How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya
Pattaya is about 150 km southeast of Bangkok on Motorway 7, a fast toll road that makes the drive two hours in decent conditions. This is one of Thailand’s best-served routes, with buses leaving Ekkamai through the day, so the real question is what happens at each end rather than the journey itself.
Book a Private TransferThe journey at a glance
| From | Bangkok |
|---|---|
| To | Pattaya |
| Distance | ≈ 150 km |
| Journey time | 2 – 2.5 hours |
| Private taxi fare | Sedan ฿1,500 · SUV ฿1,700 · Van ฿2,000 — per vehicle, tolls included |
| Payment | Cash in Thai Baht to the driver on arrival. Nothing charged at booking. |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before pickup. |
Every option compared
| Option | Typical cost | Total time | Departures | Door to door | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private taxi | ฿1,500 per vehicle | 2 – 2.5 h | Any time you choose | Hotel to hotel | Same day usually fine |
| Bus from Ekkamai | ≈฿130 per person | 2.5 – 3 h | Frequent through the day | No — ends at North Pattaya depot | Buy at the terminal |
| Minivan from Ekkamai | ≈฿150 per person | 2.5 h | When full | No | Buy at the terminal |
| Train | ≈฿40 per person | 4 h+ | Very limited | No — station is far from the beach | Buy at the station |
Bus, minivan, train and ferry fares are approximate and were last checked in September 2026. They change without notice. Our own taxi fares are live from our booking system.
The bit people forget: both ends of the bus
The ฿130 Ekkamai fare is genuinely cheap and the coaches are fine. What it does not include is getting to Ekkamai, which is on the eastern edge of Bangkok — from most central hotels that is a BTS ride or a taxi through traffic, and with luggage it is not a trivial start to the day.
At the far end, buses terminate at the North Pattaya bus depot, which is not on the beach and not near most hotels. You then take a songthaew, and songthaew drivers at the bus station quote tourist prices. Add both ends together and the real door-to-door cost and time are meaningfully above the ticket price.
None of which makes the bus wrong — for one person it is still the cheaper option by a clear margin. But for a family of four with suitcases, the whole-vehicle fare compares much better than the ticket prices suggest.
Say which part of Pattaya you are going to
"Pattaya" covers a long stretch of coast. Naklua at the north end, central Pattaya Beach, Pratumnak on the headland, and Jomtien to the south are all twenty minutes or more apart in traffic. Give us the hotel name and we will take you to its door for the same fare.
If you are heading somewhere further out — Ban Amphur, Na Jomtien, or one of the resorts towards Sattahip — tell us when you book so we can confirm whether it falls inside the standard fare.
Practical tips
- Motorway 7 tolls are included in our fare. A metered taxi from the street will add them to the meter at the end.
- Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings are the worst traffic of the week in both directions on this route.
- Heading to Pattaya straight from Suvarnabhumi? Book that leg directly rather than going into Bangkok first — it is shorter, faster and cheaper.
- Going on to Koh Samet or Koh Larn afterwards? Ferries from Ban Phe and from Bali Hai pier both stop in the evening, so an early start matters.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Bangkok to Pattaya?
Two to two and a half hours by road for about 150 km on Motorway 7. The bus takes two and a half to three hours, plus the time to reach Ekkamai terminal and to get from the Pattaya depot to your hotel.
What is the cheapest way from Bangkok to Pattaya?
The bus from Ekkamai at around ฿130 per person. Factor in getting to Ekkamai and a songthaew from the North Pattaya depot at the other end — the real door-to-door cost is higher than the ticket.
How much is a taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya?
฿1,500 for a sedan carrying up to three passengers, ฿1,700 for an SUV up to five, and ฿2,000 for a van up to seven. Per vehicle, one way, with Motorway 7 tolls included, paid to the driver in cash on arrival.
Can I get from Bangkok to Pattaya by train?
Technically yes, but it is slow, runs very infrequently, and Pattaya station is a long way from the beach. Almost nobody uses it for this journey and we would not suggest planning around it.
Book this transfer
Fixed fare from ฿1,500 per vehicle. See the full fare card on the Bangkok to Pattaya route page, or book directly below. Most bookings on this route are made the day before travel.