Techniques for routing and forwarding between multiple virtual routers implemented by a single device are described. A second virtual router is configured to learn routes from a first virtual router. A first route is inserted into a first routing table of the first virtual router, which includes a next hop corresponding to a physical network interface of the device leading to an external destination. The first route is distributed to a second virtual router to be installed in a second routing table as a second route, responsive to the second virtual router begin configured to learn routes from the first virtual router. Responsive to receiving a packet, the packet is forwarded according to a forwarding table entry corresponding to the second route of the second routing table to send the packet using the physical network interface to the external destination.