Does anybody know the average time it takes to drive from Dumaguete to Bacalod using the coast road as oppose to going across the mountain ? I have looked at it on google and got estimates between 3 and a half to 6 hours.
Dumaguete to Bacolod via the coast road will take at least 8 hours by car via Sipalay, 7 hours via Cadiz (if no traffic) or only 5 hours if you go via Bais, Mabinay & Kabankalan. Hope this helps
Correct, and the "across the mountain" route via Mabinay/Kabankalan is very doable even if you're not very experienced driving mountain roads. The number of S-curves is quite limited and it's nowhere really steep (buses and trucks go this road also).