Hyderabad to Vijayawada
by Self Drive Car

Hyderabad to Vijayawada is one of the most-driven highway routes in the two Telugu states: a wide, well-travelled NH65 that works for a quick weekend, a family visit or a business trip. Driving it yourself means you leave when you want, stop where you want and skip the bus and train schedule. This guide covers the route, the time and toll picture, which self drive car to pick, what it costs to rent, and a simple 2-day plan for Vijayawada.

Route Overview: Hyderabad to Vijayawada on NH65

From Hyderabad you leave the city on the Vijayawada highway (NH65) towards Hayathnagar and Choutuppal, then continue through Suryapet and Kodad before the final stretch through Nandigama into Vijayawada. The road is a major national highway for most of the way, so the drive is straightforward. The slowest parts are usually the city exit on the Hyderabad side and the approach to Vijayawada.

Detail	Figure
Distance	About 275 km
Driving time	Roughly 4–4.5 hours without long stops
Highway	NH65
Toll plazas	About 3 (indicative total ₹220–280 for a car)
Best start time	Early morning, to clear Hyderabad before traffic builds

Distance, time and toll figures are indicative. Check current FASTag amounts and traffic before you leave.

Which Self Drive Car for Hyderabad to Vijayawada?

Car	Daily Rate	Best For
Maruti WagonR CNG / Tata Tigor	₹1,500	Solo or two people, lowest cost
Maruti Dzire (2026)	₹1,799	Comfortable sedan for 3–4
Maruti Swift / Baleno	₹2,500	Small groups, light luggage
Hyundai Creta	₹2,000–3,000	Family of 4–5, comfortable highway SUV
Kia Seltos	₹4,500	Premium cabin for business or couples
Toyota Innova Crysta	₹4,500	6–7 people, lots of luggage
Toyota Fortuner Automatic	₹15,000	Weddings and VIP arrivals

For most families the choice is between the Creta and the Innova Crysta: the Creta is cheaper and comfortable for four or five, and the Crysta is the better pick once you have six or seven people or serious luggage. Rates are per day; fuel and tolls are extra on every booking.

What a Hyderabad–Vijayawada Trip Costs

The rental is only one part of the cost. Here is how a two-day round trip builds up, using standard daily rates. The example below is an illustration, not a quote.

Item	Example (Swift, 2 days)
Car rental (₹2,500 × 2 days)	₹5,000
Tolls, both directions	Extra — check current FASTag amounts
Fuel for about 550 km round trip plus local driving	Extra — depends on the car and current fuel price
Refundable security deposit	Collected at pickup, returned after inspection

A Simple 2-Day Plan for Vijayawada

Day 1 — Drive and settle in

• Leave Hyderabad early to clear the city exit before traffic builds
• Take a break around Suryapet or Kodad for tea, food and a fuel check
• Reach Vijayawada by afternoon and visit the Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakeeladri
• Evening at Prakasam Barrage for a river walk and sunset

Day 2 — See the sights and return

• Morning at Undavalli Caves and nearby Mangalagiri
• Local food stop before you head back
• Start the return by early afternoon so you are off the highway before dark

For more on the city once you arrive, see our weekend trips from Vijayawada guide.

Tips for Driving Hyderabad to Vijayawada

• Start early — the Hyderabad exit is the slowest part of the trip
• Carry a working FASTag or cash for the toll plazas, and budget for tolls both ways
• Fuel up before you leave and top up at a larger town such as Suryapet or Kodad
• Avoid night driving if you can — it is more tiring and visibility is lower
• Take breaks every couple of hours; a 4-hour drive feels longer on a hot day
• Check the car at pickup — tyres, fuel level, and a walk-around with our team to note existing marks
• Tell us your route — you are crossing from Telangana into Andhra Pradesh, so read the interstate travel rules and confirm with us when you book

How to Book a Self Drive Car for This Trip

1. WhatsApp or call us with your car, dates and whether you want a one-way drop
2. We confirm availability and the refundable deposit for that car
3. Collect the car in KPHB Phase 6, Kukatpally with your driving licence and government photo ID
4. Inspect the car with our team before you drive off
5. Drive to Vijayawada — return the car or arrange a drop on request

Planning the reverse trip? See Vijayawada to Hyderabad by self drive car.

Hyderabad to Vijayawada by Car vs Bus, Train and Cab

People searching Hyderabad to Vijayawada by car usually compare it with the bus, the train and a one-way cab. Each has a place, and the right one depends on how many people are travelling and what you need on the other end.

Option	Best When	Trade-off
Self drive car	2–7 people, luggage, a multi-stop or round trip	You drive; fuel and tolls are extra
Bus	A solo traveller on a tight budget	Fixed timings, no flexibility at either end
Train	A solo or couple trip with a fixed date	Station transfers on both sides, fixed schedule
One-way cab	A single one-way trip with no need for a car afterwards	A driver and a fixed return cost if you come back

Self drive wins once you are travelling as a group, carrying luggage, or planning to move around Vijayawada, Mangalagiri or Amaravati after you arrive. A group of four or five sharing one car usually finds it easier to manage than several individual tickets plus local transport at the destination.

Best Time to Drive Hyderabad to Vijayawada

• Time of day: an early-morning start is the most comfortable. You clear Hyderabad's outer roads before traffic builds and reach Vijayawada by midday or early afternoon.
• Season: the cooler months make the drive more comfortable, while peak summer afternoons are tiring behind the wheel. In the monsoon, keep an eye on weather and reduce speed on wet stretches.
• Festival and wedding dates: highways and Vijayawada itself are busier around major festivals and wedding season, so allow extra time and book your car earlier.
• Day of week: weekdays are usually lighter than Friday evenings and long weekends, when many people leave Hyderabad at once.

Fuel, Rest Stops and Planning the Drive

NH65 passes through several larger towns where you can find fuel, food and clean rest stops, including Choutuppal, Suryapet, Kodad and Nandigama. Start with a full tank, check the fuel level again at a larger town such as Suryapet or Kodad, and return the car at the fuel level agreed at pickup. Fuel use depends on the car, your speed and traffic, so we do not quote a fixed figure; a CNG car such as the WagonR CNG or Tigor generally has the lowest running cost on a short highway trip.

• Plan one proper break halfway, around Suryapet or Kodad, for food and to stretch your legs
• Keep a charged phone and a power bank for navigation and calls
• Carry water and light snacks so you are not forced to stop at the first available place
• Keep your licence, ID and rental papers in the car and not in your luggage
• Download the route offline in case your signal drops on a stretch

Tolls on NH65 and How FASTag Works

The Hyderabad–Vijayawada route has about three toll plazas, and the indicative combined toll for a car is ₹220–280 each way, so plan for that cost both ways on a round trip. Tolls are not included in the rental price. Most highway toll plazas use FASTag, so check with us at pickup how tolls on your booking will be handled and carry a little cash as a backup. Amounts change from time to time, so confirm current rates before you leave.

Family, Group and Pilgrim Trips to Vijayawada

A large share of Hyderabad–Vijayawada traffic is family travel: visiting relatives, attending weddings, or going to the Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakeeladri. For these trips the self drive route works well because you can carry the whole family and luggage in one car and keep the car for local movement afterwards.

• Family of four or five: Hyundai Creta (₹2,000–3,000/day) or Kia Seltos (₹4,500/day)
• Six or seven people with luggage: Toyota Innova Crysta (₹4,500/day)
• Wedding travel: see our wedding car rental cost guide for Vijayawada and luxury car rental in Vijayawada for the Fortuner and other premium cars
• Larger groups: see 10-seater tempo traveller rental in Vijayawada

What to Carry for the Trip

• Valid driving licence and a government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or voter ID)
• Refundable security deposit as confirmed at booking
• FASTag or cash for tolls, plus money for fuel
• Phone charger and power bank
• Water, snacks and a basic first-aid kit

Our documents required for self drive car rental in India guide has the complete checklist.

Self Drive Cars in Hyderabad and Vijayawada: Both Ends Covered

Aman Self Drive Car Rentals operates in both cities, so you can collect a car in Hyderabad and arrange a one-way drop in Vijayawada on request, or rent separately at each end. Our Hyderabad base is in KPHB Phase 6, Kukatpally, and our Vijayawada location is at MG Road, Revenue Colony Park, Labbipet. For local driving at your destination, see self drive cars in Vijayawada, and for long stays in Hyderabad see our monthly self drive car rental in Hyderabad.

Frequently Asked Questions