Bahubali Gomateshwara Statue
A 42-foot monolithic Bahubali carved in 1432, standing on a rocky hill above Karkala town with sweeping views of the Western Ghats.
Bhagawan BahubaliRead more
Karkala to Mangalore Airport by Car or Tempo Traveller
Mangaluru International Airport (IXE), Bajpe · 60 km · about 1 hour 30 minutes one way · chauffeur-driven
How far is Mangalore Airport from Karkala?
Karkala to Mangaluru airport is 60 km via Moodbidri, about an hour and a half. For a morning flight, leave three hours ahead.
- Distance
- 60 km one way
- Drive time
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Destination
- Mangaluru International Airport (IXE), Bajpe
- Suggested vehicle
- Toyota Etios
- Driver
- Included — we do not offer self-drive
Why people make this trip
Karkala and the Nitte campuses sit inland, so every flight from this side of the district starts with the run down through Moodbidri. Most of it is families seeing someone off, students at term ends, and Gulf-sector departures that leave at difficult hours.
What the road is like
Inland through Moodbidri and Mudipu rather than out to the coast and down NH-66 — shorter, quieter, and it avoids the Surathkal bottleneck entirely. Good two-lane road the whole way.
Worth stopping for on the way
- Moodbidri Thousand Pillar Basadi
- Venoor Bahubali
- Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple
One thing worth knowing
This route misses the NH-66 traffic that catches out everyone travelling from Udupi, so the timing is more predictable — but it is unlit for long stretches, which is worth knowing for a 3 AM departure.
Which vehicle suits this route
For most groups on this route we suggest the Toyota Etios — the dependable sedan — a big boot and a quiet highway ride. Every vehicle in the fleet is available for this trip, though: 4 cars from the Glanza up to the Innova Crysta, and the 11+1 and Force Urbania 16+1 tempo travellers for a group. Tell us your headcount and we will tell you honestly what travels best.
What a quote includes
Vehicle, driver, driver bata and fuel. Toll, parking and any permit charges are billed at actuals. We do not publish rates because they depend on the vehicle, the number of days and whether the trip is one way or return — call +91 94492 30083 or send the form and you will have a firm all-inclusive figure the same day.
Vehicles for Karkala to Mangalore Airport
| Vehicle | Capacity | Suits this route for |
|---|---|---|
| Karkala to Mangalore Airport by Force Urbania 16+1 | 16+1 seater | Joint-family temple circuits, sangha yatras and corporate outstation trips |
| Karkala to Mangalore Airport by Tempo Traveller 11+1 | 11+1 seater | Groups of eight to eleven on temple circuits and picnic trips |
| Karkala to Mangalore Airport by Toyota Innova Crysta | 6+1 seater | Family temple tours, Kollur and Dharmasthala day trips, airport runs |
| Karkala to Mangalore Airport by Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | 6+1 seater | Day trips around Udupi, Karkala and Malpe with a small family |
| Karkala to Mangalore Airport by Toyota Etios | 4+1 seater | Mangaluru airport transfers and two-to-four passenger temple visits |
| Karkala to Mangalore Airport by Toyota Glanza | 4+1 seater | Couples, local Udupi sightseeing and short station or airport hops |
Every vehicle is chauffeur-driven and quoted per trip — we do not publish rates.
Karkala to Mangalore Airport — common questions
About 60 km via Moodbidri, roughly an hour and a half. It is a more predictable run than the coastal route because it avoids the Surathkal stretch of NH-66.
Three hours before departure. The drive is ninety minutes on a clear road and the inland route rarely surprises you, but three hours leaves room to check in without hurrying.
Yes — NMAMIT and the Nitte university blocks are a routine pickup, particularly at term ends. Nitte is about 8 km from Karkala town.
Book Karkala to Mangalore Airport
Tell us the dates and the route. We reply with an all-inclusive figure — driver, fuel and taxes included.
On this route
Temples you can add
Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple
Home to a rare and beautiful clay idol of the Goddess, said to be centuries old, on the banks of the Phalguni river. Known too for …
Goddess RajarajeshwariRead more
Also from Karkala
Other popular routes
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Karkala to Dharmasthala | 65 km | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Karkala to Kudremukh | 70 km | 2 hours |
| Karkala to Sringeri | 90 km | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Karkala to Mangalore Airport — shall we quote it?
Send us the date and how many are travelling. All-inclusive figure the same day, with a driver who has done this road hundreds of times.