How to Reach Dehradun: Flights, Trains & Scenic Road Trips
Flying, training or driving up from Delhi? Here's every way to reach Dehradun (Jolly Grant airport, the overnight trains, the new expressway) with times, tips and what to do when you arrive.
Sanchit · Starfish Homestays · 24 June 2026 · Updated 28 July 2026 · 3 min readIn short
Three ways to reach Dehradun: fly into Jolly Grant Airport (DED, ~35-45 minutes from the city, direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and more), take a train to Dehradun station right in the city centre (overnight and Shatabdi options from Delhi), or drive from Delhi in roughly 5-6 hours via the expressway. For most first-timers, the train into the heart of the city is the easiest arrival.
Dehradun is one of the easiest hill-gateway cities to reach in North India. It has its own airport, sits on the main railway line, and is a straight shot up from Delhi by road. Whichever way you come, you arrive in the cool of the Doon valley with Mussoorie and Rishikesh on your doorstep. Here's every option, with honest travel times and tips for landing smoothly.
By air: Jolly Grant Airport (DED)
Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport (DED) sits about 25 km southeast of the city, roughly a 45-minute drive. There are daily direct flights from Delhi (under an hour) plus seasonal and growing connections from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. It's the fastest way in if you're coming from beyond the NCR.
- From the airport: prepaid taxis and app cabs run into the city; allow 45-60 minutes to Canal Road or Rajpur Road.
- Tip: flights are weather-sensitive in peak monsoon (July-August), so keep a buffer if you're connecting.
By train: into the heart of the city
Dehradun is the northern terminus of the line, and the railway station is right in the city centre near the Clock Tower, so you step off the train and you're already in town, not stuck on the outskirts. From Delhi the favourites are the Dehradun Shatabdi (a comfortable ~6-hour day train from New Delhi), the Nanda Devi AC Express (overnight) and the Jan Shatabdi. Trains also run from Kolkata, Lucknow, Varanasi and beyond.
An overnight train is the classic, budget-friendly way to arrive: sleep through the plains and wake up to the foothills. Book AC classes well ahead in summer and the wedding season, when seats vanish fast.
By road: the drive from Delhi
Dehradun is around 230 km from Delhi, and the new Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is dramatically cutting what used to be a long six-hour slog. The drive is now far quicker and smoother for a self-drive or cab. If you're driving, leave early to dodge the morning exit out of Delhi and stop for a paratha break along the way.
Prefer not to drive? Volvo and AC buses run frequently from Delhi's ISBT Kashmere Gate to Dehradun's ISBT, and shared cabs are easy to find. Buses are the cheapest option and surprisingly comfortable on the overnight runs.
Getting around once you're here
Dehradun is easy on the ground: auto-rickshaws, app cabs (Ola/Uber) and Vikram shared autos cover the city, and most of what you'll want (cafés, the Clock Tower, Paltan Bazaar) is a short hop apart. For Mussoorie, Rishikesh and the treks, hire a cab for the day or ask us to arrange a reliable driver.
Which way should you come?
- Fastest from far away → fly into Jolly Grant (DED).
- Most scenic & relaxed from Delhi → the overnight train, wake up in the hills.
- Most flexible / travelling as a group → drive up the expressway or take a Volvo.
However you arrive, the Doon valley rewards you the moment you're in: cooler, greener and calmer than the plains. Sort your base first with our guide to where to stay in Dehradun, then browse all our homestays and check live availability. See you in the hills.
Quick answers
- How do I reach Dehradun from Delhi?
- The three options are: drive or bus up the Delhi-Dehradun route in roughly 5-6 hours, take a train (the overnight Nanda Devi Express or a daytime Shatabdi into Dehradun station), or fly to Jolly Grant Airport in under an hour. The train is the most relaxed; the road gives you flexibility for stops.
- Which airport is closest to Dehradun?
- Jolly Grant Airport (DED) is Dehradun's own airport, about 25 km southeast of the city, a 35-45 minute drive to central areas like Rajpur Road and Canal Road. It has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and several other Indian cities.
- Is the Dehradun railway station close to the city centre?
- Yes. Dehradun station sits at the foot of Paltan Bazaar, right in the heart of the city. Most homestays and hotels in Canal Road or Rajpur Road are a 10-20 minute cab ride from the platforms.
Written by Sanchit, founder & host at Starfish Homestays
Sanchit lives in Dehradun and runs all six Starfish homes. Every guide in The Doon Journal comes from hosting real guests in the valley and answering their questions on WhatsApp, week after week.
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