Roadtrip Pattaya To Chiang Mai, Over Night Stopover ?

[diggerdo]

I am planning a nice leisurely drive ( such a thing even possible in Thailand ??? ) from Pattaya to Chiang Mai and was wondering if anybody can recommend somewhere along the way which would be nice for an overnight stopover perhaps even with some sights worth seeing nearby, of course the other alternative is to just drive hell for leather and try and make the trip in one day.

[alaninlamphun]

Sukothai old city guesthouse is good for a stopover,been there many times on the drive north to lamphun

[Gladiator]

For me... by the time that I reach Kampaeng Phet, on the drive up north on highway One - i am ready for a break.

Navarat Heritage Hotel.

Google it. Cheap and cheerful!

[KhonJaiYen]

Tak, cheap and comfortable hotels especially Suan Sin, but you will need to book in advance.

[diggerdo]

Thanks for the advice guys, looking at google I think Sukothai as suggested by Alan looks like a good spot, seems like there is some good sightseeing around there too.

[LongTimeLurker]

Lampang is easily doable on the way up and Sukhothai on the way back.

[diggerdo]

Lampang is easily doable on the way up and Sukhothai on the way back.

Thanks Longtime, google maps say its an 11 and a half hour drive to Lampang, what do you reckon ? I like the idea of the two different stopovers so it might just be worth the long trip the first day.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

I do the drive almost weekly. The lower half is much harder (traffice and head aches)

NS or KPP is half way

The most beautiful sport to stop is Bhumboil dam just north of tak. Plenty of places to stay

If you go as far a Lampang, what's the point, CM is just 1 easy hour more

[roamer]

I do the drive almost weekly. The lower half is much harder (traffice and head aches)

NS or KPP is half way

The most beautiful sport to stop is Bhumboil dam just north of tak. Plenty of places to stay

If you go as far a Lampang, what's the point, CM is just 1 easy hour more

I'm with you there and I love Lampang, especially this place,

http://www.theriverside-lampang.com/services.html

Just too close to CM for stopover. Sukothai, Phitsanalouk break the journey a lot better.

[otherstuff1957]

I would say that Nakhon Suwan is probably closest to the actual halfway point. However, aside from bung boraphet (Thailand's biggest swamp) there isn't much to see there.

[diggerdo]

Ok after listening to you guys advice and some more research we are going to stop over in Sukhothai on the way up and Kamphaeng on the way back down, there will be other trips for sure so will check out the other recommendations another time.....thanks for all your inputs.

[LongTimeLurker]

I would say that Nakhon Suwan is probably closest to the actual halfway point. However, aside from bung boraphet (Thailand's biggest swamp) there isn't much to see there.

But you'll be at Nakhon Sawan by lunchtime with half a day to sit around doing nothing.

I was in Lampang just before nightfall with a stop for lunch and even a nap when I was tired from driving.

Although only 1 hour from CM I didn't want to drive it at night and Lampang is a nice little city at night. Take a 'rot mah' around the town for an hour and have a meal and a beer and see the night market before bed time.

There's a nice and famous temple just outside Lampang on the road to CM that's worth a stop at and the craft market opposite has stuff cheaper and better than you can get in CM. Even had time to stop at the umbrella village and the famous craft village just before CM on the way in next morning so didn't have to make a special trip out to them.