Key Takeaways
- Distance from Lucknow to Bareilly is approximately 250 km, typically a 5-6 hour journey.
- Fares start around Rs.210-260 for Ordinary buses on this Rohilkhand-region corridor.
- This route serves a mix of daily commuters and travelers connecting onward toward the hill regions of Uttarakhand.
The UPSRTC Lucknow to Bareilly bus connects the state capital to Bareilly, a major hub in the Rohilkhand region and a common transit point for travelers heading further toward Nainital and other hill destinations. This guide covers fare, timings, and booking for this corridor.
Route Overview
- Distance: Approximately 250 km
- Journey time: 5-6 hours depending on traffic and stops
- Bus types available: Ordinary and Janrath AC
UPSRTC Lucknow to Bareilly Fare
- Ordinary: Approximately Rs.210-260
- Janrath AC: Priced higher for the AC/reclining upgrade
Confirm exact current pricing with the UPSRTC fare calculator before booking.
Timings
This route runs several daily departures given its role connecting Lucknow to the Rohilkhand region and serving as a transit point toward the hills. Check the official BusTime tool for the current day’s schedule.
Using This Route as a Hill-Travel Connection
A meaningful portion of travelers on this corridor are using Bareilly as a stepping stone toward Nainital, Almora, or other Uttarakhand hill destinations rather than Bareilly itself as the final stop. If this describes your trip:
- Check your onward hill-region connection’s departure time first, then work backward to choose a Lucknow departure with a safe buffer — hill routes often have more limited daily departures than plains routes, so missing a connection can mean a much longer wait than on a flatland corridor.
- Consider an overnight stay in Bareilly if your onward connection doesn’t align well same-day, rather than risking a tight transfer.
- Confirm whether your onward hill route departs from the same depot you arrive at in Bareilly, since some connecting services use a different boarding point across town.
How to Book
Open the UPSRTC booking portal.
Set Lucknow as origin, Bareilly as destination.
Compare available departures and bus types.
Complete passenger details and payment.
What to Do If No Seats Show Available
- Try adjusting your departure time slightly rather than assuming zero availability across the whole day — this route has enough frequency that a different time slot often has open seats.
- Check the reverse-direction schedule if your dates have flexibility, since Bareilly to Lucknow demand patterns don’t always mirror this direction exactly.
Boarding Points
Lucknow departures typically originate from Alambagh or Charbagh depot, with Bareilly arrivals routing through the city’s main bus stand — a common transfer point for onward hill-region travel.
Bareilly Beyond the Hill-Route Connection
While a meaningful share of this route’s traffic continues onward toward the hills, Bareilly is also a significant destination in its own right — known for its furniture and handicraft trade, and as an important administrative center for the Rohilkhand region. Travelers with business or family ties directly in Bareilly make up the other major share of demand on this corridor, and this group tends to show more consistent weekday travel patterns compared to the more weekend-skewed hill-connector traffic.
Comparing This Route to Alternative Rohilkhand Corridors
Lucknow connects to the broader Rohilkhand region through several routes beyond this direct Bareilly corridor. If your final destination is elsewhere in the region — Rampur, Moradabad, or Pilibhit, for example — it’s worth checking whether a direct route exists rather than assuming Bareilly is always the most efficient staging point, since some Rohilkhand destinations have their own direct Lucknow connections that bypass Bareilly entirely.
Seasonal Considerations
This route’s hill-connector traffic segment sees predictable seasonal patterns tied to the broader Kumaon tourist season — heavier in summer months when Delhi-NCR and Lucknow-region travelers escape to cooler hill temperatures, and lighter during monsoon months when hill travel generally becomes less predictable due to road conditions further along connecting routes.
FAQs: UPSRTC Lucknow to Bareilly Bus
How long does the Lucknow to Bareilly bus take?
Approximately 5-6 hours for the roughly 250 km distance.
Is this a good route for connecting to Nainital or other hill destinations?
Yes, many travelers use Bareilly as a transit point — just build in a buffer for your onward connection given more limited hill-route frequency.
What’s the fare for an Ordinary bus?
Estimated at Rs.210-260; confirm the current figure with the fare calculator.
Are AC buses available on this route?
Yes, Janrath AC runs alongside the more frequent Ordinary service.
What if my preferred departure shows no seats?
Try a nearby time slot on the same day, since this route runs frequently enough that full availability is uncommon across every departure.
Where do I board in Bareilly for an onward hill connection?
Confirm whether your onward service uses the same depot you arrive at, since some hill-region connections board from a different point across the city.
If Bareilly is a stopover rather than your destination, planning the connection first and working backward to your Lucknow departure time will save more hassle than booking this leg in isolation.
