I have to travel to Phetchabun from Pattaya next week. I normally go 7, 9 and onto the 1.

I have read that the 9 gets congested and as I'm not a very adventurous driver I prefer to stick to roads that I know. So what I need to know is how bad is the congestion at lunchtime on the 9 on  a midweek day?

 

Also the advised alternative is to stay on the 7 and drive straight onto the 1. Is this a good alternative?

I would just stay on the 9 until tou see a sign for the 32 ayatuya. 

But expect it to be quite busy, then if for some reason it's not, it's a bonus ???? 

The 9 is a racetrack at any time, but it is rarely stopped. I don't see much in the way of viable alternatives really.

Lunchtime is okay, turning onto 9 from the 7 is less congested than from 9 back onto 7, since they have the new flyover that right turns onto the 9 instead of the old cloverleaf.

 

The congestion on the way back is worse around rush hour with queue from the 9 toll gate to the left turn onto 7 

You will get a very sensible answer from Google maps or Waze. Both work extremely well.