Jaipur to Ranthambore
Your options
Ways to make the journey
3.5 h
The road runs south from Jaipur through Tonk district to Sawai Madhopur, on mostly good highway with some slower stretches through towns. With a tea stop, plan for about 4 hours. We time the drive to arrive for lunch and an afternoon safari, or leave after a morning drive to reach Jaipur by mid-afternoon.
2–2.5 h
Several trains a day run between Jaipur Junction and Sawai Madhopur, about 15 minutes from the main hotels. Executive or first-class seats make the trip comfortable and quicker than the road. Your car travels ahead with the luggage, and the hotel meets you at the station. Check current timetables before you travel.
Worth a stop
- Chaksu and the countryside south of Jaipur
- Tonk (detour for its old library and mosques)
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How do you get from Jaipur to Ranthambore
By private car in about 3.5 hours, or by train to Sawai Madhopur in about 2–2.5 hours. The train is quicker and comfortable. We often combine train one way and car the other. The road runs south through Tonk district, about 180 km, and takes around 4 hours with a tea stop. By train, your car goes ahead with the luggage and the hotel meets you at the station.
Can you do Ranthambore as a day trip from Jaipur
It is possible, with an early drive and an afternoon safari, but it is tiring and permits for single drives can be hard to get. We recommend at least two nights, ideally three, to allow several safaris. Jaipur is about 180 km away, so a day trip by car means about 7 hours on the road. Staying lets us take the morning train, arrive for lunch and the first afternoon safari, then add morning drives.
Is the train from Jaipur to Sawai Madhopur comfortable
Yes, in executive or first-class seats on the faster trains. The journey is short, around 2 hours, and avoids traffic. Your driver meets you at Sawai Madhopur station. The main hotels are about 15 minutes from the station, and your car travels ahead with the luggage. We favour a morning train so you arrive for lunch and the afternoon safari. Timetables change, so check current status before you travel.
What time should I leave Jaipur for Ranthambore
Leave by about 9 am by car or take a morning train, so you arrive for lunch and an afternoon safari, which usually starts between 2 and 3 pm depending on the season. The drive is about 3.5 hours, closer to 4 with a tea stop, and the train to Sawai Madhopur takes 2–2.5 hours. Safari timings are set by the park, so check current status before you travel.