On this page
- The short answer
- Choose how you are travelling
- Routes on the map
- By air: Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jaipur airports
- By train: direct services to Jaisalmer
- By bus: state buses and private sleepers
- By road: distances and cab fares from nearby cities
- From the airport, station or bus stand to your hotel
- Arriving late at night or very early
- FAQs
The short answer
For most travellers the overnight train is the easiest way in. It saves a hotel night and drops you about 2 km from the fort. In winter, direct flights to Jaisalmer make a short trip possible. The rest of the year, fly to Jodhpur and drive or take the train onward.
- Short on time, travelling in winter: fly direct to Jaisalmer if a flight suits your dates.
- Coming from Delhi, Jaipur or Jodhpur: take an overnight train and arrive with the whole day ahead.
- Touring Rajasthan by car: drive in from Jodhpur, Bikaner or Udaipur and stop along the way.
- On a tight budget: a sleeper-class train or a state bus is the cheapest option.
Choose how you are travelling
Each way in has its own guide with timings, rough costs, booking tips and a map.
- By airDirect flights in winter; Jodhpur has flights all year, about 285 km away.Read the guide
- By trainDaily trains from Delhi (about 17–19 hrs), Jaipur and Jodhpur.Read the guide
- By busFrom Jodhpur about 5.5–7 hrs; overnight sleepers from Jaipur and Udaipur.Read the guide
- By cab or carJodhpur ~285 km; a sedan costs about ₹4,250 one way.Read the guide
Routes on the map
Road routes from the nearest cities, both airports and the railway station. Use the legend to show or hide each.
The map needs JavaScript. The same information is listed on this page.
Road lines: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
By air: Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jaipur airports
Three airports matter for a Jaisalmer trip. Distances below are rough road distances to the city.
- Jaisalmer Airport (JSA), about 13 km away. Civil enclave at the air force station. Flights are seasonal (roughly late October to March) from Delhi, Mumbai and a few other cities — check schedules before planning around it.
- Jodhpur Airport (JDH), about 285 km away. Year-round flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and others; about 5 hours by road to Jaisalmer.
- Jaipur International (JAI), about 560 km away. Wider connections; pair with an overnight train to Jaisalmer.
Flight schedules to Jaisalmer change every season, and routes can be added or dropped at short notice. Check the airline sites before you book anything else around a flight. If no flight fits, Jodhpur is the reliable fallback: from there a cab takes roughly 5–5.5 hours, or you can catch the overnight train.
Jaisalmer airport is a civil enclave inside an air force station. Security is strict, photography is not allowed, and there are few facilities, so arrive with water and a charged phone.
By train: direct services to Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer railway station (JSM) is the end of the line, so you cannot sleep past your stop. Terminal station; direct trains from Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and a few long-distance weekly services.
| Train | Number | From | Runs | Hours (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi – Jaisalmer Express | 14659 / 14660 | Delhi | Daily | 17–19 |
| Runicha Express | 14087 / 14088 | Delhi | Daily | 17–19 |
| Ranikhet Express (from Kathgodam) | 15013 / 15014 | Delhi / Jaipur | Daily | 12–13 from Jaipur |
| Leelan Express | 12467 / 12468 | Jaipur / Bikaner | Daily | 6–7 from Bikaner |
| Jodhpur – Jaisalmer Express (overnight) | 14810 / 14809 | Jodhpur | Daily | 5.5–6.5 |
| Bandra Terminus – Jaisalmer Superfast | 22931 / 22932 | Mumbai / Ahmedabad | Weekly | ~22 from Mumbai |
| Howrah – Jaisalmer Superfast | 12371 / 12372 | Kolkata | Weekly | ~40 |
Book early for winter weekends and holidays, when AC sleeper berths sell out weeks ahead. If you cannot get a direct train, go to Jodhpur first; it has more services and the overnight link on to Jaisalmer.
By bus: state buses and private sleepers
State buses and private sleepers run from Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi. Private buses usually stop near Hanuman Circle. The state-run station is the RSRTC (Rajasthan Roadways) bus stand, near Air Force Circle.
Rajasthan Roadways (RSRTC) buses are cheap and frequent from Jodhpur, but they are basic and slow. Private sleeper coaches are more comfortable for overnight runs; you lie flat in a curtained berth. Book through a known operator or a large booking app, read recent reviews, and prefer a lower berth if you are travelling alone.
Buses are fine for the Jodhpur leg. For longer journeys, most people find the train kinder on the back, and safer on desert roads at night.
By road: distances and cab fares from nearby cities
Roads into Jaisalmer are mostly good two-lane or four-lane highways, with long empty stretches. Start early, carry water, and plan on arriving before dark. The table shows approximate one-way distances and a sedan fare worked out from sample per-kilometre rates.
| From | Distance | Drive time | Usual route | Approx. one-way sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jodhpur | ~285 km | 5–5.5 hr | via Balesar, Pokaran | ₹4,250 |
| Jaipur | ~565 km | 9.5–10.5 hr | via Ajmer or Nagaur, Jodhpur | ₹8,450 |
| Bikaner | ~330 km | 5.5–6 hr | via Kolayat, Phalodi, Pokaran | ₹4,950 |
| Udaipur | ~500 km | 8.5–9.5 hr | via Pali, Jodhpur | ₹7,500 |
| Ahmedabad | ~540 km | 9.5–10.5 hr | via Palanpur, Sanchore, Barmer | ₹8,050 |
| Delhi | ~780 km | 13–14 hr | via Jaipur or Bikaner | ₹11,650 |
| Pushkar | ~490 km | 8–9 hr | via Merta, Jodhpur, Pokaran | ₹7,350 |
| Mount Abu | ~540 km | 9.5–10.5 hr | via Sirohi, Jalore or Jodhpur, Barmer | ₹8,050 |
| Barmer | ~165 km | 2.5–3 hr | via Shiv | ₹2,450 |
| Jaisalmer | ~285 km | 5–5.5 hr | via Pokaran, Balesar | ₹4,250 |
| Jaisalmer | ~330 km | 5.5–6 hr | via Pokaran, Phalodi, Kolayat | ₹4,950 |
| Jaisalmer | ~500 km | 8.5–9.5 hr | via Jodhpur, Pali | ₹7,500 |
| Jaisalmer | ~565 km | 9.5–10.5 hr | via Jodhpur, Ajmer or Nagaur | ₹8,450 |
| Jaisalmer | ~490 km | 8–9 hr | via Pokaran, Jodhpur, Merta | ₹7,350 |
| Jaisalmer | ~540 km | 9.5–10.5 hr | via Barmer, Jalore, Sirohi | ₹8,050 |
| Jaisalmer | ~540 km | 9.5–10.5 hr | via Barmer, Sanchore, Palanpur | ₹8,050 |
| Jaisalmer | ~780 km | 13–14 hr | via Bikaner or Jaipur | ₹11,650 |
| Jodhpur | ~315 km | 6–6.5 driving + stops hr | via Osian, Phalodi, Pokaran | ₹4,700 |
| Jodhpur | ~305 km | 5.5–6 driving + darshan hr | via Balesar, Pokaran, Ramdevra | ₹4,550 |
| Jaisalmer | ~535 km | 10–11 driving over 2 days hr | via Jodhpur, Ranakpur | ₹8,300 |
| Jaisalmer | ~530 km | 9–10 driving over 2 days hr | via Jodhpur, Pali | ₹8,200 |
| Udaipur | ~530 km | 9–10 driving over 2 days hr | via Pali, Jodhpur | ₹8,200 |
| Udaipur | ~570 km | 11–12 driving over 2 days hr | via Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Jodhpur | ₹8,800 |
| Jaipur | ~640 km | 11–12 driving over 2 days hr | via Ajmer, Pushkar, Jodhpur | ₹9,850 |
| Jaisalmer | ~670 km | 11–12 driving over 2 days hr | via Pokaran, Bikaner | ₹10,300 |
| Delhi | ~775 km | 13–14 driving over 3 days hr | via Mandawa, Bikaner | ₹12,200 |
| Jaisalmer | ~740 km | 13–14 driving over 2 days hr | via Jodhpur, Pushkar or Ajmer, Tonk | ₹11,350 |
| Jodhpur | ~565 km | about 5 hrs each way hr | via Pokaran | ₹10,350 |
| Jaipur | ~1300 km | 4–6 hrs on driving days hr | via Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Pushkar | ₹24,550 |
| Udaipur | ~1065 km | 5–9 hrs on driving days hr | via Ranakpur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer | ₹21,000 |
| Delhi | ~1700 km | 4–6 hrs on driving days hr | via Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Pushkar, Jaipur | ₹31,650 |
| Jodhpur | ~565 km | about 5–6 hrs each way hr | via Pokaran | ₹8,950 |
| Jodhpur | ~285 km | 5.5–6.5 hr | via Balesar, Pokaran | ₹4,250 |
| Jodhpur | ~590 km | about 6 hrs each way hr | via Pokaran, Ramdevra | ₹8,750 |
Each city name opens its own route page with stops worth making on the way and a live fare estimate for bigger vehicles. For a round trip over several days, a driver stays with you and fares are calculated differently; see the cab fares page.
From the airport, station or bus stand to your hotel
The station is about ~2 km · 10 min from the centre, and the airport about ~13 km · 20–25 min. Auto-rickshaws wait outside the station and the bus stands; agree the fare before you get in. At the airport there are fewer options, so a pre-booked car is simpler.
Many hotels and camps offer pickup for a fee. If you are heading straight to a desert camp, a sedan transfer to Sam costs roughly ₹1,150 in our sample fares. Sam itself is ~42 km · 50–60 min from town.
Touts meet most trains and buses with offers of cheap rooms or camp deals. A polite no is enough. Go to the hotel you booked, and read our guide to common scams before you land.
Arriving late at night or very early
Several long-distance trains and private buses reach Jaisalmer at awkward hours. A little planning makes this easy:
- Tell your hotel your arrival time and ask whether someone will be awake to open the door.
- Book a pickup in advance; autos at 4 am are few and fares go up.
- Hotels inside the fort cannot always be reached by car late at night, so expect a short walk up the lanes with your bags.
- In winter, keep a warm layer handy. Desert nights are cold even when days are pleasant.
- If your room is not ready, leave your bags and head to Gadisar Lake for sunrise; it is about ~2 km · 5–10 min from the centre.
Plan it with our free tools
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Frequently asked questions
Which is the nearest airport to Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer has its own airport about 13 km from the city, but flights are mainly seasonal. Jodhpur, about 285 km away, has flights all year.
Is there a direct train from Delhi to Jaisalmer?
Yes. Daily trains usually run from Delhi, and the journey takes roughly 17–19 hours. Check the current timetable on the Indian Railways enquiry site before you book.
How long is the drive from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer?
About 285 km, which usually takes 5–5.5 hours with a short break.
What does a cab from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer cost?
A one-way sedan works out at roughly ₹4,250 on our sample rates. Tolls and extras can apply, so confirm the quote.
Is it safe to drive to Jaisalmer at night?
The highways are generally fine, but long stretches are empty, poorly lit and shared with trucks and stray animals. Driving in daylight is the better choice.
Are there flights to Jaisalmer in summer?
Usually not many. Most flights run in the winter season, roughly late October to March. Check airline schedules for your dates, or plan via Jodhpur.