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Chennai to Kochi

The distance from Chennai to Kochi is about 699 km by road, roughly 14 hours (estimated). Kochi is well connected by road from all parts of the state as well as other major

699 kmDistance
14 hrsDuration

Tentative Fare Estimate

Car / Taxi
Swift Dzire₹24,258
Ertiga₹30,864
Innova₹32,186
Innova Crysta₹39,692
Tempo Traveller (12)₹54,644

Round trip · incl. driver allowance & GST

View route plan
Bus
Non-AC Seater₹770
AC Seater₹1,260
Non-AC Sleeper₹1,120
AC Sleeper₹1,610
Volvo / Multi-Axle₹2,010
View route plan
Train
Sleeper₹450
Economy₹730
Third AC₹1,010
Second AC₹1,430
First AC₹1,990
View route plan

Tentative estimate only, based on typical Indian public-transport tariffs (state transport bus fares, IRCTC sleeper/AC class rates, standard outstation taxi per-km rates) — not a live quote from any operator.

Overview

The distance from Chennai to Kochi is about 699 km by road, roughly 14 hours (estimated). Kochi is well connected by road from all parts of the state as well as other major cities. Three major national highways connect Kochi with other parts of the country.

Route Map

By Car: Chennai to Kochi

699 km · ~15h 19m · About 14h of driving split over 2 days, plus stops.

  1. Start from Chennai

    Leave early (5–6 AM) and avoid driving on highways after dark.

  2. 150 km · 3h drive from previous stop

    Rest stop around km 150

    Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.

  3. 150 km · 3h drive from previous stop

    Rest stop around km 300

    Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.

  4. 50 km · 59m drive from previous stop

    Overnight halt around km 350

    Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.

  5. 150 km · 3h drive from previous stop

    Rest stop around km 500

    Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.

  6. 150 km · 3h drive from previous stop

    Rest stop around km 650

    Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.

  7. 50 km · 59m drive from previous stop

    Arrive in Kochi

    Kochi, Kerala

Stops are typical for this road, not a fixed itinerary. Timings assume about 50 km/h on average — traffic, tolls and road conditions vary.

By Bus: Chennai to Kochi

699 km · ~15h 32m · Buses on this route are usually available as direct services. Operators and departure times vary — check live availability.

  1. Board at Chennai

    Go to the main bus stand / ISBT in Chennai. Overnight buses usually leave in the evening; book a seat in advance for sleeper and Volvo services.

  2. Chennai → Kochi

    AC Sleeper / Volvo (overnight) · ~699 km

    ~15h 32m|Tentative fare ₹770–₹2,010

  3. Arrive in Kochi

    Kochi, Kerala

Halts and change points are typical for this route, not a specific operator’s schedule — check live availability and timings when booking.

By Train: Chennai to Kochi

Nearest railway stations: Chennai Central for Chennai, Ernakulam Jn for Kochi.

Direct trains

Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram Express#12697 · Superfast
03:15 PMChennai Central
10h 50m119 stops
02:05 AM+1dErnakulam Town
Chennai Central-Kollam SF Special#06001 · Superfast
03:15 PMChennai Central
11h 10m123 stops
02:25 AM+1dErnakulam Town
Chennai Central Kollam (Weekly) SF Special#06011 · Superfast
03:15 PMChennai Central
11h 10m123 stops
02:25 AM+1dErnakulam Town
Chennai Central-Kollam SF Special#06007 · Superfast
03:15 PMChennai Central
11h 55m123 stops
03:10 AM+1dErnakulam Town
Chennai-Trivandrum SuperFast Express#12695 · Superfast
03:25 PMChennai Central
11h 20m123 stops
02:45 AM+1dErnakulam Town

Train details come from a 2015 railway timetable snapshot — newer trains, changed timings and running days are not included, so confirm on IRCTC before you plan around a train.

Stops & Places Along the Route

Good places to break the journey from Chennai to Kochi. Distances are approximate; the road you take may pass a little away from some of them.

  1. Kanchipuram85 km from Chennai

    Tamil Nadu

  2. Yercaud345 km from Chennai

    Tamil Nadu

  3. Tiruppur505 km from Chennai

    Tamil Nadu

  4. Koduvayur620 km from Chennai
  5. Thattekad660 km from Chennai

Hotels in Kochi

Treebo hotels in Kochi. Tell us your dates and we'll get you a rate.

Treebo The Qasr

Kochi

Itsy Hotels Dew Dreams

Kochi

Itsy Hotels Rain Tulsi Stayz, Palarivattom Junction

Kochi

Treebo Petals Suites

Kochi

Things to Do in Kochi

Visit Fort Kochi Beach

A serene stretch of shoreline where you can watch the famous Chinese fishing nets being operated, and enjoy a peaceful evening walk with views of the Arabian Sea.

Visit Santa Cruz Basilica

One of the oldest churches in India, with a striking Gothic-style exterior and beautifully painted ceilings, frescoes, and stained-glass windows.

Visit St. Francis Church

The oldest European church in India, where Vasco da Gama was originally buried before his remains were taken to Portugal, with a simple yet historic colonial…

Visit Mattancherry Palace

A historic palace built by the Portuguese and later renovated by the Dutch, known for its stunning murals depicting Hindu mythology and royal portraits.

Visit Jew Town and Paradesi Synagogue

A narrow, bustling street lined with antique shops and spice stores, home to the 400-year-old Paradesi Synagogue with its hand-painted Chinese tiles and ancient scrolls.

Visit Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi, formerly also known as Fort Cochin, is a region of Kochi city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the Fort Manuel of Kochi, the first European…

See all places in Kochi →

Suggested Kochi Itinerary

Day 1Arrive in Kochi

  • Travel from Chennai to Kochi (about 14 hrs by road) and check in
  • Visit Fort Kochi Beach

Day 2Explore Kochi

  • Visit Santa Cruz Basilica
  • Visit St. Francis Church
  • Visit Mattancherry Palace

Day 3Last sights and departure

  • Visit Jew Town and Paradesi Synagogue
  • Head back to Chennai
Suggested from Kochi's top sights.

Travel Tips

Kochi is well connected by road from all parts of the state as well as other major cities.
NH 66 (old no: NH 17), the 7th longest highway in India, connects Kochi with Mumbai via most of major towns in Malabar, Mangalore, Goa.
The heavily congested NH 544 (old name: NH 47) connects Thiruvananthapuram with Kochi and continues on to Coimbatore and Salem in Tamil Nadu via Palakkad and Thrissur.
NH 49 connects Kochi with Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu which passes through Madurai via Munnar.

Budget Estimate

road

699 km

14 hours

Approximately 699 km by road from Chennai to Kochi, roughly 14 hours of driving (estimate from straight-line distance).

train

699 km

The nearest railway station to Kochi is Cochin Harbour Terminus, about 3 km from the town centre.

Extend Your Trip

Add a nearby place to your Kochi trip and see the full Chennai → Kochi → next stop route.

Kochi → Kolenchery

About 35 km by road

Kochi → Piravom

About 40 km by road

Kochi → Vaikom

About 40 km by road

Kochi → Kalady

About 40 km by road

Plan My Trip: Chennai to Kochi

Pick how you want to travel and we'll send a complete plan with transport, hotel and sightseeing — on WhatsApp and a call back.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How far is Kochi from Chennai?

About 699 km by road (estimated from straight-line distance).

2. Which airport is closest to Kochi?

Cochin International Airport (COK), about 27 km away.

Other Routes

Explore More of Kochi

Destination Hub

Kochi Overview

Places to Explore