Driving From Sakon Nakhon To Pattaya

[sarotti]

Will be driving from Sakon to Pattaya and want to have one stopover.

May drive about 5 hrs the first day and the rest the next day.

Anybody know a good resort to stay the night and may be also a good route without to many bad roads.

[KhunBENQ]

Oops, thats quite a way to go! (773 km).

I have experience just from Khon Kaen.

But the route is quite obvious to my opinion.

-> Udon Thani via #22 (make sure you catch the bypass before Udon to the south)

-> Khon Kaen via #2

-> Nakorn Ratchasima (Korat) via #2.

From there most people continue on the freeway/motorway route (#2, #1, #9, #7). Toll roads included!

Very boring but best roads and high speed possible.

If you want to have some scenery, you could alternatively go down to the #304 mountain route (after Korat).

But this is more exhausting (some single lane roads, steep descent etc.). Not for the faint hearted.

maps.google.com, "Get directions" is your friend (will show the main route, except from N.S. to KK where they suggest minor roads, would not do that). Estimated driving times are bit too pessimistic (12:21h). I usually do 70km/h on average. So your route could be done in about 9h to 10h.

Obvious break would be in Korat (after 380 km). Endless places to go there.

Edited January 6, 2012 by KhunBENQ

[DJH77]

Why would you go West to Udon when you want to go South. Take 213 Sakon to Kalasin and onto Khon Kaen then down Hwy 2 to Nakon Ratachsima, There take 304 through Kabin Buri and continue onto 331 which takes you straight down to 36 or 7 into Pattaya. This will take maybe 8.5 hours as i go from Mukdahan in 7 and a bit. Good Luck.

[KhunBENQ]

You are right, From S.K. (mueang) its much shorter via #213.

Disagree about 304 and 331.

The poster asked for "not so many bad roads".

So described the best developed roads.

304 can be quite exhausting.

331 left lane is a complete car breaking mess (most drivers keep on the right lane though).

Up to you

[soihok]

The 304 road is improving and is now a dual carraigeway up to the really twisty stuff when leaving Nakhorn Ratchasima province.

There is a heavy police presence on the road ( due to the dangerous nature of it ) so don't speed or cross over double white lines in the centre of the road.

Have a good trip.