I will need to drive to Chumpon early next month. Is this an easy trip?

Also can anyone suggest a good road map to buy, one that actually reasonably accurate?

Thanks

easy or senic your pick ..................

scenic , west coast to Ranong then over the mountains

not that hard a drive and bloody spectatular .

easy , multilane hwy to Surathani then up the A4.

enjoy

mid

It's only multi lane as far as Pang Nga. From Pang Nga, through Thap Put, and unil about 20 Km before Surat it's country roads. Good surface,but tricky to overtake much of the way. In foot down mode I would allow 4.5 - 5 hours to Chumpon.

I don't recemmend the Ranong route if your are in a hurry. Country road all the way from leaving Phuket Island all the way to Chumpon. Allow 5 - 5.5 hours.

You can a Bartholomew road map in any good book store.

are the Bartholomew ones relatively accurate then?

It's only multi lane as far as Pang Nga. From Pang Nga, through Thap Put, and unil about 20 Km before Surat it's country roads. Good surface,but tricky to overtake much of the way. In foot down mode I would allow 4.5 - 5 hours to Chumpon.

I don't recemmend the Ranong route if your are in a hurry. Country road all the way from leaving Phuket Island all the way to Chumpon. Allow 5 - 5.5 hours.

You can a Bartholomew road map in any good book store.

another alternative is to head for Samui from Pang Nga ( drop south for about 20 klms ) then follow the #44 till you see the Surathani signs ..................

here's a map

I've bought a few road maps of Thailand over the years, and so long as the map is a new publication, then you should be Ok. Not really so important going to Chumpon, but really necessary when driving about the tollway system in Bangkok.

Just thought... I noticed a recent recommendation to go to Surat via Krabi. It's been reported that there is new dual carriageway road from Krabi to just south of Surat. More kilometers, but faster drive. Still have country roads from Pang Nha to about 20 km before Krabi, and there was still a lot of road construction when I drove over to Lanta (via Krabi) last month.

i think i will be looking for the easiest way to get there without getting lost rather than the fastest

Very easy (I could almost do it with my eyes closed) just keep going straight on after crossing the Sarasin bridge to the mainland, after passing through Takua Pa you will get to a T junction where you don't turn left to Ranong but go straight on to Surat Thani. Without having to take any turns you get to the 4 lane highway that runs along the eastcoast, you turn left on it to go to Chumporn. No need to buy a map, and have a good trip.

Going through Takuapa is a long way to go to Surat. Best take the road through Thap Put. Very well sign posted all the way to Surat. Right turn at Thap Put, then 10 minutes later left at next big set of traffic lights (straight goes to Krabi), long way on (30 minutes), right at next set of trffic lights (left would be to Takuapa).

So... follow signs to Pang Nga, then signs to Krabi, then signs to Surat Thani, then signs to Chumpon. Very easy. Driven that route many many times.

thanks for all the tips

will probably still get lost anyway

thanks for all the tips

will probably still get lost anyway

Sorry, very glad to read this...........

and I thought I am the only one with this problem

But some months ago I managed to go by car from Phuket to Chumpon, don't ask me how I did that.

Gerd