Bangalore to Coorg by road: route, stops and timing

Coorg is one of the most-asked outstation trips we run, and most of what makes it a good or bad drive is decided before you leave the city.

The two routes

The common route runs down the Mysore highway and turns off towards Hunsur and Kushalnagar. It is the faster road surface and the one most drivers prefer.

The alternative runs via Hassan and approaches Madikeri from the north. It is usually quieter but adds distance, and it earns its place mainly when the Mysore road is badly backed up.

When to leave

Leaving Bangalore before 6am makes a material difference — the stretch out of the city is the single most variable part of the drive. A 9am departure on a Friday or Saturday can cost well over an hour before you have really started.

Coming back, aim to leave Coorg by mid-afternoon rather than after dark. The ghat section is slower at night and the last stretch into the city is heaviest in the evening.

Where people stop

• Breakfast on the Mysore road, roughly 90 minutes out
• Kushalnagar, close to the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe
• Dubare, if an elephant camp is on the list
• Madikeri itself, where most stays are based

Which vehicle

The last stretch involves ghat road. For four people an Etios is adequate, but an Innova or Crysta is noticeably more comfortable on the bends and has the boot space for a two-night trip. For a group of eight or more, a Tempo Traveller is the sensible choice.

Coorg is a hill destination, so check whether a hill charge applies on top of the per-kilometre fare when you take the quote.

Leave early, pick the Mysore road unless you are told otherwise on the day, and take a vehicle with real suspension for the last hour.