Bike Friendly Route Bangkok/Pattaya

[chunkylover53]

I'm supposed to be off to Pattaya today, but I have just checked my GPS and it doesn't have a lot of new roads between bangkok and Pattaya. I've only ever done the trip once, and it was along a crappy, bumpy 4 lane highway. What's been your favourite route between the two? Which is the quickest? If you know a route, can you plot it on a map for me?

Cheers everyone :jap:

[Phatcharanan]

Hi mate,

I am on the west side of the river (Bang Khae) and I go on Route 3 until it joins the Bang Na - Chonburi expressway then all the way to Pattaya on that route. Usually takes me 2 1/2 - 3 hours on my PCX. I am actually going this afternoon...say goodbye to a mate of mine who is moving to Africa.

Edited July 29, 2011 by Phatcharanan

[thaicbr]

do you mean Rama 3?

[Phatcharanan]

No sorry.

Thanon Sukhumvit......onto the Bangna Trad then the bang na - chonburi route

[BigBikeBKK]

I usually take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south to Pattaya. It's a bit longer distance but a very pleasant ride:

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Thanon+Suwinthawong%2FRoute+304&daddr=13.46265,101.17291+to:Sukhumvit%2FRoute+3%2FAH123&hl=en&ll=13.580586,101.317291&spn=0.539962,1.056747&sll=13.541203,101.374969&sspn=0.540052,1.056747&geocode=Fe7P0gAd0kQBBg%3BFXpszQAdrsYHBikPnVZl5S8dMTFh9BWoStgDEw%3BFdTnxQAdjscDBg&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=11&via=1&dirflg=ht&z=11

[Garry]

I usually take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south to Pattaya. It's a bit longer distance but a very pleasant ride:

http://maps.google.c...&dirflg=ht&z=11

Tony, please explain your interpretation of a 'very pleasant ride'. My very pleasant rides get me to places rather quickly

[RusticCharm]

The quickest route is the Bang Na-Trat highway but it's far from a pleasant ride. And watch out for the kamikaze van drivers and occasional deep pothole. Oh, and the 10-wheelers driving 3 abreast.

[BigBikeBKK]

I usually take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south to Pattaya. It's a bit longer distance but a very pleasant ride:

http://maps.google.c...&dirflg=ht&z=11

Tony, please explain your interpretation of a 'very pleasant ride'. My very pleasant rides get me to places rather quickly

My definition of a pleasant ride is wide open roads in good repair, light traffic, no cops and a few twisties always help. If I wanted to get to Pattaya in a hurry I'd just take the tollway in my car. If I want to enjoy a pleasant ride down I take the scenic route. If you've never ridden the Bang Na - Trat road trust me- you don't want to! It's dangerous and it sucks!!! Friend of mine managed to bend BOTH the wheels on his Triumph Tiger on that shitty road when he ate a bigger-than-usual pothole. Yuck!

Oh, and if you do decide to take the Bang Na - Trat it only shaves around ~30km off the route I take...

http://maps.google.c...1&dirflg=ht&z=9

Happy Trails!

Tony

Edited July 29, 2011 by BigBikeBKK

[karlos]

I usually take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south to Pattaya. It's a bit longer distance but a very pleasant ride:

http://maps.google.c...&dirflg=ht&z=11

Tony, please explain your interpretation of a 'very pleasant ride'. My very pleasant rides get me to places rather quickly

My definition of a pleasant ride is wide open roads in good repair, light traffic, no cops and a few twisties always help. If I wanted to get to Pattaya in a hurry I'd just take the tollway in my car. If I want to enjoy a pleasant ride down I take the scenic route. If you've never ridden the Bang Na - Trat road trust me- you don't want to! It's dangerous and it sucks!!! Friend of mine managed to bend BOTH the wheels on his Triumph Tiger on that shitty road when he ate a bigger-than-usual pothole. Yuck!

Oh, and if you do decide to take the Bang Na - Trat it only shaves around ~30km off the route I take...

http://maps.google.c...1&dirflg=ht&z=9

Happy Trails!

Tony

Completely agree with you there tony, i took the Bang Na Trat road to Jomtien before and although the road must have been patched up in places it was boring boring boring!

When once using the road you use, I accidentally ended up in Nakon Naiyok when out on a Sunday ride, not the best roads in Thailand but i was relieved to find a few twisty bits and happy with it's overall condition

[macknife]

I've done it quite a few times, and apart from once, i always use the Bang na trat road. I actually stay on the frontage road that runs parallel to the highway. There's never much traffic on it so you can ride without much fears. Yes there is the odd pot hole but just keep your eyes open and they shouldn't be a problem. I always drive through the towns of Bang Saen, Sri Ratcha etc it makes the views a bit better. It usually takes me about 2hr 15-30mins.

I did once take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south, but it seemed to take forever.

[BigBikeBKK]

I've done it quite a few times, and apart from once, i always use the Bang na trat road. I actually stay on the frontage road that runs parallel to the highway. There's never much traffic on it so you can ride without much fears. Yes there is the odd pot hole but just keep your eyes open and they shouldn't be a problem. I always drive through the towns of Bang Saen, Sri Ratcha etc it makes the views a bit better. It usually takes me about 2hr 15-30mins.

I did once take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south, but it seemed to take forever.

That's odd, since going via Chacheongsao only adds about 30km and the roads are much faster and in better repair... If you took the Bang Na-Trat frontage road and it takes you over 2 hours I must assume you ride quite slowly? I guess if one likes to go slow the frontage road might be alright as you'd have time to avoid the potholes. Ride On! T

[chunkylover53]

Well, I took Tony's advice (thanks) and went the more scenic route via Chacheongsao - he was right - it takes a bit longer than the direct way (I think a total of 4 hours with lots of stopping for girlfriend riding pillion), but it's a much more scenic and less hazardous way to get there. The roads are in way better repair and you don't have to worry too much about falling into a motorbike sized pothole down every straight

I also posted the bike back from Pattaya to Bangkok using the Thai Mail (lots of rain when I was supposed to drive back) and it went ok. 1,250 baht for a 400cc bike - the only problem was they drained out all the engine oil and didn't tell me when I took it away (TiT ). I made it 500meters up the street before it clunked out and I had to leave it in the rain for hours. Ended up getting a taxi, picking up oil and pouring it in and I was off again.

Is there any reason they had to drain all my nice new motul oil? I can't see it spilling during transportation if they kept the bike upright?!

[MRToMRT]

I went through Samut Prakan on Sunday (i.e. Sukhumvit - Samut Prakan - Chonburi).

It was decent road but a bugger of a ride as I was exposed to a blustery side wind coming off the sea.

Came back on the Bang Na Trat - would have been a million times better in a car!!!!!

[BigBikeBKK]

Well, I took Tony's advice (thanks) and went the more scenic route via Chacheongsao - he was right - it takes a bit longer than the direct way (I think a total of 4 hours with lots of stopping for girlfriend riding pillion), but it's a much more scenic and less hazardous way to get there. The roads are in way better repair and you don't have to worry too much about falling into a motorbike sized pothole down every straight

I also posted the bike back from Pattaya to Bangkok using the Thai Mail (lots of rain when I was supposed to drive back) and it went ok. 1,250 baht for a 400cc bike - the only problem was they drained out all the engine oil and didn't tell me when I took it away (TiT ). I made it 500meters up the street before it clunked out and I had to leave it in the rain for hours. Ended up getting a taxi, picking up oil and pouring it in and I was off again.

Is there any reason they had to drain all my nice new motul oil? I can't see it spilling during transportation if they kept the bike upright?!

That's really really weird about them draining the oil... I've shipped and received a number of bikes via Thailand Post Logispost and they've never done anything like that to any of them... Though they did royally fark up an ER6 that a friend shipped down from CM to BKK. But that's another story

[macknife]

I've sent a bike by post twice now. the second time they did take most of the fuel out and gave it back to me but they didn't take out the oil.

[HappyInCM]

I usually take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south to Pattaya. It's a bit longer distance but a very pleasant ride:

http://maps.google.c...&dirflg=ht&z=11

Tony, please explain your interpretation of a 'very pleasant ride'. My very pleasant rides get me to places rather quickly

My definition of a pleasant ride is wide open roads in good repair, light traffic, no cops and a few twisties always help. If I wanted to get to Pattaya in a hurry I'd just take the tollway in my car. If I want to enjoy a pleasant ride down I take the scenic route. If you've never ridden the Bang Na - Trat road trust me- you don't want to! It's dangerous and it sucks!!! Friend of mine managed to bend BOTH the wheels on his Triumph Tiger on that shitty road when he ate a bigger-than-usual pothole. Yuck!

Oh, and if you do decide to take the Bang Na - Trat it only shaves around ~30km off the route I take...

http://maps.google.c...1&dirflg=ht&z=9

Happy Trails!

Tony

First time driving in Bangkok I'm going from Bumrungrat to buriram via korat.

Does this route make sense: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bamrungrad+Hospital+Thailand&daddr=13.7369851,100.623656+to:13.80278,100.64778+to:13.81533,100.65238+to:Thanon+Suwinthawong%2FRoute+304+to:13.78037,101.39261+to:Mueang+Nakhon+Ratchasima+Nakhon+Ratchasima+Thailand+to:Mueang+Buriram+District+Buri+Ram+Thailand&hl=en&ll=13.769481,100.64837&spn=0.020549,0.035663&sll=14.2351,101.653748&sspn=1.312454,2.28241&geocode=FdTA0QAduk7-BSF3ii5cht6o-A%3BFRmc0QAdKGX_BSnfiyOa1mEdMTHgWRwfsgABEw%3BFRyd0gAdZMP_BSmLRGm1RmIdMTERwx0fsgABEw%3BFSLO0gAdXNX_BSmtOPf1WWIdMTFwvR0fsgABEw%3BFe7P0gAd0kQBBg%3BFZJF0gAd4iALBikVoMYNreMcMTFwSgCoStgDEw%3BFedw5AAdCusVBik7gp8_yEwZMTHgWd7Iz2kEAw%3BFTjO5AAdZTslBim9-clVxpYZMTHgW97Iz2kEAw&oq=mueang+buriram&dirflg=ht&mra=ls&via=1,2,3,5&t=m&z=15

Basically:

Sukhumvit

Asok

Petchaburi/Pattanhakan

Route 3344

Lat Prao/336

Nawamin 3302

Route 304

...

Is there a "good" time to leave in the morning (and arrive the day before from pats)?

[karlos]

I've been numerous times with my girlfriend and regardless of the time of day it's always taken the same time to get there and back

However the 'safest' time to go would be just after sunrise and perhaps head back at 5pm, which will give you enough time before the sunsets but you'll be amongst traffic anytime after midday - 8pm

[macknife]

I usually take the 304 (Suwintawong) to Chacheongsao and then the 314 and 331 south to Pattaya. It's a bit longer distance but a very pleasant ride:

http://maps.google.c...&dirflg=ht&z=11

Tony, please explain your interpretation of a 'very pleasant ride'. My very pleasant rides get me to places rather quickly

My definition of a pleasant ride is wide open roads in good repair, light traffic, no cops and a few twisties always help. If I wanted to get to Pattaya in a hurry I'd just take the tollway in my car. If I want to enjoy a pleasant ride down I take the scenic route. If you've never ridden the Bang Na - Trat road trust me- you don't want to! It's dangerous and it sucks!!! Friend of mine managed to bend BOTH the wheels on his Triumph Tiger on that shitty road when he ate a bigger-than-usual pothole. Yuck!

Oh, and if you do decide to take the Bang Na - Trat it only shaves around ~30km off the route I take...

http://maps.google.c...1&dirflg=ht&z=9

Happy Trails!

Tony

First time driving in Bangkok I'm going from Bumrungrat to buriram via korat.

Does this route make sense: http://maps.google.c...,2,3,5&t=m&z=15

Basically:

Sukhumvit

Asok

Petchaburi/Pattanhakan

Route 3344

Lat Prao/336

Nawamin 3302

Route 304

...

Is there a "good" time to leave in the morning (and arrive the day before from pats)?

I'm kinda confused, are you going from Pattaya or Bangkok?

The route you made from Bangkok to Buriram (via Korat) is a fair bit longer than taking Viphawadee - Rangsit onto Highway 1 (tanon Phanhonyotin) onto highway 2 etc. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&cp=7&gs_id=s&xhr=t&rlz=1R2SKPT_enTH404&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&wrapid=tljp1334986074122012&q=map+bangkok&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x311d6032280d61f3:0x10100b25de24820,Bangkok,+Thailand&gl=uk&ei=Y0WST6PQFcnOrQf55emQBQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

Leave first thing in the morning to avoid Bangkok traffic.

[HappyInCM]

I'm kinda confused, are you going from Pattaya or Bangkok?

The route you made from Bangkok to Buriram (via Korat) is a fair bit longer than taking Viphawadee - Rangsit onto Highway 1 (tanon Phanhonyotin) onto highway 2 etc. http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

Leave first thing in the morning to avoid Bangkok traffic.

Ahh I see - Viphawadee - Rangsit is under the Don Mueang/Uttrapimuk Tollways then?

[macknife]

I'm kinda confused, are you going from Pattaya or Bangkok?

The route you made from Bangkok to Buriram (via Korat) is a fair bit longer than taking Viphawadee - Rangsit onto Highway 1 (tanon Phanhonyotin) onto highway 2 etc. http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

Leave first thing in the morning to avoid Bangkok traffic.

Ahh I see - Viphawadee - Rangsit is under the Don Mueang/Uttrapimuk Tollways then?

No, you can ride under it. (I'm presuming you're on a bike)(What bike?)

[HappyInCM]

I'm kinda confused, are you going from Pattaya or Bangkok?

The route you made from Bangkok to Buriram (via Korat) is a fair bit longer than taking Viphawadee - Rangsit onto Highway 1 (tanon Phanhonyotin) onto highway 2 etc. http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

Leave first thing in the morning to avoid Bangkok traffic.

Ahh I see - Viphawadee - Rangsit is under the Don Mueang/Uttrapimuk Tollways then?

No, you can ride under it. (I'm presuming you're on a bike)(What bike?)

A versys.

[HappyInCM]

I'm kinda confused, are you going from Pattaya or Bangkok?

The route you made from Bangkok to Buriram (via Korat) is a fair bit longer than taking Viphawadee - Rangsit onto Highway 1 (tanon Phanhonyotin) onto highway 2 etc. http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

Leave first thing in the morning to avoid Bangkok traffic.

Ahh I see - Viphawadee - Rangsit is under the Don Mueang/Uttrapimuk Tollways then?

No, you can ride under it. (I'm presuming you're on a bike)(What bike?)

Sorry, do you mean yes you can ride under it or no, you can't ride under it??

[macknife]

I'm kinda confused, are you going from Pattaya or Bangkok?

The route you made from Bangkok to Buriram (via Korat) is a fair bit longer than taking Viphawadee - Rangsit onto Highway 1 (tanon Phanhonyotin) onto highway 2 etc. http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

Leave first thing in the morning to avoid Bangkok traffic.

Ahh I see - Viphawadee - Rangsit is under the Don Mueang/Uttrapimuk Tollways then?

No, you can ride under it. (I'm presuming you're on a bike)(What bike?)

Sorry, do you mean yes you can ride under it or no, you can't ride under it??

You can ride under it.