Day trips

The 15 Best Day Trips from Ruiru

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 15 good day trips from Ruiru, Kenya, led by Nairobi, Nakuru, Kikuyu. The closest is Thika, about 25 min by car, and 11 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Ruiru at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Nairobi22 km SW35 minHalf-day trip
Nakuru136 km NW2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Kikuyu35 km W40 minHalf-day trip
Thika17 km NE25 minHalf-day trip
Naivasha76 km NW1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Karuri23 km W35 minHalf-day trip
Mwala59 km SE1 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Ongata Rongai35 km SW40 minHalf-day trip
Lang'ata35 km SW40 minHalf-day trip
Limuru36 km W40 minHalf-day trip
Kitengela37 km S45 minHalf-day trip
Mlolongo28 km S40 minHalf-day trip
Ngong40 km SW45 minHalf-day trip
Athi River34 km S40 minHalf-day trip
Nyeri81 km N1 hr 15 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Ruiru

  1. 1

    Nairobi, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car22 km south-west of Ruiru1 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for Bomas of Kenya.

  2. 2

    Nakuru, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car136 km north-west of Ruiru4 hr 20 min round trip
  3. 3

    Kikuyu, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car35 km west of Ruiru1 hr 20 min round trip
  4. 4

    Thika, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car17 km north-east of Ruiru50 min round trip
  5. 5

    Naivasha, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car76 km north-west of Ruiru3 hr round trip
  6. 6

    Karuri, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car23 km west of Ruiru1 hr 10 min round trip
  7. 7

    Mwala, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 10 min by car59 km south-east of Ruiru2 hr 20 min round trip
  8. 8

    Ongata Rongai, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car35 km south-west of Ruiru1 hr 20 min round trip
  9. 9

    Lang'ata, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car35 km south-west of Ruiru1 hr 20 min round trip
  10. 10

    Limuru, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car36 km west of Ruiru1 hr 20 min round trip
  11. 11

    Kitengela, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car37 km south of Ruiru1 hr 30 min round trip
  12. 12

    Mlolongo, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car28 km south of Ruiru1 hr 20 min round trip
  13. 13

    Ngong, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car40 km south-west of Ruiru1 hr 30 min round trip
  14. 14

    Athi River, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car34 km south of Ruiru1 hr 20 min round trip
  15. 15

    Nyeri, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car81 km north of Ruiru2 hr 30 min round trip

A sample day trip: Ruiru to Nairobi

A realistic pace for Nairobi, 22 km from Ruiru. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Ruiru
  2. 09:05Arrive in Nairobi (35 min drive)
  3. 09:20Bomas of Kenya
  4. 11:20Lunch
  5. 12:35Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Nairobi
  6. 15:05Head back to Ruiru
  7. 15:40Home in Ruiru

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Ruiru?
The best day trips from Ruiru are Nairobi, Nakuru, Kikuyu, Thika, Naivasha. The closest is Thika, about 25 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Ruiru?
Thika is the closest, 17 km north-east of Ruiru, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Ruiru?
11 places are within about an hour's drive of Ruiru: Thika (25 min), Nairobi (35 min), Karuri (35 min), Mlolongo (40 min), Athi River (40 min), Kikuyu (40 min).
What is the biggest city near Ruiru for a day out?
Nairobi is the largest city in day-trip range, 22 km south-west of Ruiru and about 35 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Ruiru?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Nakuru at 136 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.

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