7 Deadly Days: driving Northeast to BKK

[FruitPudding]

Hello all. 

 

Anyone got any experience driving to Bangkok around Songkran period?

 

How bad does it get?

 

Would you say driving on route 24 on the 17th of April would have fairly normal road conditions?

Edited February 12, 2019 by FruitPudding

[KhunBENQ]

In the past I fell for the same idea: one after the official holidays are over all fine.

But that can go wrong. Nowadays many people have extra day(s) off.

I last observed this during the past New Year period.

On Jan 3 I did a short trip (16 km) to the district town (on a route south) and it was still heavy.

 

16th being last office holiday this year for Songkran.

17th, "fairly normal"?

I won't support this. It will still be quite heavy.

Plan extra hours.

 

[ballpoint]

Not too bad driving to Bangkok at the start of, and mid- Songkran, as all the traffic is going the other way, but I wouldn't do it at the end of the holiday, as everyone's heading back to Bangkok.

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, ballpoint said:

at the start of, and mid- Songkran

Yes that might work. Going against the flow.

But then: what you do in deserted Bangkok at this time?

Enjoy empty roads?

[PJPom]

Did this last year from Kalasin and only got as far as Sara Buri.

Drove up from Krabi midweek before Songkran and averaged mid 70 kph 

On the drive back on the Tuesday the average was 28 kph with three lane roads having five lanes of stop start traffic, never again.

[mfd101]

Whether or not you're doing it on a weekly basis or an occasional holiday basis, your driving in or out of BKK needs to be counter-cyclical. Unless you enjoy the heat, the fumes & the frustration ...

[CGW]

I had to drive to Bangkok from Udon a couple of years back due to a bereavement, it was an absolute nightmare as many lanes of road had been closed off and given to the traffic leaving Bkk to drive north, wouldn't want to do that again, took twice as long as it usually takes me!

[Sydebolle]

If you can - fly! 

[FruitPudding]

Anyone think it will be quieter driving at night?

[maprao]

On 2/13/2019 at 5:17 AM, ballpoint said:

Not too bad driving to Bangkok at the start of, and mid- Songkran, as all the traffic is going the other way, but I wouldn't do it at the end of the holiday, as everyone's heading back to Bangkok.

and are probably on your side of the road heading towards you????????????

[IssanDad]

Head to Toe going up there unless you go 1-2 day head start before  the designated public holidays...Tediously slow and frustrating..All i can say is avoid it. Do not drive the same days as the Thai public are forced to.

 

Coming back was a nightmare. Took over 10 hours, 3 lanes becomes 6 lanes, frequently grinding to a complete halt for any number of reasons, even at best you can frequently walk faster. Because i was driving on my own i faced 2 major hurdles. !st, I was dying for a Toilet stop....I had no option but to use a bottle, as the gas stops were hours apart at the pace the traffic was going. 2nd issue i was absolutely buggered (very tired), i was terrified that i would nod off and bang into the car in front because of monotonously slow (hypnotising almost) traffic speed,  At 7-8 hours into the trip i became very sleepy But due to  the 6 lanes of traffic (including the emergency lane) i could find no where to pull over for a rest).  NEVER AGAIN AFTER THAT

[ubonjoe]

I make it a point not travel on any big holidays.

The Songkran holidays just grew to 5 days in row since the cabinet added Friday the 12th as an additional day on Tuesday. Now the 12th to the 16th.

[nervona81732]

Yah, don't do it. Sorry to be so blunt.

[DUNROAMIN]

Stay at home, is the silly season in Thailand, all the fruit cakes are out on the roads.

[wreckingcountry]

Silly season for Thais driving is Jan 1 - Dec 31


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[gjoo888]

On ‎2‎/‎13‎/‎2019 at 12:04 PM, KhunBENQ said:

Yes that might work. Going against the flow.

But then: what you do in deserted Bangkok at this time?

Enjoy empty roads?

As a Bangkok resident, Songkran is my favorite time of year in Bangkok. What may normally take an hour to drive from point A to point B, you can do in 15 minutes during Songkran. Plus, most everything is open, just not nearly as crowded. Yes I do enjoy the empty roads, they're a rare and most welcome sight. 

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, gjoo888 said:

As a Bangkok resident, Songkran is my favorite time of year in Bangkok

Never been there during Songkran but I understand what you mean.

 

[FruitPudding]

18 hours ago, IssanDad said:

Head to Toe going up there unless you go 1-2 day head start before  the designated public holidays...Tediously slow and frustrating..All i can say is avoid it. Do not drive the same days as the Thai public are forced to.

 

Coming back was a nightmare. Took over 10 hours, 3 lanes becomes 6 lanes, frequently grinding to a complete halt for any number of reasons, even at best you can frequently walk faster. Because i was driving on my own i faced 2 major hurdles. !st, I was dying for a Toilet stop....I had no option but to use a bottle, as the gas stops were hours apart at the pace the traffic was going. 2nd issue i was absolutely buggered (very tired), i was terrified that i would nod off and bang into the car in front because of monotonously slow (hypnotising almost) traffic speed,  At 7-8 hours into the trip i became very sleepy But due to  the 6 lanes of traffic (including the emergency lane) i could find no where to pull over for a rest).  NEVER AGAIN AFTER THAT

Wow, which road was this on? What time?

[FruitPudding]

On 2/13/2019 at 3:50 PM, PJPom said:

Did this last year from Kalasin and only got as far as Sara Buri.

Drove up from Krabi midweek before Songkran and averaged mid 70 kph 

On the drive back on the Tuesday the average was 28 kph with three lane roads having five lanes of stop start traffic, never again.

When you say Tuesday, do you mean Tuesday 18th April, last year?

[FruitPudding]

Anyone reckon the 226 would be better than 24?

 

Or leaving at around midnight?

Edited February 15, 2019 by FruitPudding

[FruitPudding]

CHEERS GUYS. YOU ALL CONVINCED ME TOO BOOK THE TRAIN.

 

I GOT THE LAST 3 TICKETS. ACTUALLY THEY WERE CANCELLATION TICKETS -- WE GOT LUCKY.  ONLY 3RD CLASS LEFT NOW.

[ballpoint]

I remember an infamous Songkran back in the 90's when the tollway was still being built and there was major road and bridge construction around Rangsit.  The Bangkok Post interviewed one poor guy who left central Bangkok after work, and by 02:00 had gotten as far as Don Muang.