Bangalore's proximity to Kerala's hill country makes this one of the few destinations on this platform where a direct road trip genuinely rivals flying. Wayanad is roughly 6 hours by road, and Munnar around 7-8 hours, both popular as long-weekend self-drive or cab trips without needing to fly at all.
For backwater-focused itineraries centred on Alleppey or Kumarakom, flying into Kochi (about 1 hour from Bangalore) and driving onward is the more practical option, since the backwaters are further south than the hill stations most road-trippers head to directly.