Road Condition from Pune to Mangalore
- Thread starter RadheSham
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kokosflocken
New Member
I've traveled between these two at night, and it is not too bad. Everyone seems to be a lot more disciplined on the roads at night. I don't know why that is 
The only thing that would bother me if I were driving, though, is the big buses on the narrow roads. Those are somewhat scary. But my friends who've driven from Pune (and Mumbai) to Mangalore don't seem to mind it too much. In any case, if your sleeping schedule allows it, why not?
The only thing that would bother me if I were driving, though, is the big buses on the narrow roads. Those are somewhat scary. But my friends who've driven from Pune (and Mumbai) to Mangalore don't seem to mind it too much. In any case, if your sleeping schedule allows it, why not?
Steve Dawson
Member
Its quieter at night for sure, I've travelled the road at night and during the day. Its a good condition road for the most part but the trucks hog the road a bit sometimes. Leave yourself plenty of time for your journey and make sure you don't get tired and you'll be fine. You will miss some beautiful scenery if you travel at night though.
Ashwin Mahesh
Member
This is a pretty scenic route to travel by road, there are ghat sections and beaches, so you'll enjoy it more if you travel during the day.
Do consider the fact that Mangalore is a port city and hence there is a lot of movement of heavy trucks, also bus drivers are quite infamous for their rash driving.
There was a time when Iron ore was shipped from Mangalore port to China, and for this reason alone around 5000 trucks used to traverse a part of the route every night. But this is no longer the case and it also ensured that the roads were well built
As far as the road condition is concerned it is definitely better than the average road conditions across rest of India, yet it could get much better.
Do consider the fact that Mangalore is a port city and hence there is a lot of movement of heavy trucks, also bus drivers are quite infamous for their rash driving.
There was a time when Iron ore was shipped from Mangalore port to China, and for this reason alone around 5000 trucks used to traverse a part of the route every night. But this is no longer the case and it also ensured that the roads were well built
As far as the road condition is concerned it is definitely better than the average road conditions across rest of India, yet it could get much better.
briannagodess
Well-Known Member
Hello there! Welcome to the forum!
The distance between Pune and Mangalore is about 774 kms. It can take you 11 to 13 hours to cover this distance. This is the route you have to take:
From Pune to Satara, the road conditions are average here. There's also a toll here so be prepared for that. You'd also encounter lots of diversions along the way. The distance between these two is about 120 kms, so expect journey time to be between 3 hours.
From Satara to Belagavi, roads become better at this point. You'd approach another toll here so be prepared for that again. You can drive at higher speeds during this route. The distance between Satara and Belagavi is about 231 kms, journey time is about 4 hours or less.
From Belagavi to Dharwad, this is probably the best route at this point. The road conditions are excellent and well-maintained. Another toll is here so you'd have to pay again. This is about 76 kms, so about an hour or 2 of driving.
Now, from Dharwad to Yellapur, another good stretch of roads. You can drive higher speeds at this point. The tar on the roads are in good condition. You won't need to pay toll here as well. This is about 74 kms so an hour of driving or so.
From Gokarna to Mangalore, road conditions are good enough. There was some constructions here on the roads back then, I don't know if they're finished by now. But even with that, there's not much traffic and the roads are two-lanes mostly. You also won't need to pay toll here back then but I think there's a toll now. The average distance from Gokarna to Mangalore is 234 kms so that's about 5 hours of driving or so.
It's okay to travel by night time but I would still recommend driving during day time. If you're new to a region, it's better to drive the first time during the day so you won't get lost or encounter problems. The first time you travel to a destination, you won't know where the gas stations are nor the eateries. And if you'd encounter any mishaps, at least during day time, it's easier to ask for help. That's just my two cents anyways. It's still up to you.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy your road trip!
The distance between Pune and Mangalore is about 774 kms. It can take you 11 to 13 hours to cover this distance. This is the route you have to take:
- Pune > Satara > Karad > Belagavi > Dharwad > Yellapur > Gokarna > Murdeshwar > Udupi > Mangalore.
From Pune to Satara, the road conditions are average here. There's also a toll here so be prepared for that. You'd also encounter lots of diversions along the way. The distance between these two is about 120 kms, so expect journey time to be between 3 hours.
From Satara to Belagavi, roads become better at this point. You'd approach another toll here so be prepared for that again. You can drive at higher speeds during this route. The distance between Satara and Belagavi is about 231 kms, journey time is about 4 hours or less.
From Belagavi to Dharwad, this is probably the best route at this point. The road conditions are excellent and well-maintained. Another toll is here so you'd have to pay again. This is about 76 kms, so about an hour or 2 of driving.
Now, from Dharwad to Yellapur, another good stretch of roads. You can drive higher speeds at this point. The tar on the roads are in good condition. You won't need to pay toll here as well. This is about 74 kms so an hour of driving or so.
From Gokarna to Mangalore, road conditions are good enough. There was some constructions here on the roads back then, I don't know if they're finished by now. But even with that, there's not much traffic and the roads are two-lanes mostly. You also won't need to pay toll here back then but I think there's a toll now. The average distance from Gokarna to Mangalore is 234 kms so that's about 5 hours of driving or so.
It's okay to travel by night time but I would still recommend driving during day time. If you're new to a region, it's better to drive the first time during the day so you won't get lost or encounter problems. The first time you travel to a destination, you won't know where the gas stations are nor the eateries. And if you'd encounter any mishaps, at least during day time, it's easier to ask for help. That's just my two cents anyways. It's still up to you.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy your road trip!
Best Routes from Pune to Mangalore
| Route Option | Distance | Travel Time | Road Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route 1: Pune → Satara → Kolhapur → Belgaum → Hubli → Davangere → Chitradurga → Hassan → Mangalore (NH48) | 750 km | 13-15 hrs |  (Best route, well-maintained highways, fastest) |
| Route 2: Pune → Satara → Kolhapur → Belgaum → Dharwad → Shimoga → Agumbe → Mangalore | 730 km | 14-16 hrs | (Scenic route, ghat sections, slower) |
| Route 3: Pune → Goa → Karwar → Mangalore (NH66) | 810 km | 16-18 hrs | (Coastal route, slow, heavy traffic in Goa) |
️ Latest Road Condition (Feb 2025 Update)
Pune to Kolhapur: Smooth 6-lane highway (NH48), minimal traffic. Kolhapur to Belgaum: Excellent roads, 4-lane highway, a few tolls. Belgaum to Hubli: Well-maintained 6-lane highway, fast driving speeds. Hubli to Chitradurga: Roads are good, some minor patchy sections. Chitradurga to Hassan: Some uneven patches near Tumkur, overall good. Hassan to Mangalore: Ghat section (Sakleshpur), curvy roads, heavy rains in monsoon, drive carefully.
Caution:- Ghat section near Shiradi (Hassan-Mangalore) can be tricky, especially in the monsoon season. Avoid night driving in this stretch.
- Traffic congestion in Belgaum & Hubli bypass during peak hours.
Fuel Stops & Food Breaks
Best Petrol Pumps:- Indian Oil COCO Pump – Kolhapur (Near McDonald's)
- Reliance Petrol Pump – Belgaum (24/7 open)
- HP Petrol Pump – Chitradurga (Good quality fuel)
| Restaurant | Location | Cuisine |
|---|---|---|
| Sai Food Court | Satara | South Indian, Snacks |
| McDonald's Kolhapur | Kolhapur | Fast Food |
| Kamat Upachar | Hubli | South Indian, North Indian |
| Empire Restaurant | Hassan | Biryanis, Kerala food |
| Gajalee Seafood | Mangalore | Famous for seafood |
Toll Charges & Estimated Fuel Cost
Total Tolls: ₹900 - ₹1200 (one way) Fuel Cost: ₹5500 - ₹7000 (for petrol/diesel cars, 15 km/l mileage)Pro Tip: Use FASTag for quicker toll crossings.
Recommended Stay Options (If You Need a Break)
| City | Hotel | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Kolhapur | Sayaji Hotel | ₹3000 - ₹4500 |
| Hubli | The President Hotel | ₹2500 - ₹4000 |
| Hassan | Mallige Residency | ₹2000 - ₹3500 |
Travel Tips for Pune to Mangalore Drive
Best time to travel: Avoid monsoons (June-September) due to slippery ghat roads. Winter (November-February) is ideal. Speed limit: Stick to 80-100 km/h on highways. Karnataka highways have strict speed monitoring. Night driving caution: Avoid Shiradi Ghat section at night; it’s steep and winding. Emergency contacts: Keep numbers of local police, highway patrol, and emergency breakdown services handy.Final Verdict: Is It a Safe & Comfortable Drive?
Yes! Pune to Mangalore via NH48 is the best route—well-maintained highways, plenty of food & fuel stops, and scenic views. Just be careful in the ghat sections near Hassan.If you have any recent travel updates, feel free to share!
