This Christmas, Take These Road Trips From Mumbai for a Memorable Holiday

Christmas is around the corner. With the year ending and the children's schools closing for the winter break, this can be the right time to go on a road trip with friends and family. Fortunately, Mumbai is close to some great Christmas destinations in India. 

If you’re a driving enthusiast living in Mumbai, consider the road trips mentioned in this post to have an extra Merry Christmas.

So, prepare your car, fill up the fuel tank, and explore these five Christmas getaways near Mumbai. 

• Lonavala

Situated just 83 km from Mumbai, Lonavala is one of the best weekend getaways from Mumbai. Take the Mumbai-Pune expressway to drive to this amazing location in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The place is abundant with natural greenery. A pollution-free environment and a range of sightseeing options make it a  welcome change for city dwellers.  

• Matheran

A beautiful 2 hour 30 minutes drive from Mumbai via Sion-Panvel expressway and Maharashtra state highway 79 will take you to Matheran. One of the most scenic Christmas Weekend Getaways from Mumbai, Matheran is Asia’s only automobile-free hill station and is 83 km away from Mumbai. So, you need to leave your vehicle behind and take a hand-pull rickshaw after reaching outside the eco-sensitive zone. 

• Igatpuri

Situated at a distance of 121 km from Mumbai, Igatpuri has emerged as one of the most popular Christmas gateways for families from Mumbai in recent years. An approximately 3-hour drive via NH 160 takes you to this enthralling hill station surrounded by the Sahayadri range of the Western Ghats. 

• Alibaug

Alibaug is about 95 km from Mumbai via NH66. The 3-hour drive to this beautiful coastal town can be one of the best road trips to take from Mumbai, especially among newlyweds. The place is popular among young people for its pristine sandy beaches and adventure water sports. The Kolaba fort is another nearby tourist attraction people prefer to visit.  

• Goa

Goa remains one of the favourite destinations for road trips from Mumbai for Christmas. The shortest route to Goa from Mumbai is via NH4. The 594 km route goes through Panvel, Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Nippani, Amboli, and finally, reaching Goa. The travel time is approximately 10 hours, considering moderate traffic and no stopover.

However, if you want to enjoy the journey, take the Coastal Highway, also known as Sagari Mahamarg. It will take about 15 hours of non-stop driving to reach Goa through this route. However, the road runs almost parallel to India’s east coast. So, you get an amazing view of the Arabian sea during most part of the journey.

Besides, you’ll pass through scenic places like Harihareshwar Beach, Mahabaleshwar, Ganpatipule Beach, and Tarkarli. You can also consider a night halt at Club Mahindra Sherwood, Mahabaleshwar and resume your journey to Goa the next day.

While Club Mahindra has four fine resorts in Goa, the Club Mahindra Varca might be the nearest to you if you enter Goa through the Coastal highway. Check into this exquisite resort to rejuvenate your body from the long drive and explore nearby places after taking a day off. 

Christmas is a festival of joy, and the celebrations can last longer if you embark on a fun-filled road trip from Mumbai to one of the above road trips with your loved ones.