Rent a Car from Karachi to Islamabad with a Driver
Rent a car from Karachi to Islamabad with a professional driver, from your door in Karachi to your door in Islamabad or Rawalpindi. Karachi to Islamabad is roughly 1,365 to 1,480 km and 16 to 20 hours of driving. We plan it over two days, with a night in Sukkur or Multan, and drive it in both directions.
The route: M-9, N-5, M-5, M-4 and M-2
The M-9 runs from Karachi to Hyderabad. The N-5 National Highway then takes you to Sukkur, the only long stretch that is not motorway. From Sukkur the M-5 runs 392 km to Multan. The M-4 then covers 309 km through Faisalabad to Pindi Bhattian. There the M-2 turns north-west for Islamabad, climbing into the Salt Range at Kallar Kahar.
Two days on the road, or three
Stop in Sukkur, about six and a half hours from Karachi, and day two is the long one: roughly nine and a half hours, all of it on motorway. Push on to Multan, about 12 hours from Karachi, and day two shrinks to about six hours on the M-4 and the M-2. With small children, three easier days may suit you better, with nights in Sukkur and Multan, or in Sukkur and Faisalabad. The driver's room and meals for each night are included.
Stops on the way: Sukkur, Uch, Multan and Khewra
You can stop at the Lansdowne Bridge in Sukkur and the tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan. On the M-5, the Uch Sharif interchange is the turning for the tomb of Bibi Jawindi. On the M-2, the Lilla interchange is the turning for the Khewra Salt Mine, about 30 km off the motorway. Tell us which stops you want when you book and we will build them into the days.
Which car for 1,400 km
Four passengers travel well in a Toyota Corolla Altis Grande or Honda Civic, and the Toyota Corolla GLi / XLi is the lower-cost option. The Toyota Prado seats six and the Toyota Land Cruiser seven; both suit the mountain roads if you carry on north. For a large family or team there is the Toyota Grand Cabin for a family group, and for a bigger group a Toyota Coaster 4C with its layout confirmed.
How the Karachi to Islamabad trip is quoted
We quote the route as a single trip: one-way, a return, or with the car kept for days or a tour at the far end. Pay by cash, card, bank transfer or online payment; companies can be invoiced monthly. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the first pickup. If the car breaks down anywhere along the 1,400 km, we send another.
Karachi to Islamabad by road, section by section
| Section | Distance | Road | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karachi to Sukkur | about 470 km | M-9, then the N-5 | about 6.5 hours |
| Sukkur to Multan | 392 km | M-5 | about 3.5 hours |
| Multan to Islamabad | about 540 km | M-4 to Pindi Bhattian, then the M-2 through the Salt Range | about 6 hours |
| Karachi to Islamabad in all | about 1,365 to 1,480 km | M-9, N-5, M-5, M-4, M-2 | 16 to 20 hours of driving over two days |
Cars for the trip
Questions people ask
How long does it take to drive from Karachi to Islamabad?
Roughly 16 to 20 hours of driving, depending on the route and the traffic, which is why we plan it over two days.
How far is Islamabad from Karachi by road?
About 1,365 to 1,480 km, depending on the exact route and where you start and finish.
Can I book a one-way trip from Islamabad or Rawalpindi to Karachi?
Yes. We pick up from any sector in Islamabad, any address in Rawalpindi or Islamabad International Airport, and drive you to your address in Karachi or to Jinnah International. If you have a flight to catch, send its departure time and the second day is planned back from it, with a margin for Karachi traffic.
Is it better to fly or drive from Karachi to Islamabad?
For one or two people with light luggage, flying is quicker: about two hours in the air and around four hours door to door. Driving suits a family or group sharing one vehicle, heavy luggage, stops on the way, or keeping the car and driver for a northern tour. You can also fly and have a car and driver waiting at Islamabad airport.
Can the same car and driver take us on to Murree or the northern areas?
Yes. Murree is about 64 km up the Murree Expressway, roughly an hour and a half, and the roads to Naran, Swat, Hunza and Skardu start from the capital. Tell us the full plan when you book, and the drive up from Karachi and the tour are quoted together.
Does winter fog or summer heat affect the drive?
Yes: in December and January, dense fog can close parts of the M-2 and the M-4 for hours. Motorway police say fog travel is generally possible from 10 am to 6 pm, so we time the Punjab stretch for those hours, with spare time. In summer, the heat in upper Sindh makes an early start on the N-5 the better plan.
How do fuel and tolls work on this trip?
Fuel is charged per kilometre at the rate in your quote, or you refill the tank each evening. Motorway tolls are extra.
Book your car
WhatsApp +92 311 2847167 with your start date, both addresses, passengers and bags, your overnight stop and whether the car goes on north, and we will send your quote.
Related
- all our intercity routes
- car with a driver for your days in Islamabad
- car hire with a driver in Rawalpindi
- fly instead and find a car at Islamabad airport
- Karachi to Multan, the first day's drive
- Lahore to Islamabad on the M-2
- a car and driver in Multan if you break the trip there
- northern areas tour with the same car and driver
- a stop at the Khewra Salt Mine
- Toyota Prado for six passengers and the mountain roads
- plan your Karachi to Islamabad trip