Islamabad to Peshawar by Road: Travel Guide

Many people travel between Islamabad and Peshawar: students going home, office workers visiting family, and people going to weddings and Eid. Thanks to the M-1 motorway, it is a short and easy drive.

This guide covers the distance, the road, how long it takes, what it costs in petrol, and simple tips for the trip.

The route in short

The fastest way between the two cities is the M-1 motorway. It runs from Islamabad to Peshawar and is 155 km long. It opened in 2007.

Add the city roads at each end, from the centre of Islamabad to the motorway and from the motorway into Peshawar, and most trips are about 185 km. Your own distance depends on where you start and stop; your phone’s map app will tell you exactly.

The motorway has 10 service areas, five on each side, where you can stop for petrol, food, prayer and toilets.

How long does it take?

Most people make the trip in about 2 to 3 hours. What changes the time:

• City traffic. Getting out of Islamabad and into Peshawar can take longer than the motorway itself at busy times.
• Stops. A tea or prayer break at a service area adds 15 to 30 minutes.
• Weather. In winter, thick fog can make driving slow. The Motorway Police sometimes close parts of the motorway in heavy fog.

The speed limit for cars on motorways is 120 km/h.

What does it cost in petrol?

For about 185 km in a car that does 12 km per litre, you need about 15.4 litres. At PKR 393.64 a litre (the price from 6 October 2026), that is about PKR 6,069 one way.

Here is how sharing changes the cost for each person:

The motorway also has a toll. Toll rates change from time to time, so check before you leave and agree with your passengers whether it is shared too.

Want to work it out for your own car? See how to work out the fuel cost of a road trip.

Ways to travel

• Drive yourself. The most freedom, but you pay all the fuel and tolls alone.
• Carpool. Share a car with others going the same way. You split the fuel, and you can agree on a pickup point that suits you.
• Intercity coach. Coaches run between the two cities at fixed times from their bus terminals.

Tips for the trip

• Leave early or late. Leaving the city before the morning rush, or after the evening rush, saves time.
• Fill up before you start, or plan to stop at a service area. Don’t wait until the tank is nearly empty.
• Check the weather in winter. If there is fog, check the news or call the Motorway Police on 130 before you set off.
• Keep cash and your ID card with you. You may need cash on the way, and checkpoints on intercity roads may ask for your ID card (CNIC).
• Take breaks. If you are driving, stop at a service area if you feel tired.

Carpooling between Islamabad and Peshawar

This route is a good one for carpooling. It is short, people often make the same trip at similar times, such as weekends, and the cost becomes small when it is shared.

• Plan ahead for holidays: many people travel just before and after Eid and long weekends, so book or post your ride early.
• Agree on the pickup: a known, busy place such as a petrol station or a main road is better than a home address.
• Agree on the price per seat before the day, and whether the toll is included.

Before you travel with someone new, read is carpooling safe in Pakistan? for simple checks to do before and during the trip.

Going further? See our guide to Lahore to Islamabad by road.