Bengaluru to Chennai: cost by car, bus and train
Bengaluru to Chennai is a busy corridor linking two of South India’s big cities. The highway is mostly wide and well surfaced through Hosur, Krishnagiri, Vellore and Sriperumbudur, and the trip takes between six and eight hours by road depending on traffic at both ends.
Because it is a business route as well as a leisure one, the trains are frequent and the fastest daytime services take only about five hours.
What the trip costs
| Distance | about 350 km one way |
|---|---|
| Drive time | about 6 to 7.5 hours with breaks |
| Car fuel | ₹2,380 |
| Car toll | ₹700 (about 6 toll plazas) |
| Car total, fuel and toll | ₹3,080 (₹1,540 each for two people) |
| Semi-sleeper bus | about ₹245 per person |
| Sleeper-class train | about ₹175 per person |
Estimates use CostMyTrip's default assumptions: a petrol car doing 15 km per litre with fuel at the average price across the states on the route, a toll allowance of about ₹2 per km on tolled highway, a semi-sleeper bus and a sleeper-class train, for two adults travelling one way outside festival peaks. Distance is CostMyTrip's estimate and your maps app may show a slightly different road distance.
On these numbers the cheapest way to make the trip is by train at about ₹175 per person. A car for two costs about ₹1,540 per person for fuel and toll alone, but it carries luggage, lets you stop wherever you like, and gets cheaper per person as you add travellers: with four people the same fuel and toll comes to about ₹770 each.
Plan it your way. Change the vehicle, fuel, number of travellers and nights in the planner to get your own total.
Plan Bengaluru to ChennaiStops on the way
- Krishnagiri. A convenient halfway break with plenty of dhabas.
- Vellore. The Vellore Fort and the Sripuram Golden Temple are both worth a stop.
- Sriperumbudur. The last stretch before Chennai; expect heavy trucks and industrial traffic.
By bus, train or air
Frequent trains connect Bengaluru and Chennai, including fast daytime services, and buses run through the day and night. For a solo traveller on a tight schedule, the train is usually the most efficient option.
What to see in Chennai
- Marina Beach and the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Chennai.
- Fort St George and the museum.
- Mahabalipuram, a short drive south of the city.
Tips before you go
- Avoid the city outskirts around 8 to 10 in the morning and 5 to 8 in the evening.
- Keep your FASTag balance topped up for multiple toll plazas.
- If you travel by night bus, choose a seat away from the rear axle for a smoother ride.
Best time to travel
Winter is the most pleasant. Chennai can be very hot and humid from April to June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way?
A daytime train is usually faster door to door than driving once city traffic is counted.
Where should I stop for lunch?
Krishnagiri and Vellore both have plenty of choices along the highway.
How accurate are these costs?
They are planning estimates from CostMyTrip's calculator, not quotes. Fuel prices, toll rates and fares change, so use them to compare options and confirm the real numbers before you go.
More route guides
- Hyderabad to Bengaluru570 km · car ₹5,168
- Chennai to Tirupati138 km · car ₹1,241
- Bengaluru to Mysuru145 km · car ₹1,286
These are planning estimates only. Confirm current fares, tolls and timings before you travel; see our disclaimer.