How far is Pattaya from Bangkok? Pattaya is about 150 km southeast of Bangkok, on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand in Chonburi province. By road, most of the trip runs on Motorway 7, whose Bangkok to Pattaya section is about 126 km long, and Suvarnabhumi Airport is about 120 km away by road. The usual ways to make the trip are an intercity bus, a pre-booked car or taxi, or, less often, the train.
Pattaya is a separate city, not a suburb of Bangkok, so treat it as a day of travel in each direction rather than a cross-town hop. How long it takes depends on where in Bangkok you start and on traffic leaving the city.
Distance at a glance
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Bangkok to Pattaya (general) | About 150 km southeast |
| Motorway 7, Bangkok to Pattaya section | About 126 km |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya by road | About 120 km |
| Bangkok railway station to Pattaya station by rail | About 155 km |
By car or taxi
Motorway 7, the Bangkok to Chonburi motorway, is the main route. It connects with the Outer Ring Road, Motorway 9, and has another entrance at Si Nakharin and the Rama IX junction, so drivers from most of Bangkok join it on the city's east side. The posted speed limit is 120 km/h and is enforced mainly by speed cameras. Pattaya can also be reached along Sukhumvit Road, which runs down the coast.
If you are hiring a Bangkok taxi for the trip, the Department of Land Transport allows a fare agreed with the driver, instead of the meter, for hires that continue outside Bangkok, and expressway tolls are paid by the passenger. Agree the price and who pays the tolls before you set off. Hotels and transfer companies also sell pre-booked cars; compare what is included.
By bus from Bangkok
Buses to Pattaya leave from Bangkok's main bus terminals, including the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai on Sukhumvit Road, Mo Chit 2 in the north of the city and the Southern Bus Terminal, and arrive at Pattaya's main bus terminal on North Pattaya Road. Ekkamai is the most convenient if you are staying along the Sukhumvit line; the terminal is on Sukhumvit Road near BTS Ekkamai, and Pattaya services are sold at the ticket counters inside.
By bus from the airports
You do not need to go into Bangkok first. Both airports have direct buses:
- Suvarnabhumi: Airports of Thailand lists an intercity bus from the airport to Pattaya from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Roong Reuang Coach runs airport services to Pattaya from the main terminal, level 1, booked through its own website.
- Don Mueang: Transport Co., Ltd. runs an express bus to Pattaya from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., roughly every four hours, with service counters in both terminals.
Fares and exact departure times are in the FAQ below. For the reverse trip, see how to get from Pattaya to Bangkok, and for more on the airport services, how to get to Pattaya from Bangkok airport.
By train
Pattaya has a station on the State Railway of Thailand's eastern line, about 3 km east of central Pattaya and about 155 km by rail from Bangkok's main station. Trains are an option for rail fans with time to spare, but check the current timetable with the State Railway before you plan around one, and allow for a ride from the station into town. A planned high-speed line linking Bangkok's airports with U-Tapao, with a stop near Pattaya, is not yet running.
Which option to choose
- Straight from a flight: the airport bus, or a pre-booked car if you have a lot of luggage.
- From a Sukhumvit hotel: the bus from Ekkamai, or a car if you are a group sharing the fare.
- On a budget: the bus from any of the three city terminals.
Still deciding whether to split your stay? Which is better, Bangkok or Pattaya compares the two, and how far Bangkok is from the beach covers other coastal trips. Our Bangkok hotels guide can help with the city end of the trip.
Sources: Wikipedia: Pattaya, Wikipedia: Motorway 7, Wikipedia: Pattaya railway station, Airports of Thailand: intercity buses from Suvarnabhumi, Airports of Thailand: Roong Reuang Coach, Airports of Thailand: Transport Co. express bus from Don Mueang, Airports of Thailand: taxi fares and the Department of Land Transport notice. Checked September 26, 2026.
About 150 km southeast of Bangkok. The Bangkok to Pattaya section of Motorway 7 is about 126 km, and Pattaya is about 120 km by road from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Yes. Airports of Thailand lists an intercity bus to Pattaya from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a fare of approximately 140 to 190 baht, and Roong Reuang Coach also runs from the main terminal, level 1. Its tickets are non-refundable, date changes cost 30 baht per person with two days' notice, and one 20 kg bag plus a personal bag is included. Checked September 26, 2026.
Yes. Transport Co., Ltd. runs an express bus from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., about every four hours, for 155 baht. Counters are at Terminal 1, floor 1, gate 1 and Terminal 2, floor 1, gate 11, as listed by Airports of Thailand on September 26, 2026.
From the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai on Sukhumvit Road, Mo Chit 2 and the Southern Bus Terminal. They arrive at Pattaya's main bus terminal on North Pattaya Road.
Yes. For trips that continue outside Bangkok, the Department of Land Transport allows the fare to be agreed with the driver instead of using the meter, and the passenger pays expressway tolls. Agree the price before you leave.
Pattaya has a station on the State Railway of Thailand's eastern line, about 155 km from Bangkok's main station by rail. Check the current State Railway timetable before planning around it.
