Pattaya-Phuket drive. Possible or to be avoided?

[jinners]

I'm planning to drive down with family, though I'll be sole driver, and see friends who are coming over before Christmas to Phuket from Pattaya. I've lived here a while and have made a few other long trips, but I'm having 2nd thoughts on this. I had assumed driving to Hua Hin and over nighting there would work well. Until I checked Google maps and saw Phuket is 10 hours from Hua Hin.

So I ask is this something anyone has done (For sure) and if so now that Hua Hin is out, where is a good half way stop off point and what's the overall travel time and experience? Still not too late to book a flight.

[simple1]

I've driven a few times Pattaya - Phuket return and doing so again next week as staying in Phuket area for a few weeks. This time I'm overnighting both ways at Chumphon at the Magic House Resort. Depending on traffic in BKK, Pattaya - Phuket shouldn't take more than 11 / 12 hours elapsed driving time.

 

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by simple1

[KhunBENQ]

Simple math.

Pattaya to Phuket is about 950 km.

Pattaya to Hua Hin is about 325 km.

So indeed a bit too early for an overnight.

 

Since a while ago I did trips from my place to Pattaya at 560 km.

I must say that's enough for me for a day (but with worse road conditions and taking me 8 hours).

Chumphon city is a bit further at 590 km.

 

Make sure you don't drive in(to) the dark.

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by KhunBENQ

[manchega]

oh you can do it, its just probably nicer to stay in bkk as first stop

[dotpoom]

It has been my experience in life that the only limitations I have are the ones I put on myself.

I have driven to the four corners of this country (and beyond) at least 15 times, without a problem. I fail to understand why Hua Hin is a cause for second thoughts. There are hotels the length and breath of this lovely land. I used to just drive until it started to get dark then head for the nearest town. Up at dawn the next day, breakfast and off again. Take each day as it comes and enjoy the adventure of not having any deffinate (written in stone) plans

Like the Thai people say .."You think too much".

  Enjoy, it's a holiday..not a goal that must be achieved in a certain way...Above all ..safe driving and have a great time.

[Zack61]

Try Bang Saphan Yai. A few kilometres south

[Kerryd]

It should be easily doable in a car in a single day.

 

Sheesh, I rode my Harley from Pattaya to Kamphaeng Phet (just under 600kms) and was there just after noon. I could have made it to Chiang Mai (900ish kms) the same day but had planned to spend the afternoon visiting some historical sites in Kamphaeng Phet. Otherwise I would have rolled into CM around 5pm or so. (I know some people that leave Pattaya late Friday night so they can arrive in Chiang Mai before noon the next day.)

Leave Pattaya early in the morning (by early I mean be on the road by 5 am). Using the toll highways you should be past Bangkok before the morning traffic gets going. Don't spend 30-40 minutes at each fuel spot. Fill up, take a leak and get back on the road.

950kms - you should be able to easily average 90+ kms/hr so 10 1/2 hours of driving. I'd suspect that you could probably shave at least an hour(+) off that as you can do much better on the toll roads. After Hua Hin you'll probably be lucky to average 90 km/hr, depending on what day you travel as well. Add a couple of pit stops along the way and you should still be able to roll into Phuket by suppertime.

I've ridden (in an SUV) from Chiang Rai to Pattaya (1,000ish kms) in a day and from Nong Khai to Pattaya (830ish kms) in a day as well and those weren't "rushed" trips. My buddy (who was the driver) has made the trip to Phuket in a day as well and while he drives like a raped ape, he also likes to take long breaks at every gas stop along the way as well.

The problem with stopping "half way" is you end up getting to the halfway spot just after noon (depending on traffic) and then (probably) have nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon/evening. The time spent doing nothing could have been spent getting to your destination.

Some people like the break though. If you aren't in a hurry, leave later, arrive at the halfway point in the late afternoon, have a nice rest, leave early the next morning and drive into Phuket with the sun behind you.


 

[Grusa]

I suggest you overnight on the beach in Sam Roi Yot, south of Pranburi. Then you have a choice, continue via Surat Thani(very boring) or go across the Kra peninsula and down the west coast. That road has been/is being drastically improved.

 

Bear in mind that in these rural areas things close down very early! You don't want to be looking for dinner at 8pm!

 

[HHTel]

I've done that journey from Pattaya and stopped overnight in Hua Hin.  I now live in Hua Hin and I make the journey from here in around 8 hours.

[anfh]

Its not a bad drive actually. I split it into three sections, stayed in Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Krabi on way down, then Chumpon and Hua Hin on the way back. Roads were pretty good.

 

I guess it depends on your urgency to actually get to Phuket, or whether you want to see a bit more than just the inside of your car.

 

[leither69]

Hua hin to patong 7.5 hours,. The roads are in good nick now,. Unlikely to hit any traffic of consequence. I do it regularly and don't hit more than 120 kmph

[PerkinsCuthbert]

3 hours ago, Kerryd said:

It should be easily doable in a car in a single day.

 

Sheesh, I rode my Harley from Pattaya to Kamphaeng Phet (just under 600kms) and was there just after noon. I could have made it to Chiang Mai (900ish kms) the same day but had planned to spend the afternoon visiting some historical sites in Kamphaeng Phet. Otherwise I would have rolled into CM around 5pm or so. (I know some people that leave Pattaya late Friday night so they can arrive in Chiang Mai before noon the next day.)

Leave Pattaya early in the morning (by early I mean be on the road by 5 am). Using the toll highways you should be past Bangkok before the morning traffic gets going. Don't spend 30-40 minutes at each fuel spot. Fill up, take a leak and get back on the road.

950kms - you should be able to easily average 90+ kms/hr so 10 1/2 hours of driving. I'd suspect that you could probably shave at least an hour(+) off that as you can do much better on the toll roads. After Hua Hin you'll probably be lucky to average 90 km/hr, depending on what day you travel as well. Add a couple of pit stops along the way and you should still be able to roll into Phuket by suppertime.

I've ridden (in an SUV) from Chiang Rai to Pattaya (1,000ish kms) in a day and from Nong Khai to Pattaya (830ish kms) in a day as well and those weren't "rushed" trips. My buddy (who was the driver) has made the trip to Phuket in a day as well and while he drives like a raped ape, he also likes to take long breaks at every gas stop along the way as well.

The problem with stopping "half way" is you end up getting to the halfway spot just after noon (depending on traffic) and then (probably) have nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon/evening. The time spent doing nothing could have been spent getting to your destination.

Some people like the break though. If you aren't in a hurry, leave later, arrive at the halfway point in the late afternoon, have a nice rest, leave early the next morning and drive into Phuket with the sun behind you.


 

How many gallons of oil did the Harley use?

[Kerryd]

1 hour ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

How many gallons of oil did the Harley use?

Lol ! 

You do know that the 70's ended almost 40 years ago.  ????

(I think a lot of the bad press came during the period when AMC owned Harley and was churning out bikes "of a lower standard", which lead to Harley being bought back by descendants of the original owners.)

 

I think the whole "leaking oil" thing was BS for the most part anyways. If you overfill the oil tank on a Harley and then go for a ride, of course it's going to leak as the oil expands when it gets hot. I had that happen once when I had an oil/filter change done at a shop just before a big trip. The shop filled the oil tank to the bottom of the opening of the tank instead of to the "cold" mark on the stick. Had frikken oil coming out the filler tube for half the trip until it finally got down to it's proper level.

The bike has actually been sitting in the car port since April and not a drop of oil under it.

 

(Hmmm - maybe I should check to see if the oil tank is empty ?) ????
 

[Mauiguy]

My first and last was an all chrome (If it don’t go chrome it!) 59 XLCH.  It burned 1/2 qt of oil per tank 2.2 gal.  Don’t forget to retard the magneto before kickstarting or you’ll likely need a knee replacement;)))!

[phuketrichard]

did the trip pattaya to Phuket in August, stopped in Prachup khiri khan for the night.

going up stopped in Cha am ( 9 hours) and then headed to Mae sot

[jinners]

On 10/22/2018 at 9:51 AM, Kerryd said:

It should be easily doable in a car in a single day.

 

Sheesh, I rode my Harley from Pattaya to Kamphaeng Phet (just under 600kms) and was there just after noon. I could have made it to Chiang Mai (900ish kms) the same day but had planned to spend the afternoon visiting some historical sites in Kamphaeng Phet. Otherwise I would have rolled into CM around 5pm or so. (I know some people that leave Pattaya late Friday night so they can arrive in Chiang Mai before noon the next day.)

Leave Pattaya early in the morning (by early I mean be on the road by 5 am). Using the toll highways you should be past Bangkok before the morning traffic gets going. Don't spend 30-40 minutes at each fuel spot. Fill up, take a leak and get back on the road.

950kms - you should be able to easily average 90+ kms/hr so 10 1/2 hours of driving. I'd suspect that you could probably shave at least an hour(+) off that as you can do much better on the toll roads. After Hua Hin you'll probably be lucky to average 90 km/hr, depending on what day you travel as well. Add a couple of pit stops along the way and you should still be able to roll into Phuket by suppertime.

I've ridden (in an SUV) from Chiang Rai to Pattaya (1,000ish kms) in a day and from Nong Khai to Pattaya (830ish kms) in a day as well and those weren't "rushed" trips. My buddy (who was the driver) has made the trip to Phuket in a day as well and while he drives like a raped ape, he also likes to take long breaks at every gas stop along the way as well.

The problem with stopping "half way" is you end up getting to the halfway spot just after noon (depending on traffic) and then (probably) have nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon/evening. The time spent doing nothing could have been spent getting to your destination.

Some people like the break though. If you aren't in a hurry, leave later, arrive at the halfway point in the late afternoon, have a nice rest, leave early the next morning and drive into Phuket with the sun behind you.
Appreciate the insight and comments. Raped ape!!

 

 

[jinners]

On 10/22/2018 at 11:28 AM, anfh said:

Its not a bad drive actually. I split it into three sections, stayed in Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Krabi on way down, then Chumpon and Hua Hin on the way back. Roads were pretty good.

 

I guess it depends on your urgency to actually get to Phuket, or whether you want to see a bit more than just the inside of your car.

 

On the way down we'll be to a time table as we're meeting friends and have accommodation booked. The return trip will be a more lazy affair. Thanks.