Road trip guide

Patna Delhi

Planning to travel from Patna to Delhi? It is about 1,000 km by road and 18 to 21 hours by bus. Here is the whole journey: the towns on the way, the best time to leave, and how to travel comfortably.

about 1,000 kmabout 18 to 21 hours5 big stops on the way

Photo: India Gate, AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Quick answer

Patna to Delhi by bus takes about 18 to 21 hours and covers about 1,000 km by road, via Arrah, Buxar, Lucknow, Hapur. Leave in the afternoon or evening and arrive the next day.

The journey, stop by stop

The big towns the road passes, in order.

Patnastart
Arrah
Buxar
Azamgarh
Lucknow
Hapur
Delhi arrive

What the road is like

From Patna the road passes Arrah, Buxar, Azamgarh, Lucknow and Hapur before reaching Delhi.

Delhi, the national capital, draws travellers for work, study, government business and onward journeys. India Gate is its best-known monument.

Patna, the capital of Bihar on the Ganga, is one of the oldest cities in the world. The Golghar granary is one of its landmarks.

Trains also connect the Patna area with Delhi. Check IRCTC for direct trains and current availability: on festival and holiday dates they often sell out weeks ahead.

Why go by bus, not train?

Why more and more people now choose the road for Patna to Delhi.

Board near home: a bus stops at towns and junctions along the way, so you do not have to travel to a big station first.
Seats when trains are full: on popular dates, train seats to Delhi sell out weeks ahead, while buses add capacity close to the date.
Live tracking your family can follow, so nobody has to call you at midnight to ask where you are.
A proper berth to sleep in: a modern AC sleeper coach gives you your own lie-flat berth with curtains, charging and a reading light.
Why buses are growing: new expressways, better coaches and online booking with seat choice have made long-distance road travel faster and far more comfortable than it was a few years ago.

Tips for the journey

Pick a lower berth if you get up at night, and an upper berth if you want the most privacy and the least foot traffic.

Carry a light shawl: AC coaches run cool after midnight, even in summer.

Keep your ID, phone charger and water in a small bag at your berth, and the big bag in the luggage hold.

Share your live bus tracking link with family before you sleep, so they can see where you are without calling.

Eat a light dinner before boarding. Long-route coaches stop for meals, but timings depend on the road.

Questions travellers ask

How long does Patna to Delhi take by bus?

About 18 to 21 hours, depending on traffic, stops and the exact road.

How far is Delhi from Patna by road?

About 1,000 km.

Which towns are on the way from Patna to Delhi?

Arrah, Buxar, Azamgarh, Lucknow and Hapur.

When is the best time to leave?

Leave in the afternoon or evening and arrive the next day.

Is it better to go by bus or train from Patna to Delhi?

Both work. A bus lets you board near home and often has seats when trains are full; a train can be faster on some routes. For a trip this long, choose an AC sleeper berth.

Useful links: the road route on Google Maps and IRCTC for current trains. Distances and times are rounded and vary with traffic and stops.

Last updated 15 October 2026 by the Nandighosh travel team.