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A 2026 Field Guide · Road Trips · Bengaluru

15 best road trips from Bengaluru, by distance and what each one actually costs.

2,400 words · 8 min read
Published May 2026
By SelfDriveBLR Editorial
Bengaluru's traffic is its own kind of tax. The way to dodge it is to leave early, point the car west or south, and be in a coffee estate, a fort ruin, or a waterfall canyon before the city even wakes up. The road trips from Bengaluru you can do on a weekend are wildly varied — a 60 km sunrise drive to Nandi Hills, a 265 km haul to Coorg, a 485 km push to Gokarna's emptier beaches. This list ranks 15 destinations by drive distance, with the actual route, fuel and toll estimates, and what to skip if your time is tight.
Day trip · <100 km Weekend · 100–300 km Long weekend · 300+ km
# Destination Distance Drive time Best for Trip length
01Nandi Hills60 km1.5 hrsSunrise, first-timersHalf-day
02Skandagiri70 km1.5 hrsNight trek + sunrise1 day
03Ramanagara49 km1.5 hrsBouldering, picnic1 day
04Chunchi Falls90 km2 hrsRiverside, monsoon1 day
05Lepakshi120 km2.5 hrsTemple architecture1 day
06Shivanasamudra135 km3 hrsTwin waterfalls1 day
07Mysuru145 km3 hrsPalace, heritage1–2 days
08Hogenakkal Falls180 km4 hrsCoracle rides2 days
09Kabini220 km4.5 hrsWildlife safari2 days
10Bandipur220 km5 hrsTigers, jungle2 days
11Sakleshpur220 km4.5 hrsCoffee, ghats2 days
12Chikmagalur240 km5 hrsCoffee, peaks2–3 days
13Coorg265 km5.5 hrsCoffee country classic2–3 days
14Wayanad270 km6 hrsCaves, jungle3 days
15Gokarna485 km9 hrsQuieter than Goa3 days
Tier One · Under 100 km

Easy day trips from Bengaluru

01

Nandi HillsThe classic sunrise drive

The 60 km predawn drive up NH-44 to Nandi Hills is what most Bengalureans cut their road-trip teeth on. Leave Indiranagar or Hebbal by 4:30 AM, get past Devanahalli before the airport-bound traffic builds, and you'll be at the gate by sunrise. The view from Tipu's Drop — clouds settled in the valleys below at 4,851 ft — is the payoff.

The road is fully four-laned till Chikkaballapur, then the ghat climb begins. Mornings, expect a queue at the entry gate; the gate opens at 6 AM and the most-photographed sunrise spots fill within 20 minutes. Skip weekends if you want any solitude.

Practical info Distance: 60 km · NH-44 · Drive time: 1.5 hrs · Entry: ₹30 person · ₹50 car · Open: 6 AM – 10 PM · Best time: Sept – Feb · Fuel tip: Top up before Devanahalli
02

SkandagiriSunrise above the clouds

Skandagiri sits 70 km from Bengaluru and 3 km behind Nandi Hills, but the experience is the opposite. Where Nandi is a drive-up viewpoint, Skandagiri is a 4 km moderate trek you start at 3 AM to reach the summit before first light. The reward — ruins of Tipu Sultan's 18th-century fort framed against a sea of clouds — is one of the most photographed sights near the city.

Pre-booking through Karnataka Eco-tourism is mandatory and strictly enforced; no walk-ins. Drive to Papagni Mutt at the base, park, and start the climb with a headlamp.

Practical info Distance: 70 km · NH-44 · Drive time: 1.5 hrs to base · Entry: ₹450 trek · Night trek: ₹800–1,200 · Booking: Karnataka Eco-tourism · Best time: Nov – March
03

RamanagaraSholay's rocks, a short drive south

The 49 km hop down NH-275 to Ramanagara is the shortest legitimate road trip on this list. The granite boulders here doubled as Gabbar Singh's hideout in Sholay, and they now draw bouldering enthusiasts, day picnickers, and trekkers heading up Savandurga — the largest monolith hill in Asia.

The drive on the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway is smooth all the way; pick a Saturday morning to avoid weekend Mysuru traffic.

Practical info Distance: 49 km · NH-275 · Drive time: 1.5 hrs · Entry: Free · ₹40 watchtower · Best time: Nov – Feb · Eat at: Kamat Lokaruchi, Bidadi · Crowd: Avoid weekends
04

Chunchi FallsKanakapura's monsoon secret

90 km south on the Kanakapura road, Chunchi Falls drops into a gorge of the Arkavathy. It's a half-day trip ideal between July and October, when the falls are full. The road via Kanakapura is two-laned and slow in stretches, but the drive through the Bannerghatta forest belt is genuinely scenic.

The last 5 km off the highway is rough dirt track — better in an SUV than a hatchback, especially after rain.

Practical info Distance: 90 km · Kanakapura Rd · Drive time: 2 hrs · Entry: Free · Best time: Jul – Oct (post-monsoon) · Network: Patchy last 5 km · Vehicle: SUV recommended

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Tier Two · 100–300 km

Weekend getaways from Bengaluru

05

LepakshiThe hanging pillar and India's largest Nandi

The 120 km drive on NH-7 north to Lepakshi takes you across the Karnataka–Andhra border to a 16th-century Vijayanagara temple complex. The Veerabhadra Temple's hanging pillar — which doesn't touch the floor — is the postcard image, but the painted ceiling and the 27-foot monolithic Nandi statue 200 metres up the road are more impressive in person.

This is a half-day trip if you're efficient. The highway is excellent; the only slow patch is the last 12 km off NH-7 to the village itself.

Practical info Distance: 120 km · NH-7 · Drive time: 2.5 hrs · Entry: Free · Open: 6 AM – 6 PM · Best time: Oct – Feb · Eat at: Hindupur dhabas
06

ShivanasamudraTwin waterfalls and Talakad's buried temples

Shivanasamudra is 135 km south-west of Bengaluru, where the Kaveri splits into two parallel falls — Gaganachukki and Barachukki — that together drop about 90 metres. The drive via Kanakapura and Malavalli takes you through paddy country and the Cauvery basin's mango belt.

Pair the falls with Talakad, the half-buried temple town 30 km further, and you've got a full day. Both falls are at their best between July and October.

Practical info Distance: 135 km · via Malavalli · Drive time: 3 hrs · Entry: Free · ₹30 parking · Coracle ride: ₹100–200 person · Best time: Jul – Oct · Pair with: Talakad temples
07

MysuruThe heritage classic

The 145 km drive to Mysuru on the now-completed Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway takes barely 3 hours, down from 5–6 before the expressway opened. Mysuru Palace is the headline — especially lit up on Sunday evenings between 7 and 8 PM — but the city rewards a slower visit. Devaraja Market for jasmine and incense, Brindavan Gardens for the musical fountain, and Mysore masala dosa at Vinayaka Mylari for breakfast.

The expressway has limited rest stops; fuel up at Bidadi or wait for Maddur. Tolls run ₹250–300 round trip.

Practical info Distance: 145 km · NH-275 · Drive time: 3 hrs · Palace entry: ₹100 Indians · ₹200 foreign · Open: 10 AM – 5:30 PM · Toll RT: ₹250–300 · Best time: Oct – March
08

Hogenakkal FallsThe "Niagara of India"

Hogenakkal is 180 km south-east via Hosur, on the Tamil Nadu side of the Kaveri. The falls split into multiple cascades that you ride through in a coracle — the round bamboo boats the area is famous for. The drive itself goes through banana and coconut plantations once you cross into Tamil Nadu.

Hogenakkal is at its most dramatic in August–September after monsoon discharge from upstream Karnataka dams. Coracle rides shut down during very high water — operators decide day-by-day.

Practical info Distance: 180 km · NH-44 · Drive time: 4 hrs · Entry: Free · Coracle ride: ₹750–1,000 (4 pax) · Best time: Nov – Feb · Dramatic flow: Aug – Sept
09

KabiniWildlife at the edge of Nagarhole

Kabini, 220 km south-west, sits at the edge of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve. The two safari sessions a day (6 AM and 3 PM, booked via Jungle Lodges or private resorts) are where you spot elephants, leopards, gaur, and — if you're lucky — the legendary Kabini black panther. Sundays bring crowded safaris; book a weekday slot.

The drive crosses the Mysuru Expressway, then turns south through Nanjangud and Heggadadevankote. Roads are decent throughout.

Practical info Distance: 220 km · via Nanjangud · Drive time: 4.5 hrs · Safari: ₹2,500–3,500 person · Best time: Oct – May · Book ahead: 2 weeks minimum · Avoid: Monsoon (park closed)
10

BandipurTigers, elephants, and a forest highway

Bandipur is also around 220 km, on the highway to Ooty. The drive goes via Mysuru and through one of India's most famous tiger reserves — though note the night traffic ban (vehicles aren't allowed through the reserve between 9 PM and 6 AM, so plan timings accordingly).

Combine Bandipur with neighbouring Mudumalai or push on to Ooty for a longer trip. Safaris are run by Karnataka Forest Department vehicles, not private.

Practical info Distance: 220 km · via Gundlupet · Drive time: 5 hrs · Safari: ₹1,500–2,000 · Night ban: 9 PM – 6 AM strictly · Best time: Oct – May · Combine with: Mudumalai / Ooty
11

SakleshpurCoffee, ghats, and monsoon drama

Sakleshpur is 220 km via Hassan on NH-75. The drive is fine until the ghat section, where the road climbs through pepper and coffee plantations with monsoon waterfalls cascading down the cliffs in season. Visit Manjarabad Fort, a star-shaped 18th-century structure built by Tipu Sultan, and the Bisle Ghat viewpoint.

The ghat section is treacherous in heavy monsoon — landslides do happen. July–August is dramatic but risky; September–November is the sweet spot.

Practical info Distance: 220 km · NH-75 · Drive time: 4.5 hrs · Fort entry: ₹30 · Best time: Sept – Feb · Avoid: Heavy monsoon · Fuel up: Hassan before climb
Tier Three · 300+ km

For the long weekend — and worth every kilometre

12

ChikmagalurThe original coffee country

Chikmagalur is 240 km north-west via Hassan. Mullayanagiri at 6,317 ft is Karnataka's highest peak and a 40-minute drive plus short walk from the town. Hebbe Falls, Baba Budangiri, and the Kemmangundi viewpoint round out a 2–3 day trip. The drive in is uneventful until Hassan, then climbs through coffee estates.

Plantation stays are the way to do Chikmagalur — book a working estate rather than a resort if you want the actual coffee-country experience.

Practical info Distance: 240 km · NH-75 · Drive time: 5 hrs · Mullayanagiri: ₹50 parking · Best time: Sept – Feb · Stay: Plantation, not resort · Roads: Narrow ghats
13

CoorgKarnataka's road-trip default

Coorg (Kodagu) is the most-Googled weekend getaway from Bengaluru for a reason. The 265 km drive via the Mysuru Expressway and Hunsur is straightforward, the climate is reliably 10°C cooler than Bengaluru, and the area packs in coffee estates, Abbey Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp, and the Namdroling Tibetan Monastery at Bylakuppe — the largest Tibetan settlement in South India.

Three route options exist — the Mysuru route (NH-275, recommended for first-timers), the Hassan-Sakleshpur route (more scenic, more ghats), and a southern route via Kodlipet. For the smoothest drive, take NH-275.

Practical info Distance: 265 km · NH-275 · Drive time: 5.5 hrs · Tolls RT: ₹200–250 · Best time: Oct – May · Leave by: 5:30 AM · Eat at: Kamat Lokaruchi (50 km)
14

WayanadKerala's misty hill district

Wayanad is 270 km south-west, crossing into Kerala through the Bandipur reserve. Edakkal Caves with their 6,000-year-old petroglyphs, Soochipara Falls, Banasura Sagar Dam, and Pookode Lake make a 3-day itinerary easy to fill. The drive passes through Mysuru, Gundlupet, and the Muthanga forest entry into Kerala.

The same Bandipur night-traffic ban applies on the way down. Plan to be past Gundlupet before 9 PM, or wait till 6 AM to cross.

Practical info Distance: 270 km · via Sulthan Bathery · Drive time: 6 hrs · Edakkal Caves: ₹40 · closed Mon · Best time: Sept – May · Border: Carry RC, DL, PUC · Night ban: 9 PM – 6 AM through park
15

GokarnaGoa without the noise

Gokarna at 485 km is the longest drive on this list, but unlike Goa's 650 km, it's doable on a Friday-night-to-Monday-morning weekend. Om Beach, Kudle Beach, and Half Moon Beach offer the same Konkan coast minus the crowds, parties, and EDM nights. The drive goes via Tumkur, Shimoga, and Honnavar — about 9 hours of driving you should split into two legs.

This is where having your own self-drive car genuinely pays off — Gokarna's beaches are spread out and there's almost no public transport between them.

Practical info Distance: 485 km · via Shimoga · Drive time: 9 hrs (split legs) · Overnight: Shimoga or Sirsi · Best time: Oct – March · Fuel: Top up at Shimoga · Cash: Cards not always accepted

Best time to road-trip from Bengaluru

October to February is the universal sweet spot — clear skies, cool mornings (10–15°C in the hills), no monsoon mess on the ghats, and the air is clean enough to actually see the views. The trade-off is that long weekends in this window get crowded; Diwali, Christmas, and the January 26 weekend will add an hour or two to any drive.

Monsoon (June–September) is magical for waterfall destinations like Shivanasamudra, Hogenakkal, Chunchi, and Sakleshpur in early monsoon — but dangerous for ghat driving. Sakleshpur, Coorg, and Chikmagalur all see landslide closures. If you're going to the hills in monsoon, check road conditions on official channels and local news before you leave.

March to May is fine for hills (Coorg, Chikmagalur, Wayanad — all 10°C cooler than Bengaluru) but punishing for low-altitude trips like Hogenakkal, Mysuru, and Lepakshi where temperatures top 38°C.

Should you rent a self-drive car for these trips?

For destinations under 100 km, your own car or a cab works fine. For weekend getaways at 200+ km, a self-drive rental almost always beats the alternatives — cabs charge by the kilometre and add a driver allowance (₹500–800/day), buses kill your flexibility, and Ola Outstation pricing for a 2-day Coorg trip can cross ₹8,000–10,000.

A self-drive rental gives you the freedom to leave at 4 AM, stop wherever a viewpoint looks good, and not coordinate around a driver's schedule. Doorstep delivery — which platforms like SelfDriveBLR offer in Bengaluru — means the car shows up at your apartment the morning of the trip. You don't lose two hours collecting a vehicle from a pickup point on the other side of the city.

For most of the trips above, a fuel-efficient hatchback (Swift, i20) or compact sedan handles the roads fine. For Sakleshpur ghats, Skandagiri base roads, or any monsoon-season drive, an SUV (Brezza, Creta, or higher) is the safer call.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best one-day road trip from Bengaluru?

Nandi Hills (60 km, 1.5 hrs) is the most popular one-day road trip — leave by 4:30 AM for sunrise. For something less crowded, Lepakshi (120 km, 2.5 hrs) and Shivanasamudra (135 km, 3 hrs) both work as full-day round trips.

Which is the best long weekend road trip from Bengaluru by car?

Coorg (265 km) and Chikmagalur (240 km) are the most reliable 2–3 day road trips — manageable distances, good roads, and reliably cooler weather. For a longer haul, Wayanad (270 km, more dramatic landscape) or Gokarna (485 km, for beaches) are strong picks.

Is it safe to drive from Bengaluru to Coorg during monsoon?

The NH-275 (Mysuru route) is generally safe through monsoon. The alternative Hassan-Sakleshpur route has ghat sections that see landslides July–August. Check current road status before leaving and avoid driving the ghats after dark in heavy rain.

What is the cost of a road trip from Bengaluru to Coorg by car?

For a 2-day, 4-person trip to Coorg in a hatchback: fuel roughly ₹2,500–3,000 round trip (530 km), tolls ₹250, plus accommodation. A self-drive car rental for the same trip starts around ₹4,000 for 2 days plus fuel. Splitting between 4 travellers, the per-person transport cost lands at ₹1,500–2,000.

Do I need a permit for any of these road trips?

No special permits for Karnataka destinations. For Kerala (Wayanad), keep vehicle documents handy at the inter-state checkpoint. Bandipur and Wayanad share a night traffic ban (9 PM – 6 AM) — plan timings so you cross before or after.