A Travelescape guide · 62 stories and guides
Weekends from Bangalore
Day trips, two-day escapes and long weekends, sorted by how far you want to drive.
Bangalore is a good city to leave on a Saturday morning. Within two hours there are granite hills to climb at sunrise, dams and grasslands, bird sanctuaries and old temples; within five or six, the coffee estates of Coorg, the forests of Kabini and Wayanad, and the hill stations of the Nilgiris; a long weekend reaches the beaches at Gokarna and Pondicherry and the ruins at Hampi.
These are the trips Travelescape's writers have made from Bangalore over ten years, sorted by how far you want to drive. Start with the three below, or jump to a distance. The older guides say when they were written: roads, entry fees and timings change, so check before you go.
Start here
Three to begin with
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Day Camping Sites Near Bangalore & Our Experience
The most-searched page on Travelescape: a quiet day spot on the Arkavathi, why not to stay the night, and the permitted campsites if you want to. Checked October 2026.
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Bangalore to Gokarna Road Trip Blog
The road trip readers talked about most: almost 1,200 km there and back, with the stops along the way, by Jyoti Miglani.
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Bangalore to Kannur by Road: Distance, Route and Our Family Trip
About 310–330 km, 6 to 7 hours via Mysuru and the Makutta ghat: route, tolls, the train and a family trip. Checked October 2026.
21 stories and guides
Day trips, up to about two hours away
Out after breakfast, home for dinner: hills to climb at sunrise, dams, grasslands, birds and old temples.
Show all 21
9 stories and guides
Mysore and the Kaveri, about 150 km
A palace city, a festival, a bird sanctuary and the river: a full day, or an easy overnight.
12 stories and guides
Coorg, Sakleshpur, Kabini and Wayanad, 200–300 km
Coffee and tea estates, waterfalls and forest drives: two days, best from October to February, fullest in the monsoon.
8 stories and guides
Hill stations: Ooty, Yercaud and Horsley Hills
Cool air when the plains are hot: the Nilgiris, the Shevaroys and Andhra's own hill station.
10 stories and guides
Long weekends: the coast, Hampi and Kannur, 300–600 km
Worth the extra day: beaches at Gokarna, Goa and Pondicherry, the ruins at Hampi, and the north Kerala coast.
2 stories and guides
Where to stay near Bangalore
Plan it
Before you go
- Leave early
- Be out of the city by 6 am on Saturday and head back by Sunday afternoon: the roads out jam by mid-morning, and the roads in by evening.
- Best months
- October to February for hills, forests and walks. June to September for waterfalls at their fullest, with slippery paths, leeches and the odd closed road. March to May is hot on the plains: go up to the hills.
- Forest roads at night
- The highways through Bandipur, towards Ooty and Wayanad, close to traffic from 9 pm to 6 am. Plan to be through by evening.
- Forest stays
- Jungle Lodges & Resorts, run by the Karnataka government, has the stays at Kabini and Bheemeshwari; book on its own website, junglelodges.com.
- Long weekends
- Nandi Hills, Coorg and Mysore fill up on long weekends. Book stays ahead, or go midweek.
Questions
What readers ask us
What is the best weekend getaway from Bangalore for a first trip?
For two days with little planning: Coorg (about 250 km, five to six hours; our Coorg trip) or Mysore (about 150 km, three hours by road, or the train; our Mysore guide). For one day: Nandi Hills at sunrise.
Are there places to camp near Bangalore?
Many spots near the city are fine for a day but not for a night. Our camping guide explains why, and lists permitted campsites with a host, toilets and water.
Can I drive through Bandipur at night?
No. The forest highways towards Ooty and Wayanad are closed to traffic from 9 pm to 6 am. Cross in daylight.
Where can I go for a day without staying overnight?
Anywhere under [Day trips](#day-trips) is within about two hours: hills like Nandi and Avalabetta, the dams at Manchanabele and Markonahalli, the grasslands at Hesaraghatta, or the temple at Lepakshi.