A short distance, an unpredictable hour count
Islamabad sits at roughly 500 m above sea level; Murree's Mall Road sits at around 2,300 m. The road between them covers only 60–70 km, but it climbs nearly 1,800 m through switchbacks, a tollway, and one of Pakistan's most visited weekend corridors — which means the kilometre count tells you almost nothing about how long the trip will actually take.
Expressway or Old Murree Road
There are two practical ways up. Most drivers should default to the expressway and only take the old road on purpose — for the scenery, or to stop in Bhurban along the way.
Murree Expressway
- Typical drive time
- 55–80 min
- Road surface
- Wide, smooth, two lanes each way
- Toll
- Charged per vehicle class
- Traffic risk
- Low midweek, heavy Fri–Sun afternoons
- Best for
- Families, first-time drivers, time pressure
Old Murree Road
- Typical drive time
- 1.5–2.5 hrs
- Road surface
- Narrow, winding, frequent hairpins
- Toll
- None
- Traffic risk
- Bottlenecks at Bhurban and Ghora Gali
- Best for
- Confident drivers, photo stops, no rush
The checkpoints, in order
Rawalpindi Saddar
The conventional starting line for travellers coming from the Pindi side. Fuel up and grab snacks here — prices climb steadily past this point.
Faizabad Interchange
Where Islamabad and Rawalpindi traffic merges before the climb begins. Expect a slowdown here on weekday evenings regardless of season.
Express Chowk, Bhara Kahu
The decision point. Continue straight onto the Murree Expressway, or bear right for the Old Murree Road through Bhurban. Once you commit, U-turns are difficult.
Bhurban
Only on the old road. Home to the PC Bhurban golf course and hotel, and the most natural rest stop on that route — washrooms, food, and a view back down the valley.
Tret / Kuldana
The pine forest thickens and the air noticeably cools from here. Roadside stalls sell corn on the cob and seasonal fruit — a good stretch-the-legs stop.
Patriata turn-off
The exit for New Murree's chairlift and cable car. A worthwhile detour of roughly 7 km each way if you have an extra hour.
Murree, GPO Chowk
Journey's end. Mall Road is pedestrian-heavy and parking is scarce — plan where you'll leave the car before you arrive, not after.
Travel time by day and season
| When you leave | Expressway | Old Murree Road | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday, morning | 55–80 min | 1.5–2 hrs | The most predictable window of the week |
| Weekday, evening | 1.5–2 hrs | 2–2.5 hrs | Return traffic from Murree builds after 4pm |
| Friday afternoon | 2–3 hrs | 3+ hrs | The single worst departure window of the week |
| Weekend / public holiday | 2.5–4 hrs | 3.5–4.5 hrs | Toll plaza queues alone can run 30–45 min |
| Monsoon (Jul–Aug) | +30–60 min | +60–90 min | Landslip risk and fog on the old road |
| Snowfall (Dec–Feb) | Variable | Often closed | Check road status before leaving — see below |
Transport options compared
| Option | Approx. cost | Travel time | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own car / rental | Fuel + toll, ~140 km round trip | 55 min – 4 hrs | Most flexible; parking in Murree is the real cost |
| Ride-hailing (Careem, InDrive) | Rs 2,500–4,500 one way | Same as private car | Surge pricing kicks in hard on weekend afternoons |
| Hired car with driver | Rs 6,000–9,000 return | Same as private car | Negotiate a fixed return rate up front, including wait time |
| Public van / coaster | Rs 150–300 one way | 1.5–2.5 hrs | Departs from Pir Wadhai or Faizabad; cheapest but crowded |
| Motorbike | Fuel only | 1–1.5 hrs | Fine in clear weather; avoid in fog, rain or snow |
Fares are illustrative and shift with fuel prices and season — confirm current rates before booking.
Scenic stops worth the detour
Monal viewpoint
A clifftop dinner stop overlooking the Margalla valley, just off the expressway approach.
Golf course & valley view
The only flat, open stretch on the whole route — a natural place to stretch and eat.
New Murree chairlift
Cable car and chairlift rides over the pine ridgeline — popular with families, lines build by midday.
Panoramic viewpoint
The clearest vantage in Murree on a good day — best visited early morning before the haze sets in.
Ropeway & cable car
A quieter alternative to Mall Road, with a short ropeway down into the valley.
The main bazaar
Cafés, handicraft shops and the GPO Chowk landmark — best walked, not driven.
Best time for the drive, by season
Summer · Apr–Jun
The classic heat-escape season. Roads are clear of snow but at their busiest — leave at dawn on weekends.
Monsoon · Jul–Aug
Heaviest rainfall of the year. Watch for landslip on the old road and reduced visibility on the expressway.
Autumn · Sep–Nov
Widely considered the best driving window — clear skies, cool air, and noticeably thinner weekend traffic.
Winter · Dec–Feb
Snowfall is the draw and the risk in equal measure. Carry chains, check road status, and avoid driving after dark.
What to pack
Every trip
- Cash, in small notes — toll booths and parking rarely give change
- Water and snacks for the climb
- Power bank and charging cable
- Basic first aid kit and any regular medication
- A light jacket, even in summer — evenings cool fast at altitude
Seasonal extras
- Winter — gloves, an ice scraper, and tyre chains if snow is forecast
- Monsoon — a compact umbrella and a waterproof bag cover
- Summer — sunscreen and sunglasses for the open expressway stretch
- Any season — a printed or downloaded hotel confirmation, in case signal drops
Safety notes for the mountain stretch
Have brakes and tyres checked beforehand
The descent does more damage than the climb — worn brake pads are the most common cause of breakdowns on this route.
Use a low gear going downhill
Ride the engine, not the brakes, on the switchbacks below Bhurban and Tret to avoid overheating.
Never overtake on a blind curve
Visibility on the old road's hairpins is often under 20 metres — assume oncoming traffic is always there.
Check road status before a winter departure
Snow can close sections of the old road with little notice. Confirm conditions before you commit to the drive.
Don't stop on a hairpin shoulder
Pull fully into a marked viewpoint or layby — parked cars on blind bends are a leading cause of minor collisions here.