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Colombo Airport to Yala by Car

about 290 to 310 km, 5.5 to 7 hours, depending on how much expressway you use

Yala National Park is in the south-east, and the nearest town for hotels and safari jeeps is Tissamaharama. It is a long day from the airport, and an early start the next morning is what makes the safari.

Distance
about 290 to 310 km
Driving time
5.5 to 7 hours, depending on how much expressway you use
Cars from
Rs. 16,500 per day

Times are for normal traffic and exclude stops. Always allow extra time on holidays and in rain.

Routes from the airport to Yala and Tissamaharama

Southern Expressway, then the coast

Join the Southern Expressway as for Galle and follow it as far as it goes towards Matara and beyond, then take the coastal A2 road through Tangalle and Hambantota to Tissamaharama. Check at the time of your trip how far the expressway runs, because the sections open to traffic have changed.

Through Ratnapura and Embilipitiya

An inland road through Ratnapura, Embilipitiya and past Udawalawe to Tissamaharama. It is quieter, passes elephant country at Udawalawe, and is slower.

Worth a stop on the way

  • Udawalawe National Park: A good second safari stop, with elephants easy to see, on the inland road.
  • Tangalle and Hambantota: Quiet beaches and a salt-pan coast on the coastal road.
  • Kataragama: An important pilgrimage town, a short drive from Tissamaharama.

Road notes

  • Plan to sleep in Tissamaharama: morning safaris leave around 5:30, and the park gate is about 30 to 40 minutes from the town.
  • Safari jeeps and park tickets are booked separately from the car hire.
  • Wild animals, mainly elephants, can cross the roads at night near the parks; avoid driving after dark.
  • The roads in the south-east are mostly flat; fuel is easy to find in the main towns.

Which car for this drive

A Land Cruiser Prado is the comfortable choice for a group of five to seven with luggage and for rough side roads; a hybrid or a compact SUV such as the Vezel is enough for two to four people on the main roads.

Daily car rental rates in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR). The rate per day falls as the rental period gets longer.
VehicleSeatsGearboxFuelPer dayPer day, 2 weeksPer day, 1 monthPer day, 3 months
TOYOTA PRIUS5AutomaticHybridRs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,500≈ $45Rs. 12,000≈ $37Rs. 11,500≈ $36
PRIUS4AutomaticHybridRs. 17,500≈ $54Rs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,000≈ $43Rs. 13,000≈ $40
TOYOTA PRIUS5AutomaticHybridRs. 17,500≈ $54Rs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,000≈ $43Rs. 13,000≈ $40
TOYOTA PRIUS G SPORT5AutomaticHybridRs. 17,500≈ $54Rs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,000≈ $43Rs. 13,000≈ $40
HONDA VEZEL5AutomaticHybridRs. 22,000≈ $68Rs. 20,000≈ $62Rs. 16,000≈ $50Rs. 14,000≈ $43
HONDA VEZEL5AutomaticHybridRs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87Rs. 24,000≈ $74Rs. 22,000≈ $68
HONDA VEZEL5AutomaticHybrid, PetrolRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
HONDA VEZEL2 cars at this rate5AutomaticHybridRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
TOYOTA CHR4 cars at this rate5AutomaticPetrolRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
TOYOTA CHR5AutomaticHybridRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
LAND CRUISER PRADO6AutomaticPetrolRs. 44,500≈ $138Rs. 42,500≈ $132Rs. 38,500≈ $119Rs. 36,500≈ $113
LANDCRUICER PRADO 1507AutomaticDieselRs. 44,500≈ $138Rs. 42,500≈ $132Rs. 38,500≈ $119Rs. 36,500≈ $113
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado7AutomaticDieselRs. 44,500≈ $138Rs. 42,500≈ $132Rs. 38,500≈ $119Rs. 36,500≈ $113
Toyota Landcruiser prado 1507AutomaticDieselRs. 50,000≈ $155Rs. 48,000≈ $149Rs. 44,000≈ $136Rs. 42,000≈ $130

Rates are read from our booking system. Fuel, expressway tolls, parking and traffic fines are paid by the hirer; the rate includes commercial rent-a-car insurance (an insurance excess applies), 24/7 breakdown support and 100 km per day. See the full price list.

More about the cars: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Honda Vezel, Toyota Prius, Toyota C-HR.

Airport pickup and one-way hire

We can bring the car to Bandaranaike International Airport on request; see car rental at Colombo airport. You can also hire with a driver, who handles the road, the parking and the tolls. Tell us your flight, your dates and the number of travellers on WhatsApp. More about the place itself: car rental for Yala and Tissamaharama.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Colombo airport to Yala?
About 5.5 to 7 hours to Tissamaharama, for roughly 290 to 310 km, depending on how much of the expressway you use. The park gate is another 30 to 40 minutes.
Can I enter Yala National Park in a rental car?
The park is visited in a safari jeep with a park ticket and a guide, which you book separately. Our rental cars take you to Tissamaharama and wait for you there.
Where should I stay for Yala?
Tissamaharama has the most hotels, and is the usual base. Some guests stay at Kirinda or in lodges near the park gate.
Is it safe to drive at night near Yala?
We advise against it. Elephants and other animals walk on the roads near the parks after dark, and the roads are poorly lit.

Other routes from the airport

Plan your drive to Yala and Tissamaharama

Tell us your dates, your flight and the number of travellers, and we confirm the car and the price.

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