Ahmedabad and Vadodara to Daman Distance: Route, Trains and Prohibition Rules
Ahmedabad to Daman is about 370 km and Vadodara 270 km: route, trains to Vapi, buses, costs, stops, Gujarat prohibition rules and plans.
Ahmedabad to Daman is about 370 km by road, roughly 6 to 7 hours via the Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway and NH 48 through Bharuch and Surat; Vadodara to Daman is about 270 km, around 4.5 to 5 hours on the same route. By train, both cities have frequent services to Vapi (about 5 to 6 hours from Ahmedabad and 3.5 to 4.5 hours from Vadodara), the station for Daman. This guide covers the route, train and bus options, where to break the journey, costs, the Gujarat prohibition rules on the way back, and how to plan a long weekend.
Ahmedabad and Vadodara to Daman: distance and time
| From | Distance (approx.) | Drive time | Train to Vapi (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | about 370 km | 6–7 h | 5–6 h |
| Gandhinagar | about 395 km | 6.5–7.5 h | Via Ahmedabad |
| Anand / Nadiad | about 300–320 km | 5–6 h | 4–5 h |
| Vadodara | about 270 km | 4.5–5 h | 3.5–4.5 h |
| Bharuch | about 200 km | 3.5 h | 2.5–3 h |
| Ankleshwar | about 190 km | 3–3.5 h | 2.5 h |
The road route
- Ahmedabad to Vadodara (about 100 km): the Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway (National Expressway 1), fast and tolled, about 1.25 hours.
- Vadodara to Bharuch (about 75 km): NH 48 south, crossing the Narmada at Bharuch. The Narmada bridges can be slow.
- Bharuch to Surat (about 75 km): via Ankleshwar and Kamrej.
- Surat to Vapi (about 105 km): NH 48 past Navsari and Valsad.
- Vapi to Daman (about 12 km).
Sections of the new Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (the Vadodara–Mumbai stretch) run roughly parallel to NH 48 in South Gujarat and open in stages. Where they are open, they can be faster and calmer; check a maps app for the current situation before you leave.
Where to break the journey
- Vadodara: breakfast stop for Ahmedabad drivers.
- Bharuch or Ankleshwar: highway food courts; the halfway point.
- Surat: lunch, and for food lovers, Surat's famous street food.
- Navsari or Valsad: a final tea break.
A 6 to 7-hour drive is a long day; share the driving, start early and avoid driving after dark on NH 48, which has heavy truck traffic at night.
By train
Ahmedabad and Vadodara are on the busy Ahmedabad–Mumbai line, and many trains a day stop at Vapi. Overnight trains let you arrive in the morning and save a day of driving; daytime intercity and express trains take about 5 to 6 hours from Ahmedabad and 3.5 to 4.5 hours from Vadodara. From Vapi, an auto or taxi to Daman takes about 25 minutes.
Check train numbers and timings on the official railway app; they change.
By bus
GSRTC and private sleeper and seater buses run from Ahmedabad and Vadodara to Vapi, and some go to Daman. Overnight sleeper buses are popular for long weekends.
Costs (approx.)
| Item | From Ahmedabad | From Vadodara |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel, round trip (petrol car) | ₹4,500–₹7,000 | ₹3,500–₹5,000 |
| Tolls, round trip | Over ₹1,000 with the expressway | Several hundred rupees |
| Train to Vapi, per person one way | A few hundred rupees in sleeper to over ₹1,500 in AC | Slightly less |
Rough figures for planning; fuel, tolls and fares change.
Gujarat prohibition: the drive back
For travellers from Ahmedabad and Vadodara, this is the most important part of the trip to get right.
Gujarat is a dry state. Carrying liquor bought in Daman back into Gujarat without a valid permit is an offence, police check vehicles at the Daman–Gujarat border points, and the penalties can be serious. Rules and permit conditions change, so check the current rules before you travel, and the simplest course is to bring nothing back.
Daman is a Union Territory, so Gujarat's prohibition law does not apply there and liquor is sold legally in licensed shops, bars and restaurants. If you drink, keep it moderate, never drive afterwards (book a cab or stay within walking distance of your villa), and never swim in the sea after drinking.
- Your route home passes several police check points, and checks are more frequent on weekend evenings and holidays.
- Gujarat's liquor permit system applies to specific categories of people and conditions; a tourist visiting Daman does not automatically get one.
- Keep your car papers, licence and ID ready.
How to plan a long weekend from Ahmedabad or Vadodara
Because of the distance, Daman works best from Ahmedabad as a 3-day trip and from Vadodara as 2 or 3 days.
Three days from Ahmedabad
- Day 1: leave by 6 am, lunch in Surat, reach Daman by 2 pm. Check in, rest, Devka at sunset.
- Day 2: Moti and Nani Daman forts in the morning, pool and lunch, Mirasol Lake Garden, dinner by the sea.
- Day 3: Jampore Beach early, breakfast, leave by 10 am to reach Ahmedabad by evening.
Two days from Vadodara
- Day 1: leave at 7 am, reach Daman by noon. Afternoon pool time, Moti Daman Fort at 4:30 pm, Devka sunset.
- Day 2: Jampore walk, Nani Daman Fort, lunch and leave by 2 pm.
Our Daman itinerary has more detail. If the drive feels too long for a short break, consider a farmhouse closer to home: Ahmedabad weekend farmhouses in Sanand, Bavla and Kheda or a Padra farmhouse weekend near Vadodara.
Driving the full route safely
- Share the driving if you can; 6–7 hours is a long day.
- Take a break every two hours, at Vadodara, Bharuch and Surat.
- Avoid NH 48 at night, when truck traffic is heaviest.
- Expect slow stretches near the Narmada bridges at Bharuch and around Surat.
- Keep the FASTag recharged; the expressway and NH 48 have several toll plazas.
- Keep vehicle papers and ID ready for checks at the Daman border on the way back.
Train vs car from Ahmedabad and Vadodara
| Train to Vapi | Car | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 5–6 h from Ahmedabad, 3.5–4.5 h from Vadodara, plus 25 min to Daman | 6–7 h from Ahmedabad, 4.5–5 h from Vadodara |
| Cost for 2 | Lower | Similar for 2; cheaper per head for 4–5 |
| Comfort | Rest, no driving fatigue; overnight options | Door to door, flexible |
| In Daman | Need autos or a hired car | Your own car for sightseeing |
For a couple, the train is often easier; for a family of four or five, driving usually works out cheaper and more convenient.
Sightseeing on the way
If you have time, break the journey with a short stop in Surat for its famous food, or at Dandi near Navsari for the Salt Satyagraha memorial. On the return, Udvada just north of Vapi is a quiet detour for Parsi heritage and bakeries.
Travelling with a big group
For a group of 15 to 50 from Ahmedabad or Vadodara, hiring a tempo traveller or bus with a driver removes the driving stress and keeps everyone together. Book a farmhouse with enough parking for the vehicle, and confirm the guest limit, music hours and check-in time with the host in advance.
Before you set off
Check the weather forecast, especially in the monsoon, when heavy rain slows NH 48. Confirm the check-in time with your host so you do not arrive too early after a long drive, and share the location pin with every car in your group.
Frequently asked questions
What is the distance from Ahmedabad to Daman?+
About 370 km by road via the Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway and NH 48, roughly 6 to 7 hours.
What is the distance from Vadodara to Daman?+
About 270 km, roughly 4.5 to 5 hours on NH 48 via Bharuch and Surat.
Is there a train from Ahmedabad to Daman?+
Daman has no railway station. Take a train to Vapi, about 5 to 6 hours from Ahmedabad, then a 25-minute taxi or auto.
Is there a train from Vadodara to Daman?+
Trains run from Vadodara to Vapi in about 3.5 to 4.5 hours. From Vapi, Daman is about 25 minutes by road.
Which is the best route from Ahmedabad to Daman?+
The Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway to Vadodara, then NH 48 south via Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and Valsad to Vapi and Daman. Check whether newer expressway sections are open.
How many days do I need for Daman from Ahmedabad?+
Three days is comfortable because of the 6 to 7-hour drive each way. Two days is possible but tiring.
Can I bring liquor from Daman to Ahmedabad?+
Gujarat is a dry state. Carrying liquor into Gujarat without a valid permit is an offence, and vehicles are checked. Check the current rules; the safe choice is to bring none.
Are there buses from Ahmedabad to Daman?+
Yes, GSRTC and private sleeper and seater buses run to Vapi and some to Daman, mostly overnight.
Where should I stop between Ahmedabad and Daman?+
Vadodara for breakfast, Bharuch or Ankleshwar at the halfway point, and Surat for lunch.
Is it safe to drive at night from Daman to Ahmedabad?+
NH 48 has heavy truck traffic at night. It is better to leave Daman in the morning and arrive in daylight.
Is Daman worth the drive from Ahmedabad?+
Yes, for a long weekend: the sea, Portuguese forts and a private villa or farmhouse make a real change from the city. For a single day, a farmhouse near Ahmedabad is more practical.
Where to stay in Daman
After a long drive, choose a stay where you can unpack for two nights. A villa near Devka is best for small families and couples; for a group of 20 to 50, a farmhouse in Moti Daman or Kachigam has space for everyone.
BookMyFarm lists 18 private stays in Daman: 10 villas, 5 farmhouses, 2 resort units and 1 serviced apartment. Nine are in Devka, a short walk or drive from Devka Beach; four are in Moti Daman near the fort and Jampore; the rest are in the quieter villages of Dunetha, Dalwada, Kadaiya and Kachigam. Eight have a private swimming pool, six share a pool with a small complex, and two large farmhouses have a kids' pool. They sleep anything from 4 to 50 guests, and each villa and farmhouse is booked whole, so your group has the place to itself.
| Stay | Sleeps | Pool | More in this area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 BHK farmhouse in Moti Daman, Daman – BMF-F086 | Up to 50 guests | Kids' pool | stays in Moti Daman |
| 5 BHK farmhouse with private pool in Kachigam, Daman – BMF-F082 | Up to 50 guests | Private pool | stays in Kachigam |
| 4 BHK farmhouse in Dalwada, Daman – BMF-F091 | Up to 18 guests | Kids' pool | stays in Dalwada |
| 4 BHK villa with private pool in Devka, Daman – BMF-V372 | Up to 18 guests | Private pool | stays in Devka |
| 4 BHK villa in Moti Daman, Daman – BMF-V089 | Up to 20 guests | Shared pool | stays in Moti Daman |
| 3 BHK villa with private pool in Devka, Daman – BMF-V541 | Up to 15 guests | Private pool | stays in Devka |
| If you want | Look at |
|---|---|
| A large group | farmhouses in Daman |
| Stays closer to home | farmhouses near Ahmedabad and farmhouses near Vadodara |
| A villa near Devka Beach | villas and stays in Devka |
| A private pool | villas in Daman (filter for a private pool) and Daman stays with a private pool |
| A big group or a party | farmhouses in Daman |
| A budget stay for two to four | resort rooms in Daman, the apartment in Daman and Daman stays on a budget |
| Near the fort and Jampore | stays in Moti Daman |
At the time of writing, the two resort units start at roughly ₹3,300 to ₹4,700 a day, most villas cost roughly ₹6,000 to ₹17,600 on weekdays and ₹7,000 to ₹22,000 on weekends, and the farmhouses cost roughly ₹13,500 to ₹24,500 on weekdays and ₹17,600 to ₹34,300 on weekends, with the 50-guest farmhouses at the top. Christmas, New Year, Diwali and long weekends cost more and sell out first. Prices change, so check the live rate on each listing. Browse every villa in Daman and every farmhouse in Daman, or see all stays on the Daman stays page.
More Daman guides
- Places to visit in Daman: tourist places and things to do
- Daman beaches: Devka and Jampore beach guide
- Moti Daman Fort and Nani Daman Fort guide
- Mirasol Lake Garden and the water park in Daman
- Daman itinerary for 1 or 2 days, and the best time to visit
- Surat to Daman distance and road trip
- Vapi, Valsad and Navsari to Daman distance
- Mumbai to Daman distance by road and train
- How to reach Daman: airport and railway station
- Resort in Daman: beach resorts and private alternatives
- Villa in Daman with a private pool
- Daman to Silvassa, and places to visit in Silvassa
- Daman vs Diu: which one should you visit?
- Daman nightlife, food and things to do at night