Road Trip Udon Thani To Chiang Rai

[LoveDaBlues]

I'm thinking about driving Udon Thani to Chiang Rai. I've got plenty of time so can split up the trip into 2 days. Any idea of the drive time? How about the quality of the roads? Any suggestions on route to take, etc..

I might fly but would really like to have my car with me. I don't mind driving long distances.

Thanks.

[bdenner]

I'm thinking about driving Udon Thani to Chiang Rai. I've got plenty of time so can split up the trip into 2 days. Any idea of the drive time? How about the quality of the roads? Any suggestions on route to take, etc..

I might fly but would really like to have my car with me. I don't mind driving long distances.

Thanks.

We drove to Chaing Mai via Loei with an overnight stopover in Phitsanulok very good but winding roads. Very scenic. You would go onto Highway #1 at Lampang where we turned off onto #11. We came back via Khon Kaen rather than Loei, boring but quicker. The distance was about the same.

Udon – Loei 152km

Loei – Phit. 266km

Phit – Lampang 241km

Lampang – Chang Rai 225km (according to my map)

[LoveDaBlues]

bdenner, do you remember the drive time from Udon to Phit?

[Wee Jimmy]

bdenner, do you remember the drive time from Udon to Phit?

[/quote

Did this exact trip in January. Took 11 hours with about 1 hour stop time. Total Klms 800 the route we took. Very good roads but I would not do it all in one day again. When your up there take a trip to Mae Sai it's a nice place.

[bdenner]

bdenner, do you remember the drive time from Udon to Phit?

As we actually departed some 90km East of Udon travelling through it. Took about 7.5 hours with breaks.

[erickok]

I'm thinking about driving Udon Thani to Chiang Rai. I've got plenty of time so can split up the trip into 2 days. Any idea of the drive time? How about the quality of the roads? Any suggestions on route to take, etc..

I might fly but would really like to have my car with me. I don't mind driving long distances.

Thanks.

Accordingly, all the threads information are correct. One suggestion though, when in Chiangrai do stay with the locals for cross culture experience, since you have the time.

[LoveDaBlues]

bdenner, do you remember the drive time from Udon to Phit?

As we actually departed some 90km East of Udon travelling through it. Took about 7.5 hours with breaks.

Thanks. I'll be starting about 100km closer than you so I think I'll stay the night at Uttaradit. Drive time should be about the same; 7.5 - 8 hours. Then on the 2nd day only 308km left to Chiang Rai.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

bdenner, do you remember the drive time from Udon to Phit?

As we actually departed some 90km East of Udon travelling through it. Took about 7.5 hours with breaks.

Thanks. I'll be starting about 100km closer than you so I think I'll stay the night at Uttaradit. Drive time should be about the same; 7.5 - 8 hours. Then on the 2nd day only 308km left to Chiang Rai.

I've done this trip via Dan Sai. It's a beautiful road, and not so many trucks as the Lom Sak/Phi-lok way.

Udon - Loei - Dan Sai - Nakhon Thai - Chat Trakan - Uttradit - Etc.

From Udon to Loei is about 3 -5 hours, dependant on Traffic.

Loei to Dan Sai is about 1 - 1.5 hours

Dan Sai - Nakhon Thai is about 45 Mins

NT - Chat Trakan is about an hour

CT - Uttradit is about another hour.

It's a fantastic trip - a bit windier, but a lot less traffic - lot's of beautiful open road for you to get your foot down on!

[sabaijai]

bdenner, do you remember the drive time from Udon to Phit?

As we actually departed some 90km East of Udon travelling through it. Took about 7.5 hours with breaks.

Thanks. I'll be starting about 100km closer than you so I think I'll stay the night at Uttaradit. Drive time should be about the same; 7.5 - 8 hours. Then on the 2nd day only 308km left to Chiang Rai.

I've done this trip via Dan Sai. It's a beautiful road, and not so many trucks as the Lom Sak/Phi-lok way.

Udon - Loei - Dan Sai - Nakhon Thai - Chat Trakan - Uttradit - Etc.

From Udon to Loei is about 3 -5 hours, dependant on Traffic.

Loei to Dan Sai is about 1 - 1.5 hours

Dan Sai - Nakhon Thai is about 45 Mins

NT - Chat Trakan is about an hour

CT - Uttradit is about another hour.

It's a fantastic trip - a bit windier, but a lot less traffic - lot's of beautiful open road for you to get your foot down on!

I've driven both routes (Hwy 12 via P'lok as well as the Dan Sai/Nakhon Thai) many times, and it's definitely a much more pleasant trip via Dan Sai/Nakhon Thai. It's also faster, I think because it's shorter or perhaps because there's less traffic. I'd estimate you'd save around an hour going that route. But most of all it's just a lot more beautiful and less stressful.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

A lot of it will depend when you plan you're trip - I would say avoid Friday/Saturday/Sunday if possible - there is a lot more traffic on the road those days. Near Udon there is a big buffalo market, if you are stuck in the traffic when that is on then you can easily add a couple of hours to any estimate.

[Potter]

I'm thinking about driving Udon Thani to Chiang Rai. I've got plenty of time so can split up the trip into 2 days. Any idea of the drive time? How about the quality of the roads? Any suggestions on route to take, etc..

I might fly but would really like to have my car with me. I don't mind driving long distances.

Thanks.

Shortest will probably be via Phitsanoluk, Uttaradit, Phrae, Phayao and Chiang Rai. You probably want to avoid the heavy traffics of Chiang Mai, which for sure would add hours to your drive.

Sukhothai is a nice town, but since you only got 2 days, locations are less important and good road is more important. A longer route will probably be Overnight in Sukhothai, Tak, Lampang, Phayao Chiang Rai. This is also part of the recommended route amongst people traveling from CR-Bangkok.

Lots of very long timers in Chiang Rai. You might get some good advice if you post at the Chiang Rai forum.

I have not driven south of Phayao province, but the last 2 provinces are flat, straight, super highway in good condition and very easy going traffic. From Phitsanoluk a long part of the road shares the main road to Chiang Mai. I can only think this road will be in good condition, but with traffic.

Let me know when you get here and I will take you out for a beer. I have myself thought about driving to Nong Khai, which I might do via the Laotian border.

[LoveDaBlues]

bdenner, do you remember the drive time from Udon to Phit?

As we actually departed some 90km East of Udon travelling through it. Took about 7.5 hours with breaks.

Thanks. I'll be starting about 100km closer than you so I think I'll stay the night at Uttaradit. Drive time should be about the same; 7.5 - 8 hours. Then on the 2nd day only 308km left to Chiang Rai.

I've done this trip via Dan Sai. It's a beautiful road, and not so many trucks as the Lom Sak/Phi-lok way.

Udon - Loei - Dan Sai - Nakhon Thai - Chat Trakan - Uttradit - Etc.

From Udon to Loei is about 3 -5 hours, dependant on Traffic.

Loei to Dan Sai is about 1 - 1.5 hours

Dan Sai - Nakhon Thai is about 45 Mins

NT - Chat Trakan is about an hour

CT - Uttradit is about another hour.

It's a fantastic trip - a bit windier, but a lot less traffic - lot's of beautiful open road for you to get your foot down on!

This is the route I would like to go. However, convincing the wife is another story. Her relatives have convinced her this route is 'dangerous' (as in likely to have a wreck). Oh brother