EXACTLY How To Get From Johor Bahru To Kuala Lumpur [2023]

Published Categorized as Johor Bahru
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Kuala Lumpur has a lot of things to offer visitors, especially when it comes to sights, notably the iconic Petronas twin towers. Malaysia’s capital is also known to be a melting pot of cultures, and known to be one of the most culturally diverse cities in Southeast Asia.

Equally as stunning, Johor Bahru is the third-largest city in Malaysia and has increasingly been one of the country’s top tourist destinations.  From its well-known theme park attractions, detectable restaurants, trendy shopping scene, to its vibrant nightlife, Johor Bahru is a fantastic city that has plenty to offer.

So, if you’re wondering how you can get from Johor Bahru to KL, the distance Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur, or how you can take transportation from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru, then you’ve come to the right place.

Below, I describe exactly how to get to Kuala Lumpur from Johor Bahru no matter what you’re preferred method of transport.  Whether you are looking to book a Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur flight, take a bus from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur, travel Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur by train, take a taxi from JB to KL or drive from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur by car.  In this guide, I cover all options.

I also describe the reverse journey from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru.

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Map: JB To KL

The following JB to KL map shows you how you can get to and from these places.

Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur map
Click the Map to open in Google Maps. You can then access directions to each of the locations discussed in this article.

Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur distance is approximately 331 km. with about 4 hours of driving time depending on your pace.

BEST OPTION: How To Get From Johor Bahru To Kuala Lumpur

If you’re travelling on a budget, your most convenient transportation option is to take a bus.

Meanwhile, the quickest and most comfortable option is to take a taxi.

Option 1: JB To KL Flight

If you’re planning to fly to and from these destinations, there are cheap flights from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur offered by airline carriers like Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, Firefly, and Air Asia Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur.

Approximate flying time is an hour and expect to spend around RM100 for flights, but this can get cheaper with promos. Find prices here.

You can catch your flight from Johor to Kuala Lumpur at Senai International Airport. To get to the airport, ride a taxi or a Grab from the central city square. Distance from the city centre to the airport is approximately 29 km and about 30 minutes of travel time.

Similarly, you can also catch a Senai Airport Shuttle that goes from Singapore and also stops at the Causeway and JB Sentral on the way.

Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru

Now, once you arrive in Kuala Lumpur, note that the distance from the airport to the main city centre is about 55 km and a 50 minutes drive.

You have three options here. Your first option is to either take the taxi or Grab. Travel time is approximately 50 minutes and costs about RM75.

Similarly, you can ride the KLIA Express that will drop you off at KL Sentral Station, travel time is approximately 28 minutes and costs around RM35.

The final option is to take the airport bus coach service or shuttle that will drop you at KL Sentral station. Travel time is about an hour, and costs around RM10.

Flying is the quickest way to get to your destination, but it’s also the most costly. So, if you think you have extra time to spare, and you want to cut on travel expenses, you can choose the other options on this list.

Click here to see the prices for your dates.

Option 2: JB To KL Bus

If you find flying too expensive, a cheaper alternative is to ride the bus to Kuala Lumpur from Johor Bahru.  There are a lot of Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur bus lines at JB Larkin Terminal that takes this route. Most buses run daily, and on an hourly basis depending on the concentration of passengers.

Now, if you’re planning to take the Johor Bahru to KL bus, it’s best to secure your bus ticket from JB to KL in advance as there’s a large influx of travellers on the peak season, or during weekends. Better check the bus schedule from JB to KL ahead of time, as well.

You can also book your bus ticket from Johor to KL on Klook here.

Keep in mind that the Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur bus travel time is approximately 4.5 hours, and the Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur bus fare is about RM35. You will be dropped off at TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) in Kuala Lumpur.

Taking the coach from JB to KL is one of the cost-effective ways to get to your destination since the bus ticket Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur is relatively cheap.

So, getting a bus fare from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur is perfect if you’re a budget-traveller. However, if you’re short on time, then we recommend that you fly via plane, or take a private vehicle.

Click here to see the latest timetables and prices

Option 3: Train From JB To KL

Another option is to take the train from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur. From JB Sentral, catch the first KTM train that will take you to Gemas or Pulau Sebang/Tampin. Then, ride the second train that will take you to Kuala Lumpur.

All in all, taking the Johor to KL train will take approximately 7.5 hours. The train ticket from JB to KL will cost around RM60. You will need to catch two trains in total and you’ll be paying RM30 for each part of the trip.

You should check the schedule of the KTM Johor Bahru to KL Sentral in advance to avoid the hassle. Overnight travellers can take the sleeper train Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur.

Although taking the KTM JB to KL is cheap, it will take you longer to get to your destination. But if you need some downtime in your travels and need a cheap option, then, taking the JB train to KL is an ideal option.

But if your goal is to your destination quickly, instead of taking the train from Kuala Lumpur from Johor Bahru, you can fly via plane, or take a private vehicle.

Click here to see the latest timetables and prices

Option 4: Johor Bahru To Kuala Lumpur By Car

Now, if you want to travel by car, note that the distance between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur is about 331km. and an approximate driving time of about 4 hours.

You can either bring your own private vehicle or look for a car rental from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur.

Taking your car with you or looking for a car rental JB to KL is a great option because you’ll have a more flexible itinerary, allowing you to drop by notable attractions along the way. It’s easier to go from one attraction to the next.

However, this isn’t the best option if you’re travelling on a budget and you want to cut costs.

Click here to read more about driving in Malaysia.

Option 5: Taxi From JB To KL

Now the last and final option is to take a taxi from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur.

Note that this will take approximately 4 hours of travel time, and will cost around RM600. We can book your a private taxi with a trustworthy local operator here. This is the easiest and quickest way to travel between the two places.

Similarly, you can arrange a private transfer from JB to KL via Klook (but our service here is better and cheaper!)

Taking the taxi is a convenient option if you have a lot of stuff with you, and you want a more experienced driver to take you to your destination. It means no lugging your luggage around in the heat and getting there as fast as possible so you have more time for more fun things.

Kuala Lumpur To Johor Bahru

Meanwhile, if you’re wondering how to get to Johor Bahru from Kuala Lumpur, all you need to do is to take the same transportation options in reverse.

From Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru (KL to JB,) you can either take a KL to JB flight, ride a KL to JB bus, hop on a KL to JB train, travel from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru by car, or a ride a taxi.

If you’re flying, you can take your Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru flight at the KL airport. Pick the cheapest flight from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru if you want to cut costs.  Note that the distance between the airport to the main city centre is approximately 55 km, and about a 50-minute drive.  Click here to see the prices for your dates.

From the airport, you can either take the taxi/Grab, ride the KLIA Express that will take you to KL Sentral Station, or the shuttle from the airport to the KL Sentral Station.

Central Johor Bahru

The next option is to take the Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru bus. There are a lot of buses that travel on this route at the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, and travel multiple times daily. Just make sure to check the KL to Johor Bahru bus schedule, and purchase your bus ticket from KL to JB in advance to avoid the hassle.

When riding a KL to Johor Bahru bus, the approximate travel time is 4.5 hrs. The bus fare from KL to JB will cost around RM35. Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru distance is 331 km.

Click here to see the latest timetables and prices

Similarly, you can also travel from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru by train. You can ride the first KTM KL to JB train from KL Sentral to Gemas.

Then from Gemas, ride the second train that will take you to JB Sentral. You will have to take two trains all in all to get to your destination. As an alternative, you can also catch the express train from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru.

Click here to see the latest timetables and prices

Alternatively, you can also travel from KL to Johor Bahru via car or taxi. We can book a private taxi for you here.

Want the Easiest (and BEST) Way to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru?

We can book a taxi for you from anywhere in Johor Bahru directly to your hotel in Kuala Lumpur for a great price.

You can pick your own departure time, relax and know everything will go to plan.

Click here for prices and online booking.

Final Words

So there you have it. Keep in mind that if you’re travelling from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur, the quickest way to get to your destination is to fly via plane.

But if you don’t mind longer travel times, and you want to cut costs, a cheaper alternative is to take the bus or train.

Looking for the ultimate Malaysia Itinerary Planner for your trip? Click here to get it now!

No matter what method of travel you decide on, I hope you found this guide to how to travel to and from KL to Johor Bahru helpful.  Check our full travel guides on KL here and Johor Bahru here. If you’re doing other travel around Malaysia you can find details on how to get to and from Ipoh To Kuala Lumpur here.

Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!

By Sharon Gourlay

Sharon is an Australian who has fallen in love with Malaysia! She explores Malaysia multiple times a year, often with her kids, and has previously lived in Penang.