Islamabad to Mansehra: Route, Timings and Toll

Islamabad to Mansehra is roughly 130 to 150 km, depending on where in Islamabad you start, and takes about an hour and a half to two and a half hours by the M-1 and the Hazara Motorway (M-15). You join the M-1 west of the city, leave it at the Burhan interchange near Hasan Abdal, and follow the M-15 north-east to the Mansehra exit. The old N-35 through Haripur and Abbottabad is shorter on the map and much slower in practice.

This guide covers the route step by step, the tolls, the bus, the old road, and how to time the drive. For the motorway as a whole, our Hazara Motorway guide goes into more detail, and for what to do once you arrive, see our places to visit in Mansehra.

The route, step by step

1. Join the M-1 towards Peshawar. From most of Islamabad you reach the M-1 through the city's western approaches. Follow signs for Peshawar and Hasan Abdal. The M-1 is a six-lane motorway.
2. Leave at Burhan. The Burhan interchange, near Hasan Abdal, is where the M-15 begins. Signs say Hazara Motorway or Abbottabad and Mansehra.
3. Drive the M-15 north. After Burhan the road passes the Haripur, Shah Maqsood, Havelian and Qalandarabad interchanges. The road is six lanes as far as Haripur, then four lanes into the hills, with tunnels near Abbottabad.
4. Exit at Mansehra. The Mansehra interchange is the exit for the city, for the Balakot road and for the Kaghan valley. A couple of interchanges further on, Bedadi serves Shinkiari.

You pay tolls at the plazas along the way, so carry cash or check how your vehicle is tagged. Our M-Tag guide sets out how electronic payment works on the motorways.

How far is it, really?

Sources do not agree. Travel sites give 130 and 134 km, and others suggest more. The difference comes from where in Islamabad you measure from, since the M-1 interchange is on the western side of the city. The M-15 itself runs about 87 km from Burhan to Mansehra, so the motorway part is similar whichever figure you use. If you are starting from the east of Islamabad or from Bahria or the Blue Area, add time for the city section.

How long does it take?

Plan on roughly two hours. Estimates range from an hour and a half to two and a half hours, and the buses are timed at about an hour and 45 minutes. The M-15 is mostly a modern four-lane road, but speed limits fall in tunnels and traffic builds around Abbottabad and Mansehra on summer weekends and at Eid.

• Early morning is quickest, and the best time to start if you are heading on to Naran.
• Friday afternoon and Saturday morning in summer are slow, because families heading to Kaghan use the same road.
• Winter fog can close sections of the M-1 and M-15. Our fog closure guide explains when and how to check.

What does the toll cost?

From 10 July 2026 the NHA toll for a car on the Hasan Abdal to Mansehra section (E-35) is PKR 400. It was PKR 350 from April 2026, so the rate has risen twice this year. You also pay the M-1 toll for the stretch you drive, and the full-length M-1 rate for a car is PKR 700. The part from Islamabad to Burhan is a fraction of that, so check the rate posted at the plaza.

Rates change often. Treat these figures as a guide, and carry enough to cover a higher charge.

By bus

Buses to Mansehra run from Rawalpindi and Islamabad terminals, including those near Faizabad, Pirwadhai Road, Motorway Chowk (Peshawar Road) and G-9. The trip takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, with one or two stops. Fares start from about PKR 1,000 on listings checked in 2026, and they vary by operator and class. They arrive at the general bus stand in Mansehra.

For Balakot or Naran, you change at Mansehra. Our Islamabad to Naran guide covers the rest of the drive by road.

The old road: the N-35

Before the motorway, the route ran through Hasan Abdal, Haripur, Havelian and Abbottabad on the N-35. It passes through town bazaars most of the way and takes much longer. Use it only if you are stopping in those towns, for example for our Abbottabad day trip plan.

What happens after Mansehra?

Mansehra is where the motorway narrows to two lanes, and where the road to Balakot and the Kaghan valley branches off. The UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, which means the stretch north through Battagram, Besham and Dasu. Naran and Kaghan are reached by the Balakot road, not the KKH.

Check local news and current police advice before you travel north of Mansehra, especially after heavy rain. Overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, which may say not to go and can affect insurance.

Is it worth stopping in Mansehra?

For a day trip from Islamabad, Mansehra is a good place to turn around: you can see the Ashoka rock edicts and Shinkiari and be home that night. For longer trips it is a place to fill the tank, get cash and break the drive. If you want to stay, see our hotels in Mansehra guide, and for the wider region our travel guide has advice for long drives in the north.

Frequently asked questions