Driving From Bangkok To Udon Thani

[Sontaya]

Hi

I have decided that rather than fly to Udon for Songkran I would like to drive with an over night stop in Korat. I understand that it is quite a good route and impossible to get lost. The only thing I am worried about is the traffic as it will be Songkran. I was thinking of leaving on the 11th of April and coming back on the 16th or 17th. Does anyone know if the traffic is bad on this drive at this time of year or not?

Thanks

Sontaya

[metisdead]

IF you really must drive up, go a couple days earlier to avoid the traffic. The traffic will most likely be a bumper to bumper crawl up to near Korat. And let the Thais get back to BKK before you begin your trip back. Songkran is one time of the year I do not want to be on the road.

[gotlost]

Traffic will be stacked at that time. I refuse to make any long drives anywhere in Thailand over Songkran. That is the number 1 road kill holiday of the year.

[onnut]

Agree with both comments. If you have to drive then leave two days before the Thais and two days after to come home. You will enjoy the drive much more.

Plus you can get a seat in Chok Chai steak house as well! I always look forward to that on the way home after eating god knows what for a few days.

[Deeral]

I drove to Udon last Song Khran and I also drove up there in November last year.....here's a trip report ;http://www.fodors.co...of-thailand.cfm..and this is an incomplete report of the second trip..........

http://www.fodors.co...e-redshirts.cfm;leave a comment if you have time!

The first time we drove the direct route up route 2.it's a good road

BUT

firstly in November it was littered with road blocks and the debris of accidents.

mostly police road blocks so not too inconvenient, however at an army roadblock they decided to go through the whole car - half-heartedly but nevertheless it took a while.;At Song Khran EVERYONE who has been working down South in Bkk will be returning home to visit their families in Issan and the traffic is MAYHEM: some of Thailand's least capable drivers will be on the road made all the less capable by copious quantities of alcohol. Pickups laden with passengers, fridges and motorcycles (see trip report) careen around and into each other......you will find it hard not to encounter some of the carnage.So.....

At Song Khran we drove up in 2 pick ups and firstly stopped over at KHAO YAI....we camped but there is plenty of hotel/resort accommodation.

then drove the rest of the way on Route 201 to CHAYAPHUM and then Route 228 to NONG BUA LAMPHU.;Being a smaller road we guessed there would be less hassle from the police.....and we were right.

the drive is easily done in a day a passes through somme "quaint" rural towns and villages.The traffic was actually quite light, plenty of nice stopping places for food etc ....each place was having it's own Song Khran celebration - so if you choose you can stop and get yourself dowsed or just cruise on by undisturbed.

Out in the country families gather outside their houses along the way waiting to "anoint" passing motorists, a totally different experience from say Pattaya or the major tourist hot-spots.

The local police did nothing ore than give us a friendly wave.Altogether it was a really enjoyable drive and you got to see and connect with a quieter, friendlier side of Thailand.Spent 4 nights at the Centara and visiting friends near the outlying town of Ban Dung.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend the Centara, but it has had a total makeover since I was there - or so I'm told. There are plenty of hotels in Udon if you need though.;I wouldn't recommend driving round Udon over Song Khran the traffic and water throwing goes on for about 4 days, but out of town is great.Stay off route 2 and have a great drive.

[katabeachbum]

Agree with both comments. If you have to drive then leave two days before the Thais and two days after to come home. You will enjoy the drive much more.

Plus you can get a seat in Chok Chai steak house as well! I always look forward to that on the way home after eating god knows what for a few days.

been driving BKK-Udon-Nong Kai on an ordinary friday, and its terrible until reaching Khon Kaen. Heavy traffic, sometimes almost not moving, and when moving maniacs overtaking and braking, frequent accidents. I am a very fast driver myself, but no sense in overtaking in such heavy traffic.

Songkran at least 2 days before most of the others and at least 2 days after, keeping 140-160 on cruisecontrol possible most of the way.

[MikeyIdea]

Agree - If you have to drive around Songkran then leave two days before and two days after to come home. I love driving so I wouldn't want to use any other mode of transport though, just adjust the timing a bit

Good roads, easy driving; Bangkok - Udon is done in a day without too much trouble

[StateSix]

I drove to Roi-Et last Songkran and I set off at around 4.30am on the Tuesday morning rather than in the evening of the Monday like most other people. The traffic was fine going there at that time.

I came back on the Sunday, setting off at around 10am. Traffic was ok for most of the way, but from Saraburi onwards to Bangkok it was a nightmare.

It was the same in July when I drove there last.

[Deeral]

When they say "2 days before" precisely before what? song Khran has a band of dates itself and the exodus will start on the days before.

I can honestly say that we avoided the traffic by going through Chayaphum and we did nothing like "2 days before"

[katabeachbum]

Agree - If you have to drive around Songkran then leave two days before and two days after to come home. I love driving so I wouldn't want to use any other mode of transport though, just adjust the timing a bit

Good roads, easy driving; Bangkok - Udon is done in a day without too much trouble

absolutely. bkk - Nong Kai in 5 hours

[MikeyIdea]

Agree - If you have to drive around Songkran then leave two days before and two days after to come home. I love driving so I wouldn't want to use any other mode of transport though, just adjust the timing a bit

Good roads, easy driving; Bangkok - Udon is done in a day without too much trouble

absolutely. bkk - Nong Kai in 5 hours

That's 150-160... and fun And no traffic

[katabeachbum]

Agree - If you have to drive around Songkran then leave two days before and two days after to come home. I love driving so I wouldn't want to use any other mode of transport though, just adjust the timing a bit

Good roads, easy driving; Bangkok - Udon is done in a day without too much trouble

absolutely. bkk - Nong Kai in 5 hours

That's 150-160... and fun And no traffic

no only 140 kmh on cruise, was loaded with one Ninja650R and a lot of house construction materials, approx 600 kg

[Sontaya]

Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to reply. I was convinced I was going to drive but have completely changed my mind now. I hate paying 9000 baht for flights though (for 3 people) but so be it.

Thanks again

Sontaya

[Deeral]

I hope you haven't been put off by the "2 days before" brigade"Also, it is quite possible to have a leisurely drive up to Udon in a day without cruising at 160 km/h too!...and if you take the route I suggested you will avoid virtually ALL the madness and get to see parts of Thailand not so often frequented by tourists.and the money for air fare could have gone on fuel and a really good hotel on the way.

[NanLaew]

Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to reply. I was convinced I was going to drive but have completely changed my mind now. I hate paying 9000 baht for flights though (for 3 people) but so be it.

Thanks again

Sontaya

Did the drive once during songkran and it was like glue between Korat and Khon Kaen but not too bad either side of that. Still took the best part of 8 hours so would not recommend it. Since it can be a rolling week-long ceremony, it's hard to define this '2-day' rule but look at the calendar and if your planned travel falls on the last weekend before songkran, then THAT is the day to avoid. For example, in 2010, songkran in Isaan was Tuesday-Thursday 13-15 April so the northeasterners bailed from Bangkok and started heading north on Friday the 9th with Saturday being the peak day of gridlock.

If you book with AirAsia NOW, you will get the best price and 3k baht/pax is a bargain.

[MikeyIdea]

Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to reply. I was convinced I was going to drive but have completely changed my mind now. I hate paying 9000 baht for flights though (for 3 people) but so be it.

Thanks again

Sontaya

But that is so boring... OK, OK, if you want to, or have to

I'm off to Phuket 2-Oct leaving Bangkok 1 AM arriving at Centara Kata at 11 AM, 100 to 120 km/h all the way and the car full of kids. Wonderful, I can think of nothing that could give me more pleaseure, sex and coffee included. The kids will sing and jump around until Phetburi, then quiet until Phang-Nga, then Daddy, are we going to get there soon? Then lunch at he hotel and I will wish for that soft bed in the hotel room while my daughter drags me off to the swimming pool and I'll forget being tired

Life's good

[Upnotover]

I've driven Pattaya to Kalasin a few times for Songkran and found by far the best day to drive is the first day of the actual holiday. Most people will already be where they are going and they tend not to play water on the main roads. This year I had to do a visa run to Cambodia, also went on the first day of holiday, no traffic at all.

[MikeyIdea]

I've driven Pattaya to Kalasin a few times for Songkran and found by far the best day to drive is the first day of the actual holiday. Most people will already be where they are going and they tend not to play water on the main roads. This year I had to do a visa run to Cambodia, also went on the first day of holiday, no traffic at all.

Lot's of alcohol flowing in the venes of drivers as well as people playing beside the roads. Agree on the traffic but still dangerous I think. Not a day when I will accept to drive long distance with my kid in the car