One-Way vs Round Trip Cabs from Surat to Rajkot: Which Is Better?
Planning a road trip from Surat to Rajkot? Whether its a business visit, family holiday, or a weekend getaway, hiring a cab is one of the most convenient options. But the first question many travellers face is: which is best one-way or the round trip? Should I book a one-way cab or a round trip?
In this guide, well try to clear all the misconceptions related to one-way vs Round trip cab from Surat to Rajkot. This will help you in getting clarity regarding which service to pick and when to pick, along with the best possible options, like booking an online cab or choosing a local cab service provider for your journey.
Route Overview: Surat to Rajkot
- Distance: ~270290 km (varies by route)
- Travel time: Approx. 56 hours
- Road quality: Good national highways connecting both cities
- Common uses: Business travel, family visits, pilgrimages, shopping trips
Surat to Rajkot is a famous intercity route in Gujarat, thus the traffic is more than usual due to frequent business travels or any important work result in the operation of many cab services in this stretch.
Understanding the Two Options
Before choosing the cab services, it is important to have a basic understanding of both services so that it becomes easier for you to pick one.
1. One-Way Cab
A one-way cab takes you only from Surat to Rajkot, and the cab and driver are not expected to wait for your return trip. You pay for the distance travelled and drop-off at the destination.
Best for:
- Travellers who plan to return by train/flight
- Visitors who want a one-way transfer without cab idle time
- Budget-conscious travelers
2. Round Trip Cab
A round-trip cab takes you from Surat to Rajkot and then back to Surat with the same cab and driver.
Best for:
- People planning a same-day return journey
- Travelers with unpredictable return plans
- Business travelers with meetings
Cost Breakdown: One-Way vs Round Trip
Pricing varies by vehicle type (hatchback, sedan, SUV, luxury), provider, fuel cost, tolls, taxes, and cancellation policies.
Heres a general comparison:
Feature | One-Way Cab | Round Trip Cab |
Base Fare | Lower | Higher (includes both ways) |
Total kms charged | Only Surat → Rajkot | Surat → Rajkot + Rajkot → Surat |
Driver allowance | Usually included | Higher due to waiting/overnight |
Toll charges | Included (one way) | Included (both ways) |
Return flexibility | High | Depends on the booking |
Cost-effectiveness | Good for a single journey | Better for round-trip plans |
Example Estimate (Indicative):
- One-way: ₹4,000 ₹6,500
- Round Trip: ₹8,000 ₹12,000+
(Actual prices vary by vehicle class and time of booking.)
Tip: Always ask for tax, toll, and driver allowance details upfront.
Advantages of One-Way Cabs
Cost reduction: A one-way cab only charges for the distance you travel once, making it cheaper if you are not returning in the same vehicle.
More flexible choices: You can book another option for return, such as by train, bus, or flight from Rajkot, without worrying about cab waiting charges.
No waiting period charges: Since the cab drops you in Rajkot and leaves, you avoid return idle waiting fees that increase your cost if your stay is postponed.
Fulfil all pre-requests: For many travellers (e.g., business trip, one-way or outbound journey only), a one-way cab is sufficient and cost-effective.
Time saving: No need to wait while the cab sits idle in Rajkot until your return.
Advantages of Round Trip Cabs
1. Prons of Same Cab: No need to book a separate cab for the return, and the same driver handles the entire journey, thus you are familiar with him and thus a more comfortable journey if travelling with family.
2. Ideal for Round Trips in a Single Day: If your work consists of only a single day and you plan to return the same day, a round trip makes more sense, reduces your cost, and is more efficient.
3. Flexible Returns: You can return whenever your plans conclude without worrying about booking any other transport, train, bus, or any other cab, etc.
4. More comfortable: for Families or Group travellers: When travelling with kids, the elderly or in a group, it is better to travel by round-trip cabs. They provide comfort, are more accommodating, and can adjust time according to kids and the elderly, for example, tea, lunch, dinner, and washroom breaks.
5. No Hassle of Alternate Transportation: No switching between different modes of travel, for example, hiring any local cab or auto for travelling to local destinations, you can use the cab as the driver is familiar with local routes.
Which Is Better for Different Scenarios?
Heres how your choice might vary by situation:
Scenario 1: Business Trip (One Way)
If you are travelling to Rajkot for meetings and plan to return by flight from Rajkot or by train, a one-way cab is usually cheaper and more practical.
Best choice: One-Way
Scenario 2: Weekend Family Trip
If you plan to go to Rajkot, spend the weekend, and return to Surat in the same cab, then a round trip provides convenience and ensures you dont have to find separate transport back.
Best choice: Round Trip
Scenario 3: Pilgrimage or Leisure Travel
If your trip involves visiting relatives, local sightseeing, or an uncertain return schedule, round trip can give flexibility.
Best choice: Round Trip
Scenario 4: Mixed Transport Plans
If you go to Rajkot by cab but return via bus or train due to cost or timing, a one-way option is likely ideal.
Best choice: One-Way
Comfort, Safety Driver Logistics
Driver Comfort Rules: For round trips, drivers may require:
- Meals and refreshments
- Payment for waiting time
- Comfortable rest breaks
In most of the cases, these costs are often built into the fare, but still well recommend you to ensure it in advance to save yourself from last minute hussle.
Safety Considerations
- Always verify the drivers identity and vehicle number. This becomes all the more important in case youre a female and travelling solo.
- Ensure the cab has working seat belts and permits. This is the basic safety feature of a car, so it must not be avoided in any case.
- Keep contact info shared with someone at home; this provides you with that extra security cushion.
Round-trip tickets reduce unfamiliar pick-ups, while one-ways may require you to find return transport later.
Also read: Essential Safety Tips for Travelling by Cab in Surat
Tips to Save Extra Money
In ase your planning for one-way or round-trip cab services, the tips mentioned below can help in reducing cab charges considerably:
1. Book Early: By pre-booking a cab service in advance rather than booking on the same day, one can save the extra charges you have to pay while choosing a last minute bookings.
2. Compare Rates: Try to compare rates of multiple cab providers like MakeMyTrip, Savaari, local services, Ola Intercity, etc. This will help you get a basic idea about the average market rate for the same distance travelled, and thus, you can save yourself from extra costs.
3. Negotiate for Round Trips: For round trips, always try to negotiate waiting charges if you plan to stop for breaks or if you want to postpone or prepone your trip.
4. Choose the right vehicle: For solo or couple travel, a sedan or hatchback is cheaper than Suv while if travelling with family, go for Innova, Tata Safari, crita etc
5. Avoid Peak Travel Times: Try to avoid travelling during Weekends and public holidays as the demand increases in peak seasons, thus raising the fare as well.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Ignoring Return Costs: Some travellers book one-way but forget to factor in return ticket or cab costs.
2. Not Clarifying Inclusions or exclusions like toll, parking, state taxes, break time, and driver stay charges before the booking.
3. Booking Without Licensing Details: Try to void unregistered or unpermitted cabs and check the driver’s license as well.
4. Overlooking Comfort Needs: For longer journey always try to prioritise comfort like proper cooling, water bottles, enough legspace etc.
The Importance of Tolls, Permits Taxes
Intercity travel between Surat and Rajkot involves:
- Tolls on highways
- State charges (if applicable)
- Driver allowance and overnight charges (for round-trip)
Most reliable providers include toll charges in the final quote. Always ask for a breakdown of charges.
Pros Cons at a Glance
Feature | One-Way Cab | Round Trip Cab |
Cost | Lower | Higher overall |
Flexibility | High | Moderate |
Return Convenience | Depends on other transport | Very High |
Waiting/Idle Charges | No | Yes |
Best for | One-way travel | Same day or flexible return |
Booking Simplicity | Easy | Slightly complex |
Conclusion: One-Way or Round Trip—Which Wins?
One cant say that this is best or that is best as every individual tries to do what suits his/her schedule, budget, comfort, and travel needs. Choose One-Way when you plan not to return in the same vehicle, the journey fits your itinerary, or uncertain about your return and you want to keep your cost low.
But if you want a comfortable,single-booking experience and hassle-free travel, and plan to return the same day or within a short timeframe, or in case you prioritise convenience over cost, then choose a round trip, as it is more efficient.
Unlike other services, RK Cabs provides a network in both cities that allows us to offer affordable one-way fares without charging for return trips. You only pay for your actual journey from Surat to Mumbai.
Yes, we do take last-minute bookings, both through the website and our customer care number. We respond to immediate bookings within less than 15 minutes on average.
RK Cabs offers free cancellation up to 2 hours before your scheduled pickup time. For later cancellations, a nominal fee applies. You can modify your booking through our customer care.
We have multiple payment options- cash, UPI, credit/debit cards, and net banking. You can select any of these at the time of booking.
All our vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking, first-aid kits, and are regularly sanitised. We also provide driver details and live tracking to the customer before the journey.
Yes, though we specialise in Surat-Mumbai routes, we also serve other major routes in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Please check our website for route availability or call customer care.
