How do you get to Chiang Rai from Bangkok? The quickest way is to fly: several airlines run nonstop flights from both of Bangkok's airports, Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport. The cheapest way is the long-distance bus from Bangkok's northern bus terminal, Mo Chit 2, which is a journey of most of a day or an overnight trip. There is no train to Chiang Rai.
Chiang Rai is Thailand's northernmost major city, about 840 kilometers from Bangkok by road, so the choice comes down to time against cost. Here is how each option works.
Flying: the fastest option
Chiang Rai's airport, run by Airports of Thailand, is in Ban Du subdistrict, about 8 kilometers from the center. Recent airline schedules show these nonstop routes from Bangkok:
- From Don Mueang (DMK): Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air.
- From Suvarnabhumi (BKK): Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways and Thai VietJet.
Airlines add and drop routes, so check the airline's own website for the current schedule before you book. The airport you choose in Bangkok matters: Don Mueang handles most of the low-cost flights, while Suvarnabhumi is better if you are connecting from an international flight. Our comparison of Bangkok's two airports explains the trade-offs, and our guide to Don Mueang Airport and the city covers getting there.
Tips for flying
- If you are arriving in Bangkok on an international flight and connecting straight to Chiang Rai, allow plenty of time, and don't book a separate low-cost ticket out of Don Mueang if you land at Suvarnabhumi unless you have hours to spare for the cross-city transfer.
- Low-cost fares usually exclude checked bags, so compare the total price.
- From Chiang Rai airport, taxis and hotel transfers run into the city.
By bus: the budget option
Long-distance buses to Chiang Rai leave from the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), better known as Mo Chit 2 or New Mo Chit, on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road in the Chatuchak district. It is the city's main terminal for the north and northeast, operated by the state-owned Transport Co., Ltd., which runs its own services alongside private companies.
- Time: the road trip is long, around 14 hours by bus or car, which is why many travelers choose an overnight bus and save a night's hotel.
- Classes: operators sell more than one class of seat; for a trip this long, a VIP bus with fewer, wider seats is worth the extra cost.
- Tickets: buy at the terminal's counters or through the operators' own booking channels, and book ahead around Thai holidays such as New Year and Songkran, the terminal's busiest periods.
- Getting to the terminal: Mo Chit 2 can be reached by city bus or taxi, or from the BTS, MRT and SRT Red Line stations in the Chatuchak area, which also serve the Chatuchak Weekend Market. The terminal has long been scheduled to move to a new site nearby, so check the departure point printed on your ticket.
By train: via Chiang Mai
There is no railway to Chiang Rai yet: the northern line from Bangkok ends at Chiang Mai. A new line from Den Chai through Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong on the Lao border is under construction, with service planned for about 2028, but it is not an option for now.
If you like trains, you can ride the northern line from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Mai and continue to Chiang Rai by bus. It is slow, but it lets you see Chiang Mai along the way.
By car
Driving yourself or hiring a driver takes about as long as the bus, most of a day on the road. It only makes sense if you plan to stop along the way, for example at Ayutthaya or Sukhothai, or if you want a car for exploring the north.
Which option should you choose?
- Short trip or tight schedule: fly. The flight takes a small part of the day, compared with the bus.
- Tight budget and a flexible schedule: take an overnight VIP bus from Mo Chit 2.
- Combining northern Thailand: go by train to Chiang Mai and continue by bus, or fly into one city and out of the other.
Once there, the white temple of Wat Rong Khun, south of the city, is the sight most visitors plan around. If you are also considering other parts of the north, see our guide on how to get to Pai from Bangkok, and if you need a night in the capital before or after, browse our Bangkok hotels.
Sources: Airports of Thailand, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport (Wikipedia: airlines and destinations, citing OAG, August 2025), Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal (Wikipedia), Chiang Rai (Wikipedia), Den Chai-Chiang Khong Line (Wikipedia). Checked September 26, 2026.
Flying. Nonstop flights run from both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport, which is about 8 kilometers from the city center.
Schedules cited on September 26, 2026 (OAG, August 2025) list Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air from Don Mueang, and Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways and Thai VietJet from Suvarnabhumi. Check each airline for current routes.
No. The northern railway ends at Chiang Mai. A new line through Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong is under construction, with service planned for about 2028.
From the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), known as Mo Chit 2, on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road. Check your ticket for the departure point, as the terminal is due to relocate.
Around 14 hours; Chiang Rai is roughly 840 kilometers from Bangkok by road. Many travelers take an overnight bus.
About 840 kilometers by road. The city lies in the far north of Thailand, about 860 kilometers north of Bangkok.
Yes. Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia and Thai VietJet have listed nonstop Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Rai flights; this is the easier choice if you are connecting from an international flight at Suvarnabhumi.
