The fastest way from Bangkok to Khao Yai is by car: about 2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min in good traffic. The cheapest is the ordinary train from Hua Lamphong to Pak Chong for about 36 THB; the Nakhonchai 21 bus from Mo Chit 2 costs about 260 THB or less. For a door-to-door trip, a Smile Taxi Service private transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport costs a fixed 2,000 THB for a sedan, 2,300 THB for an SUV or 2,800 THB for a van, per vehicle, one way, with expressway tolls included; from central Bangkok or Don Mueang, ask for a quote.
Distance and travel time overview
"Khao Yai" can mean two places. Pak Chong is the town on Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road) where buses and trains stop. Khao Yai National Park is further away: just before Pak Chong, Thanarat Road (Highway 2090) leads to the north gate at km 23, and the park headquarters is about 15 km beyond the gate. Most hotels, wineries and farms are along Thanarat Road, between the town and the gate.
According to the Department of National Parks, the park headquarters is about 200 km from Bangkok by the road through Pak Chong, and about 170 km by the southern route through Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi. By rail, Pak Chong is 173 km from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and 158 km from Don Mueang.
By car, the trip takes about 2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min in good traffic. Trains take about 2.5 hours (special express) to 4 hours to Pak Chong, and buses about 2.5–4 hours. By bus and songthaew to the park, allow about 5–6 hours in total.
There are no useful flights: Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) airport has no scheduled flights listed. There is no high-speed train yet either; the line is expected around 2030–2031.
Bangkok to Khao Yai: all options compared
| Option | Travel time | Approximate price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smile private transfer | about 2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min | fixed 2,000–2,800 THB per vehicle from Suvarnabhumi; quote from central Bangkok | families, groups, luggage |
| Train to Pak Chong | about 2.5 to 4 hours | about 36–310 THB per seat | budget travellers |
| Nakhonchai 21 bus to Pak Chong | about 2.5–4 hours | about 260 THB or less | frequent departures |
| Minivan to Pak Chong | about 3 hours | no confirmed fare | travellers near Mo Chit |
| Self-drive | about 2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min | rental, fuel and tolls | drivers with an International Driving Permit |
Third-party prices and timetables in this guide were checked in September 2026. Intercity bus fares in Thailand were adjusted five times between April and September 2026, so confirm the fare with the operator before you travel.
Private transfer with Smile Taxi Service
The driver picks you up at the airport or your address and drops you at the door of your hotel or resort in the Khao Yai area, with no change in Pak Chong.
| Route (THB per vehicle, one way) | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) → Khao Yai | 2,000 | 2,300 | 2,800 |
| Khao Yai → Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | 2,000 | 2,300 | 3,000 |
The price is per vehicle, not per person, so it is the same for 1 passenger or a full car. Expressway tolls are included, there is no meter, and the price does not change with traffic. Note that the van fare is different in each direction.
Smile has no fixed fare between central Bangkok or Don Mueang Airport (DMK) and Khao Yai. For these trips, send your addresses, date and number of passengers on WhatsApp or LINE and ask for a quote.
- Sedan (Toyota Camry or similar): up to 3 passengers and 2 bags.
- SUV (Toyota Fortuner or similar): up to 5 passengers and 4 bags.
- Van (Toyota Commuter or similar): up to 7 passengers and 5 bags.
What is included
- Airport pickups: 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the time your flight actually lands. A person on the team checks your flight.
- Suvarnabhumi: the driver meets you on Level 4 (Departures), near Gate 4, where the car stops in the pickup lane. Send a message on WhatsApp or LINE once you have your bags, and the car pulls up in about 5–10 minutes.
- Don Mueang: Level 3 (Departures); the exact door comes with the driver's details, because the airport has two terminals.
- Before the trip: the team sends you the driver's name, the car and its plate number.
- Free 500 MB Thailand eSIM with an airport pickup, on request (ask when you book).
Options, payment and cancellation
- Name sign at the arrivals gate: +100 THB, on request. Child seat: +100 THB, on request.
- Extra stops on the way: +250 THB per hour.
- Pickups or drop-offs in Bangkok west of the Chao Phraya River (the Thonburi side): +100–200 THB.
- An English-speaking driver can be requested, subject to availability (not every driver speaks English).
You pay the driver in cash (Thai baht) at the end of the trip. The website takes no online payment and no deposit. If you can only pay by card, for example because you have not changed money yet, message the team for a PayPal payment link; a 5% fee is added. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Smile Taxi Service works 24/7 in 9 languages and is rated Google 5.0 and Tripadvisor 5.0.
- Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Khao Yai
- Book an SUV from Suvarnabhumi to Khao Yai
- Book a van from Suvarnabhumi to Khao Yai
- See all Smile Taxi Service fares
Khao Yai full-day tour
The park's sights are far apart, so a car and driver for the whole day is the simplest way to see them. Smile's Khao Yai Tour gives you a car and driver for up to 10 hours for 3,200 THB (sedan), 3,500 THB (SUV), 4,000 THB (van) or 4,600 THB (VIP van, up to 7 passengers and 5 bags), per vehicle. A pickup in another province costs +500 THB, and a driver's overnight stay on a tour costs +500 THB. For a tour that starts from Bangkok, message the team. See the tours and day trips page.
Train to Pak Chong
Trains to Pak Chong leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (reached by MRT Bang Sue station), except ordinary train 233, which still leaves from Hua Lamphong.
| Train | Leaves Bangkok | Arrives Pak Chong | Approximate fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special express 21 | 06:10 | 08:43 | 310 THB |
| Rapid 135 | 07:10 | 10:43 | 85–130 THB |
| Express 71 | 10:35 | 13:17 | 185–290 THB |
| Ordinary 233 (Hua Lamphong) | 12:00 | 15:49 | 36 THB |
| Rapid 139 | 19:25 | 22:33 | not listed |
| Special express 23 (sleeper) | 21:05 | 23:58 | from 680 THB |
| Rapid 141 | 23:05 | 02:33 | not listed |
The 06:10 special express is the best choice for a day in the park. The same trains also stop at Don Mueang station: the trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat about 15–20 minutes after they leave (06:27, 07:27, 10:52, 19:41, 21:22 and 23:23), and ordinary train 233 at 12:51 (32 THB). From Don Mueang, special express 21 costs 304 THB and takes 2 h 16 min. Book on the official SRT D-Ticket website; the SRT hotline is 1690.
Pros: cheap and free of road traffic. Cons: only 7 trains a day, several arriving late at night, and Pak Chong is still far from the park.
Bus from Mo Chit 2 (Nakhonchai 21)
Nakhonchai 21 buses from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) stop at Lotus Pak Chong. In Bangkok they leave from Mo Chit 2 (Bangkok Bus Terminal, Chatuchak); confirm this when you buy your ticket.
- Departures: for 30 September 2026 the timetable showed 27 buses a day between 01:00 and 21:00, about every 30 minutes from 09:30 to 16:00. A new timetable started on 15 September 2026.
- Fare: 257 THB was shown for both Pak Chong and Korat, so expect about 260 THB or less.
- Time: about 2 h 30 min to 3 h 56 min, according to booking sites.
- Tickets: the timetable checker is not a booking system; booking online needs an NCT Card membership. Customer service: 044 261 555 (08:00–17:00) or LINE @nct21.
Do not confuse Nakhonchai 21 with Nakhonchai Air, a different company: its buses from Bangkok do not drop passengers at Pak Chong.
Minivan from the Mochit New Van Terminal
Route planners list Pakchong Carrent 2009 minivans to Pak Chong roughly every hour, taking about 3 hours. The van terminal is across Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road from Mo Chit 2. Websites show different fares, so ask at the counter.
Driving yourself
Take Phahonyothin Road past Rangsit and Saraburi, then Highway 2. Just before Pak Chong, keep left onto the flyover to Thanarat Road (Highway 2090), which leads to the north gate.
The M6 motorway. From Friday 21 August 2026, Motorway 6 between Bang Pa-in and Pak Chong is open free as a trial, but only from Friday 12:00 to Sunday 24:00, for cars only, at up to 80 km/h. There are no fuel stations or shops on the motorway yet, so fill up before you join it. The trial can change, so check with the Department of Highways (hotline 1586).
Rules. Foreign drivers must carry an International Driving Permit with their home licence; UK drivers need the 1968-convention permit. Without it, you risk a fine, and your insurance may not cover you. Self-drive rental counters at Suvarnabhumi are on Level 2, Gate 7, in the main terminal.
From Pak Chong to the park
Songthaews (pickup trucks used as shared buses) leave Pak Chong for Khao Yai about once an hour, but only when enough passengers are on board, so you may have to wait. Ask the fare before you get in. There is no public transport inside the park, and the sights are far apart. Without a car, stay in Pak Chong or along Thanarat Road and ask your hotel about a pickup, or hire a car and driver.
Before you go: park fees and seasons
- Entrance fee: foreigners 400 THB per adult, 200 THB per child aged 3–14; Thai citizens 40 THB and 20 THB. The ticket is valid for 1 day, or 3 days if you stay in the park.
- Hours: 06:00–18:00 every day.
- Closures: the Khao Khiao road and Pha Diao Dai viewpoint close from 1 June to 30 September each year.
- Seasons: most rain falls from mid-May to October; October to February is cool and busiest, about 17 °C on average in December and January.
- Park lodging: park houses and campsites are booked on the Department of National Parks website, nps.dnp.go.th. The system was reported down for long periods up to June 2026; if it does not work, call the park accommodation line on 086 092 6529.
Practical tips for this route
- Traffic: Friday evenings leaving Bangkok and Sunday afternoons returning are the slowest times. Weekends at Khao Yai are busy, so book rooms early.
- Landing at Suvarnabhumi: Transport Co. lists no bus from the airport to Pak Chong, so book a car or go into Bangkok first.
- Landing at Don Mueang: take a train from Don Mueang station, or city bus A1 (30 THB, 05:45–24:00, about every 15 minutes) to Mo Chit 2 for the bus. The A1 boards at the Service Hall next to Terminal 1.
- Arriving at night: three trains reach Pak Chong late (22:33, 23:58 and 02:33), and the park gates are open only from 06:00 to 18:00. On a late train, book a room in Pak Chong and go to the park the next morning.
- Children: Thai law requires a child seat up to age 6; ask for one when you book (+100 THB with Smile).
- Luggage: if you have more bags than the car takes (see the vehicle list above), book the bigger car.
- What is open: call the park on 090 782 1929 to check which attractions are open.
The return journey: Khao Yai to Bangkok
Smile's fixed fare from Khao Yai to Suvarnabhumi is 2,000 THB (sedan), 2,300 THB (SUV) or 3,000 THB (van), tolls included: book a sedan from Khao Yai to Suvarnabhumi. For central Bangkok or Don Mueang, ask for a quote. A discount is available on return trips; ask by message. Book the car back before you go, because hotels are spread out.
Train. Daytime trains leave Pak Chong at 10:06 (ordinary 234 to Hua Lamphong, arriving 14:25, 36 THB), 11:18 (train 72 to Krung Thep Aphiwat, arriving 14:10), 13:51 (train 136 to Krung Thep Aphiwat, arriving 18:00) and 19:48 (special express 22, arriving 22:15, 310–390 THB). These trains also stop at Don Mueang.
Bus. Bangkok-bound Nakhonchai 21 buses end at Mo Chit 2 and also stop at Rangsit and Don Mueang. Seats for passengers boarding at Pak Chong are checked trip by trip at the ticket counter, so ask at the Pak Chong counter or call 044 261 555.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Khao Yai from Bangkok? About 200 km to the park headquarters through Pak Chong, or about 170 km by the southern route.
Can I get to Khao Yai by train? Yes, to Pak Chong. The fastest train is the 06:10 special express (arriving 08:43, 310 THB); then take a songthaew or a car to the park.
Can I visit Khao Yai as a day trip from Bangkok? Yes, by car: about 2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min each way in good traffic. By public transport it takes about 5–6 hours each way to the park, so stay overnight.
How much is a private transfer from Suvarnabhumi to Khao Yai? Smile's fixed fare is 2,000 THB (sedan), 2,300 THB (SUV) or 2,800 THB (van) per vehicle, tolls included. Back to the airport it is 2,000 / 2,300 / 3,000 THB.
Is there a fixed fare from central Bangkok? No. Ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE.
Is the M6 motorway open to Pak Chong? From Bang Pa-in, only on weekends (Friday 12:00 to Sunday 24:00), free, cars only, at up to 80 km/h. This trial started on 21 August 2026 and can change.
To book your transfer to Khao Yai, choose your car on the booking page or message us on WhatsApp or LINE.