Going to drive up to Chang Mai this next week, been some time since I have done this, appreciate any tips on best route as road system has changed quite a bit in the last few years.

Cheers

Going to drive up to Chang Mai this next week, been some time since I have done this, appreciate any tips on best route as road system has changed quite a bit in the last few years.

Cheers

You can download microsoft location finder on the microsoft website, and their is a road map. All you have to do is type in Pattaya to chiang Mai and it will route you. similar to Google Earth.

Barry

It's one hel_l of a long drive.Nice views in sections but still a long long way.

Going to drive up to Chang Mai this next week, been some time since I have done this, appreciate any tips on best route as road system has changed quite a bit in the last few years.

Cheers

send me an email or your tel no iand i will tell the best way to travel to Chang Mai

I've driven Phuket / Chiang Mai six times and conclude the best way to make the journey is by plane. It's cheaper, faster, safer and more interesting. I dread making the journey by road again.

My apologies, in my early morning fog I misread your post and now realize you are traveling Pattay/Chiang Mai, that's a much easier proposition. You have good quality motorway from Chonburi almost all the way to Auttaya (The Estern Ring road) and that's a good chunk of the trip. Thereafter it's a single road North which is dual carriage way for the most part. Inevitably there will be road repair and construction although this is typically in the mid section of your journey. Look out for speed camera's from around the Sukhothai turn off all the way to CM. Also be prepared to be stopped at police road blocks in the central/northern section up to four or five times - they are looking for goodness knows what but it's unlikely to be you. Make sure you have suitable documents for driving. Also, western type food almost non-existent on the trip until you get to Lamphun. Finally, drivers in the North are far far worse than drivers I have seen elsewhere so be careful. Buses, long distance truck drivers and even local traffic need to be regarded with much caution.

Have made the trip before. It is just under 900km and takes about 9 hours with a couple of stops.

Go up Sukumvit to the 36 juntion take 36 to 7 north then take 9 (outer ring) around Bangkok. Then 32 past Ayutthaya. At Nakhon Sawan take HWY 1 then at Lampang take Hwy 11 to Chiang Mai. Happy motoring!!!

Thanks for the tips, trip went well, worse traffic and roads by far getting in and out of Pattaya!

Decided to kill two birds with one stone and drove up to Khon Kean - had to drop things off there, stayed the night, then went on highway 12 to Tak - Chang Mai, what a great road, well worth a trip, but what a long way! should have broken that section of the trip into two, mileage this way was 1400 km, coming back was 800 km driving direct!

Cheers

I recently drove to CM and stopped off at Sukholthai on the way up and Petchabun on the way back. Both very worthwhile stops if you stay a day in each place to explore the local countryside (Petchabun), and ancient city at Sukholthai.

The road from Petchabun which takes you almost back to Bang Pa Inn and the outer ring road is dual carriageway, as straight as a die, and very quiet.

Unless you are in hurry, I don't recommend doing the CM trip in one go, unless you are sharing the driving.