Tashkent to Bukhara by Car
Bukhara sits beyond Samarkand: 578 kilometres from Tashkent and about seven hours of actual driving. Most of our customers break the trip with a night in Samarkand, which is the right call — you cannot absorb both cities in a single day. You collect the car in Tashkent and follow the M39 and then the M37.
On a map 578 km looks like one long day. In Uzbekistan it really is not. Pure driving time is about 7 hours, plus checkpoints, fuel, lunch and the inevitable photo stops, which puts the door-to-door figure at 9 – 10 hours. The better split is Tashkent to Samarkand on day one (4 hours), an afternoon and morning in Samarkand, then Samarkand to Bukhara on day three (3 – 3.5 hours).
The drive: M39 then M37
Up to Samarkand you are on the same M39 as the standalone Samarkand trip: 308 km of mostly fresh asphalt. After Samarkand the road becomes the M37 and runs across flat country through Kattakurgan and Navoiy. This is the most monotonous section — steppe, sparse villages, long straights. Surface quality is generally good with occasional rippling, so a steady 100 km/h is comfortable.
- Refuel in Samarkand or in Navoiy — the stretch between has fewer stations.
- Navoiy has decent cafés and toilets at the Lukoil and UNG stations.
- Police checkpoints are more frequent here than on the M39. Mind the speed limit, especially approaching Bukhara.
- Mobile coverage is solid the whole way, including data.
What to see in Bukhara
Bukhara is compact — the historic centre is comfortably walkable in a day. A logical loop: Lyab-i-Hauz with the three madrasas around the pond, then the trading domes Toki-Zargaron, Toki-Telpak-Furushon and Toki-Sarrafon, the Po-i-Kalyan ensemble with the 47-metre Kalyan minaret (the famous Tower of Death, from which condemned prisoners were once thrown), the Kalyan mosque and the still-active Mir-i-Arab madrasa opposite. Chor-Minor is a short side trip, 15 minutes on foot from Lyab-i-Hauz.
The Ark fortress — where the emir lived — is open as a museum and takes about an hour and a half. With a spare half-day, drive out to Sitorai Mohi-Khosa, the emir’s summer palace four kilometres from the centre. Parking there is free and easy.
Where to park
Vehicles cannot enter the immediate Lyab-i-Hauz area. The nearest parking is by Bolo-Hauz and on the Khakikat side. Most guesthouses in the old town either have a courtyard or arrange a neighbour’s spot. Overnight is usually 10 – 20 thousand soum, daytime 5 – 10 thousand.
Which car to choose
Seven hours of highway means comfort matters — your back should not give up before Bukhara. The Chevrolet Malibu 2 is the all-rounder pick: quiet, soft, economical, happy at 110 km/h. For three or four people with luggage, the Hyundai Tucson crossover gives more space and a higher seating position that subjectively eases the long stretch. If your plan continues past Bukhara — towards Khiva or into the mountains — the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado spares you a mid-trip car change. All three are available from the Rentz.uz Tashkent office on rentals from three days up.
FAQ
Can I drive to Bukhara in a single day?
Technically yes — 7 hours of driving, around 10 with stops. But we strongly suggest breaking the trip with a night in Samarkand. Otherwise you arrive too tired to enjoy Bukhara.
Do I need an SUV?
No. The M39 and M37 are paved end to end. A comfort sedan handles the route fine. You only need an SUV if you continue past Bukhara to Khiva across the desert.
Where is best for the overnight stop?
Samarkand is the standard pick — plenty of hotels, courtyard parking, evening walks around Registan. Hotels in Navoiy or Kattakurgan work only as a fallback.
What about fuel between Samarkand and Bukhara?
Stations are less dense than on the M39. The reliable points are leaving Samarkand, Navoiy and entering Bukhara. Keep the tank above half.
Are there toll roads?
No tolls on the M39 or M37. Tourist-site parking in Samarkand and Bukhara is paid but cheap, around 5,000 – 20,000 soum.
How many days should I plan for the whole trip?
Minimum 4 days (1 driving with a Samarkand overnight, 1.5 in Bukhara, 1.5 back). Comfortable plan: 5 – 6 days with a full day each in Samarkand and Bukhara.