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Bangkok to Chiang Mai is the classic drive through Thailand: from the capital through the rice plains of the centre to the mountains of the north. Along the way lie the old capitals of Siam, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, both World Heritage Sites. With a one-way hire car you pick up at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and hand it back at Chiang Mai Airport.
At a glance
- Start
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
- Finish
- Chiang Mai Airport
- Distance
- About 960 km
- Days
- 7
- Driving per day
- Mostly 1 to 3.5 hours
- Best time
- November to February
Take your time. The days are a suggestion: add a night wherever you like the look of a place. You choose your own pick-up and return dates when you book. The prices on this page are for a week; for a longer hire, enter your dates under “Find your car” at the top of the page for the exact price.
The route day by day
The trip follows the old heartland of Siam north, from the capital of the 18th century to the first capital of the 13th, and on into the Lanna country of the north. Distances are by road; the times are driving time without stops. The map shows the route and the numbered stops.
Day 1: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Ayutthaya
About 95 km and 1.5 hours north. From Suvarnabhumi Airport the motorway around the east of Bangkok takes you north without crossing the city centre. Stop at Bang Pa-In Royal Palace (1), the summer palace of the Thai kings, with pavilions in Thai, Chinese and European styles around a lake. Shoulders and knees must be covered. Then drive on to Ayutthaya (2), the capital of Siam for more than four centuries until 1767 and now a World Heritage Site. In the late afternoon, Wat Chaiwatthanaram by the river is at its best.
Day 2: Ayutthaya to Lopburi
About 80 km and 1 hour. Spend the morning among the temples of Ayutthaya: at Wat Mahathat a stone Buddha head sits in the roots of a fig tree. In the afternoon drive to Lopburi, where hundreds of macaques live around Phra Prang Sam Yot (3), a temple with three towers from the Khmer period. Keep bags closed and sunglasses out of reach; the monkeys take anything loose. Stay the night in Lopburi.
Day 3: Lopburi to Phitsanulok
About 275 km and 3.5 hours, the longest drive of the trip, mostly on four-lane highway. The road crosses the rice plains of central Thailand to Phitsanulok. At Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (4), known locally as Wat Yai, stands the Phra Buddha Chinnarat, one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand. In the evening, eat at the night market along the Nan River.
Day 4: Phitsanulok to Sukhothai
About 75 km and 1 hour west. Sukhothai Historical Park (5) is the site of the first capital of Siam, founded in the 13th century, and a World Heritage Site. Hire a bicycle at the gate and ride between the lotus ponds, the chedis and the great seated Buddha of Wat Mahathat. Stay in Old Sukhothai, next to the park, and stay for the sunset over the ruins.
Day 5: Si Satchanalai
About 60 km and 1 hour each way. Si Satchanalai Historical Park (6) was the sister city of Sukhothai and is part of the same World Heritage Site, but sees far fewer visitors. Wat Chang Lom, with its chedi surrounded by elephant statues, is the highlight. Drive back to Sukhothai for the night.
Day 6: Sukhothai to Lampang
About 210 km and 3 hours, through the hills into northern Thailand. Just before Lampang, turn off to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (7), a walled temple with an old wooden prayer hall and a golden chedi, one of the finest Lanna temples in the north. Then drive into Lampang (8), the town of horse-drawn carriages, teak houses and a riverside walking street on weekend evenings.
Day 7: Lampang to Chiang Mai
About 105 km and 1.75 hours. On the way to Chiang Mai, stop at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (9), a government-run centre where you can watch the elephants bathe in the morning. From there it is about an hour to Chiang Mai Airport, where you return the car.
One-way car hire for this road trip
Pick up the car at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport when you land and return it at Chiang Mai Airport at the end of the trip. Car hire in Bangkok and car hire in Chiang Mai have the other pick-up points and more about driving there.
One-way prices, Bangkok to Chiang Mai
From, total for 7 days
| Car | Price |
|---|---|
| No one-way charge | €357 |
| With a one-way charge, paid at the desk | €234 + 6,420 baht (about €175) |
Select a price to see the cars for the week that price was found.
Total for a 7-day rental, fully insured with everything included. The one-way charge is set by the local car hire company and paid at the desk; Sunny Cars shows it with each car before you book. Updated 12 November 2026.
Included in the price
- Collision damage and theft cover
- Damage to windows, tyres, roof and undercarriage
- Lost or damaged keys and towing after an accident or breakdown
- Third-party liability, topped up to €10 million
- Unlimited mileage
- Local taxes and airport fees
- Fair fuel policy: return the car with the fuel level you picked it up with
What to bring
- Driving licence
- Your own licence held for at least 1 year (3 years for selected cars), plus an International Driving Permit.
- Credit card
- In the main driver’s name. The desk holds the deposit on it.
- Deposit
- About €136 to €545, depending on the car.
- Driver age
- From 21 on selected cars, from 25 on the others. Upper age limit of 75 on selected cars. Each car shows its age limits before you book.
- Additional driver
- Included with selected cars. Each car shows it before you book.
Driving from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
The rules for all of Thailand are under Driving in Thailand. On this route, these are the things to know.
Wide highways and U-turns
Most of the way is on divided highway with two or more lanes each way. On these roads you often cannot turn right across the traffic. Drive on to the next U-turn point, turn there and come back on the other side.
Hills after Sukhothai
The stretch from Sukhothai to Lampang climbs into the hills of the north. It is quieter, with long climbs and descents; use a low gear downhill and leave room for trucks.
Fuel and daylight
There are petrol stations all along the highways, often with a café and clean toilets. Plan to arrive before dark; scooters without lights and animals on the road make night driving slow.
One way
You return the car at Chiang Mai Airport, not where you picked it up. Some cars carry a one-way charge, paid at the desk; others have none. The prices on this page show both, and Sunny Cars shows the charge with each car before you book.
Best time for this road trip
November to February is the coolest and driest time, and in November the Loy Krathong festival lights up Sukhothai. March to May is very hot in the central plains. June to October is the rainy season: green rice fields, short heavy showers and fewer visitors at the temples.
Frequently asked questions
How much does one-way car hire from Bangkok to Chiang Mai cost?
A week of one-way car hire from Bangkok to Chiang Mai starts at €357, with no one-way charge. Cars from other local companies start at €234 plus a one-way charge of 6,420 baht (about €175), paid at the desk. Fully insured with everything included. Updated 12 November 2026.
Can I pick up the car at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and return it at Chiang Mai Airport?
Yes. The search form on this page already has Chiang Mai as the drop-off location. Sunny Cars shows any one-way charge with each car before you book.
Do I need a credit card?
Yes, a credit card in the main driver’s name. The desk holds a deposit on it: about €136 to €545, depending on the car.
How far is Bangkok from Chiang Mai by car?
About 700 km by the direct route, which takes around 9 hours of driving. This road trip takes about 960 km over 7 days, with stops at Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and Lampang.
Can I drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in one day?
Yes, but it is a long day. Splitting the drive over several days lets you see the old capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai on the way.
Can I do the trip the other way round?
Yes. Pick up the car at Chiang Mai Airport and return it at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport; the stops are the same in reverse order. After you select a price, use “Change” at Sunny Cars to swap the pick-up and drop-off locations.
When is the best time for this road trip?
November to February, when it is cool and dry. March to May is very hot in the central plains.