Khon Kaen To Chiang Mai ..By Car

[boatguy 18]

I am wanting to go visit some friends in Chiang Mai from my location in Khon Kaen. I thought about driving our nice Toyoda pickup truck so as to get a view of the countryside between these two major cities.

My Thai wife says too dangerous, and too far to drive. She wants to fly.

What advice might I receive here?

Is it really a bit to adventurous for me to make this trip even if she decided not to drive with me? I would guess it might take me a couple of days?

[jombom 51]

You can drive it in 1 long day. Head for Phitsanalok. The scenery is beautiful.

Check map beforehand, because you have choices at Phitsanalok, either go for 1 or 11 via Uttaradit.

Make sure you fill with petrol in KK ------ gas stations are few and far between in the mountains.

Safe enough, but one lane mostly, therefore slow and you need to be patient.

Enjoy your journey. Absolutely breadthtaking at times.

[bazmlb 671]

Yes, very nice and easy trip and well worth doing, some road works along the way after Uttaradit, but not bad.

[wandrinstar 6]

Yes, very nice and easy trip and well worth doing, some road works along the way after Uttaradit, but not bad.

[wandrinstar 6]

To give you some idea.Ubon Rat to U/Ditt 7 Hrs Solo.With Family you can nearly double it with all the " your doing 180 slo down",711, Toilet,, Eating,and OOOO theres a Market interuptions to what could be a Beautifull Day Out. .

[marvinberry 2]

Listen to the wife.. one little prang and you'll never hear the end of it! (joking) Beautiful scenery though!

[boatguy 18]

Listen to the wife.. one little prang and you'll never hear the end of it! (joking)

I think you got that right. She doesn't want to do the driving, and I have yet to get my international license...but I driven in many countries with left hand styles. Its just around town at the traffic intersections that I have some problems understanding who gives right away to who

[Baht Man 6]

I've done Udon to Chiang Rai on my motorbike (250) more times than I can remember.

A car or pick up would be alot safer if you are.

Take your time and keep the eyes open for those other crazies.

[Gladiator 63]

Hi Boatman,

I live in Chiang Mai and my wife's hometown is in Khon Kaen, so I have done the journey a few times. Always in one day. Tend to leave at aroung 0600 CM and get into KK around late afternoon. I guess that you will have to reverse the order but from CM - I dirve on Highway 11 over the mountain to Lampang, Then continue down on Highway 11 via Desai to Pitsanalok. I usually stop at PTT/7-11 for pit-stops for the facility of western toilets.

They are improving the road between Lampang and Phrae and Pitsanalok ... but it is is much better than it used to be, When you hit Pitsanalok - take a left on Highway 12. It will lead you through some other small ranges of mountains and a national park. Some sharp turns on the range of Petchabun so take care in the rainy season, Good adfvice to keep your tank full as once you leave the outskirts of KK not much is the way of petrol station before you reach Pitsanalok.

Good luck

Gladiator

[gotlost 44]

Hi Boatman,

I live in Chiang Mai and my wife's hometown is in Khon Kaen, so I have done the journey a few times. Always in one day. Tend to leave at aroung 0600 CM and get into KK around late afternoon. I guess that you will have to reverse the order but from CM - I dirve on Highway 11 over the mountain to Lampang, Then continue down on Highway 11 via Desai to Pitsanalok. I usually stop at PTT/7-11 for pit-stops for the facility of western toilets.

They are improving the road between Lampang and Phrae and Pitsanalok ... but it is is much better than it used to be, When you hit Pitsanalok - take a left on Highway 12. It will lead you through some other small ranges of mountains and a national park. Some sharp turns on the range of Petchabun so take care in the rainy season, Good adfvice to keep your tank full as once you leave the outskirts of KK not much is the way of petrol station before you reach Pitsanalok.

Good luck

Gladiator

Chom Phae which is on Highway 12 about 60 kilometers west of KK has a new PTT service center on the west side of town. I have made this my stop going both west and east to top up. Highway 12 and Highway 11 are major highways and serious improvement have been made over the past 4 years and continue. I usually drive from Chiang Mai to KK in under 9 hours and that is with two fuel stops, one coffee stop and one food stop with the wife.

There are no flights from KK to CM. Nok Air does fly from Udon to CM.

Edited September 24, 2010 by gotlost

[Xircal 712]

Just to put things into perspective, it's an 11 hour drive. Are you proposing to do the trip in one day? If so, then you'll have to leave at 06:00 in order to complete the journey before it gets dark.

[techno 38]

Done it several times driving my car and it takes about 10 hours to CNX. Nice scenery and always places to stop for a rest. Pack some sandwiches as not a lot of Western food on the journey. Take the Pickup

[boatguy 18]

Thanks for all the advice...and the mapped directions. Looks like I will put this trip off until Jan/Feb as my time here this time is growing short, plus I understand that Chiang Mai is getting lots of rain and some flooding at this time.

[bazmlb 671]

Just to put things into perspective, it's an 11 hour drive. Are you proposing to do the trip in one day? If so, then you'll have to leave at 06:00 in order to complete the journey before it gets dark.

Just using the city names put you in the middle of the province, the middle of the towns change the time dramatically.