Routes to Khorat

[bsdk1960]

I live in Korat and have made two round trips to Cha Am in the last few months. This is from my home in Korat to the Beach Garden Hotel in Cha Am.

Yesterday I drove home using the Eastern Ring Road. The trip was about 460K and took just under six hours including stops for coffee, lunch and the restroom.

On the way down I took the Don Muang Tollway. The trip was 430K and took almost exactly six hours.

The Western Ring Road is about 430K and also takes about six hours. (I usually drive right around 100 unless the speed limit is higher.)

All of these trips were taken during non-rush hour. Mid-day Sunday going south, mid-day Tuesday returning to Korat.

In terms of driving, I much prefer the Eastern Ring Road. It's a better highway.

Agre the eastern ring road is a better highway.

[Somchai Turdsak]

Follow the signs to Chang Wattana.......only problem will be when you hit the end of the expressway, it gets a little confusing. If you're going up past Sing Buri just stay left. If you want to go on the old Asia Highway go right.

Sorry, i have to disagree. As posted on another thread recently you do not need to go anywhere near Chaeng Wattana and its traffic infested "expressway", or the elevated Don Muang Tollway. If going anywhere to the North East from Hua Hin use the eastern outer ring road (9), from the Bang Khae / Phrapradaeng interchange. Most of it is 120 Km / hr, and although there are several tolls, there is very little difference in cost and a lot less stress! At the northern end of 9 it is a simple loop on to hwy 1 and towards Saraburi / Khorat.

This is why highway numbering systems are much more useful than roadsigns with names of towns and arrows. If you're from out of town, dozens of roadsigns with unfamiliar town names on them are all but useless. After all, road signs are not intended for people already familiar with the area. Give me signs with the Highway Number and compass direction N, S, E, W and I'll never get lost.

[Ratsima]

This is why highway numbering systems are much more useful than roadsigns with names of towns and arrows. If you're from out of town, dozens of roadsigns with unfamiliar town names on them are all but useless. Give me a Highway Number and compass direction N, S, E, W and I'll never get lost.

Exactly, every time I drive anywhere near Bangkok I get lost because of the horrible direction signs. It seems that all roads lead to Chaeng Wattana. (Or, is that Vadhana?) Bang Khae, Phrapradaeng, where are they? East? West?

And, why do people refer to Eastern and Western Ring Roads when none of the highway signs contain any of those words and instead call it Kanchanapisek?

So, instead of knowing that I want to be on Highway 9 East, I have to know that I want to be on Kanchanapisek, headed to Phrapradaeng.

Yes, for us out-of-towers, highway numbers and compass directions would be most appreciated....

[STEVE G]

And, why do people refer to Eastern and Western Ring Roads when none of the highway signs contain any of those words and instead call it Kanchanapisek?

Basically, that's what they were called for years whilst they were being projected and built. It wasn't completed as a single road, it sort of evolved from existing roads and new construction. The terms still make sense if you're going from Hua Hin to Issan, as many do here, as you're realistically going to use either Highway 9, East or West or the old elevated tollway past Don Muang.
Of course, what makes the journey interesting is that they're still completing widened sections of the ring-road and removing junctions and after driving that route several times a year for ten years now, it's never been exactly the same twice!

[Ratsima]

If the terms make sense then perhaps the people who make the highway signs ought to use them.

It's a bit confusing to have people tell you to use the Eastern Ring Road only to find that it is never called that on any highway sign....

[usual suspect]

All these suggestions about using the Eastern ring-road & cruising at 120kph, but you've to get on the damn thing 1st!! Every single time I,ve past that junction where you peel off onto Hwy 9, the traffic is queued & queued right from the ticket-booth, back over the flyover & sometimes 5+ kms back down 35.
(I came past today..thankfully Southbound, but STILL the queue for the East/West ring-road went back a couple of Kms)..NOT good news for anyone on their way to the airport..
It seems every Jtn with Hwy 9 is a mess..getting on OR off.

[Somchai Turdsak]

Some falangs are also fond of using terms like the "Khon Kaen Highway." What is the Khon Kaen Highway?

A person from Korat would have a very different idea than a person from Udon Thani. A person from KK has no idea what the KK Highway is.

Why not specify? Call it Highway 2, South of Udon. Or Highway 2, North of Korat.

[Ratsima]

All these suggestions about using the Eastern ring-road & cruising at 120kph, but you've to get on the damn thing 1st!! Every single time I,ve past that junction where you peel off onto Hwy 9, the traffic is queued & queued right from the ticket-booth, back over the flyover & sometimes 5+ kms back down 35.

Right. It was that way on Tuesday. Half hour wait to get from 35 to 9.

I wonder if it might be better, at certain times of the day, to just continue on and take the Don Muang Tollway or the Bang Pa In - Pak Kret Expressway?

I did that by mistake a few months ago (missed the turnoff to 9, again...), took the Don Muang Tollway and it was quite fast all the way. This was mid-day on a Tuesday.

[Nereus]

All these suggestions about using the Eastern ring-road & cruising at 120kph, but you've to get on the damn thing 1st!! Every single time I,ve past that junction where you peel off onto Hwy 9, the traffic is queued & queued right from the ticket-booth, back over the flyover & sometimes 5+ kms back down 35.

Right. It was that way on Tuesday. Half hour wait to get from 35 to 9.

I wonder if it might be better, at certain times of the day, to just continue on and take the Don Muang Tollway or the Bang Pa In - Pak Kret Expressway?

I did that by mistake a few months ago (missed the turnoff to 9, again...), took the Don Muang Tollway and it was quite fast all the way. This was mid-day on a Tuesday.

Well, it certainly would not have been any quicker today. (pm) There waas a 5Km tailback getting to the toll booths before Rama 9 bridge. Took at least 30 minutes, and when I
eventualy did get there I found that Thai wisdom has increased the number of easy pass gates to 5, I think it is. Of course, they have not bothered to change the signs indicating which gates are which, resulting in more congestion as traffic got closer trying to change lanes. Only about 10% of cars were using the easy pass gates.

[Ratsima]

Interesting discussion. I only recently started driving south; I used to always take the bus. So, all very useful to me.

[usual suspect]

The BEST time slot by far to come thru' BKK on your way back from Issan is lunchtime on a Sunday...2 weeks ago I came past D.M. a/port, & straight thru' no problem...once PAST the Hwy 9 Jtn the 'incoming' traffic tailed back to (I'm not kidding here) Petchaburi!!
When I drove up to Issan from HH I also chose Sunday to do it..but left HH at 7.00am..again, low traffic volume, & straight thru' BKK past Don Meuang, plus once out of BKK..the road to Saraburi was easier than normal..I think as folk have mentioned ..it's all about timing.

[STEVE G]

Yes, it's hard to judge; I did Khorat and back on a Friday a couple of months ago, leaving around 7.00 AM and had no real problems going around the east on Highway 9, just a bit of congestion going onto the flyover for the first toll booth but only about ten minutes delay. I got to Khorat about two in the afternoon, left at four and got back about eleven at night, a long day but no real amount of traffic hold-ups either way.

[usual suspect]

That WAS a long day Steve..bet ya slept well that night!

[STEVE G]

That WAS a long day Steve..bet ya slept well that night!

Yes, I didn't plan to do it all in one day but I had plans for the next day and I wanted to get as far back as possible before stopping for the night. By the time I started getting tired it was past Bangkok, so I just took a long dinner break and carried on home. I wouldn't recommend it but it is possible if you really have to do it. I don't drive fast and took frequent breaks so it wasn't that bad a journey.