Bangalore to Chennai Cab: One-Way Fare, Route & Travel Tips

Bangalore to Chennai is one of the busiest intercity road trips in South India — for business meetings, airport connections, family visits and relocations. At about 345 km on a good expressway, a one-way cab is often faster door-to-door than flying once you count airport time, and far more comfortable than driving yourself.

This guide covers the route and drive time, one-way cab fares, which vehicle to book and how to plan pickups and drops at either end.

Bangalore to Chennai distance and drive time

The road distance is about 345 km. Most trips take 6 to 7 hours including one stop. Traffic leaving Bangalore and entering Chennai makes the biggest difference — an early start or a late-morning departure after the rush usually saves an hour.

• Distance: ~345 km (approx.)
• Drive time: 6–7 hours with one stop
• Best departure time: before 6 am, or after 10 am to avoid Bangalore's morning rush

Best route from Bangalore to Chennai

The standard route is Bangalore → Hosur → Krishnagiri → Vellore → Kanchipuram/Sriperumbudur → Chennai on NH 48. It is a wide, fast highway for most of the way. Your driver will choose between entering Chennai via Poonamallee or the outer ring road depending on where you are being dropped.

Bangalore to Chennai one-way cab fare

As a guide, one-way fares start from about ₹7,400 for a sedan. SUVs and Innova Crysta cost more and are worth it for families or a lot of luggage. If you need the car to wait and bring you back, a 2-day round trip in a sedan starts from about ₹9,100. See the live starting fares for every vehicle on our Bangalore to Chennai route page, or check the exact fare for your dates in the booking box on this page.

Outstation fares on XploreCabs include fuel, driver allowance, tolls, state tax and GST — including the Tamil Nadu entry, so there is nothing extra to pay at the border.

Why take a cab instead of flying or the train?

• Door-to-door: no getting to the airport 90 minutes early or arranging a taxi at the other end.
• Luggage: ideal for relocations, students moving to college and families with lots of bags.
• Flexible timing: leave when it suits you, including at night.
• Groups: for 4 or more people, a cab often costs less than flights or Vande Bharat tickets combined.

Which vehicle should you book?

• Sedan (4 seats): business travellers, couples and small families.
• SUV or Innova Crysta (6–7 seats): families, relocations and anyone with lots of luggage.
• Tempo traveller (12+ seats): wedding guests, family functions and group travel — see the tempo traveller hire guide.
• Bus (21+ seats): large groups and corporate travel — see bus hire in Bangalore.

Pickup and drop tips

• Chennai Airport (MAA): one of the most common drops. Give your flight time so the driver can plan a buffer.
• Chennai Central and Egmore: allow extra time for city traffic near the stations.
• OMR and the IT corridor: share the exact address — OMR is long and the drop time varies a lot along it.
• Multiple pickups in Bangalore or drops in Chennai can be arranged; mention them when you book.

Places to stop on the way

• Krishnagiri: a popular breakfast and tea stop.
• Vellore: the Vellore Fort and the Golden Temple at Sripuram are short detours if you have time.
• Kanchipuram: famous temples and silk sarees — a worthwhile stop on a relaxed trip.

Best time to travel

The route works year-round. Chennai is hottest from April to June, so prefer early-morning departures then. Heavy rain is most likely from October to December during the north-east monsoon, which can slow traffic inside Chennai.

Booking your Bangalore to Chennai cab

Pick your date, time and vehicle in the booking box and our team will call to confirm before anything is charged. You can cancel free until your driver starts the trip. See also our Bangalore to Pondicherry route and all popular routes from Bangalore.