A Grand Trunk Road trip from Lahore to Peshawar swaps the M-2 motorway for the older N-5, the road that has carried traffic across northern Pakistan for centuries, past Rohtas Fort, Taxila and Attock. The whole route runs about 905 km, but the point of driving it this way isn't speed: it's stopping at places the motorway bypasses entirely.
This guide sets out where the GT Road goes, what's worth stopping for, and how many days to give it. If you'd rather have this route built around your own dates, our trip planner can put it together.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Route | Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Nowshera, Peshawar |
| Total length | About 905 km |
| Key heritage stops | Rohtas Fort (near Jhelum), Taxila (near Islamabad), Attock Fort |
| Suggested length | 2 to 3 days, driving the older road rather than the motorway |
| Note | Slower than the M-2/M-1 motorway route; plan for stops, not for time saved |
The route
The N-5 leaves Lahore and runs through Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lalamusa and Kharian to Jhelum, then on to Rawalpindi, where it turns west through Attock Khurd, crosses the Indus, and continues through Nowshera to Peshawar. It parallels the M-2 and M-1 motorways for most of its length rather than replacing them, which is exactly why it works as a heritage drive: the motorway gets you there fast, and the GT Road gets you there with the country in view.
Rohtas Fort, near Jhelum
About 16 km northwest of Jhelum, near Dina and just south of the GT Road itself, Rohtas Fort was built in the 16th century by Sher Shah Suri and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its scale and its place in the region's military architecture. It's open daily from 8am to 6:30pm. The fort's perimeter walls run for kilometres, with dozens of bastions, and it rewards an hour or two rather than a drive-by stop. Our Rohtas Fort guide has more detail on the site.
Taxila, near Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Taxila sits roughly 30 to 35 km northwest of Islamabad, just off the GT Road, and is one of the most significant Buddhist and Gandhara-era archaeological sites in the region, with ruins spread across several excavated areas and a museum holding finds from them. Plan an hour for the museum and longer if you want to see more than one of the surrounding sites, such as Jaulian; our Taxila Museum guide covers what's on display.
Attock Fort and the Indus crossing
Attock Fort, built under Akbar in the 1580s to guard the Indus crossing, sits where the road meets the river at Attock Khurd, about 80 km from Islamabad. It's still a military site and closed to visitors inside, but the fort and the historic crossing point are visible from the Attock Bridge, and the setting, where the Kabul and Indus rivers meet, is worth the stop even without going in.
Suggested pace
Two to three days suits this drive better than trying to do it in one long push, which defeats the point of choosing the slower road in the first place.
- Day 1: Lahore to Rohtas Fort, then on to Rawalpindi or Islamabad. Stop properly at Rohtas rather than treating it as a quick photo stop, then continue to a base in Rawalpindi or Islamabad for the night.
- Day 2: Taxila, then Attock, then on towards Peshawar. Taxila in the morning, Attock Fort and the Indus crossing in the early afternoon, then the final stretch through Nowshera into Peshawar, or an overnight short of it if you'd rather not arrive after dark.
- Day 3 (optional): Peshawar itself, or the return journey, this time by motorway if you'd rather make faster progress home.
GT Road versus the motorway
The M-2 and M-1 motorways cover the same corridor faster and with fewer stops for fuel and food. The GT Road is slower, passes directly through town centres and market traffic in places, and needs more patience, in exchange for direct access to Rohtas, Taxila and Attock, none of which sit on the motorway route. If your priority is simply getting from Lahore to Peshawar, take the motorway; if the drive itself is the point, take the GT Road.
Is it worth doing the whole route, or just a section?
For most travellers, the Lahore-to-Islamabad section, taking in Rohtas and continuing to Taxila, is the most rewarding part and can be done as a long day trip or an overnight. Continuing all the way to Peshawar adds real history at Attock but also adds a full extra day of driving and, as covered below, the current security picture around Peshawar. Treat the Lahore–Islamabad stretch as the core of the trip and the Peshawar leg as optional.
Is it safe to drive all the way to Peshawar?
As of September 2026, the UK government advises against all travel to Peshawar itself, and against all but essential travel to Nowshera, one of the districts the GT Road passes through on this stretch. This doesn't affect the Lahore-to-Islamabad section of the route, which lies well outside any advisory area. If you're planning to continue to Peshawar, check current local news and police advice before that leg, and if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's current travel advice as well, since it can affect your travel insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Grand Trunk Road from Lahore to Peshawar?
About 905 km, following the N-5 through Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock and Nowshera.
Is the GT Road faster or slower than the motorway?
Slower. The M-2 and M-1 motorways cover the same corridor with fewer stops; the GT Road is the choice for the heritage stops along the way, not for speed.
Can you go inside Attock Fort?
No. It remains a military site and is closed to visitors, though the fort and the historic Indus crossing point are visible from the Attock Bridge.
How far is Rohtas Fort from the GT Road?
About 8 km south of the main road, near Jhelum and Dina, and open daily from 8am to 6:30pm.
Is it safe to drive the GT Road all the way to Peshawar?
The Lahore-to-Islamabad stretch is unaffected by any current advisory. The UK government advises against all travel to Peshawar itself and against all but essential travel to Nowshera, both on the final stretch, so check current advice before continuing that far.
