Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Road

[stament]

Does anyone know if the roadworks are still bad on this route as I'm planning on going to CR tomorrow. Google seems to think it's ok but I prefer to rely on recent members experiences.

 

Last year when I went there the roadworks were awful and very long.

 

Thanks in advance

 

[AussieBob18]

Dont know about roadworks, but have you driven that road before? If not, then I will tell you that without a doubt that is the most dangerous stretch of road I have ever driven in Thailand - and I have driven many times on highways in and around CM, Udon, Ubon, Bangkok, Rayong, Hua Hin and liots of other regional roads too.  The CM to CR road was bad a few years ago so good to hear about roadworks, but there are a lot (a lot) of very dangerous drivers in trucks and large 4WDs - be aware and stay alert - they will force you to move over - both ways - watch in front and in the mirror.  CM has the highest road death rates for a reason - they are crazy nutters on the highways.

 

[saengd]

You'll notice the air quality gets worse as you head North on that road, you'll definitely need masks.

[GroveHillWanderer]

Drove it in the opposite direction (CR to CM) two weeks ago. There were numerous, lengthy sections of road works, many of which didn't look anywhere near to completion. So I would count on some fairly significant delays.

[Yorkshire Tea]

Drove it yesterday.  Traffic was light both ways.  Where there are roadworks, the surface is hard & not potholed.  

[stament]

13 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

Dont know about roadworks, but have you driven that road before? If not, then I will tell you that without a doubt that is the most dangerous stretch of road I have ever driven in Thailand - and I have driven many times on highways in and around CM, Udon, Ubon, Bangkok, Rayong, Hua Hin and liots of other regional roads too.  The CM to CR road was bad a few years ago so good to hear about roadworks, but there are a lot (a lot) of very dangerous drivers in trucks and large 4WDs - be aware and stay alert - they will force you to move over - both ways - watch in front and in the mirror.  CM has the highest road death rates for a reason - they are crazy nutters on the highways.

 

Yes I've driven it, I mentioned I drove that road last year ????

 

Agree some extremely dangerous drivers particularly minivans. Correction many not some

Edited March 15, 2020 by stament

[stament]

Just now, Yorkshire Tea said:

Drove it yesterday.  Traffic was light both ways.  Where there are roadworks, the surface is hard & not potholed.  

Out of interest how long did it take CM to CR. How long were the roadworks too?

 

Cheers

[Lacessit]

The road  still has lots of roadworks between Doi Saket and Baan Narm Ronn - i.e. the mountain stretch. Adds about 20 minutes to the trip. IMO a dog's breakfast, why they can't finish one stretch before hacking up another is beyond me.

The other alternatives are going down to Lampang and hooking up through Highway 1, or out through Phrao and joining the 118 at Wiang Pa Pao. Both add about an hour to the journey. One rough stretch of about 2 km on the mountainside coming into the 118 from Phrao. It's the road much less travelled.

The regular 118 for me is about 4 hours, including a stop for coffee. I'm not a leadfoot, sit on 90 km/hr on the better bits.

[stament]

4 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Drove it in the opposite direction (CR to CM) two weeks ago. There were numerous, lengthy sections of road works, many of which didn't look anywhere near to completion. So I would count on some fairly significant delays.

May go via Lampang then longer route but I'm starting from Lamphun and not been that way before.

[Yorkshire Tea]

Just now, stament said:

Out of interest how long did it take CM to CR. How long were the roadworks too?

 

Cheers

Roadworks are between Doi Saket & road 1252 turnoff.  Then between border with Chiang Rai & the hot springs.

 

CM to Mae Sai took 3 hours 40 minutes

[stament]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

The road  still has lots of roadworks between Doi Saket and Baan Narm Ronn - i.e. the mountain stretch. Adds about 20 minutes to the trip. IMO a dog's breakfast, why they can't finish one stretch before hacking up another is beyond me.

The other alternatives are going down to Lampang and hooking up through Highway 1, or out through Phrao and joining the 118 at Wiang Pa Pao. Both add about an hour to the journey. One rough stretch of about 2 km on the mountainside coming into the 118 from Phrao. It's the road much less travelled.

The regular 118 for me is about 4 hours, including a stop for coffee. I'm not a leadfoot, sit on 90 km/hr on the better bits.

Think I will do this, is the journey more enjoyable if you can use the word enjoy when driving in TH

[stament]

Just now, Yorkshire Tea said:

Roadworks are between Doi Saket & road 1252 turnoff.  Then between border with Chiang Rai & the hot springs.

 

CM to Mae Sai took 3 hours 40 minutes

Wow good going you must have been hammering it

[canthai55]

Brought my new bike down 2 weeks ago - as said above road hard as a rock - tho' wet to keep dust down

Minivans are a menace on every road everywhere in this country

 

[Yorkshire Tea]

1 minute ago, stament said:

Wow good going you must have been hammering it

Not really.  255 km to the border.   Stick to 90 to 100 where road is good, Good bypass to west of Chiang Rai,  Traffic was light.

[stament]

Thanks all for the replies. Think I will go via Lampang and Phayo and see how I get on. If I like that route I will come back the same way otherwise will return via CM.

 

 

[Yorkshire Tea]

1 minute ago, canthai55 said:

Brought my new bike down 2 weeks ago - as said above road hard as a rock - tho' wet to keep dust down

Minivans are a menace on every road everywhere in this country

 

Didn't see any water trucks yesterday.  Bit dusty for bikers!

[GroveHillWanderer]

According to Google Maps, if you're starting out from Lamphun, it's only about 40 mins longer going via Lampang as opposed to Chiang Mai.

[Pesky]

1 hour ago, stament said:

Thanks all for the replies. Think I will go via Lampang and Phayo and see how I get on. If I like that route I will come back the same way otherwise will return via CM.

 

 

Good choice, nice roads & Phayao is great for a coffee break/stopover.

[ramrod711]

4 hours ago, stament said:

Thanks all for the replies. Think I will go via Lampang and Phayo and see how I get on. If I like that route I will come back the same way otherwise will return via CM.

 

 

We went to Chiang Rai on friday, returned on saturday. Went through Phayao there and back. Two areas of mild concern, returning through Lampang where you would normally turn right to head for Lumphun there is a series of turns and Uturns due to road works. You must take a left, make a Uturn, then a left toward Tak, then a Uturn toward Lampang then a left toward Chiang Mai. It doesn't sound so bad but nobody wants to stay in line. The other thing was the smoke, if anything it's worse than CM.