Driving Bangkok To Phuket

[onnut]

I have driven it before, but cant remember the way after I get to Chumpon. which is the best way with the best roads?

[loubrockbank]

we arrive in thailand on saturday so will be doing this drive on sunday also...Ive been trying to find some good maps that mark hotels etc incase we fancy stopping. so ill also be interested in this topic,

[onnut]

im doing it next Tuesday night, I need to be there Wednesday Afternoon. Its a great drive but I know there is a better way than the way I went the last time.

[Mosha]

I think you have 2 choices. Carry on south to Surat Thani, then take route 401, then 415, and then Highway 4. Or From Chumpon head for Ranong on Highway 4 and keep on that road. A nice run but requires some caution. The road Atlas I use isThailand Highwaymap. A-Z Atlas.

[onnut]

I think you have 2 choices. Carry on south to Surat Thani, then take route 401, then 415, and then Highway 4. Or From Chumpon head for Ranong on Highway 4 and keep on that road. A nice run but requires some caution. The road Atlas I use isThailand Highwaymap. A-Z Atlas.

Hi Mosha, what do you mean by caution? potholes, buffalo, or kids on bikes. or worse?

[onzestan]

I think you have 2 choices. Carry on south to Surat Thani, then take route 401, then 415, and then Highway 4. Or From Chumpon head for Ranong on Highway 4 and keep on that road. A nice run but requires some caution. The road Atlas I use isThailand Highwaymap. A-Z Atlas.

Hi Mosha, what do you mean by caution? potholes, buffalo, or kids on bikes. or worse?

All of the above and then some.

I also avoid the 401/415 and continue highway 41 a little bit south past Suratthani and take the new highway 44 direction Krabi. Comes on the 4 highway about 17 km south of where the 415 joins, but is much more easy to drive, beautiful scenery and practically no traffic.

When you join the 4 highway it's left to Krabi, and right to Phuket.

hope to have helped.

drive safely

onzestan

[chiang mai]

At Chumpon take the Surat Thani road for speed and ease of driving - take the Ranong road for scenery but much slower and in some places, a slightly dodgy road.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Trucks trucks trucks and more trucks.

[loubrockbank]

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/g...mp;x=38&y=9

This is the best map we have found for it. Hope this helps the OP.

[onnut]

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/g...mp;x=38&y=9

This is the best map we have found for it. Hope this helps the OP.

Thats a good map if you plan on stopping over in the towns for a while. I want to do it in one go, so Dont have time to stop. Good luck on your travels. drive safe . thank you.

[Kan Win]

I have driven it before, but cant remember the way after I get to Chumpon. which is the best way with the best roads?

im doing it next Tuesday night, I need to be there Wednesday Afternoon. Its a great drive but I know there is a better way than the way I went the last time.

I also avoid the 401/415 and continue highway 41 a little bit south past Suratthani and take the new highway 44 direction Krabi. Comes on the 4 highway about 17 km south of where the 415 joins, but is much more easy to drive, beautiful scenery and practically no traffic.

When you join the 4 highway it's left to Krabi, and right to Phuket.

hope to have helped.

drive safely

onzestan

As "onzestan" mentioned take the the 44 to Krabi and at the end of this road (50 odd kms) there is a "T-juction" in "Ban Kan" take the "U-Turn" to Phuket.

Done that trip a few time now 9-10 hours to Sarisn Bridge and onto Phuket Island.

Carefull with the trucks at night.

Fill up at Chumpon or Surat Thani and that should take you to Phuket. BKK to Phuket 900 kms approx.

Have a safe tirp.

Your truly

Kan Win

[onnut]

I have driven it before, but cant remember the way after I get to Chumpon. which is the best way with the best roads?

im doing it next Tuesday night, I need to be there Wednesday Afternoon. Its a great drive but I know there is a better way than the way I went the last time.

I also avoid the 401/415 and continue highway 41 a little bit south past Suratthani and take the new highway 44 direction Krabi. Comes on the 4 highway about 17 km south of where the 415 joins, but is much more easy to drive, beautiful scenery and practically no traffic.

When you join the 4 highway it's left to Krabi, and right to Phuket.

hope to have helped.

drive safely

onzestan

As "onzestan" mentioned take the the 44 to Krabi and at the end of this road (50 odd kms) there is a "T-juction" in "Ban Kan" take the "U-Turn" to Phuket.

Done that trip a few time now 9-10 hours to Sarisn Bridge and onto Phuket Island.

Carefull with the trucks at night.

Fill up at Chumpon or Surat Thani and that should take you to Phuket. BKK to Phuket 900 kms approx.

Have a safe tirp.

Your truly

Kan Win

Thanks Kan Win. and all the other posters.

This is the way I will go, Im looking forward to the trip and will no doubt have something to post when I get back. I remember from last time about the trucks just pulling out...... I will keep my eyes open...

[meandwi]

I think you have 2 choices. Carry on south to Surat Thani, then take route 401, then 415, and then Highway 4. Or From Chumpon head for Ranong on Highway 4 and keep on that road. A nice run but requires some caution. The road Atlas I use isThailand Highwaymap. A-Z Atlas.

The drive from Krabi on Highway 4 takes patients and some local skill. There are many schools with hundreds of children riding their moterbikes with no reguard to cars. If a bus comes up behind you, pull over and let it pass! Be patient trying to pass trucks, and other slower moving cars.

I drive Krabi to Ao Luk on Hwy 4 almost everyday The lawlessness and lack of human compassion is not on this road. It is a dog eat dog race of horror. The trucks are at night and it's even more horrific!

My suggestion is to fly and rent a car when you arrive in Phuket.

Be careful!

meandwi

[onnut]

I think you have 2 choices. Carry on south to Surat Thani, then take route 401, then 415, and then Highway 4. Or From Chumpon head for Ranong on Highway 4 and keep on that road. A nice run but requires some caution. The road Atlas I use isThailand Highwaymap. A-Z Atlas.

The drive from Krabi on Highway 4 takes patients and some local skill. There are many schools with hundreds of children riding their moterbikes with no reguard to cars. If a bus comes up behind you, pull over and let it pass! Be patient trying to pass trucks, and other slower moving cars.

I drive Krabi to Ao Luk on Hwy 4 almost everyday The lawlessness and lack of human compassion is not on this road. It is a dog eat dog race of horror. The trucks are at night and it's even more horrific!

My suggestion is to fly and rent a car when you arrive in Phuket.

Be careful!

meandwi

No Dramas there mate, I drive Sukhumvit in Bangkok day and night, nothing can be worse then that road during rush hour.

thanks for the warnings anyway.

[wensiensheng]

The road to Surat Thani is straight dual carrigeway. To Ranong is normal two way road and the probem is that it is very windy and hilly around Kao Lak. You'll be doing 20km around some of the bends.

I always turn right to Phuket just before Surat Thani. It's sign posted and you turn under a bridge that allows the dual carrigeway to continue unimpeded. This right turn takes you to Rajapaba and then to Phuket. It's all signposted. This road is not dual carrigeway, but good two way road without too much traffic.

The problem with continuing past Surat Thani and then taking the new dual carrigeway right, is that it takes you quite a bit out of your way because it veers more towards Krabi than Phuket. By the time you make the right turn to Phuket, you have quite a trip to go along normal busy roads before you get to the point where the Rajapraba road joins. True, this dual carrigeway is new road, deserted for traffic and nice scenery, but although you can really put the hammer down, it still takes more time than the Rajapraba road. Putting down the hammer uses a lot more gas, something to consider these days!

I've done them all several times when driving to Issan and back and the Surat, Rajapraba route is the easiest and fastest.

It is true that the most dangerous bit is from Thap Put to Phuket. They are widening the road in places but meantime you have a lot of buses and lorries travelling at speed. But what else is new?

[nigelandjan]

I have driven it before, but cant remember the way after I get to Chumpon. which is the best way with the best roads?

The best way is by Thai airways