The Lahore to Islamabad motorway (the M-2) runs about 375 kilometres and takes roughly 4 to 4.5 hours in normal traffic, longer on a Friday evening or a long weekend. It is a divided, tolled highway with five service areas, so the drive itself is easy; the choices are which stop to make and whether to add a short detour off the road.
This covers the toll, the service areas in order, and the Salt Range stops around Bhera and Kallar Kahar that turn the drive into more than a transit leg.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Route | M-2 motorway, Lahore (Thokar Niaz Baig) to Islamabad |
| Distance | About 375 km |
| Drive time | 4 to 4.5 hours, non-stop |
| Toll (car, full length) | About PKR 1,430 (2026, revised each spring and autumn) |
| Service areas | Sukheki, Sial, Bhera, Kallar Kahar, Chakri |
| Best detour | Kallar Kahar, for the Salt Range and Katas Raj |
How long does the drive actually take?
Budget 4 to 4.5 hours for the 375 km if you drive straight through at motorway speed. Add time for a proper meal stop, and more again if you are travelling on a Friday afternoon, the day before Eid, or through fog in December and January, which regularly slows or closes stretches of the M-2 in Punjab's plains. Night driving is otherwise straightforward; the road is lit and well patrolled by the National Highways and Motorway Police.
What does the toll cost?
The National Highway Authority reviews M-2 toll rates roughly twice a year. As of the July 2026 revision, a car pays about PKR 1,430 to travel the full length between Lahore and Islamabad, worked out per kilometre and charged according to which entry and exit points you use. Rates for wagons, coaches and trucks are higher. Tolls change, so treat this as a guide and check the current rate posted at the toll plaza or on the NHA website before you travel. You can pay in cash at the plaza or with an M-Tag for a faster, barrier-free lane.
The service areas, in order
Travelling from Lahore, the M-2 has five service areas, spaced roughly 60 to 80 km apart, each with fuel, a mosque, toilets and a food court:
- Sukheki, the first proper stop north of Lahore.
- Sial, a smaller stop between Sukheki and Pindi Bhattian.
- Bhera, just past the M-2's junction with the M-4 to Faisalabad and Multan, and the best-known stop for food.
- Kallar Kahar, in the Salt Range, with a view over Kallar Kahar lake from the service area itself.
- Chakri, the last stop before Islamabad.
Each has fuel pumps, national and international fast-food chains alongside local dhaba-style counters, and separate prayer areas. None of them have fuel shortages as a rule, but it is still sensible to fill up at whichever one you reach with under a quarter tank, rather than assuming the next one is close.
Bhera: the food stop
Bhera is the service area most people stop at, partly because it falls roughly halfway and partly because it has the widest choice of food, from the fast-food chains to well-regarded local rice and karahi counters. It gets busy at meal times and on holiday weekends, so if you are short on time, Sukheki or Sial a little earlier in the drive are quieter alternatives with the same basics.
Kallar Kahar: worth stopping for, not just refuelling at
Kallar Kahar sits inside the Salt Range, and the service area itself looks out over Kallar Kahar lake. If you have half an hour to spare, it is worth leaving the motorway briefly rather than only using the service area:
- Kallar Kahar lake and the Mughal-era Takht-e-Babri terrace above it, a short walk from the main road through the town.
- Katas Raj temples, about 20 to 25 minutes' drive from the Kallar Kahar interchange, one of the most complete Hindu temple complexes in Punjab. Our guide to Katas Raj covers opening hours and what to see.
- The wider Salt Range, including Khewra Salt Mine, which is a longer detour of an hour or so each way and better suited to a trip that isn't racing to reach Islamabad the same evening.
For a longer look at this stretch of country, see our Salt Range road trip guide.
Is it worth taking the old GT Road instead?
The motorway is faster and simpler for most journeys. The parallel GT Road (N-5) passes closer to towns and older monuments such as Rohtas Fort near Jhelum, but it also carries slower local and heavy traffic, so it can take six hours or more for the same distance. If heritage stops matter more than speed, our guide to GT Road heritage sites sets out where to stop between Lahore and Islamabad on that route instead.
Planning the drive
- Leave with a full tank or fill up at the first service area you pass with room to spare; there is no fuel available on the motorway itself between service areas.
- Keep toll money or an M-Tag ready, and note that the entry ticket you take at Lahore determines what you pay on exit at Islamabad.
- Check the weather in winter. Fog between Sukheki and Pindi Bhattian is the most common cause of slow-downs and short closures from November to February.
- If you are continuing north, our travel guide and trip planning page cover onward routes into Hazara, Murree and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Lahore from Islamabad on the motorway?
About 375 km by the M-2, covered in roughly 4 to 4.5 hours of driving without long stops.
What is the toll for a car from Lahore to Islamabad?
Around PKR 1,430 for the full length as of the 2026 rate, though the National Highway Authority revises tolls periodically, so check the current rate at the plaza.
Which is the best service area to stop at on the M-2?
Bhera has the widest food choice and is roughly the halfway point. Kallar Kahar is worth choosing instead if you want a lake view and easy access to the Salt Range.
Is the M-2 or the GT Road faster between Lahore and Islamabad?
The M-2 motorway is faster, at around 4 to 4.5 hours against six hours or more on the GT Road, which carries slower mixed traffic and passes through towns.
Can I detour to Katas Raj from the motorway?
Yes. Leave the M-2 at the Kallar Kahar interchange; the Katas Raj temples are about 20 to 25 minutes away by road.
