Short answer
The distance is about 35 km, taking roughly 1 hour by car via the Marine Drive coastal road, which runs close to the shoreline for most of the route.
The Marine Drive road
This coastal stretch is one of Odisha's more scenic drives, with casuarina groves and glimpses of the Bay of Bengal, and is preferable to the older inland road for both views and road quality.
Stopping at Ramachandi Beach
Roughly midway, Ramachandi Beach offers a quieter alternative to Puri's main beach and a small temple, making it a natural short stop on the way to or from Konark.
Timing the visit to Konark
Arriving at Konark in the morning avoids both the midday heat on the open temple plinth and the larger afternoon crowds; the Sun Temple complex typically needs a minimum of 1.5-2 hours.
Return options
Some itineraries loop back to Puri via the same Marine Drive road, while others continue north from Konark toward Bhubaneswar to complete a one-way Golden Triangle circuit.
