What should I know before travelling to Udawalawe from Colombo?

Going from Colombo to Udawalawe usually takes around 4 to 5 hours in a car, and if you rent a private taxi or use the Southern Expressway, that tends to be the fastest option.

Take the E01 Southern Expressway, and then get off at the Mattala or Hambantota exits before you head inland too abruptly; this often trims travel time a lot compared with going the whole way along slower, busy coastal local roads. Public buses exist, but they typically involve a few transfers, plus they drag out the trip considerably. So, for people trying to keep a tight holiday schedule, they are a less practical choice.