lanky Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I am planning to drive from chiangmai to nong khai and latter get other transport across the border to laos I have a garmin gps with map of thailand on it, I not sure how far it is to drive from chiangmai to nong khai or driving time I would estimate between 400 to 700 km would like to know if anyone has driven that route and are their good highways or roads to toward nong khai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domprz Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I went by minivan at night. Total driving time about 10 hours. The roads are good, windy, many mountain passes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offroadlanna Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Driving time is about 9-10 hours depending on the speed and traffic. Roads are good - Normally Take Rd 11 to Uttaradit and then the 1246 and 1143 to Chatrakan and Nakhonthai and then take the 2013/203 to Dan Sai and to Phu Rua and from there to Loei, Udon Thani and Nong Khai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 ... and plenty of 7-11s along the way to re-fill your SCUBA tanks for the 10 hour drive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jubby Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 ... and plenty of 7-11s along the way to re-fill your SCUBA tanks for the 10 hour drive. Those 711's do Tri-Mix or just normal Air !? .. Whats the 'Diving' like in Nong Khai anyway . Mekhong Zero Vis I suspect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Only normal air or Nitrox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MESmith Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I find google maps very useful for planning long trips. Key in your starting point & destination. Then you can play around with the route it gives you to get your preferred route. btw I think this topic is in the wrong forum..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotlost Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 This forum is DIVING NOT driving. HAY MODS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Thats what the report button is for gotlost, cheers to MESmith for taking the time to use it. MOVED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotlost Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Thats what the report button is for gotlost, cheers to MESmith for taking the time to use it. MOVED Just seeing who was awake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Lanky, You should be able to plot the route on the Garmin for either the shortest or quickest or else if you bought it new, it would have come with a Mapsource disc with it and you can use that to choose your route on a PC then squirt it up to the GPS unit for use on the road. If your stuffed, give me a PM and I'll try to help if you can bring the unit into the city centre. The route suggested by "Offroadlanna" is pretty good and may even be the way the GPS would suggest. Cheers, Pikey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotlost Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Driving time is about 9-10 hours depending on the speed and traffic. Roads are good - Normally Take Rd 11 to Uttaradit and then the 1246 and 1143 to Chatrakan and Nakhonthai and then take the 2013/203 to Dan Sai and to Phu Rua and from there to Loei, Udon Thani and Nong Khai. Nice rout for sight seeing but out of the way. Direct and faster... Highway 11 south to Highway 12 east to Highway 2 north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orang37 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Sawasdee Khrup, All TV CM<=>Laos Visa Pilgrims, While, obviously, "your mileage may vary," depending on what you drive, it would be interesting to know any ballpark figures from someone who has driven this route on how much you spent for gas or lpg, or whatever your jalopy runs on. thanks, ~o:37; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotlost Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Sawasdee Khrup, All TV CM<=>Laos Visa Pilgrims, While, obviously, "your mileage may vary," depending on what you drive, it would be interesting to know any ballpark figures from someone who has driven this route on how much you spent for gas or lpg, or whatever your jalopy runs on. thanks, ~o:37; Toyota 4x4 Hilux 3.0 D. 9.5 kpl. 760 Kilometers each way. 2140 baht or 4280 return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naboo Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 According to googlemaps: Driving directions to Nong Khai Route 11 Route 1214 Route 1246 Route 1143 Route 2013 Route 203 Route 3002 Route 2140 Route 2016 Route 201 Route 210 National Hwy No. 2 Route 212 734 km 11 hours 52 mins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotlost Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 According to googlemaps: Driving directions to Nong Khai Route 11 Route 1214 Route 1246 Route 1143 Route 2013 Route 203 Route 3002 Route 2140 Route 2016 Route 201 Route 210 National Hwy No. 2 Route 212 734 km 11 hours 52 mins As I said that is a nice scenic route. Being your first time you had better make that 14 to 15 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MESmith Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 (edited) Driving time is about 9-10 hours depending on the speed and traffic. Roads are good - Normally Take Rd 11 to Uttaradit and then the 1246 and 1143 to Chatrakan and Nakhonthai and then take the 2013/203 to Dan Sai and to Phu Rua and from there to Loei, Udon Thani and Nong Khai. Nice rout for sight seeing but out of the way. Direct and faster... Highway 11 south to Highway 12 east to Highway 2 north. Have you driven this route? Just wondering whether it's quicker to drive down to Tak, then cut across to Phitsanulok on hwy 12? I need to drive to Friendship bridge next month, so open to suggestions. How is hwy 11 now? It's an extra 100km via Tak, but "superhighway". Edited September 7, 2010 by MESmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudroz Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Driving time is about 9-10 hours depending on the speed and traffic. Roads are good - Normally Take Rd 11 to Uttaradit and then the 1246 and 1143 to Chatrakan and Nakhonthai and then take the 2013/203 to Dan Sai and to Phu Rua and from there to Loei, Udon Thani and Nong Khai. Nice rout for sight seeing but out of the way. Direct and faster... Highway 11 south to Highway 12 east to Highway 2 north. I did this back two years ago and it took me about 11 hours. Left early in the morning and got there around 6PM. Slept a night at the Nong Khai Grand Hotel for around 1,200 THB. They drove me to the border the next morning and allowed me to leave my car parked there for the time I stayed in Vientiane for free. It was fun and painless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MESmith Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 What time does the border close? I'd rather spend the night in Vientiane than Nong Khai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotlost Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Driving time is about 9-10 hours depending on the speed and traffic. Roads are good - Normally Take Rd 11 to Uttaradit and then the 1246 and 1143 to Chatrakan and Nakhonthai and then take the 2013/203 to Dan Sai and to Phu Rua and from there to Loei, Udon Thani and Nong Khai. Nice rout for sight seeing but out of the way. Direct and faster... Highway 11 south to Highway 12 east to Highway 2 north. Have you driven this route? Just wondering whether it's quicker to drive down to Tak, then cut across to Phitsanulok on hwy 12? I need to drive to Friendship bridge next month, so open to suggestions. How is hwy 11 now? It's an extra 100km via Tak, but "superhighway". I have been driving this route for over 4 years from Chiang Mai to Surin about 3 times a year. i have taken different routs just to see the country. The best over all for going from Chiang Mai to Nong Khai IMO for time, safety and convenience is Highway 11 south to Highway 12 east to Highway 2 north to Nong Khai. about 760 Kilometers 12 hours. There is some construction down around Den Chai but it should not hold you up. I have seen major improvements on the highways that I have recommended. Allot of it is 4 lane and some is just 2 way and mountain but good road. I always make sure I have a full tank of fuel when I leave Phitsanulok Its about 300 Kilometer from there to Khon Kaen and there are a few spots of 30 Kilometers that are dry. Oh and the scenery Is out of this world going over the mountains and threw the National forest. Take your time and enjoy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MESmith Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I have been driving this route for over 4 years from Chiang Mai to Surin about 3 times a year. i have taken different routs just to see the country. The best over all for going from Chiang Mai to Nong Khai IMO for time, safety and convenience is Highway 11 south to Highway 12 east to Highway 2 north to Nong Khai. about 760 Kilometers 12 hours. There is some construction down around Den Chai but it should not hold you up. I have seen major improvements on the highways that I have recommended. Allot of it is 4 lane and some is just 2 way and mountain but good road. I always make sure I have a full tank of fuel when I leave Phitsanulok Its about 300 Kilometer from there to Khon Kaen and there are a few spots of 30 Kilometers that are dry. Oh and the scenery Is out of this world going over the mountains and threw the National forest. Take your time and enjoy. Thanks, appreciate the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ywamer Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Anybody know where I can get the required "car passport" in Chiang Mai so I can drive straight into Vientiane? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cm das Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Have you driven this route? Just wondering whether it's quicker to drive down to Tak, then cut across to Phitsanulok on hwy 12? I need to drive to Friendship bridge next month, so open to suggestions. How is hwy 11 now? It's an extra 100km via Tak, but "superhighway". In early August, hwy 11 from Chiang Mai to P-lok was is much better shape than hwy 1 to Tak. Both had some construction but the road was smoother and the traffic lighter on 11 (I drove both a few days apart). I did the 11-12-2 route from Chiang Mai to Nong Khai in March 09. It took me about 12 hours including 2 meal stops. East from P-lok over the mountains through Petchabun was indeed very beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotlost Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Anybody know where I can get the required "car passport" in Chiang Mai so I can drive straight into Vientiane? Try the Land Transportation Department (LTD) on the Hang Dong Road on your left just before Big C. Same place for driver license and vehicle license. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrry Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Anybody know where I can get the required "car passport" in Chiang Mai so I can drive straight into Vientiane? Try the Land Transportation Department (LTD) on the Hang Dong Road on your left just before Big C. Same place for driver license and vehicle license. You will need a residence letter your passport the blue book photocopies of all and I think but am not sure a photo. It is usually ready a day or so later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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