Is a cab better than the train from Mumbai to Pune?

A cab is door-to-door, so you skip station transfers and fixed train times. For families, groups, travellers with luggage and airport transfers, Mumbai Pune cabs are usually faster overall and more comfortable than the train.

How long does a Pune Mumbai cab take?

A Pune Mumbai cab usually takes 3 to 3.5 hours for the 148 km Expressway drive. Peak weekend evenings can add 30 to 60 minutes.

What is the cheapest way to book Mumbai Pune cabs?

Book a one-way hatchback with Apollo Cabs, starting at ₹2,700 including toll. You pay only for the direction you travel, with no return fare.

Travel guide

Mumbai Pune Cabs & Pune Mumbai Cabs: The Complete Travel Guide

Everything you need to know before booking Mumbai Pune cabs or Pune Mumbai cabs: the 148 km Expressway route, the best times to travel, popular stops, and fixed fares from ₹2,700 including toll.

Apollo Cabs car on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway during a Mumbai Pune cab trip

The Mumbai Pune cabs route explained

Most Mumbai Pune cabs use the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, India's first six-lane access-controlled expressway. The drive covers about 148 km and usually takes 3 to 3.5 hours door to door. From South Mumbai, drivers use the Eastern Freeway or Sion–Panvel Highway. From the western suburbs, they use the JVLR or the Santacruz–Chembur Link Road to reach Vashi and Panvel.

The route climbs through the Bhor Ghat between Khalapur and Lonavala. In the monsoon this is one of the most scenic drives in Maharashtra, and it's also where an experienced driver matters most. Pune Mumbai cabs follow the same Expressway in reverse, dropping down the ghat towards Panvel before entering Mumbai.

Best time to book Mumbai Pune cabs & Pune Mumbai cabs

For the fastest trip, leave Mumbai before 7 AM or after 8 PM to avoid city traffic. Friday evenings (Mumbai to Pune) and Sunday evenings (Pune to Mumbai) are the busiest times on the Expressway, so book those trips a day ahead.

For airport transfers, allow about 4 hours from Pune to Mumbai Airport T1 or T2. Apollo Cabs drivers track your flight and plan for ghat and toll-plaza delays.

Popular stops on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway

Food Mall and Hotel Kamat near Khalapur are the most popular breakfast and tea breaks. Lonavala and Khandala are known for chikki, fudge and the view from Tiger Point and Rajmachi Point. Apollo Cabs lets you make short refreshment stops at no extra cost. You can also add a longer Lonavala sightseeing detour when you book.

Mumbai Pune cabs fares at a glance

Apollo Cabs charges a fixed fare that includes toll, starting at ₹2,700 one-way for a hatchback and ₹3,000 for a sedan. SUVs, the Innova Crysta and Tempo Travellers are available for families and groups. There's no meter and no surge pricing, and you confirm the full fare before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cab better than the train from Mumbai to Pune?: A cab is door-to-door, so you skip station transfers and fixed train times. For families, groups, travellers with luggage and airport transfers, Mumbai Pune cabs are usually faster overall and more comfortable than the train.
How long does a Pune Mumbai cab take?: A Pune Mumbai cab usually takes 3 to 3.5 hours for the 148 km Expressway drive. Peak weekend evenings can add 30 to 60 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to book Mumbai Pune cabs?: Book a one-way hatchback with Apollo Cabs, starting at ₹2,700 including toll. You pay only for the direction you travel, with no return fare.