Escaping From Bangkok

[Meridian007]

Well it was another rainy day in the capitol yesterday so I decided to play around with my map program and Photoshop. I posted this originally to the GT rider site, but I thought it would be useful here as well.

I've looked through some of the posts (on www.gt-rider.com) that give directions out of the city, so I've tried my best to interpret them and put them on a map, but I'd love to get some feedback and/or more information. I outlined the routes lightly in red and green, and tried to start from a few central downtown places. The file is a little large (1meg) so I'll just post a link.

Please let me know if I have it correct or not, and if you have any other favourite routes out of Bangkok. I hope to keep updating this as I get more info.

You can see a small version of the map here, but I couldn't find an image hosting site that would allow for the original picture size:

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/me...outes-small.jpg

If you want the full size, you can download it as a file from here (that's the problem with really big pictures!) :

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?qui...fyh&thumb=4

Thanks to everyone who already gave some directions, here are bits from the various posts I used to create the map:

From Chonburi (same direction as Ladkrabang), just drive onto the Srinakarin Road in direction of Samut Prakarn, after crossing the BangNa-Trat road on the next big roadcross right onto Puchao-Samingprai Road until you hit the ferry, over the river to Phra Padaeng onto the Suksawat Road, onto the sideroad of the Rama 2 and out of Bangkok on this one, Samut Songkran

You can get to the ferry by going down Sukhumvit 50 (Tesco Lotus, On Nut) and turning left at the tee-junction onto the 3114. Careful if you go early, though, as it is one-way against you till 0900 to ease rush hour traffic. The 3114 is vaguely interesting as it is the dock road and takes you past a bit of industry and the odd naval ship.

The second traffic lights you come to allow you to turn right onto the 3113 (clearly signposted). This road is still quite industrial and you will see at least one place restoring big bikes if you look to the right. At the end of the 3113 is a slip road to a perfectly servicable bridge. You are not allowed on it, though, so carry on to the end of the road where the ferry awaits you.

I've used the ferry once in each direction and both times I only had to wait about 10 mins for it to leave. The cost is 10B and Farrangs inexplicably pay the same as Thais.

It only takes a few minutes to cross the river then you need to head for the road to Hua Hin. It's best to follow the bulk of the other bikes as they leave the ferry as they will be heading for the main road. Don't bother heading for the 9, which you will be able to see in the distance to your left. Instead, keep Bangkok to your right and head for the 35.

Take Sukhumvit/Asok/Queen Sirikit etc. over the overpass over Rama IV and ride down Rama III all the way to the end. You can take most of the overpasses.

Go over the lower (old metal) Krung Thep bridge as bikes are not allowed on the new high bridge and anyway it goes the wrong way. After the bridge turn left onto Suksawat and follow it until you will turn right onto Rama II (HWY 35). Then follow your nose to Cha Am.

The first 25kms or so of 35 are a bit busy but traffic thins out the further you go.

I would advise against going on Hwy4. I tried that once, never again.

If you want a longer ride you can go Sathorn, over Taksin Bridge, take Ratchapreuk, following the SkyTrain and the left merging traffic, north to 345, then to Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and down to Cha Am.

[Ithailian]

I finally had some time to experiment with the ferry crossing at Prapadaeng (Bang Na). I can't believe this option has been so close to me but I've never used it before. It cuts at least an hour off of the trip towards Hua Hin from Bangkok. Today, because of the rain, I only went across the river and then back.

The directions are very simple.

Take Sukhumvit 50 to the end. Turn left. Follow that road towards Bang-Na until you see the turn for Prapadaeng. I think its about 10km. Turn right towards Prapadaeng.

Follow that road to the very end. It literally ends with one driving up onto the ferry.

There no need to buy a ticket or anything. Just drive on. Once underway, they collect the toll. It was 10 Baht for me, the cycle and my pillion.

There is some big ship traffic on the river which was a bit unnerving.

Once across the river there is a nice river walk and a cool temple to see ... but really this thead is about a great shortcut out of Bangkok.

Cheers!!!

[BigBikeBKK]

^ Lookin' good Jimbo! (Bummer about that dam_n headlight though...) Will it fit in my ER6n?

[RusticCharm]

Take Sukhumvit/Asok/Queen Sirikit etc. over the overpass over Rama IV and ride down Rama III all the way to the end. You can take most of the overpasses.

Go over the lower (old metal) Krung Thep bridge as bikes are not allowed on the new high bridge and anyway it goes the wrong way.

If it's Saphan Wong Wan you're talking about, going over it will save you a very long detour over Krung Thep Bridge. From Rama III, take a right onto the bridge and take the first left turn (not straight on to Pu Chao Saming Road) off to Suksawat. Stay right and it'll take you round onto Suksawat towards Rama II.

You're right that bikes are not allowed on this bridge but then again, bikes aren't allowed in the right lane either. There are no toll booths and I regularly see Thai bikers using it. 

At the end of the 3113 is a slip road to a perfectly servicable bridge. You are not allowed on it, though, so carry on to the end of the road where the ferry awaits you.

Dude, just use the bridge!

[prepress]

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?qui...fyh&thumb=4

I don't see any file on that website. Do I need a password or to register ?

But thanks for your work. A year ago I made myself a huge map of Bangkok and surroundings (highest zoom) by connecting/merging many screen shots from Google map. It was for our Thai messenger, but they don't use it.

[prepress]

Follow that road to the very end. It literally ends with one driving up onto the ferry.

your picture no. 2 driving to the ferry - can you give the GPS coordinates?

You can easy use this tool

http://directory.thaivisa.com/geocode.php

Thanks

Helmut

[Ithailian]

your picture no. 2 driving to the ferry - can you give the GPS coordinates?

Thanks

Helmut

Lat 13.65685043803098

Long 100.53717613220215