Route: Uttaradit to Nong Khai

[Badger18]

I'm planning to drive from Uttaradit to Nong Khai. The route planner is sending me down Highway 11 but only for about 20 miles, at which point it turns off and takes 4-digit highways through Loei and Nong Bua Lam Phu to Udon Thani. The alternative would be to stay on Highway 11 as far as Phitsanulok and then pick up H12 to Khon Kaen, from where H2 takes you through Udon and almost to Nong Khai. This route is shown as being about an hour longer but the roads look much bigger.

 

It looks like the 4-digit highways have only one lane, so am I better off taking the longer route so I can stay on better roads?

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, Badger18 said:

I'm planning to drive from Uttaradit to Nong Khai. The route planner is sending me down Highway 11 but only for about 20 miles, at which point it turns off and takes 4-digit highways through Loei and Nong Bua Lam Phu to Udon Thani. The alternative would be to stay on Highway 11 as far as Phitsanulok and then pick up H12 to Khon Kaen, from where H2 takes you through Udon and almost to Nong Khai. This route is shown as being about an hour longer but the roads look much bigger.

 

It looks like the 4-digit highways have only one lane, so am I better off taking the longer route so I can stay on better roads?

If you want to drive the extra hour ... not sure how that's better.   #12 is also a nice scenic route, though haven't driven that in many years.  Have you driven either route before ?

 

I've driven the shorter route, more than a few times.  Most recently, June of this year.  

 

Is this a get there ASAP trip, or you going to play tourist along the way ?

[Badger18]

59 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

If you want to drive the extra hour ... not sure how that's better.   #12 is also a nice scenic route, though haven't driven that in many years.  Have you driven either route before ?

 

Well the app says it's quicker but I am imagining getting stuck behind a slow moving ve-hicle or something. I just have no sense of how major/minor these roads are and the shorter route looks very minor on the map.

 

I don't know either route. I haven't really driven much in Thailand. In fact I haven't driven much at all since about 2010 when I sold my last car. That's probably why I don't trust the app...

 

59 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Is this a get there ASAP trip, or you going to play tourist along the way ?

 

I was just thinking of stopping for lunch but I could make it a few hours or overnight if there's somewhere worth seeing. Somewhere around Loei would make sense but I've seen Loei itself before.

[KhunLA]

7 minutes ago, Badger18 said:

 

Well the app says it's quicker but I am imagining getting stuck behind a slow moving ve-hicle or something. I just have no sense of how major/minor these roads are and the shorter route looks very minor on the map.

 

I don't know either route. I haven't really driven much in Thailand. In fact I haven't driven much at all since about 2010 when I sold my last car. That's probably why I don't trust the app...

 

 

I was just thinking of stopping for lunch but I could make it a few hours or overnight if there's somewhere worth seeing. Somewhere around Loei would make sense but I've seen Loei itself before.

A lot of the journey is 4 lanes.  Not familiar with the last leg (2097), although only a few more kms/mins to got to hwy #2, then north.  2097 is probably more scenic.  State below, 210 & 2 is a bit boring, unless overnight in UT, which has nice vendors around Nong Prajak Park area, and a huge night market near train station, every night.

 

Chiang Khan is a nice riverside town, especially weekends, as having a large walking street market through town.  Need to book in advance, as a favorite with Thais.   Then you could follow along the river to NK from there.   That's a pleasant drive.

 

It really is a nice drive cutting through Loei.    Loei over to Udon Thani (#210) is a bit unspectacular.  Same with UT to NK.  Hence the turn north at Loei to Chiang Khan.  

[Expat68]

15 hours ago, Badger18 said:

I'm planning to drive from Uttaradit to Nong Khai. The route planner is sending me down Highway 11 but only for about 20 miles, at which point it turns off and takes 4-digit highways through Loei and Nong Bua Lam Phu to Udon Thani. The alternative would be to stay on Highway 11 as far as Phitsanulok and then pick up H12 to Khon Kaen, from where H2 takes you through Udon and almost to Nong Khai. This route is shown as being about an hour longer but the roads look much bigger.

 

It looks like the 4-digit highways have only one lane, so am I better off taking the longer route so I can stay on better roads?

Your choice entirely. I have travelled Chaing Mai to Loei many, many times. I do not use GPS or map. This is my preferred route:

Uttaradit - Thong Saen Khan - Chartrakarn - Nakhon Thai - Dan Sai - Phu Rua - Loei - Chiang Khan - Nong Khai

Worth staying a night in Chiang Khan.

If you prefer keeping to major roads doing 100+ kmph this route is not for you

[Burma Bill]

It is a matter of personal choice with several routes (as mentioned above). I lived in this area often driving from Chiang Mai via Uttaradit to Khon Kaen. For fast highways, may I suggest Route 11 to Phitsanulok, then keep left onto Route 12 for Petchabun Province, Lomsak, Chumphae and Khon Kaen.  Then north on Super Highway 2 to Udon Thani and Nong Khai.  There is spectacular scenery, especially in the Lomsak area which includes Nam Nao National Park (Route 12 becomes a 2 lane road through the park and is in excellent condition. There are check points at each end of the park).

 

To avoid Khon Kaen, in Chumphae turn left off Route 12 onto Route 228  (this is at a set of traffic lights with Chumphae Government Hospital prominant on your left.  Follow Route 228 to Nong Bua Lamphu eventually meeting Route 210 at a major junction.  Turn right onto Route 210 through to Udon Thani to join Route 2 northwards to Nong Khai.  There are several turns on this route but there are clear road signs.

[kwilco]

THe northerly routes wind through the hills and along the laos border - the Southerly ones follow a flatter course - I'd go North, it's far more interesting.

[PJ71]

Head to Chiang Khan and then follow the Mekhong along to NK, once of the nicest drives in Thailand.

 

Use the 12 to head over Khao Kho and then 21 and then 2016 i think, that'll get you to Loei and then it's easy to CK.