How to Get from Chiang Mai to Bangkok: Sleeper Train, Flight, Bus or Car

The best way to get from Chiang Mai to Bangkok is the overnight sleeper train: train 10 leaves Chiang Mai in the early evening and reaches Krung Thep Aphiwat around 06:30, with second-class berths from about THB 940. Five trains a day run the route, and the cheapest seats start at THB 278 on 12Go.

Need Bangkok → Chiang Mai? See the reverse guide.

Short on time? About 40 nonstop flights a day take 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes, from around THB 1,380 booked ahead.

Buses from the Arcade terminal start at THB 722 on 12Go and take about 10 hours. A private sedan to a Bangkok airport costs from THB 7,245 per vehicle on the date we checked.

The detail everyone misses: every overnight option lands in north Bangkok before the city wakes up.

Sleepers pull into Krung Thep Aphiwat between 05:10 and 06:30, and night buses reach Mochit as early as 04:00, hours before most hotels let you check in.

Chiang Mai to Bangkok timetable

These are the regular departures 12Go lists from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and its two airports, with the lowest fares in baht.

Tap a row to see live seats and book.

1. Overnight sleeper train, the one I would book

Three sleeper trains leave Chiang Mai every afternoon and evening, and all of them run through the night to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok.

You lie down somewhere around Lampang and wake up near Ayutthaya, so a 12-hour trip costs you almost no daylight.

Train 10 runs the newer Chinese-built carriages, with cleaner bathrooms and first-class two-berth cabins from about THB 1,650 per berth on 12Go.

Train 14 also has first class, from about THB 1,450 on 12Go, in older stock.

Train 52 is the budget sleeper, and it also carries second-class and third-class seats for people who do not mind sitting up all night.

On 12Go, booking fees push the berth prices a little higher than the station fares above.

Prefer to book direct? The State Railway sells the same berths at station fares on its official SRT D-Ticket site and app, though foreign cards sometimes fail at checkout.

Where to catch it

Chiang Mai Railway Station is on Charoen Muang Road, about 3 km east of the Old City.

A red songthaew or a Grab from the Old City or Nimman takes 10 to 20 minutes, so leave a margin in evening traffic.

Every train stops at Don Mueang station about 15 to 17 minutes before the end of the line.

It sits across the road from Don Mueang Airport, which is handy if you have an early flight out of Bangkok.

My verdict: the most comfortable way down for most travelers, and you save a hotel night. Book a lower berth on train 10 as early as you can.

2. Flight, the fastest way to Bangkok

Planes cover the distance in 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes, and the 12Go timetable lists about 40 nonstop flights a day.

Chiang Mai Airport sits only about 10 to 20 minutes from the Old City and Nimman, which makes flying even quicker door to door.

Fares climb fast close to the date.

For a Sunday three days out, most seats on 12Go cost THB 3,150 to 6,400, while a Wednesday a week out started at THB 1,380.

Pick your Bangkok airport with care.

If you are connecting to an international flight, land at the airport you leave from, since a transfer between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi takes an hour or more.

My verdict: best when you are short on time or connecting to another flight. Budget airlines include only a 7 kg cabin bag, so add checked luggage when you book.

3. Bus from the Arcade terminal, cheap and frequent

Long-distance buses leave from the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal on the northeast side of town, from Terminal 2 for the state-run Transport Co and Terminal 3 for most private lines.

Almost all of them end at Mochit 2, the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok.

Bookaway also sells the Bangkok Busline express at 18:40, arriving at Mochit around 04:40, for about US$24. The night coaches are the busiest, because you skip a hotel night and keep the day free.

Bring a warm layer, since the air conditioning runs cold. Keep your passport, phone and cash in a small bag at your seat, not in the luggage hold.

My verdict: a solid budget pick when the trains are full, especially the Super VIP night coach with its wider seats.

4. Day train, for the views

Two daytime trains make the trip in daylight.

Special express 8 leaves around 07:30 and reaches Bangkok in about 10 hours, with air-conditioned second-class seats for about THB 558.

Rapid train 102 leaves at 06:25 and takes 13 hours 40 minutes, arriving at Krung Thep Aphiwat at 20:05.

Its third-class fan seats are the cheapest ticket on the route, from THB 278 on 12Go if you get off at Don Mueang.

The first hours climb through the northern hills and the Khun Tan tunnel before the line drops onto the central plain.

Bring snacks and water, because the food carts are hit and miss.

My verdict: a fun choice for rail fans with a free day. Everyone else should take the sleeper and keep the daylight.

5. Hotel pickup van plus bus, no terminal hassle

Next Step Journey sells a combined ticket on 12Go: a van collects you at your Chiang Mai hotel at 16:30, then you change to an overnight bus.

It reaches Mochit 2 around 04:00, for THB 1,355 per person.

You pay more than a plain bus ticket, but you skip the ride out to the Arcade terminal with your bags.

The early arrival is the catch, so plan where you will wait until the city opens.

My verdict: handy for solo travelers with heavy luggage who stay far from the bus station.

6. Private car or van, best for families

A private driver collects you anywhere in Chiang Mai and drops you at your Bangkok hotel or airport. Expect 8 to 10 hours with rest stops on Highway 11 and Highway 1.

Split between four people, an SUV costs about THB 1,955 each, less than two lower berths on train 10.

You can also stop at Sukhothai or Ayutthaya on the way, which no bus or train lets you do.

My verdict: worth it for groups, families with small kids, or anyone who wants a temple stop on the drive down.

If you take the sleeper, ask for a lower berth in the middle of the carriage. It is wider, it has the window, and you are far from the doors that bang all night.

Step by step: the night train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok

1. Book your berth on 12Go as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for November to February and Thai holidays.
2. Get to Chiang Mai Railway Station on Charoen Muang Road at least 30 minutes before departure, by songthaew or Grab.
3. Show your e-ticket and find your carriage number on the platform board; staff will point you to it.
4. Settle in and eat early. The attendant makes up the berths in the evening, so have dinner before the lights go down.
5. Stay on until Krung Thep Aphiwat, or step off at Don Mueang if you are flying out of that airport.
6. Take the MRT or a taxi into the city. The MRT Blue Line starts running around 06:00, so early arrivals may wait a little.

What it costs for 1, 2 or 4 people

For one or two people, the bus and train win on price.

For four, the private car costs about THB 3,660 more than four lower berths, but it saves the taxis at both ends and takes you door to door.

Which option should you choose?

• You want a memorable trip and a free hotel night: sleeper train 10.
• You have a flight to catch in Bangkok: fly into the same airport, or take the sleeper and get off at Don Mueang.
• You are on a tight budget: the Transport Co bus or a third-class train seat.
• You only have a day: a morning flight.
• Family or group of 4 or more: a private car or van.
• You love trains and have time: special express 8 by daylight.

Arriving in Bangkok

Trains end at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bang Sue, the station that replaced Hua Lamphong for long-distance trains.

Long-distance platforms are on the upper level, and the MRT Blue Line station sits right below.

• Sukhumvit: MRT Blue Line to Sukhumvit station, about 30 minutes, or a taxi outside rush hour.
• Silom and Sathorn: MRT Blue Line to Si Lom or Lumphini.
• Old Town and Khao San Road: a taxi or Grab is easiest; the MRT stops at Sanam Chai, a walk from the Grand Palace.
• Mochit 2 bus terminal: buses arrive here, about 2 km from BTS Mo Chit and MRT Chatuchak Park; a taxi to the nearest station costs about THB 60 to 100.
• Don Mueang Airport: the SRT Red Line runs between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Don Mueang.

Flying in instead? Our guides to Don Mueang Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport cover the trains, buses and taxis into the city.

Bangkok: things to do and where to stay

After the slow pace of the north, Bangkok hits hard and fast.

Start with the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the Old Town, then ride a river boat down the Chao Phraya at sunset.

Chatuchak Weekend Market sits right next to Mochit and Bang Sue, so a weekend arrival is a great excuse to shop before check-in.

See the tours section below for floating markets and food tours.

Which area to stay in

• Sukhumvit: hotels at every price, nightlife and the BTS on the doorstep; easy on the MRT from the train.
• Riverside: the classic luxury hotels and river boats to the big temples.
• Silom and Sathorn: business hotels, rooftop bars and Lumphini Park.
• Ari and Chatuchak: quiet, local and only a short ride from the train and bus terminals, good for an early arrival.

Best luxury hotels in Bangkok

• Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok: the grande dame of the river, open since 1876, with its colonial Authors’ Wing.
• Capella Bangkok: 101 suites and villas on the east bank of the Chao Phraya, with a riverside infinity pool.
• The Peninsula Bangkok: 370 rooms on the west bank, with a free shuttle boat across the river to the BTS.
• Rosewood Bangkok: a striking tower on Ploenchit Road with 158 rooms, connected directly to BTS Ploenchit.

Arriving with lots of luggage at dawn? Ask your hotel to hold your bags, or book a private car straight to the door.

Practical tips before you go

Carry small cash. Songthaew drivers in Chiang Mai and taxi drivers at Mochit rarely have change for a THB 1,000 note.

Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Station, airport and hotel networks are open to anyone. A VPN such as ExpressVPN keeps your bookings and banking private.

Book ahead for peak dates. Sleeper trains and night buses sell out from November to February, around Songkran and over long weekends.

Heading back north later? See our Bangkok to Chiang Mai guide.

Planning a stop on the way? Read Ayutthaya to Bangkok, and our Bangkok public transport guide explains the MRT and BTS.

Tours from Bangkok

Floating markets, Ayutthaya day trips, river cruises and street food tours are the classics.

Frequently asked questions

Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: train, bus, flight and private car fares from 12Go’s and Bookaway’s live listings and the 12Go timetable; train times and station fares from the State Railway of Thailand schedule as published by Seat61 and Train36; hotel facts from the hotels’ own fact sheets and travel guides.

• About the Author
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Tim Kroeger( Expert in Luxury Hotel Reviews & Tourism in Bangkok )

Tim Kroeger is a luxury wellness travel specialist, founder of Universal Traveller, and creator of The Restorative Index, a performance-based framework for evaluating wellness hotels. After 15+ years across 110+ countries, he shifted from destination-chasing to travel recovery. Based in Bangkok, he reviews luxury wellness hotels and spas on tim-kroeger.com through a performance lens, combining firsthand testing with expert insights.

www.tim-kroeger.com/

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