2 Day Trip to Shirdi by Cab from Mumbai: A Quick 2026 Guide

You need to get to Shirdi before the big crowds, so leave Mumbai before sunrise. Plan to be picked up at 4:30 AM. That gets you past the worst of the Thane-Bhiwandi truck traffic and into Shirdi by mid-morning. You'll still have the whole day for darshan. If you leave at 8 AM, you're stuck in that truck mess for two hours before you even reach the expressway.

This short guide is for 2026, with a straightforward two-day plan. We'll go over temple darshan rules, taxi fares (one-way vs. round trip), and booking via WhatsApp or the CabBazar app.

Route and Travel Time

It's about 240 to 280 km from Mumbai to Shirdi depending on your exact pickup point. Each taxi now takes the Samruddhi Mahamarg, the long expressway which has been fully operational since June 2025. The car will go past Thane and Bhiwandi, take the expressway near Amane, and exit at Shirdi.

Currently the direct link between Mumbai/Thane and the expressway, the Vadpe interchange, is under construction. For now drivers are taking a pit stop at the entry near Bhiwandi. A good taxi company will avoid preemptive advice from the time of booking and actually see how the road conditions are on the day of the drive. In case if the expressway is not accessible the past Mumbai Nashik Highway via Igatpuri-Ghoti are time-consuming (5-6 hours).

Day 1: Mumbai to Shirdi

• 4:30 AM: Pickup from your spot in Mumbai.
• 5:15 AM to 9:30 AM: Drive via Samruddhi Mahamarg. We'll make just one quick stop.
• 9:30 AM: Check into your hotel, get settled, and then go for your first darshan at the Samadhi Mandir.
• Afternoon: Explore Dwarkamai, Chavadi, Gurusthan.
• Evening: See the Dhoop Aarti at sunset.

Day 2: Kakad Aarti, Shani Shingnapur and the Drive Back

• 5:15 AM: Kakad Aarti. It's optional, but after that, you can do a regular darshan.
• 8:00 AM: Leave Shirdi for Shani Shingnapur. It's about 65 to 72 km, an hour and a half away. The actual Shani stone sits out in the open in this village where people famously don't have doors on their houses.
• 11:00 AM: Head back using the expressway again.
• 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM: Get back to Mumbai.

Thinking about Nashik and Trimbakeshwar as well?  The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela kicks off October 31, 2026. Expect crowd management around Nashik.

Shirdi Darshan: Timings and Rules

The Samadhi Mandir in Shirdi has a schedule. Temple opens at 4:45 AM, followed by Kakad Aarti at 5:15 AM. The noon aarti kicks off at midday. The Dhoop Aarti happens around sunset, and the day wraps up with Shej Aarti at 10:00 PM. You don't need to book for regular, free darshan. If you want a shorter wait, there's a ₹200 pass, bookable 60 days ahead, on the official site online.sai.org.in.

Pro tip: Watch out for other sites selling "VIP" passes marked up; they aren't official. No phones or cameras allowed in the darshan area. There's a free cloakroom for your stuff.

One-Way Taxi: When It Makes Sense

You'll pay for the taxi ride to your destination, but not the return to home if you choose this option. This is also great if you're headed out of Shirdi by air, train, local travel to Nashik, Aurangabad, or don't need the car until the next morning.
For a 2-day trip Mumbai to shirdi and then back to Mumbai on next day then may be to Shani Shingnapur. When you are booking around trip then you are actually not required to pay for additional driver charges for night stay. Divide the entire trip into two parts and book from single trip. No need of driver for both trips.

What It Costs

Costs depend on the vehicle, the date, your pickup point and whether you choose one-way or round trip. As a general guide across 2026 listings:

Tolls usually add about ₹440 each way on the expressway for a car, plus parking. Traveling Monday to Wednesday and avoiding holidays usually means cheaper fares. It costs more and fills up fast on Thursdays, weekends, and holidays.

Book Your Shirdi Cab on WhatsApp

1. Message CabBazar on WhatsApp at +91 9258722629.
2. Share your pickup pin, date and time, passenger count, and whether you want a one-way or round trip, plus any stops like Shani Shingnapur.
3. Get your quote and vehicle options, and confirmation in the same chat.

For frequent travellers, the CabBazar app available on App Store & Google Play store and offers added benefits and faster rebooking.

Before You Go

Get your darshan pass before you arrive. Leave Mumbai before the sun comes up. Figure out if you need one-way or round trip depending on your destination. Just message CabBazar on WhatsApp to arrange your cab.

Om Sai Ram!