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Let's see the driving and bus options to Bandipur from Bangalore. Towards the end you can even find a train option from Bangalore to Bandipur!

Bangalore to Bandipur driving, you can take the same road to Ooty from Mysore passes though Bandipur National Park .
If you are traveling from Bangalore to Bandipur , in all probability you would be making it via Mysore. Check out Bangalore to Mysore by road travel directions first, and plan further to Bandipur.

Depends on your mode of travel , there are many options to reach Bandipur from Bangalore.

Let’s divide the options into three for the sake of simplicity. First by road , that is by your private vehicle. The second option is bus and the third option is the train.

Bangalore to Bandipur by bus: There are frequent bus services (both private and state operated) from Mysore that passes via Bandipur . Look for a bus that goes to Ooty. Most of them goes via the Bandipur route. They stop right in front of the safari point inside the Bandipur National Park.
Mysore to Bandipur distance is about 80 kilometers , and bus takes anywhere from 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

From Mysore all the state operated buses ( Karnataka, Kerala & Tamilnadu buses ) starts from the KSRTC bus station in the city center Mysore bus station is roughly a couple of kilometers from the railway station.

As mentioned earlier the maxi cab operators roam near the bus station area to lure passengers to Ooty from Mysore.
You may even look for a direct bus from Bangalore to Ooty, that goes via Bandipur . Many of the buses to Calicut (Kerala) from Bangalore passes via Gundlupet , which is about 20km from Bandipur . From Gundlupet you can catch one of the local ( often crowded ) bus to reach Bandipur . In all probability , from Gundlupet you would be catching a bus coming from Mysore to Ooty.

Bangalore to Bandipur by road : For many reasons ( road conditions, mainly) the Bangalore – Mysore – Gundlupet – Bandipur route is a better driving option than Bangalore -Kanakapura – Kollegal – Chamarajanagar – Gundlupet – Bandipur route. Though the former is a bit busy

Once reached Mysore ask for the Ooty road (NH 212) . This road starts from very close to the Mysore Palace area. In fact Ooty road radiates from the main road that encircles the palace compound.

You can even skip entering Mysore city , if you are driving from Bangalore to Bandipur (and a tour of Mysore is not part of your itinerary). Take the right branch of the ring road that crosses the Bangalore Mysore highway ( SH 17). This is a major junction with signal lights about 10 kilometers before you enter Mysore city proper. As a landmark , a long overhead aqueduct ( water canal) crosses the highway. Also you can see huge traffic sign board spanning across the road. In a minute you can see the ring road junction approaching, where you need to take the right turn.

Many roads radiating from Mysore city crosses the ring road. The ring road you have taken finally terminates into the NH 212 which is going around the base of Chamundi Hill. Turn right into NH212.

Unlike the ring road , or even the SH17, traffic is a bit heavy ( and a bit reckless too ) in this stretch. Nanjangud is the next town. A few kilometers after Nanjangud traffic again thins out. Signboards are aplenty to assure you of direction.

Watch out as you cross Gundulpet. Just after this town you need to take a deviation for Bandipur . The main road ( NH212 ) in fact makes a right turn and head towards Kerala border (Calicut route). At this junction take the smaller road on your left that goes towards Bandipur and Ooty. This is not in a very good condition though it is officially the NH67.

From this point Bandipur is about 20 km. After about 30-45 minutes of scramble to avoid potholes you cross a village called Hungala. A right turn into a arched road leads to the popular Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple on the hilltop. It is not unusual people traveling to Bandipur with own vehicle make a side trip to this hill top temple. Note that the temple is within the reserve forest and entry is regulated. Traffic allowed only during the day time.

Pugmark Restaurant after Gundlupet just before the forest begins.

Back to the main road to Bandipur . After crossing this Hungala village the panorama changes abruptly. Thanks to your elevated location , you can clearly see the unending chain of western ghats in the horizon. The valley is expansive and filled large water bodies.

In fact one of the reasonably good restaurants, The Pugmark Restaurant and the jungle lodge operated by Karnataka government is located in this stretch just before you enter the forest.

The road inside the forest is narrow but well maintained. A gate marks the entry to the national park. After that the road make a few hairpin bends. Within the forest the rules are simple. No Parking. No Horn. No Picnic.No over speed , and so on. In other words, drive slowly and do not disturb the wildlife. A few minutes drive later you reach the camp where the safari is operated. Private vehicles are not allowed in Safari.

Though there are many hotels aimed at road travelers, decent ones are few and far in between Mysore and Bandipur . So if you are particular about food and other facilities the last best location is Mysore. Sure you can find many places along the route where they sell tender coconut.

There is a Cafe Coffee day outlet just before Gundlupet town ( next to the HP petrol station). Even before that, on your left appears the Coffee Shop restaurant with ample parking space. Pugmark Restaurant is a great option once you are in the fringes of Bandipur .

See the page Bangalore to Mysore by road for the drive in restaurants in that stretch of the route. See also Bangalore to Wayanad for additional routes around this area.
The road to Ooty from Mysore passes though Bandipur National Park . If you are traveling from Bangalore to Bandipur , in all probability you would be making it via Mysore.

Bangalore to Bandipur by train: The train option first. Mysore is the nearest major railway station for Bandipur . Technically, Nanjangud , which is about 55 km from Bandipur is the nearest railway station for Bandipur . But this is a minor route with very few trains ( ie to Mysore).
Mysore is well connected by express trains to Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and so on. Once you've reached Mysore, the onward journey to Bandipur has to be either by bus or car hired locally at Mysore. Yes, there are some maxi cabs ( small van) that operate to Ooty via Bandipur .