10 Best Road Trips From Bangalore Under 8 Hours For A Quick Weekend Escape

The last few years have seen Chikmagalur emerge as a must-visit holiday destination, and rightfully so. The excellent weather, the mountains awash with greenery, and the endless coffee estates present you with an opportunity to relax and unwind. For a budget stay, you can pick from the many homestays that dot the picturesque town. Many of them even include meals in their packages, so that’s a bonus. 

Distance from Bangalore: 241 kilometres or 4.5 hours on road

How To Reach: On the road, if you are not driving down NH75, NH 73, or NH 48, then you can take private or KSRTC buses that ply the route daily. If you are keen on taking the Indian Railways, then the nearest railway station to Chikmagalur is Kadur, which is about an hour away. There are no flights from Bangalore to Chikmagalur. 

Best Time To Visit: During the start of the rainy season from early July and through the winter from September to March. 

Things To Do: Hebbe Falls, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bhadra River 

Places To Stay: Trippr Chikmagalur, Coffeeberry Hills, Villa Urvinkhan, Jungle Valley, and Java Rain Resorts

Places To Eat: Riders Nest, Swadista, Kailash Parbat 

A tour of a royal city on a shoestring budget? Yes, it is possible. A short drive from Bangalore (which means you won’t even spend too much on petrol), Mysore is perfect if you love history. You can spend the day gawking at the ornate Mysore Palace, the Gothic architecture of the Philomena Church, or touring the expansive Mysore Zoo. For food, you can dig into crispy, golden-hued masala dosas at iconic places like Vinayaka Mylari. 

Distance from Bangalore: 145 kilometres or 3 hours on road

How To Reach: Mysore is easily accessible by road, train, and flight. There are private buses that ply the Bangalore-Mysore route. There are direct flights from Bangalore to Mysore as well. There are daily trains available from KSR Bengaluru to Mysuru Junction. 

Best Time To Visit: During Dasara and monsoons from July to February. 

Things To Do: Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, Mysore Zoo, Mysore Railway Museum  

Places To Stay: The Green Hotel, Lalitha Mahal, Grand Mercure, Radisson Blu, Zostel Mysore, Trippr Mysore 

Places To Eat: The Old House, Hotel RRR Mysore, Minimal Coffee Roasters, Sapa Bakery, Bopy's, Vinayaka Mylari Dosa

A heritage place that was the capital of the Badami Chalukyas, today it has transformed into a dusty, modern town that has managed to cling to its rich history. You can amble along old-world streets to take in rustic houses (some of them have beautifully carved doorways and pillars that are worth an Instagram post or two). And, of course, there are the Badami caves and the brick-coloured, 5th-century Bhutanath Temples that line the Agasythya Tank. Badami is yet to be overcrowded by tourists, so you can expect well-priced hotels and restaurants during your holiday here. 

Distance from Bangalore: 455 kilometres or 7.5 hours via road 

How To Reach: Badami is easily accessible by road if you go via Hubli or Hospet. There are frequent trains to Badami from KSR Bengaluru and Yesvantpur Junction. The closest airport to Badami is Hubbali Airport, which is located about 3 hours from Badami. 

Best Time To Visit: October to April 

Things To Do: Badami Caves, Agastya Lake, Badami Fort, Pattadakal, Mallikarjun Temples, 

Places To Stay: Hotel Mayura, Sterling Banashree, Clarks Inn, Antarvanam Resort & Farms 

Places To Eat: Hotel Paradise, Sterling Banashree, Clarks Inn, Pakwan

Bordering Karnataka, Wayanad’s verdant setting makes for an ideal weekend getaway. For a budget trip, we recommend checking in at a comfortable homestay. While many of them offer home-cooked meals, don’t worry if the place is only offering you accommodation. After all, this is Kerala. A kallu shop (where you can get fresh toddy and beef fry, among other things) is always close by. When it comes to sightseeing, Wayanad is blessed with forests, mountains, and waterfalls where entry fees don’t apply. The only place where you will have to shell out is at the Wayanad National Park, where you will have to pay INR 160 per head for a safari. 

Distance from Bangalore: 275 kilometres or about 6 hours from Bangalore 

How To Reach: Wayanad is easily accessible by road. There are private and government buses that ply the route from Bangalore as well. There's no railway station in Wayanad, but the nearest railway station is in Kozhikode. The nearest airport is in Kannur, which is located 100 kilometres from Wayanad. 

Best Time To Visit: October to May. Monsoons are tricky, as there can be landslides. 

Things To Do: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Karapuzha Dam, Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak

Places To Stay: Tranquil Resort, Century Village, The Cove Lakkidi, Avadale Wayanad

Places To Eat: 1980's Kalpetta, Jubilee, Foodbae, Olan Restaurant, Wilton, CG Ala

Part of the Chikmagalur district, Kudremukh is a mining town and also a hilly retreat. The Western Ghats in Kudremukh are the main attraction, and travelers come by to explore the wilderness and the wildlife and also embark on lengthy treks. You can park yourself at modest hotels here, but if you are looking for something even more basic, then book a room at one of the cottages run by the State’s tourism department. Kudremukh has small restaurants and stalls where you can fuel up for a few hundred rupees.

Distance from Bangalore: 335 kilometres or about 5.5 hours via road 

How To Reach: Kudremukh is easily accessible by road from Bangalore. There are private and government buses that ply to Kudremukh. There's no direct train or flight to Kudremukh. 

Best Time To Visit: October to February. And post-monsoon season. 

Things To Do: Kudremukh National Park, Hanuman Gundi Falls, Kadambi Falls

Places To Stay: Ayana Family Resorts, Nature Valley Resorts, Parampara Resort

Places To Eat: Most restaurants are located in Chikmagalur. You'll find small roadside shops here. 

Less touristy than Gokarna (and, therefore, less expensive), Karwar boasts unspoiled beaches and a few historic sites, and if you travel to the interiors, you can also tour wildlife sanctuaries and explore the mountains. You’ll find a good mix of cottages and hotels that offer rooms, and for food, you can stick to South Indian vegetarian staples, or if you have a bit of wiggle room, you can dig into their famous seafood.

Distance from Bangalore: 500 kilometres or about 7.5 hours from Bangalore. 

How To Reach: Karwar is easily accessible by road from Bangalore. There are private and KSRTC buses that ply to Karwar daily. There are direct trains from Bangalore to Karwar as well. While there are no direct flights to Karwar, the closest airport is Mangalore International Airport. 

Best Time To Visit: November to April, before the summer season. 

Things To Do: Kurumgad Island, Sadashigad Fort, Devbagh Beach, Kali River, Nagnath Temple

Places To Stay: Sterling Karwar, Cintacor Island Resort, Marron Sea View Resort

Places To Eat: Hotel Poornima, Udupi Hindu Hotel, Oceandeck Restaurant 

Perfect for a one-day trip, Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district is just a short drive from Bangalore. Since you don’t have to bother about accommodation, you can, without a care in the world, marvel at the archaeological wonders of this small town. During the Vijayanagar period, shrines dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva, and Veerabhadra were built, and they are still the town’s main attractions. The Veerabhadra Temple is especially known for its intricate carvings, paintings from natural pigments, and a giant Nandi carved from a single stone.

Distance from Bangalore: 125 kilometres or 2.5 hours via road. 

How To Reach: Lepakshi is easily accessible by road. There are no direct trains or flights to Lepakshi. There are government buses that ply to Anantapur.  

Best Time To Visit: October to March, before the summer. 

Things To Do: Lepakshi Temple, Veerabhadra Temple, Nandi Bull Temple

Places To Stay: It's a one-day trip from Bangalore 

Places To Eat: Lepakshi Haritha Hotel  

Not as crowded as the rest of the hill stations, Horsley Hills makes for a perfect holiday. The place enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year, so you can drop by anytime and discover the beauty of its forest-covered, seemingly endless hills. You can also stop by the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to wild dogs, bears, sambars, and panthers. As for the stay, Andhra Pradesh Tourism runs a few accommodations here that are worth checking out.

Distance from Bangalore: 165 kilometres or 3.5 hours on road 

How To Reach: Horsley Hills is easily accessible by road. There are no direct buses, trains, or flights to Horsley Hills from Bangalore. 

Best Time To Visit: All through the year

Things To Do: Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Gali Bandalu, Governor's Bungalow

Places To Stay: It's a one-day trip from Bangalore 

Places To Eat: There are no major spots, but you will find plenty of small roadside shops. 

Also known as Calicut, Kozhikode is a great base from which you can travel through the Malabar Coast. Once a thriving port that saw travellers come from faraway lands to trade in spices, Kozhikode has been endowed with a rich history that is worth exploring. Apart from the beaches, you can also visit the Pazhassiraja Museum, the Mananchira Square (that surrounds the palace tank built by King Vikrama, the last Zamorian ruler), and also the place where Vasco Da Gama first set foot in India. Kozhikode is now a bustling city, so you will find a range of hotels and restaurants that suit your budget perfectly. 

Distance from Bangalore: 356 kilometres or 8 hours via road 

How To Reach: Kozhikode is easily accessible via road from Bangalore. There are private and KSRTC buses that ply daily to Kozhikode from Bangalore. There are trains from Yesvantpur Junction. There are flights from Bangalore to Kozhikode as well.  

Best Time To Visit: All through the year, but October to March are good months. 

Things To Do: Kozhikode Beach, Kappad Beach, Beypore Beach, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, Pazhassi Raja Archeological Museum 

Places To Stay: Grand Plaza Suites, The Raviz Calicut, Ecoville Suites 

Places To Eat: Paragon Restaurant, Rahmath Hotel, Keraleeyam At The Raviz Calicut, Samudra The Meal House

The lesser-known hill station in the Nilgiris, Coonoor has long been in the shadows of big brother Ooty. But as poor Ooty gets crowded, people are slowly meandering to Coonoor. And why not? The little town, not too far from the army base of Wellington, will have you falling in love with it instantly. From tiered waterfalls to the most delicious roast chicken in a long while, there is plenty to do in Coonoor. 

Distance from Bangalore: 289 kilometres or 6.5 hours via road

How To Reach: Coonoor is easily accessible by road. There are private and KSRTC buses that ply to Ooty via Coonoor from Bangalore. There are no direct trains or flights to Coonoor. The nearest airport is the Coimbatore International Airport. 

Best Time To Visit: October to March 

Things To Do: Sim's Park, Dolphin's Nose, Ketti Valley, Law's Falls, Droog Fort

Places To Stay: Sunvalley Homestay, The Highgarden Hotel, Cucuu Nest Villa 

Places To Eat: Cherrie Berry, Cafe Diem, Rock Bistro, The Culinarium, The Birdhouse Cafe