Mumbai is often touted as the city of dreams but it is also a very stressful city to live in. While the city is packed with wonderful attractions and amazing heritage hotels, the fast-paced life, the rush-hour traffic, long working hours and a still longer commute often take a toll on our zeal. Take a break from the busy life and all the famous things in Mumbai, and embark on a road trip. The city is in close proximity to such spectacular weekend getaways that can make all the stress vanish in no time. Whether you’re looking for something adventurous, more culturally oriented or a pilgrimage of sorts, Mumbai has it all in close proximity. These road trips from Mumbai should definitely be on your weekend getaway list for this year. Check them out!
1. Alibaug
Located on the Mumbai-Goa highway, this port city is crowded throughout the year and is one of the most popular weekend drives from Mumbai for couples who want to spend some time on the beach. Also, if you’re planning a trip with your dog, the Alibaug trip is the one for you for he/she will enjoy the beach just as much as you will. The extending shores, gorgeous sands and the beauty of the Kolaba Fort will charm you. On your way there, make sure you check out Sanman restaurant, it’s the most popular seafood eatery frequented by tourists. The best time to visit Alibaug is between November and June.
Alibaug
Travel Time: 3 hours (by car)
Distance: 96 km (60 mi)
2. Lonavala
Living in Mumbai and not having visited Lonavala/Khandala is almost sin. The beautiful twin cities are famous for the adventure activities and lots more. Take a bike ride from Mumbai to Lonavala and enjoy trekking, camping, waterfall rappelling, and more. Make a short trip to the Korigad Fort, the Karla and Bhaja caves, the Lonavala Wax Museum and the Duke’s Nose.
Not only that, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway route in itself is an amazing experience and you’re bound to feel rejuvenated even before you touch down at Lonavala. Also, you should definitely consider stopping over at Bushy Dam, Tiger Point, Rajmachi Point and Lonavala Lake en route.
Lonavala (by car)
Travel Time: 2 hours
Distance: 82 km (52 mi)
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Lonavala is the perfect weekend getaway to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. You can take the Eastern Freeway or the Eastern Express Highway via BKC, depending on if you're in south or north Mumbai. However, the real fun is the 6-lane Mumbai - Pune Expressway. Known for its steep ghats and sharp turns, this expressway treats you with tunnels and mind-blowing views of the villages and towns. Be sure to stop at Food Mall and fill yourself with mouth-watering vada pav, a spicy potato dumpling served in a bun. Note that two-wheelers are not permitted on the expressway. Plus, you'll have to pay a toll of approximately 310 INR (3.74 USD) for this route.
This hill station offers several activities for adventure enthusiasts, such as the Lohagad Fort Trek or paragliding at Kamshet. Apart from that, there's so much to do with your family, such as visiting Mr. Been Trampoline Park, Mapro Garden, or spending a day at Wet N Joy Waterpark & Amusement Park.
3. Matheran
The first automobile-free hill station of India, Matheran has impeccably good weather, spectacular views, and great roads. One of the top weekend trips from Mumbai, Matheran is known for its viewpoints, especially Sunset point, One Tree Hill Point, Panorama Point, and Prabhal Fort from Louisa Point. It is also very popular for boating, horseriding, and trekking. The most stunning trek starts from Neral. The three-four hour trek, with walking trails that offer splendid views of farms, streams, railway tracks, is sure to leave you enthralled.
Matheran
Travel Time: 4 hours 30 mins (by train)
Distance: 80 km (27 mi)
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Kamshet
If you want to take a long drive near Mumbai, then embark on this 100 odd kilometer (62.14 miles) road trip to Kamshet. It takes you to a little town known as the paradise for paragliders. The natural beauty of this town would surely make you want to extend your trip just a little longer, not wanting to get back to busy city life. The paddy fields, the sunflower fields and the stunning hills that greet you on the drive to Kamshet will win your heart. On the way, you should consider stopping over at Karla Caves, Bedsa Caves, Bhaja caves, Pawna Lake and Kondeshwar Temple to experience the best of what Kamshet has to offer.
Kamshet
Travel Time: 2 hours 30 mins (by car)
Distance: 100 km (62 mi)
Mumbai Tour Guide
Sukanya Roy Choudhury
I am a licensed guide but Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. I am also a visiting faculty teaching travel and tourism in the University of Mumbai and Patkar Varde College. Have alot of fun facts and stories about the city which I would be happy to share.
Tours by Sukanya
5. Mahabaleshwar
This ride may be long but it’s truly going to be worth it. A trip to the highest hill station in the Western Ghats- Mahabaleshwar, is one of the most scenic getaways from Mumbai. The roads are mostly a smooth drive and interestingly the route also incorporates the Golden Quadrilateral road. The last 50 odd kilometres (30 miles) are an uphill climb though. As you near Mahabaleshwar, you’ll drive past pretty strawberry fields and their beauty truly is hard to miss especially from February to April when they are in full bloom. The Wilson Sunrise Point, boating in Venna Lake and the extensive strawberry and mulberry markets are unmissable when in Mahabaleshwar. You could also extend this trip and head over to Panchgani only 18 kilometres (11 miles) away to try some paragliding. Also nearby, is the Kaas Plateau of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mahabaleshwar
Travel Time: 5 hours (by car)
Distance: 260 km (160 mi)
6. Aurangabad
A city that owes its architectural heritage to the Mughal period, this getaway boasts of a number of forts, museums, temples and mosques. It is also very popular to buy precious jewellery in precious and semi-precious stones. Unmissable on a trip to Aurangabad are- the Tomb of Aurangzeb, Daulatabad Fort, Bibi ka Maqbara, Shivaji Museum and Sunehri Mahal.
Aurangabad
Travel Time: 7 hours 15 mins (by car)
Distance: 350 km (220 mi)
7. Dandeli
A slightly longer trip when compared to those previously mentioned, Dandeli is a 10-hour road journey from Mumbai. It sits in the picturesque location of North Karnataka and is quite famous as the top white river rafting spot in Southern India. It is also famous for the cava limestone caves, the wildlife sanctuaries, and jungle safaris, and the camping experience it has to offer. You could also check out the bird watching trail at the Old Magazine House and nearby attractions such as Syntheri Caves, the monastery at Little Tibet and Dudhsagar Waterfalls.
Dandeli
Travel Time: 10 hours (by car)
Distance: 585 km (363 mi)
8. Tarkarli
While the route is lined by a number of waterfalls and scenic viewpoints, pristine beaches and clear skies greet you at the end of this drive. Tarkali is among the most popular road trip from Mumbai and is a 10-hour journey by road and is among the slightly longer road trips from Mumbai. This is a must-visit place ideal for stargazing, scuba diving, snorkelling, rafting, dolphin-spotting, and boating.
Tarkarli
Travel Time: 10 hours 30 mins (by car)
Distance: 530 km (330 mi)
9. Pune
Take a one-day road trip from Mumbai and visit the nearby city of Pune. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway takes you along a gorgeous ride embellished by the distinguished beauty of the Western Ghats and the thrilling long runnels. The three-hour ride from Mumbai takes you to Pune, a thorough metropolis in itself. You could spend the day taking in city life in a different location or could spend it exploring the more touristy spots of Pune with the Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace, MG Road, Katraj Snake Park, and the likes.
Pune
Travel Time: 2 hours and 52 minutes (by car)
Distance: 147.7 km (91.77 mi)
10. Goa
The most famous road trip from Mumbai and continually glorified by Bollywood is undoubtedly the Goa trip. An unmissable road trip from Mumbai, the drive and the destination are both sure to leave you wanting for more. The drive, spanning 12 hours, takes you through winding roads along the Western Ghats, paddy fields, Coconut fields and endless stretches overlooking the sea and the destination rewards you with its unending beaches, beautiful churches, and amazing party vibe.
Goa
Travel Time: 11 hours (by car)
Distance: 590 km (367 mi)
11. Kashid
Just a little further from Alibaug is the quiet beach town of Kashid. About a three hours’ drive from Mumbai will take you to this beautiful town on the Arabian Sea coast. It is home to the famous Kashid Beach that is fringed with swaying palm trees and has soft white sand and turquoise waters. Visitors can relax on the clean beach, enjoy a picnic or take a dip in the sea. And located closeby is the historic Murud-Janjira Fort, Phansad Bird Sanctuary and Revdanda Beach.
Kashid
Travel time: 3 hours (by car)
Distance: 126 km (78 mi)
12. Pelhar Dam
Located very close to the city limits of Mumbai is the majestic Pelhar Dam. A short bike ride or car drive of about one and a half hours will take you to this dam in the Vasai-Virar area. Located on the periphery of Tungareshwar National Park, the dam is built over Pelhar Lake and is a hidden gem for city dwellers. The lake is pristine and home to much flora and fauna. The area surrounding the lake and the dam is quite clean and perfect for those looking for a quiet spot away from the city noise. Visit during the monsoon season when the dam water flows in full force.
Pelhar Dam
Travel time: 1.5 hours (by car)
Distance: 59 km (37 mi)
13. Rajmachi
A little over five hours’ drive from Mumbai, Rajmachi is a great weekend road trip destination. Famous for being home to Rajmachi Fort in the lush Sahyadri Hills, Rajmachi is a popular destination for hikers and trekkers. Spend your weekend hiking to the top of the twin fortresses and you will be rewarded with a stunning view of the surrounding hills and valleys. A trip in the rainy season is highly recommended since the entire area is covered in beautiful mist and the waterfalls are in full force at that time, giving you ample photo opportunities. The village at the base of the hills is also great for sampling local food.
Rajmachi
Travel time: 5 hours (by car)
Distance: 313 km (194 mi)
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Another beautiful waterfall is the Devkund Waterfall, a top-rated monsoon trek near Mumbai. During that time, close to 10,000 people trek daily, and it is barely standing room at the falls. We were lucky to have trekked in the off-season and were the only people at the falls. An utterly private experience! This 12 km trek took us around 5.5 hours to complete. This clear pool at the bottom of the fall is filled with ice-cold water and relief after hours of walking. This place is considered a holy spot, and even though I am not religious, I can still feel peace. And that is why this place and photo is special.
14. Kolad
Under a three hour drive away from Mumbai is the village of Kolad. An erstwhile sleepy village in the Maharashtra countryside, it has become a popular day-trip destination in recent years. Kolad offers visitors the chance to go river rafting on Kundalika River that is both thrilling and exhilarating. Suitable for novices as well as experienced rafters, the rafting experience at Kolad is very safe and suitable for almost everyone. Besides rafting, visitors can also enjoy admiring the lush green beauty of the surrounding hills and valleys.
Kolad
Travel time: 3 hours (by car)
Distance: 122 km (76 mi)
The highway beckons!
The best part is that no matter what the weather is, there are always ample road trip opportunities around Mumbai. There are so many places to visit and biryani spots to try. So what are you waiting for, plan your next weekend trip now!
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Here's a picture I clicked on my recent travel to Sandhan Valley near Mumbai. We had a stargazing session, and for the first time in my life, I clicked the picture of the Milky Way. Since the moon was out, I couldn't see the Milky Way, though I could faintly see some dust particles. My camera captured it perfectly. There are multiple trekking groups that organize this activity, and usually, Apr-Jun would be the best time for stargazing.
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