Published 2026-09-19 · 6 min read · One Cab Service
A road trip from Chennai to Kanyakumari takes you through almost the whole of Tamil Nadu — past rice fields, temple towns and windmill-lined plains to the point where three seas meet. It is a long day in the car, but with a comfortable taxi and a good driver it is a memorable one.
Distance and time
The drive is about 700 km and takes roughly 12 to 14 hours. Many travellers break the journey in Madurai for a night and visit the Meenakshi Amman temple.
Route and stops
Chennai → Villupuram → Trichy → Madurai → Tirunelveli → Nagercoil → Kanyakumari. The highway is four-lane for most of the way.
- Trichy: a quick stop at the Rockfort or Srirangam temple.
- Madurai: the ideal overnight halt — Meenakshi temple and Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal.
- Tirunelveli: the Nellaiappar temple and the famous Tirunelveli halwa.
- Suchindram: the Thanumalayan temple, just before Kanyakumari.
Taxi fares
| Route | Distance | Sedan | Innova | Crysta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai to Kanyakumari | ~700 km | ₹11,000 | ₹14,500 | ₹15,900 |
| Madurai to Kanyakumari | ~245 km | ₹3,975 | ₹5,200 | ₹5,690 |
| Trichy to Kanyakumari | ~380 km | ₹6,200 | ₹8,100 | ₹8,860 |
| Kanyakumari to Chennai | ~700 km | ₹11,000 | ₹14,500 | ₹15,900 |
Approximate one way fares including driver bata. Toll, parking and hill charges extra.
If you prefer to split the trip, book Chennai to Madurai one day and Madurai to Kanyakumari the next — each is a separate one way drop.
In Kanyakumari
Watch the sunrise from the beach, take the ferry to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar statue, and visit the Kumari Amman temple. Padmanabhapuram Palace is a short drive towards Kerala. Ferries run only in daylight and can stop in rough seas, so plan the rock visit for the morning.