I am driving to Mukdahan from either Nang Rong or Lahansai (both quite near each other) within a few days. I was thinking of taking Highway 24 towards Ubon, go around Ubon and then take the 212 to Mukdahan. It has been nine years since I drove to Mukdahan using this route. The maps show a somewhat shorter route from Surin to Mukdahan but the roads all appear to be two lane which I think will slow things up a bit. I think the 24 is now four lanes all the way to Ubon. I am guessing it will be a about a 4-hour trip if driving at about 110-120 kilometers per hour. Anyone familiar with this journey or have alternative routes?

Both have 4 lanes stretches and parts where they are building it into 4 lanes. The road from Ubon is usually fairly traffic free.

The road through Surin, Ta Tum, Yasothon and up to Mukdahan is a nice drive and the traffic thins very quickly once you head northeast. Its a good road although mostly 2 lane until you get to the 4 land highway leading into Mukdahan. Up to you, as they say.

The road to Ubon is where there are many trucks. The areas of 2 lanes will be slow.

I have done the Roi Et route of these. Nice drive.

https://www.google.co.th/maps/dir/Buri+Ram/Mukdahan,+Mueang+Mukdahan+District,+Mukdahan/@15.705154,102.7771678,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x311999c027a33

247:0x10469cfc8de4970!2m2!1d103.1029191!2d14.9930017!1m5!1m1!1s0x313dc64286565845:0xe74cacc8482dabb6!2m2!1d104.702058!2d16.5426286!3e0

The road to Ubon is where there are many trucks. The areas of 2 lanes will be slow.

I have done the Roi Et route of these. Nice drive.

https://www.google.co.th/maps/dir/Buri+Ram/Mukdahan,+Mueang+Mukdahan+District,+Mukdahan/@15.705154,102.7771678,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x311999c027a33

247:0x10469cfc8de4970!2m2!1d103.1029191!2d14.9930017!1m5!1m1!1s0x313dc64286565845:0xe74cacc8482dabb6!2m2!1d104.702058!2d16.5426286!3e0

Some of those Google links work only when using the link symbol (not copy/paste).

This should work:

https://www.google.co.th/maps/dir/Buri+Ram/Mukdahan,+Mueang+Mukdahan+District,+Mukdahan/@15.706406,102.7771678,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x311999c027a33247:0x10469cfc8de4970!2m2!1d103.1029191!2d14.9930017!1m5!1m1!1s0x313dc64286565845:0xe74cacc8482dabb6!2m2!1d104.702058!2d16.5426286!3e0

Works for me.

When I plan a trip, I plan on an average of 70 kilometers per hour, that includes food, fuel, and washroom stops. Most trips I average faster, but for planning purposes it gives a pretty good estimate, especially if you have to be someplace at a set time. It is better to be a little early and have some time on your hands, than to be rushed and trying to make up for time, or at least for me it is.

I drove from Nakhon Phanom to Bangkok last week via Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Yasothon and Surin. I agree that it is an enjoyable drive, but three-quarters of the distance from Mukdahan to Surin is single lane traffic. The road surfaces were generally very good and there are many long straight stretches where it is possible to overtake easily, particularly as the traffic was light last Tuesday and Wednesday. However, there are sections of the road where there is no hard shoulder, so you share the lane with motorcycles rather than drive alongside them. However, as Dilligad said, there are sections of wider road going through the small towns where traffic moves more easily. In the 400 Kms from NKP to Surin, I found myself travelling slowly just once and that was when I was stuck behind a convoy of trucks for 20 minutes. All in all, I found this a more relaxing trip than on the other routes from NKP to Bangkok.

I've made this trip too many times to count...

Nang Rong to Burriram (turn Rt on the by pass just before town), continue through Satuk. At Phayakkhaphsai, turn rt on 202 (big intersection with a traffic light, you can't miss it). Flat 2 lane roads & rice paddy as far as you can see, almost no traffic. Stay on 202 through Suwannaphum to Yasothon. From Yasaothan, take 2169 (pretty drive) to Leung Nok Tha. At the huge golden Buddah (there's a traffic light), in Leung, you can go straight on 2047, or turn rt on 2047, to 212. Straight is faster but not well marked. Rt is a bit longer, but you won't get lost. When you hit 212, turn left to Muk. 4 lane all the way from Leung.

The last time I was on the highway between Nang Rong & Ubon, it was a nightmare. To much traffic, far to many trucks. True the road I have described is mostly 2 lane, but most of it is in the middle of nowhere & there is almost no traffic and the roads are very good. I average 82+ KPH on this leg, with 2 pee stops (I'm a coffee drinker) & no stops for gas, but I travel by myself.

I would never go through Ubon for this trip.

On 12/7/2559 at 7:36 PM, Tagaa said:

I've made this trip too many times to count...

Nang Rong to Burriram (turn Rt on the by pass just before town), continue through Satuk. At Phayakkhaphsai, turn rt on 202 (big intersection with a traffic light, you can't miss it). Flat 2 lane roads & rice paddy as far as you can see, almost no traffic. Stay on 202 through Suwannaphum to Yasothon. From Yasaothan, take 2169 (pretty drive) to Leung Nok Tha. At the huge golden Buddah (there's a traffic light), in Leung, you can go straight on 2047, or turn rt on 2047, to 212. Straight is faster but not well marked. Rt is a bit longer, but you won't get lost. When you hit 212, turn left to Muk. 4 lane all the way from Leung.

The last time I was on the highway between Nang Rong & Ubon, it was a nightmare. To much traffic, far to many trucks. True the road I have described is mostly 2 lane, but most of it is in the middle of nowhere & there is almost no traffic and the roads are very good. I average 82+ KPH on this leg, with 2 pee stops (I'm a coffee drinker) & no stops for gas, but I travel by myself.

I would never go through Ubon for this trip.

Next Sunday, I'm going to drive from Bangkok to Nakhon Phanom over two days. On the way to Bangkok, the missus made notes of an easy route we found from Buriram that avoided Suraburi and Highway 2. Unfortunately, as I plan the return journey and look at the notes, I see that they are unintelligible. As I can't find a clear map of this area in English, could you please tell me the road numbers that will get me to Nang Rong? With thanks.