you have a fixed time in Pune, such as an interview, an exam or a flight from Pune airport, allow at least an extra hour on top of the usual estimate. Traffic on the day always has the final say.

Which car for the Pune run

Three to four hours is long enough for comfort to matter, but short enough that most people do not need a big car.

• Solo, or a couple with cabin bags: a hatchback is fine.
• Up to four people, or two with large suitcases: a sedan, for its separate boot.
• A family of five or six: an Ertiga, or an Innova or Marazzo if there is a lot of luggage.
• Elderly passengers, or a long day ahead after you arrive: the Innova Crysta, for the extra legroom.
• A group going to a wedding or an offsite: the Tempo Traveller seats sixteen and keeps everyone together.

Planning the return

Back the same day

If you are going for a meeting or a family visit and coming home that evening, a round trip keeps the same car and driver with you all day, so there is nothing to arrange in Pune. A round trip is billed per kilometre against a daily minimum distance, plus a driver allowance, and you see all of it before you pay. Compare that total with two one-way fares; if your day includes running around Pune between stops, the round trip is usually the simpler choice. Our round trip page explains how it works.

Back after a few days

If you are staying in Pune for a few days, a round trip means paying for the car's days while you are not using it. Two one-way bookings usually make more sense here, because you pay only for each direction you actually travel. Book the return once your plans are firm.

Flying out of Mumbai on the way back

If you are coming back from Pune to catch a flight, check whether your ticket says BOM or NMI, note the terminal, and leave a generous margin. The roads around the airport are often slower than the expressway itself. Our Mumbai airport taxi page has more on airport drops.

Before you set off

• Put your exact Pune address in the booking notes, with the society name and the nearest landmark.
• Check the fare breakdown to see whether toll is included. The expressway is a tolled road.
• If anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, carry water and a light snack for the ghat.
• In the monsoon, add time for the ghat rather than expecting the driver to make it up on the road.
• If you are carrying more than one large suitcase per person, choose the next size of car up.

Pune is close enough for a day trip and far enough that a bad start can spoil the day. Pick your departure time with the traffic in mind, choose a car for your luggage as well as your group, and decide early whether you need the car to wait for you or simply to drop you. When you are ready, the Mumbai to Pune cab page shows the cars and fixed fares for your date.