The Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) and the RCD Highway (N-25) both leave Karachi through Hub, but they go to different places. The N-10 runs west along the coast to Gwadar, about 653 km, and the N-25 runs north through Khuzdar, Kalat and Quetta, about 813 km if you go all the way to Chaman. Choose by destination: the coast and Gwadar via the N-10, Quetta and the highlands via the N-25. Both are in Balochistan, which the UK government advises against visiting, and both need daylight driving and current security checks.
This guide compares the two roads on the points that decide a trip: where they go, how long they take, the state of the road, the season, and the risks. Our full guides to each are linked below.
| Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) | RCD Highway (N-25) | |
|---|---|---|
| Goes to | Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar | Khuzdar, Kalat, Quetta, Chaman |
| Length | About 653 km, Karachi to Gwadar | About 813 km, Karachi to Chaman |
| Built | Completed in December 2004 | Older road, being rebuilt since December 2025 |
| Typical time | Sources say 6 to 10 hours Karachi to Gwadar | A full day to Quetta; many estimate 10 to 12 hours |
| Road type | Two-lane highway, relatively empty | Mostly two-lane, heavy trucks, works under way |
| Night travel | 6 pm to 6 am ban in 2025 notices | 6 pm to 6 am ban in 2025 notices |
Where do they split?
Both roads begin as the same road. You leave Karachi by Hub Chowki on the N-25, and the N-10 turns off at Zero Point near Uthal, taking you west to the sea. Past that point the two roads have very little in common. If you want the details of the junction and the first stretch, see our Makran Coastal Highway guide and N-25 highway guide.
Which has better scenery and stops?
The N-10 is the one people drive for the road itself. It crosses open coastal desert, passes Hingol National Park and the rock formations known as the Princess of Hope, and then follows the Arabian Sea through Ormara and Pasni to Gwadar. Kund Malir beach is the nearest big stop from Karachi. Our Hingol National Park guide covers the park.
The N-25 is a road to somewhere. It climbs from the Lasbela plains onto the high plateau, passing Khuzdar and Kalat, and arrives at Quetta, which sits at about 1,680 metres. For history there is the old Khanate of Kalat, described in our Kalat guide. For most people the point of the N-25 is Quetta, Ziarat or the onward journey to Chaman, not the road.
Which road is easier to drive?
The N-10 is the easier road in principle. It was built in three years, it is generally quieter, and the long empty stretches are flat and straight. The difficulty is distance from help: fuel, food and phone signal are limited between towns.
The N-25 is harder. Most of it is a two-lane carriageway shared with trucks and buses, and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics figures quoted by Wikipedia record more than 4,000 road deaths between 2012 and 2022. The government began reconstruction in December 2025, so expect diversions and roadworks. The Hub Chowki bridge, which collapsed in 2022, was reopened after rebuilding in February 2025.
Which is better for which kind of trip?
- A beach and coast weekend or Gwadar trip. N-10, or fly to Gwadar. Our Karachi to Gwadar by road guide and Gwadar flight guide cover the choices.
- Quetta, Ziarat or the north-west. The N-25 is the road, but a flight is usually quicker. See Karachi to Quetta by road and by flight.
- A Karachi day trip. Neither road is a day trip beyond Kund Malir, and even that is a long day.
- Hot months. The coast is very hot in summer. Quetta and Kalat are cooler in summer and cold in winter, so the N-25 makes more sense when the coast is at its hottest.
How do the two compare on security?
Neither is safe in the sense the UK government uses: it advises against all travel to Balochistan. That includes both highways. In 2026 the N-25 has seen the more serious events. On 8 July 2026 insurgents blocked the highway in the Bela-Winder area of Lasbela and ambushed an army convoy, with 11 soldiers and 14 militants reported killed. Reports from August 2026 describe blockades around Kalat and Mastung, and Quetta suffered a train bombing on 24 May 2026 that killed at least 47 people.
The N-10 has had fewer reported incidents on the road itself in 2026, though Gwadar has seen attacks in recent years, and the road still passes remote country with limited help. On both roads, we would say:
- Drive in daylight only and finish well before 6 pm.
- Carry original CNIC and expect frequent checkposts.
- Check local news and the district administration the same morning.
- Overseas visitors should follow their own government's advice, which can void insurance. See is Balochistan safe to travel and is the Makran Coastal Highway safe.
So which should you take?
If your destination is the coast, take the N-10, and consider flying to Gwadar instead. If it is Quetta, fly. Take the N-25 by road only when you have a specific reason to go to Khuzdar, Kalat or Quetta by land and you can do it in daylight. The new dual carriageway sections may change this answer once they open, but no completed section had been confirmed when we checked.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Makran Coastal Highway better than the N-25?
They serve different trips. The N-10 is a coastal road to Gwadar with Hingol and the beaches on the way; the N-25 goes inland to Quetta and is heavily used by trucks.
Which is shorter, N-10 or N-25?
The N-10 from Karachi to Gwadar is about 653 km. The N-25 is about 813 km from Karachi to Chaman.
Where does the Makran Coastal Highway join the RCD Highway?
At Zero Point near Uthal, reported as about 90 km beyond Hub, where the N-10 turns west towards the coast.
Can you drive either road at night?
No. A 6 pm to 6 am ban on major Balochistan highways was notified in March 2025. Check whether it still applies.
Is the N-25 being upgraded?
Yes. Reconstruction as a dual carriageway began in December 2025, with a stated target of two years. Expect roadworks in the meantime.