Chennai to Tirupati: cost by car, bus and train
Chennai to Tirupati is short enough to do in a day, and it is one of the few pilgrimage routes where the train is a genuinely good option. Trains leave Chennai Central often, take roughly three to four hours, and drop you close to the town.
By road, the drive runs north out of Chennai and reaches Tirupati in about three to four hours, either through Puttur or through Sullurpeta and Srikalahasti. It suits families who want to combine Tirumala with a stop at Srikalahasti.
What the trip costs
| Distance | about 138 km one way |
|---|---|
| Drive time | about 2.5 to 3 hours with breaks |
| Car fuel | ₹965 |
| Car toll | ₹276 (about 2 toll plazas) |
| Car total, fuel and toll | ₹1,241 (₹620 each for two people) |
| Semi-sleeper bus | about ₹96 per person |
| Sleeper-class train | about ₹69 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 ₹69 per person. A car for two costs about ₹620 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 ₹310 each.
Plan it your way. Change the vehicle, fuel, number of travellers and nights in the planner to get your own total.
Plan Chennai to TirupatiStops on the way
- Sullurpeta. A convenient breakfast stop near the Andhra Pradesh border if you take that side of the route.
- Srikalahasti. A temple town on the Swarnamukhi river, a short detour and often paired with Tirupati.
- Puttur. Fuel and food before the last stretch to Tirupati.
By bus, train or air
Frequent trains run between Chennai Central or Egmore and Tirupati, and state buses from both states leave from Chennai’s Koyambedu bus terminus. Check the current timetable on IRCTC, and consider booking a return seat at the same time.
What to see in Tirupati
- Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala.
- Sri Padmavathi Temple at Tiruchanoor.
- Srikalahasti Temple on the way back.
Tips before you go
- Book darshan slots ahead through the official site.
- Reach Tirupati the evening before if you want an early darshan slot.
- If you drive from Chennai on a weekend, expect traffic on the outer ring road.
Best time to travel
October to February. Summer heat is high, but the queues are often shorter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Tirumala as a day trip from Chennai?
Yes if you start very early and book a specific darshan slot, but an overnight stay is much less tiring.
Is the train better than driving?
For two people the train is cheaper and less tiring. A car helps if you carry elderly relatives or plan additional stops.
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 Tirupati537 km · car ₹4,974
- Bengaluru to Chennai350 km · car ₹3,080
- Hyderabad to Vijayawada312 km · car ₹2,893
These are planning estimates only. Confirm current fares, tolls and timings before you travel; see our disclaimer.