Lahore to Multan by Road: Distance and Route

Lahore to Multan by road is about 333 km on the motorway (M-3 then M-4) and 323 km on the N-5, the old Grand Trunk Road route through Okara and Sahiwal. The motorway takes roughly four hours without long stops; the N-5 takes about six, because it runs through towns and bazaar traffic. Unless you want to stop in Okara or Sahiwal, take the motorway.

This guide covers both routes, what the motorway toll looks like in 2026, how winter fog changes the plan, and where to break the journey if you are driving with children or elderly parents.

Which route should you take?

There are two realistic ways to drive from Lahore to Multan.

The motorway. You join the M-3 from the M-2 junction near Lahore and follow it south-west for 230 km to Abdul Hakeem, passing Nankana Sahib, Jaranwala, Samundri, Toba Tek Singh, Kamalia, Pir Mahal and Shorkot. At Abdul Hakeem the M-3 meets the M-4, which carries you on through Khanewal into Multan. The whole route is limited access, six lanes on the M-3, with a speed limit of 120 km/h for cars.

The N-5 (GT Road). This is the older highway, passing through Okara, Sahiwal and Khanewal before Multan. It is slightly shorter on paper at 323 km, but it is a busy single road through town centres, level crossings and slow trucks, which is why it takes about two hours longer.

For a family with a car and a fixed arrival time, the motorway wins on time, comfort and predictability. The N-5 makes sense if you want to stop at a town on the way, if you are avoiding tolls, or if the motorway is shut for fog.

Lahore to Multan by motorway: how the drive runs

1. Lahore to the M-3. Leave Lahore on the motorway link from the M-2 junction. Get petrol before you leave the city, where the queues are shorter than at the motorway pumps on a holiday weekend.
2. M-3, about 230 km. Wide, smooth and fast, with three service areas and rest stops, including near Nankana Sahib and Samundri. Use these rather than the small roadside places outside the interchanges.
3. Abdul Hakeem. The M-3 merges into the M-4. Keep following signs for Multan, and watch for the change in toll plaza.
4. M-4 through Khanewal. The last stretch runs flat through cotton and wheat country. The road surface has been reported decent, though the M-4 is less busy and service facilities are thinner, so keep your tank above a quarter.
5. Multan. The motorway ends on the edge of the city; from there you reach the old city, the shrines and the fort by ordinary city roads.

Road conditions change and there is always some patching somewhere, so treat the surface as good but not perfect, and keep to the speed limit rather than the speed of the car ahead.

How long does it really take?

The simple answer is about four hours. Sources agree on that, and it is the figure to plan around if you leave at a quiet hour and stop only once.

A realistic day looks different. Add:

• Half an hour for toll plazas, a service-area stop and a fuel top-up
• Extra time at Eid, Friday afternoons and holiday weekends, when the toll plazas and service areas fill up
• Any delay at the Lahore end, where traffic on the way to the M-2 junction can take longer than expected

So leave with the expectation of four and a half hours and be pleased if it takes less. Leaving early in the morning also puts you in Multan before the worst of the afternoon heat, which in summer is severe.

Motorway tolls between Lahore and Multan

Toll rates were revised upwards in July 2026. For a car, the M-3 is about PKR 1,000 for its full length and the M-4 charges separately for the section you use. Reports differ on the exact M-4 figure, and the Abdul Hakeem to Multan stretch is priced separately from the full Pindi Bhattian to Multan run, so we do not print a single total. Expect the whole journey to cost a couple of thousand rupees each way in tolls, and check the current NHA rate table before you set out.

Two practical points:

• Keep an M-Tag and check its balance before you leave. Vehicles without one have been charged extra since mid-2025, and the plaza is slower.
• Carry cash as a backup. Keep some rupees in small notes for the plaza and for the service areas.

Fog: the one thing that can cancel your plan

Dense fog is the main hazard on this route, especially in December and January. In January 2026 alone, sections of the M-3 and M-4 were closed more than once, with police advising travel only in the middle of the day, roughly 10 am to 6 pm.

If you are driving in winter:

• Check the National Highways and Motorway Police on 130 (24 hours) before leaving.
• Plan to leave mid-morning instead of at dawn.
• Do not drive into fog on an open motorway at speed. If visibility drops suddenly, slow down, use fog lights, and pull off at the next service area instead of stopping on the shoulder.
• Have the N-5 as your fallback, though fog slows it too.

See our note on the best time to visit Multan if you are also choosing the season, since the same winter months bring both pleasant temperatures and fog risk.

Where to break the journey

Four hours is short enough that many families drive straight through. If you want a stop:

• Nankana Sahib, close to the M-3 near the start, is the birthplace of Guru Nanak and a natural stop for visitors interested in Sikh heritage.
• A service area on the M-3 at the halfway point is enough for tea, prayer and a leg stretch.
• Okara or Sahiwal on the N-5 if you take the old road. Both are ordinary Punjab towns rather than tourist stops, so eat at a busy place and move on.

If you are driving on from Multan, the Multan itinerary and our guide to places to visit in Multan give you a plan for the first day.

Practical tips for the drive

• Check the car the day before. Tyre pressure, coolant and brakes matter more than usual in summer, when tyres blow out on hot tarmac.
• Don't drive tired. Most motorway accidents involve drivers who set off after a long day. If you are the only driver, plan a stop rather than pushing through.
• Keep water in the car. Summer temperatures in south Punjab are high, and a breakdown in the sun is unpleasant.
• Use headlights on the motorway. It keeps you visible in haze and fog.

Who should drive, and who should take the bus or train

The motorway is easy driving, and most confident drivers manage it without trouble. If you would rather not drive, intercity coaches run this corridor throughout the day, and the Multan Express and other trains use the older railway line. For a first trip with luggage and small children, a car with a driver gives you the flexibility to stop when you need to.

If you are planning a wider trip through south Punjab, our Punjab road trip guide fits Multan into a longer route, and our tours page shows the trips we run in the north if you are planning further.

Frequently asked questions