Khardung La is at times incorrectly cited as the highest vehicle-accessible pass in the world. A well-graded Indian military road (visible on 2011 imagery on visual globe systems such as Google Earth) reaches 5,610 metres (18,406 ft) 250 meters west of the 5,545 metres (18,192 ft) Mana Pass on the India-Tibet border. It connects with an equally well-constructed, slightly lower Chinese military road based on SRTM data at posting intervals of 30 meters. There are also higher motorable passes at Suge La, west of Lhasa, 5,430 m (17,815 feet), and Semo La 5,565 m (18,258 feet), between Raka and Coqen in Central Tibet.

GPS and SRTM data confirms these elevations; the latter was measured by an expedition supported by the Cartographic Institute of Catalonia, Spain.

Vehicles have been driven over the 5,582 metres (18,314 ft) Marsimik La, in the Indian Karakoram to the northeast of Khardung La, but it is debatable whether this pass should be considered to be motorable.

In November 2017, BRO (Border Road Organisation) claimed a new 19,300 foot World Highest Motorable Pass at Umlingla, 32:42 N 79:16 E, but examination of the course of this dirt track on Google Earth shows that its actual height of is closer to 5,800 metres (19,029 ft).
The nearest sizable town is Leh. Leh is connected by road from Manali and Srinagar, and daily flights are operated from Delhi. From Leh, a daily bus service to Nubra Valley passes over Khardungla which may also be reached by a hired car with an experienced driver or by bike. The two bases on either side of Khardong La are North Pullu and South Pullu.

An Inner Line Permit (ILP) which can be acquired at the DC's office in Leh is required for tourists (not needed for Jammu and Kashmir citizens). Travelers are required to check in en route and must provide photocopies of the permits to be deposited at each checkpoint.

Altitude sickness is a serious health concern for travelers not previously to high altitudes. Prophylactic altitude-sickness medication like acetazolamide may be necessary for some travelers as there are no emergency medical facilities to treat altitude sickness along the route.

The road is closed from approximately October to May due to snow and is often subject to long delays due to traffic congestion on narrow one-lane sections, washouts, landslides, and road accidents.