Quickest Way from Pattaya to Bangkok

[TotallyOz]

Is the Skyway faster than the highway or motorway? I ask as I often get the wording wrong and don't ask a driver to take me the right way. I have been taking buses to Pattaya but I often leave at night after the last bus leaves so I take a taxi. What is the fastest way for me to get back and forth?

[Gaybutton]

I think the motorway. If you use the 'skyway,' which I refer to as the expressway, then you have to go through Si Racha and Chonburi to get there. At 3:00am it's no problem, but during the day, the traffic and traffic signal delays can take forever.

 

The motorway has none of those. What I do is take the motorway until I pass the rest area. The second exit after the rest area takes you over to the 'skyway'. Getting to the 'skyway' from the motorway at that exit takes about three minutes. That saves a hell of a lot of time.

[Guest]

I think the motorway. If you use the 'skyway,' which I refer to as the expressway, then you have to go through Si Racha and Chonburi to get there. At 3:00am it's no problem, but during the day, the traffic and traffic signal delays can take forever.

 

The motorway has none of those. What I do is take the motorway until I pass the rest area. The second exit after the rest area takes you over to the 'skyway'. Getting to the 'skyway' from the motorway at that exit takes about three minutes. That saves a hell of a lot of time.

 

Thanks. Much appreciated. So, there is the Skyway, Motorway and Highway. I think my problem is I always tell them to take the Motorway and they do. The Skyway seems faster to me.

[payless]

The answer to your question depends on what part of Bkk and what time of day you are traveling.

The elevated tollway is probably the fastest and least crowded at any time of day and it joins the Chonburi by-pass which is now a 4-lane highway except for about 2 Kms (where it is 2 lanes). You do not need to go anywhere near Sri Racha nor through Chonburi. The Chonburi bypass ends about where the Bangkok motorway joins route 7 which brings you into Pattaya.

I usually choose the elevated expressway form Silom or Sukhumvit. The motorway from any location near Rama 9 and Bang Ka Pi areas.

GB if you are going from Pattaya, instead of turning left off route 7 to join the motorway just go straight on and once past Chonburi you will see a ramp that takes you on to the elevated expressway. Fom the Pattaya direction this route has a tad more 2 lane highway than in the other direction. It is still fast.

[PattayaMale]

From Pattaya to Bangkok (Bumrungrad Hospital) takes me 90 minutes. Taking Sukhumvit to 36 to 7 (motorway) exiting after rest stop at Bang Na (then stay in right lane) which becomes a ramp that takes you to a short stretch of road which takes you to the raised toll way. Keep on the right on tollway until you must pay. Pay toll and then continue until you come to a big curve (which is also the next exit) pay 5 baht and follow that exit. This goes by Rama IX, Rama IV, and then to Nana Plaza.

 

Of course the biggest factor is how fast your driver goes.

[Gaybutton]

GB if you are going from Pattaya, instead of turning left off route 7 to join the motorway just go straight on and once past Chonburi you will see a ramp that takes you on to the elevated expressway.

Thank you. I haven't been on that bypass in years because it used to be very heavily trafficked with large trucks. I didn't know until your post that improvements have been made. I'll give it a try when I make my next trip from Pattaya to Bangkok.

[Guest jtrack33]

GT, I think a taxi driver would respond best if you tell him go via "Bangna-Trad" road instead of Skyway or whatever. Distance-wise and now traffic-wise it is the fastest route...but going to the airport, for sure you should use the Motorway. Buses now can make very good times...sub 90 minutes...as they seem to ignore the speedlimits and cruise the Pattaya to the Chonburi bypass section well above the 90 limit. For cars this is risky due to frequent radar speed checks...but seems not a problem at night or on the 4-lane sections where identification and the stopping of offenders could be dodgy for bold cops wandering out into the middle of the road waving down speeders.

[Gaybutton]

seems not a problem at night

That's one of the secrets about driving in Thailand. If you have a long car trip to make, then the dead of night is the best time if you want a good chance of avoiding the corrupt police road blocks. They don't seem to be very nocturnal. Also, when it's raining they don't seem to want to come out to play.