The capital city of Tamil Nadu and one of the largest metro cities of the country, Chennai is a city that balances ancient architecture and modern urban trappings. The journey between the City of Nizams and the bustling Chennai is nothing but blissful.
By booking a Hyderabad car rental for your road trip, you can do more than just a regular road trip and enjoy a comfortable ride while making it interesting with our customizable trip plans and itineraries.
Table of Contents
- Why travel from Hyderabad to Chennai?
- Traveling from Hyderabad to Chennai?
- Best time to take a road trip by car
- How to Reach Chennai By Train
- How to Reach Chennai By Flight
- Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
- Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Chennai
- Hotels and resorts – Accommodation in Chennai
Why travel from Hyderabad to Chennai?
By driving from Hyderabad to Chennai, you can experience the historical sites, traditional and modern culture, and scenic surroundings of the city. And by booking a Hyderabad cab with Savaari, you also get the chance to customize your whole trip, including the itinerary, so you can make it an incredible travel experience!
Traveling from Hyderabad to Chennai by Car
From the city of monuments to the capital city, the road from Hyderabad to Chennai is dotted with several nature hotspots, historical monuments, interesting viewing points, and more. Hence, a road trip from Hyderabad to Chennai is one of the best ways to travel between these two destinations – you can stop at any of these scenic stops along the way and do quick sightseeing. Let us help you discover the best routes so you can plan an exciting trip from Hyderabad to Chennai by road. For those traveling in larger groups, consider booking a Chennai tempo traveller to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable journey for everyone.
Important Highway information – Hyderabad – Chennai Highway
| Highway Name | Hyderabad – Chennai Highwayway |
| Highway Number | NE-16 |
| Total Distance | 627 Km |
| Starting Point | Dankuni, Kolkata, West Bengal |
| End Point | Chennai |
| Highway Quality | Excellent |
Best time to visit
Sitting right on the Bay of Bengal, Chennai experiences a coastal climate. The summers are generally hot and humid. So, the winter and monsoon months are the most popular time to travel to Chennai by road. This period is also best if you want to explore the outdoors. When you are in the city and wish to travel, consider booking our reliable Chennai taxi to maximize your outdoor adventure.
Popular routes from Hyderabad to Chennai
Route 1: Hyderabad to Chennai via NH16
The Hyderabad to Chennai distance is approximately 630 KM and takes nearly 11 hours and 30 minutes to travel. Before you travel, always check for traffic updates and use live maps to get real-time information on Hyderabad to Chennai road conditions.
Here’s a basic Hyderabad to Chennai road map for this route:
| Hyderabad -> Nalgonda -> Narasaraopeta -> Ongole -> Kavali -> Nellore -> Chennai |
|---|
Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- Archeological Museum, Nalgonda – Local museum conserving artifacts and historical evidence of the state.
- Udaya Samudram, Panagallu – A viewing point on the Krishna River, great for a refreshing break by the water body.
- Nelapatttu Bird Sanctuary, Nelapattu – Protected wetland habitat for migratory water birds and a major nesting site for gray pelicans, good for bird-spotting in winter.
- Pulicat Lake, Nellore – Large lake of both freshwater and saltwater, home to exotic birds and aquatic species, great for sunset/sunrises and a boat ride.
Places to eat along this route:
- Chetney’s Family & Garden Restaurant, Nalgonda – A locally popular diner serving traditional Andhra meals and Mughlai dishes.
- Ramya Fast Food, Ongole – Local tea shop and fast-food joint, serving tea, coffee, and snacks, good for quick stops.
- Bypass Kitchen, Nellore – Highway-side eatery with outdoor seating, serving Indian and Chinese staples, good for big groups.
- Amravathi Family Restaurant, Muthyalapadu – Standard highway side eatery serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian snacks and meals, desserts, and cocktails.
Hyderabad to Chennai Road Condition Via NH16
This is the shortest, fastest, and most convenient route to cover Hyderabad to Chennai by road distance. Most tourists and frequent travellers use this route since the traffic is also not heavy on this highway. The route has tolls but no road closure.
Route 2: Hyderabad to Chennai via NH44
The distance between Hyderabad to Chennai via this route is about 700 KM and takes nearly 14 hours and 30 minutes. This is a longer and slower alternative to the previous route to cover Hyderabad to Chennai road distance.
Here’s a basic Hyderabad to Chennai road map for this route:
| Hyderabad -> Mahbubnagar-> Kurnool -> Nandyala -> Kadapa -> Tirupati -> Chennai |
|---|
Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- Mahbubnagar – Historical town with interesting relics of forts, mosques, temples, and monuments of the Golconda Kingdom.
- Orvakal Rock Garden, Kurnool – Hiking trails wind through this 1000-acre park with unique rock formations, ponds & a cave museum.
- Sowmyanatha Swamy Temple, Nandalur – An ancient temple site with towering temple, surrounded by lush garden and a moat.
- Kailasakona Waterfalls, Chittoor – Scenic all-year waterfall observation area at the bottom alongside swimming and walking trails.
Places to eat along this route:
- Ruchi Fast Food, Kurnool – Local eatery serving both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals in North and South Indian cuisines.
- Domino’s Pizza, Kurnool – National pizza chain serving easy and fast pizza, pasta, and wings, great for kids, families, ang big groups.
- Sai Fast Food & Biriyani Center, Rajampet – Humble local eatery serving biriyani and quick meals, good for quick food pick-ups.
Hyderabad to Chennai Road Condition Via NH44
The Hyderabad to Chennai road condition via NH44 is good, but it is the longer route and has tolls. You may encounter occasional road work or heavy traffic on this route.
Hyderabad to Chennai Best Route
While both routes are good to take, we recommend Hyderabad to Chennai via the NH16 route due to the less time taken and the scenic journey. However, you should check for live traffic updates before your trip to compare the routes.
Other means of traveling from Hyderabad to Chennai
How to reach Chennai by train?
You can also cover the Hyderabad to Chennai distance by train, which is available daily. There are around 8 trains that ply between Hyderabad to Chennai of which 3 ply daily. So you can visit the Indian Railways website for your Hyderabad to Chennai train bookings, or choose your options from the multiple online portals.
The fastest train is HYD MAS SPC (02604) which takes about 12 hours and 35 minutes. The total time taken from Hyderabad to Chennai can vary from 12-15 hours, depending upon the train you choose. Therefore, for the updated Hyderabad to Chennai train timings, check with IRCTC for their latest timetables.
How to reach Chennai by flight?
You can also fly from Hyderabad to Chennai. There are over 15 direct flights between these two cities daily. The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport, which is about 21 KM from the city centre.
The average Hyderabad to Chennai direct flight duration is 1 hour 15 minutes and usually costs between Rs 1200 to 5000 depending on the airline, flight route, booking window, available deals, and the travel season. For your Hyderabad to Chennai flight booking, visit any online travel portal or check with the airlines’ direct website. You can hire a reliable Chennai airport taxi for a convenient ride to your hotel in the city. If you are planning to travel to Hyderabad by flight, book an airport taxi service in Hyderabad for a hassle-free travel experience.
Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
Chennai and its vicinity is blessed with endless natural and man-made wonders, making this the perfect starting point for uncountable road trips and places to visit nearby. From historical ancient towns to exotic beaches, there are endless possibilities for long vacations or quick weekend getaways from Chennai, every few hundred miles. Check out the best road trips you can embark on for a quick weekend getaway from Chennai.
- Marina Beach – the most popular and busiest beach of the city with recreational options.
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple – a 7th-century Shiva temple, known for its ornate Dravidian architecture.
- Government Museum – a state-run museum preserving historical artifacts and archaeological findings dating back to Bronze Age and more.
- Edward Elliot’s Beach – the quieter urban beach of the city and a popular local and tourist haunt.
- Santhome Cathedral – the most famous cathedral of the city, known for its 19th-century Gothic architecture.
- Dakshina Chitra – a heritage museum with cultural exhibits and an arts center.
- Valluvar Kottam – a heritage site and cultural venue dedicated to the historical poet Valluvar.
- Semmozhi Poonga – an expansive botanical garden with more than 500 varieties of exotic plants and flowers.
[Also read: Guide to Chennai’s beaches: Tourist attractions for all travellers]
Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Chennai
Chennai is a town that’s known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. Like any metro city, Chennai offers a varied palette that can satisfy any traveler’s taste buds.
These are some of the best-rated places to eat in Chennai –
- Murugan Idly Shop, E. 149/1, 6th Avenue, opp. Velankanni Church, GOCHS Colony, Besant Nagar
- Pumpkin Tales, 37, 20, Bheemanna Garden St, Alwarpet
- Amelie’s Cafe and Creamery, 6, Seshadri St, Venus Colony, Alwarpet
- Nair Mess, No.22, Mohammed Abdullah Sahib, 2nd St, Chepauk
- Animal Kingdom Theme Restaurant, 44, 1st Main Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar
Hotels and Resorts in Chennai
| Place Name | Address | Phone Number |
| Ilara Hotels & Spa | 1A, 1B, 1/13, Old Mahabalipuram Rd, OMR, Navalur, Tamil Nadu | 098846 88882 |
| Green Meadows Resort | 4, 364 A, Anna Salai Rd, Palavakkam Kuppam, Palavakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 099449 90950 |
| Mango Nest Nature Resort | No:1, River View Enclave, Teesta Street, 3 Road, Manapakkam Main Rd, HL: Families:, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 095823 36006 |
| Sarojini Gardens | Nazarathpettai, Tamil Nadu | 098844 12558 |
| The Green Leaf Resort | 5/79, SH 49, near Buhari Hotel, Raja Nagar, Neelankarai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 044 4852 0060 |
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