Dehradun Airport to Rishikesh, Haridwar and Mussoorie: Distances and Transfers

Jolly Grant, the airport for Dehradun, is not in Dehradun. It sits on the Rishikesh side of the city, near Doiwala, which surprises many first-time visitors: Rishikesh is the closest of the towns people fly in for, Dehradun city is farther than its name suggests, and Mussoorie is a two-hour climb. Knowing which way you are heading before you land saves time at the taxi counter and decides where you should book your first night.

Distances from Dehradun airport, at a glance

Times are for a normal day. Allow more on weekends, on festival days in Haridwar and Rishikesh, and in the summer and Christmas holidays on the Mussoorie road, when the last stretch into the town slows to a crawl.

Getting out of the airport

The simplest way out is a taxi. There is a pre-paid taxi counter in the arrivals hall with fixed fares to the main towns, and app cabs also work from the airport, though their availability changes through the day. For a family, a group with luggage, or a late flight, booking a car in advance through your hotel is the calmest option: the driver waits with your name and you are not bargaining in the car park. Buses do run on the main road outside the airport, between Dehradun and Rishikesh and Haridwar, but they are a walk away and not practical with heavy bags.

Dehradun airport to Rishikesh

This is the shortest transfer, about 20 km through Bhaniyawala, and the reason so many travellers base themselves in Rishikesh for a first night. Tell the driver which side of the river you are staying on: Tapovan and Laxman Jhula are on the north of the town, Muni ki Reti and Ram Jhula in the middle, and cars cannot cross the footbridges, so the drop point matters. See hotels in Rishikesh for the areas and verified stays.

Dehradun airport to Haridwar

Haridwar is about 35 km south, usually an hour by road. On Ganga snan days and during the Kumbh, traffic plans close the roads near Har Ki Pauri to cars and the drive takes much longer, so check the day's arrangements and book a hotel your car can actually reach. Our hotels in Haridwar page compares the areas, from the ghats to the Rishikesh road.

Dehradun airport to Dehradun city

Dehradun's centre, the Clock Tower and Rajpur Road, is about 25 to 30 km away through Doiwala and Harrawala, and the drive takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on the city's traffic. The ISBT and the railway station are on the near side of town. Business travellers often stay on Rajpur Road; families heading for Mussoorie next morning often stay on the Mussoorie road side. See hotels in Dehradun.

Dehradun airport to Mussoorie

Mussoorie is the long one: about 60 km, through Dehradun and up the hill road past Kuthal Gate, around two hours in good traffic. If your flight lands in the evening, consider a night in Dehradun and the climb next morning, because the hill road is slower and harder in the dark and the town's own roads are narrow. Ask your hotel how close a car can come; some Mall Road hotels are reached on foot from the nearest parking. Our hotels in Mussoorie page covers Mall Road, Landour and the Kempty road.

Going on to the Char Dham

For the Char Dham, the airport is a good start. Rishikesh is the natural first night for Badrinath and Kedarnath, and the routes north begin from there; for Yamunotri and Gangotri, many people go up over Mussoorie towards Barkot instead. Our Char Dham route guide sets out the order and the night halts.