Driving Hua Hin - Pattaya & return

[Felt 35]

If anyone can advice when its best to drive and best time to avoid the distance above then I'm grateful for tips with the limited

timeframe I have available from 0500am Friday - 2100 pm Sunday (October 2015)

Thanks

Felt.

[cumgranosalum]

Your time frame would be about the same as everyone's for the weekend.

An early start on Friday should get you to Pattaya before the w/e rush into the city.

Come 5 pm the motorways nad other roads get pretty full as everyone heads into Pattaya from Bkk......major roadworks on the Sukhumvit have/had blocked the turning into Central Road which doesn't help matters much either.

Again on Sunday evening there is the exodus as those people head back home for work on Monday.

by about 4 pm, everyone in Bkk heads out in all directions for the weekend too.

Edited September 20, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[GavinK]

It's an easy run if you leave HH before 11:00 on a Friday, take the no.9 around BKK. Traffic usually backs up for the toll-way near Ikea. Then an easy run down the no. 34 (elevated express way) and around Chon Buri to join the no.7 motorway which should get you into PYA before 4pm ahead of the crunch. Return same way - leave PYA before 3pm. Once you've done the no.9 you'll see all the heavy traffic coming the opposite way from HH.

Edited September 20, 2015 by GavinK

[Felt 35]

Thank you both for positive feedback. The no 9. around Bangkok is that to find on Google maps and / or will a GPS search it up?

Thanks

Felt.

[cumgranosalum]

Route 9 goes over the Kanchanaprisek bridge... This. Is a spectacular crossing and rather poorly signed. You need to look for Bang Na or Chonburi (coming from from Hua Him)

[cumgranosalum]

GPS or Google will show th way...

[fullcave]

Always avoid Hua on weekends and holidays as the traffic is a bloody nightmare...

[arthurwait]

Route 9 goes over the Kanchanaprisek bridge... This. Is a spectacular crossing and rather poorly signed. You need to look for Bang Na or Chonburi (coming from from Hua Him)

There is signs for Chonburi and Bangkok/Bang Na for both the elevated toll road and lower road they are confusing. Follow the signs for the airport to get you on to the elevated toll road. Obviously once on it then ignore the airport signs and head for Chonburi.

It may also be better to stay on the Sukhumvit on Friday afternoon instead of heading for the motorway. They both take a similar time , but if the motorway is busy the Sukhumvit can be quicker.

[arthurwait]

^^^^^^^ Sorry I got confused.

The above about the signs is when you reach the end of route 9 and need to change to the Bang Na tradt.

The poster meant when you come up the road from HH to go onto route 9 instead of heading into Bangkok.

[fish fingers]

The two scariest routes ever imo. Driving back from Hua Hin at night gives me the creeps... driving to Pattaya from Bk in the evening is 'count the serious accident'. Our record is five on one trip to Sattahip..

[Felt 35]

The trip went well with some u- turns do to some misses on the go but on the return we drove road no 9 over the Kanchanaprisek bridge and then we went on Rama II until we take of to Samut Sakorn. However I agree in to little signing and the one which was to near and mostly just before change of roads/direction.