1,816 km · 33 toll plazas · about 31 h 55 min on the road. Change the vehicle, fuel or mileage below and every number updates.
“est.” = this plaza doesn't publish fees in the NHAI dataset; we use the median fee for your vehicle class.
The road distance from Varanasi to Chennai is 1,816 km via NH16, NH44 — too long for most people to drive in one go.
You cross 33 toll plazas across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu. For a car the published fees add up to ₹2,190 one way, about ₹1.21 per km, which is on the expensive side for Indian highways. 13 plazas on this route do not publish fees in the NHAI dataset; budget about ₹1,040 extra to be safe.
At 31 h 55 min of realistic driving time, plan an overnight halt roughly halfway — two drivers sharing the wheel is the safer option if you must do it in one day.
States on the way: Uttar PradeshMadhya PradeshMaharashtraTelanganaAndhra PradeshTamil Nadu
Fees for a single journey with FASTag. Return fees apply when you come back through the same plaza within 24 hours; a monthly pass covers 50 single journeys in a month.
| # | Toll plaza | At km | State | Car single | Car return | Car monthly | LCV | Bus/Truck | Multi-axle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atraila Shiv Ghulam | 93 | Uttar Pradesh | ₹115 | ₹170 | ₹3,800 | ₹185 | ₹385 | ₹605 |
| 2 | Mauhari | 132 | Madhya Pradesh | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Jognihai | 200 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹85 | ₹45 | ₹2,905 | ₹140 | ₹295 | ₹460 |
| 4 | Jhiriya | 206 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹90 | ₹135 | ₹2,960 | ₹145 | ₹300 | ₹470 |
| 5 | Rathara | 214 | Madhya Pradesh | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Choratha | 232 | Madhya Pradesh | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Odhaki Paipkhar | 252 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹120 | ₹180 | ₹3,935 | ₹190 | ₹400 | ₹630 |
| 8 | Kherwasani | 316 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹170 | ₹255 | ₹5,620 | ₹270 | ₹570 | ₹895 |
| 9 | Ashoka DSC Katni bypass (MoRTH) | 369 | Madhya Pradesh | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Mohtara | 418 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹130 | ₹195 | ₹4,280 | ₹205 | ₹435 | ₹680 |
| 11 | Bahoripar (Khursi) | 474 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹165 | ₹245 | ₹5,445 | ₹265 | ₹555 | ₹865 |
| 12 | Madai | 542 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹115 | ₹170 | ₹3,750 | ₹180 | ₹380 | ₹595 |
| 13 | Allonia | 577 | Madhya Pradesh | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Khawasa FP | 645 | Madhya Pradesh | ₹110 | ₹165 | ₹3,660 | ₹175 | ₹370 | ₹585 |
| 15 | Ramtek Border Check Poststate | 679 | Maharashtra | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Mansar | 686 | Maharashtra | ₹170 | ₹225 | ₹5,655 | ₹260 | ₹530 | ₹810 |
| 17 | Mansar (Kamptee - Kanhan Bypass)/ Tekadi | 703 | Maharashtra | ₹170 | ₹225 | ₹5,655 | ₹260 | ₹530 | ₹810 |
| 18 | Borkhedi (Nagpur ByPass) | 765 | Maharashtra | ₹160 | ₹240 | ₹5,385 | ₹250 | ₹505 | ₹770 |
| 19 | Arambhastate | 801 | Maharashtra | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Nanduristate | 841 | Maharashtra | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | Visapurstate | 893 | Maharashtra | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Sarandi | 948 | Telangana | ₹90 | ₹140 | ₹3,060 | ₹150 | ₹310 | ₹485 |
| 23 | Mandamarri | 1007 | Telangana | ₹90 | ₹45 | ₹3,050 | ₹150 | ₹310 | ₹485 |
| 24 | Basanthnagarstate | 1057 | Telangana | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Madugulapallystate | 1311 | Telangana | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26 | Thummalacheru Vustate | 1380 | Andhra Pradesh | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Elchurustate | 1439 | Andhra Pradesh | n/a | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Tangatur | 1529 | Andhra Pradesh | ₹105 | ₹155 | ₹3,495 | ₹170 | ₹355 | ₹555 |
| 29 | Sunambatti (Musunuru) | 1592 | Andhra Pradesh | ₹65 | ₹100 | ₹2,190 | ₹105 | ₹225 | ₹350 |
| 30 | Venkatachalam (Old Nellore) | 1659 | Andhra Pradesh | ₹35 | — | — | ₹65 | ₹130 | ₹280 |
| 31 | Budhanam | 1690 | Andhra Pradesh | ₹50 | — | — | ₹90 | ₹180 | ₹385 |
| 32 | Sullurpet | 1729 | Andhra Pradesh | ₹75 | — | — | ₹130 | ₹265 | ₹565 |
| 33 | Nallur | 1794 | Tamil Nadu | ₹80 | ₹120 | ₹2,720 | ₹130 | ₹275 | ₹435 |
| Total (published fees) | 1816 | ₹2,190 | ₹2,810 | ₹3,515 | ₹7,305 | ₹11,715 |
Totals for all 33 plazas, including our estimate for 13 plazas without published fees. “No FASTag” is the 1.25x UPI rate.
| Vehicle class | One way (FASTag) | Return in 24 h | No FASTag (UPI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car / Jeep / Van | ₹3,230 | ₹5,210 | ₹4,042 |
| LCV / Mini bus | ₹5,140 | ₹8,395 | ₹6,425 |
| Bus / Truck (2 axle) | ₹10,685 | ₹17,400 | ₹13,360 |
| 3-axle commercial | ₹13,495 | ₹22,185 | ₹16,868 |
| 4–6 axle (MAV) | ₹17,110 | ₹28,045 | ₹21,393 |
| 7+ axle (oversized) | ₹20,675 | ₹33,720 | ₹25,845 |
One way, 1,816 km, at Uttar Pradesh prices (petrol ₹102.35/L, diesel ₹95.81/L). Typical highway mileage; change it in the calculator for your car.
| Car type | Petrol | Diesel | CNG | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchback | ₹10,325 | ₹7,908 | ₹7,473 | ₹4,540 |
| Sedan | ₹12,390 | ₹9,157 | ₹8,832 | ₹5,188 |
| SUV / MUV | ₹16,896 | ₹12,427 | ₹11,429 | ₹6,603 |
Petrol is cheapest in Uttar Pradesh (₹102.35/L) and dearest in Andhra Pradesh (₹117.37/L). Filling the ~121 litres you need in Uttar Pradesh saves about ₹1,818 versus buying it all in Andhra Pradesh.
For the same sedan, fuel for one way costs ₹12,390 on petrol, ₹9,157 on diesel and about ₹5,188 on electric (public fast charging at ₹20/kWh; home charging is far cheaper). An EV with ~350 km real range needs about 6 charging stops on the way.
The pass costs ₹3,075 for 200 crossings (₹15.38 per crossing) on NHAI plazas. This trip uses 20 crossings one way — worth about ₹308 of pass value against ₹2,190 in regular fees. If you drive highways often, the pass pays off on this route.
Return within 24 hours and the car toll for the round trip is ₹3,130 instead of ₹4,380 — a 29% discount that FASTag applies automatically.
About ₹3,230 one way with FASTag across 33 plazas — ₹2,190 in published fees plus ~₹1,040 estimated for 13 plazas that don't publish rates. A return within 24 hours costs ₹5,210. Without FASTag you pay 1.25x by UPI: ₹4,042.
33 on the fastest route: Atraila Shiv Ghulam, Mauhari, Jognihai, Jhiriya, Rathara, Choratha, Odhaki Paipkhar, Kherwasani, Ashoka DSC Katni bypass (MoRTH), Mohtara, Bahoripar (Khursi), Madai, Allonia, Khawasa FP, Ramtek Border Check Post, Mansar, Mansar (Kamptee - Kanhan Bypass)/ Tekadi, Borkhedi (Nagpur ByPass), Arambha, Nanduri, Visapur, Sarandi, Mandamarri, Basanthnagar, Madugulapally, Thummalacheru Vu, Elchuru, Tangatur, Sunambatti (Musunuru), Venkatachalam (Old Nellore), Budhanam, Sullurpet, Nallur.
About 121 litres for a car doing 15 km/l (₹12,390 at Varanasi prices). A hatchback at 18 km/l needs ~101 L; an SUV at 11 km/l needs ~165 L.
Around ₹15,620 one way for a petrol sedan (fuel ₹12,390 + toll ₹3,230), or ₹29,991 for a same-day return. Split between four people that is ₹3,905 each, one way.
Plan on about 31 h 55 min including short breaks. Free-flowing traffic can do it in 22 h 48 min, but towns, trucks and plaza queues usually add time.
One way with FASTag: bus/2-axle truck ₹10,685, 3-axle ₹13,495, 4–6 axle ₹17,110, 7+ axle ₹20,675 (includes estimates for plazas without published fees).
Yes, plazas charge the same fee in both directions, so the Chennai to Varanasi toll is the same ~₹3,230 for a car. Fuel cost differs only if you fill up at Chennai's state price.
Fees are revised every 1 April and some plazas change mid-year, so treat results as a close estimate. Spotted a wrong fee or a missing plaza? Tell us — we fix reported errors within 72 hours and log them on our corrections page.
Built and maintained by Nikhil Shrivastava. Full method: how the calculator works.
Last updated: 24 October 2026