Petrol pumps on the Karakoram Highway are easy to find as far as Chilas, thin out between Chilas and Gilgit, and are reliable again from Gilgit to Sost, the last pump before the Chinese border. The one stretch with no fuel at all is beyond Sost: the 125 km climb to Khunjerab Pass and back has nothing on it, so the tank has to be full before you leave.
This guide runs through the route from south to north, town by town, and flags the two gaps worth planning around.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Route | N-35, Hasan Abdal to the Chinese border |
| Reliable fuel | Every main town from Besham to Sost |
| Longest realistic gap | Chilas to Gilgit, about 135 km |
| No fuel at all | Sost to Khunjerab Pass and back, 125 km each way |
| Last fuel before the border | Sost |
| What to carry | A full tank at Chilas and again at Sost; small towns can run dry |
Besham to Chilas: the Kohistan stretch
Pumps are frequent through Besham, Dasu and the smaller Kohistan towns in between, so there is no need to carry extra fuel on this section. The road here is the older, narrower part of the highway and can be slow, so plan on time rather than distance: a full tank at Besham should comfortably reach Chilas.
Fill up before leaving Besham if you are pushing on the same day, since this is also the point where the road gets harder and a breakdown is more of a problem. Our guide to driving on the Karakoram Highway covers the road conditions through Kohistan in more detail.
Chilas: fill up before you leave
Chilas is the last town of any size before Gilgit, about 135 km further north, and has several fuel stations along the highway through the bazaar. Top up here even if the gauge shows more than half a tank. A landslide closure on this stretch, most often around Tatta Pani between Chilas and the Raikot bridge, can leave you sitting in a queue for hours with the engine off and on, which uses more fuel than the driving does.
There is no reliable fuel between Chilas and Gilgit. Small settlements along the way, including Raikot Bridge and Jaglot, are not dependable fuel stops, so don't count on topping up there.
Gilgit to Hunza: back to easy
Gilgit has multiple stations and is a sensible place to fill up again, whichever direction you are travelling. From Gilgit to Aliabad, the lower part of Hunza, is about 100 km on a good road, and fuel is available in both towns.
Karimabad itself sits just off the highway, so fuel stops for through traffic are usually made at Aliabad, on the main road, rather than up in the bazaar.
Hunza to Sost: the last fill before the border
Fuel stations continue through upper Hunza; Gulmit and Passu now have pumps as well as Aliabad, which has eased what used to be a tighter stretch. Sost, the final town before the Khunjerab checkpoint, has the last fuel station on the Pakistani side and is significantly larger than the settlements around it, since it also serves the trade traffic crossing to and from China.
Fill up in Sost regardless of how much fuel is left. It is the only sensible place to do it before the final climb.
Sost to Khunjerab Pass: no fuel at all
This is the one unambiguous gap on the route. The road from Sost to the border at Khunjerab Pass is about 125 km round trip, entirely inside Khunjerab National Park, and there is nothing resembling a fuel station anywhere on it. If you are doing Khunjerab as a day trip from Hunza, fill up in Sost on the way through and don't rely on finding anything at the top beyond tea stalls in summer.
Our Khunjerab Pass guide covers the drive itself, the altitude and what to expect at the border.
How much fuel to carry
For a normal saloon car in good condition, filling up at every main town, Besham, Chilas, Gilgit, Aliabad and Sost, is enough to avoid any real risk of running dry. The exceptions are:
- A closure at Tatta Pani or anywhere else on the route, which can mean hours of idling. Keep the tank above half through Diamer district for this reason alone.
- A detour, such as taking the Babusar road instead of Kohistan in summer, which changes where the towns and pumps fall.
- A jeep or motorbike with a smaller tank, where the Chilas–Gilgit gap is more significant relative to the tank size.
A spare jerry can is common sense on a motorbike or an older vehicle, but not something most travellers in a normal car need to carry if they fill up at each town.
Card or cash?
Card machines are unreliable once you are north of the motorway, and unavailable at many smaller stations. Carry enough cash for fuel through Kohistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, and don't assume a station in a small town will have change for a large note.
Frequently asked questions
Is there fuel available all along the Karakoram Highway?
Yes, in every main town from Besham to Sost. The only real gap is between Chilas and Gilgit, about 135 km, and the only stretch with no fuel at all is beyond Sost, on the road to Khunjerab Pass.
Where is the last petrol pump before Khunjerab Pass?
Sost, the last town before the border checkpost. There is no fuel on the 125 km round trip from Sost to the pass and back.
Should I carry extra fuel for the KKH?
Not usually, in a normal car, if you fill up at each main town. A jerry can is worth carrying on a motorbike or if you plan to detour off the main route.
Can I pay by card at fuel stations on the KKH?
Not reliably once you are past the motorway. Carry cash for fuel through Kohistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
What is the longest stretch without fuel on the KKH?
Beyond Sost, on the climb to Khunjerab Pass, which has no fuel stations at all. Between towns further south, Chilas to Gilgit is the longest gap, at about 135 km, but fuel is not usually a concern over that distance in a normal car.
Is the Karakoram Highway route safe for overseas visitors?
Pakistani travellers use it all year, but as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, through Besham and Dasu. In summer the road over the Babusar Pass avoids that stretch. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice before you go, because travelling against it can void your insurance. Everyone should check local news and road conditions before setting out.
