The Mumbai to Goa road trip can be considered as one of the best road trips in the country where you can experience immense scenic beauty. This 600-odd km journey from Mumbai to Goa takes you through some of the country's most beautiful sights on fantastic paved roads.
The breadth of amenities that can be found along the way makes this one of the easier-to-plan road trips as well. Read on to find out more about how to complete a road trip from Mumbai to Goa by road. One of the best things about this trip is that Goa is just a 12 hours drive from Mumbai, so whenever you get a long weekend, you can take off for this brilliant road journey.
What is the Best Time to Visit Goa?
The beaches of Goa are swarming with people in the months of December and January and this is indeed the best season to visit Goa. In case you want to avoid the crowd, you may visit during the months of February to June and October to December. Goa is the cheapest during monsoons, but driving down to Goa from Mumbai in that season is a bit challenging so only experienced drivers should attempt this.
Routes for a Mumbai to Goa Road Trip:
Route 1: Mumbai to Goa via NH4
- Mumbai to Pune by the Mumbai-Pune Expressway
- Pune to Satara to Kolhapur to Belgaum (NH4)
- Belgaum to Goa
Total Distance: 590 km
Total Duration: 10 hours 30 minutes (Non-stop)
This route for the Mumbai to Goa road trip is by far the simplest route to take. The road is simple, smooth, and straight with a four-lane road all throughout. But, you would be troubled by paying taxes at the numerous toll booths that come along your way. Starting on the Mumbai Pune expressway for 94.1 km on the six-lane expressway, one would reach Pune in three hours. The Mumbai-Pune expressway merges into the NH4 along until the road reaches Belgaum. There is a sharp right-angled turn at the end of the expressway, which reads “Mumbai Pune Expressway ends here” indicating the beginning of the journey on the national highway.
Keep on National Highway 4 until you reach Sankeshwar. The main milestones on this journey are Satara, Kolhapur, and Sankeshwar. One can also visit Rankala Lake, Panhala Fort, and the Jyotiba Temple on their way. The next stop on your Mumbai to Goa road trip should be Belgaum where you may also decide to have a night halt. Belgaum is famous for the Belgaum fort and the Bhimgad Wildlife sanctuary. The final stretch of this road is from Belgaum to Goa is a three-hour drive.
Where to Eat Along the Way?
Satara and Kolhapur is a good place to stop and have your lunch as there are many roadside eateries there. Kolhapur is the birthplace for the famous Kolhapuri Chicken dish and there are many eateries to stop along the way.
Route 2: The Bombay Goa Highway via NH 66
Total Distance: 577 km
Total Duration: 12 hours (Non-Stop)
Route: Mumbai- Panvel- Pen- Kolad- Khed- Chiplun- Pali- Sawantwadi- Goa
This is a really delightful scenic journey with paddy fields, coconut, and area nut plantations all along the route. You can also have a beachside halt at Ganpatipule. This route with its long and windy routes while is breathtaking in its scenic beauty is not the best for those that suffer from motion sickness.
Reaching Panvel from Mumbai is not difficult as it is a signal-free zip over a flyover. After Panvel, the drive reaches the NH-17, hence renamed the NH-66. As it is a commercially important route, the road has numerous hotels, restaurants, repair shops, and petrol pumps. Bird-lovers must surely stop at Karnala Bird Sanctuary, home to more than 150 bird species, in the taluk of Panvel. Further along, one would reach Pen, a historically important port city. Now it is a major center where huge Ganesha idols are made for worship.
Another popular stopover for travelers along the route is Chiplun, a distance of about 200 km from Panvel. This place is famous for its waterfalls, the Parshuram Temple, kokum, and the famous Ratnagiri mangoes. After that, the NH 66 leads you to Sindhudurg which was built by Hiroji Indalkar. After that, you reach Sawantwadi and after a drive along the ghats, travellers will finally reach their ultimate destination, Goa.
Where to Eat Along the Way?
The town of Chiplun is a popular stopover point for eating stops during this drive and during the summer there are sellers all along the route who offer the Ratnagiri Alphonsos at the best rates.
Tips for a Mumbai to Goa Road Trip:
- Sleep well the day before your journey.
- Always follow the traffic rules.
- Observe the speed limit in all the areas.
- Make sure to have frequent stops in your journey as it will help to refresh the body.
- Carry some high-protein snacks to provide energy on the course of your journey.
- Always carry a spare Tyre while you are traveling.
- Notice the accident warnings on the road.
Summing up, the first route is faster as well as a safer option, but the second route can provide you with unmatched scenic beauty and adventure. This journey is among the favourite routes for those looking for a relatively easy to plan bike trip or a quick road trip via car as well. Let us know in the comments below what you are most excited about!
