The distance from Bangkok to Sukhothai is approximately 430 km. Since Sukhothai doesn't have a train station, you can either travel the entire distance by bus, fly, or take the train to Phitsanulok and then continue by bus from there. I recommend that most travelers book a morning bus from Mo Chit 2. Win Tour, operating under the name Sukhothai Thani, offers VIP buses at 8:00, 9:30, 10:00, and 11:00 for 439–460 baht. The journey takes about seven hours. Regular buses cost 376 baht.
Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Bangkok to Sukhothai on 12Go.
The fastest way is with Bangkok Airways. There are two flights daily from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which take 1 hour and 20 minutes and are available on the airline's website from around 1,630 baht each way. If I wanted to go by train, I would take the Special Express No. 7 at 7:30 a.m. to Phitsanulok (arriving at 11:48 a.m.) and from there a bus heading west, which would take me directly to the historical park in the early to mid-afternoon – before all the morning buses.
Before you book anything, you should know that there are two Sukhothai: the modern city where the buses stop, and the old city with the ruins, which are 12 km apart.
Where to stay in Sukhothai
This route ends in Sukhothai. Search for hotels in Sukhothai for your travel dates or narrow your search to the region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.
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My picks in every price category in Sukhothai
Key facts
It's approximately 430 km by road.
The OSRM Mo Chit 2 route leads to New Sukhothai (approx. 411 km) and from central Bangkok to the historical park (approx. 436 km). The journey takes five to five and a half hours without stops. Buses take about seven hours on their routes.
Day buses depart from Mo Chit 2 starting at 7:00 AM.
Win Tour (Sukhothai Thani), Phitsanulok Yanyon Tour, Cherdchai Tour and Transport Co. depart from Mo Chit 2. On 12Go they cost 365–460 ฿, and the VIP and intercity buses take about seven hours.
Two flights per day, only to Suvarnabhumi
Bangkok Airways is the only airline serving Sukhothai. Flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport depart around 7:00 AM and in the early afternoon, with a flight time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. One-way fares on the airline's website start at approximately 1,630–1,830 baht. There are no direct flights from Don Mueang Airport to Sukhothai.
The train stops in Phitsanulok, an hour away.
Special Express No. 7 departs Krung Thep Aphiwat at 7:30 a.m. and Don Mueang at 7:43 a.m., arriving in Phitsanulok at 11:48 a.m. A second-class ticket costs 397 baht. A bus from the Phitsanulok bus station covers the last hour.
New Sukhothai and Old Sukhothai are 12 km apart.
Most buses terminate at the bus station outside New Sukhothai, the modern city. The ruins are located in the old city of Mueang Khao, 12 to 13 km west, accessible by songthaew for approximately 30–40 baht.
Night buses arrive between 3 and 6 a.m.
Buses departing between 8:00 PM and 8:40 PM arrive in Sukhothai between 3:00 AM and 4:10 AM, and even the slower buses at 6:10 PM and 7:30 PM don't arrive until around 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM. A daytime bus is the better option.
All routes from Bangkok to Sukhothai compared
Bus schedules and fares are from 12Go (as of November 18, 2026) and include a booking fee. Flight times are from 12Go and flight tracking services; fares are from the Bangkok Airways fare calendar for November 2026 to February 2027. Train schedules are from the Thai State Railways timetable dated December 5, 2025 (rail-thailand, updated January 6, 2026); fares are from Richard Barrow's Thai Train Guide. Road distance and travel time were determined using OSRM route planning via OpenStreetMap.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Bangkok → Sukhothai: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
bus
Flight
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Check bus and flight connections from Bangkok to Sukhothai.
12Go lists buses on the Mo Chit 2 route operated by Win Tour, Phitsanulok Yanyon Tour, Cherdchai and Transport Co., flights from Bangkok Airways, and private transfers with e-tickets. Prices include a booking fee. The arrival point is important; therefore, check whether your ticket terminates at the bus station or the historical park.
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The day bus from Mo Chit 2
Leave in the morning and arrive before nightfall.
All buses to Sukhothai depart from the northern bus station, Mo Chit 2. I would recommend taking the morning buses. Win Tour (listed as Sukhothai Thani on 12Go and other booking sites) offers the most departures. Their VIP buses leave at 8:00, 9:30, 10:00, and 11:00 for 439–460 baht and arrive about seven hours later. The cheaper intercity buses at 13:00, 14:00, and 15:00 cost 376 baht. Phitsanulok Yanyon Tour offers an intercity bus at 7:00, arriving at 14:30 for 365 baht, as well as an express bus at 12:00. Cherdchai Tour North also runs an express bus at 11:30, arriving at 19:00.
Buses operated by the state-run transport company are cheaper at 378–407 baht, but they make frequent stops along this route. According to 12Go, the journey takes approximately 11 hours. One 12Go user reported an "express" trip to Phitsanulok Yanyon in August 2026, where the bus made stops the entire way and a transfer was required in New Sukhothai. For the shortest journey, a VIP tour with Win Tour is recommended. Booking portals charge a fee. Tickets can also be purchased directly on the day of travel at the operators' counters in Mo Chit 2. This is easily done outside of the peak season from November to February and Loy Krathong week.
Why I would avoid the night bus
While the night buses may look typical for backpackers, the route from Bangkok to Sukhothai is too short for that. The Win Tour VIP bus at 8:00 PM arrives as early as 3:00 AM, and the Cherdchai buses at 8:20 PM and 8:40 PM don't reach Sukhothai until 3:50 AM and 4:10 AM, respectively—hours before you can check into a guesthouse. The slower Transport Co. buses at 6:10 PM and 7:30 PM don't arrive until around 5:00 AM and 6:30 AM. A 12Go user reported in June 2026 that they had booked a bus for 8:00 AM but didn't get off until 4:00 AM. If you do decide to take a night bus, it's best to book your room for the first night the evening before to ensure you have accommodation upon arrival.
Take the train to Phitsanulok and then the bus to the old town.
There is no railway connection to Sukhothai, but this is the fastest way to reach the ruins on the ground.
The railway line to Chiang Mai bypasses Sukhothai 60 km to the east, so Phitsanulok is the closest station. I would book the Special Express No. 7 daytime train, which departs Krung Thep Aphiwat at 7:30 a.m., stops at Don Mueang at 7:43 a.m., and arrives in Phitsanulok at 11:48 a.m. It's a second-class, air-conditioned train, and the fare is 397 baht. Meals are no longer included, so bring your own. The express train No. 111 departs at 7:50 a.m. and takes two hours longer. Night trains arrive in Phitsanulok between midnight and 4:30 a.m., so you'll have to wait for the first bus.
From Phitsanulok train station, a tuk-tuk or motorbike taxi ride to Bus Terminal 1, about 2 to 2.6 km east, costs approximately 60 baht. Buses to Sukhothai run regularly between about 5:30 am and 6:00 pm and take about an hour. Tickets are available at the ticket counter. Richard Barrow's tip is particularly recommended: Instead of taking a bus directly to Sukhothai city, take a bus towards Tak marked "Muang Kao" (Old City). This bus passes the entrance to the historical park. Board bus number 7. This way, you'll reach the ruins in the early to mid-afternoon, before the morning buses from Bangkok arrive in the new city.
Line 7 is often fully booked during peak season. According to the SRT (State Railway) booking policy, tickets for the Bangkok–Phitsanulok route should be available approximately 30 days in advance. Therefore, it's best to book as soon as the booking window opens. Tickets are available in English on the SRT's D-Ticket website. For the rest of the Northern Line timetable, please refer to our Bangkok–Chiang Mai travel guide.
You can reach the old town by train about an hour before the first direct bus. Take bus number 7 at 7:30 a.m., a tuk-tuk for 60 baht to the bus station, and from there a bus to Tak that stops at the park entrance.
Trains from Bangkok to Phitsanulok
The Thai State Railways timetable from December 5, 2025, by rail-thailand (updated January 6, 2026), matches the timetable from thailandlife. The fare of 397 Baht is from Richard Barrow's Thai Train Guide. Some booking sites still show the old departure times (train no. 7 at 8:30 a.m.), so please check the time on your ticket.
Flight to Sukhothai Airport
Bangkok Airways flies twice daily, and the journey into the city
Bangkok Airways is the only airline that flies to Sukhothai. It offers two daily flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport: one at approximately 7:00 AM, arriving at 8:20 AM, and another in the afternoon around 3:30 PM. The flight time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes. There are no flights to Sukhothai from Don Mueang Airport. According to the airline's fare calendar, one-way fares start at around 1,830 baht in November and December and around 1,630 baht in January and February. Prices increase on busy days. It is by far the most expensive way to travel, but the morning flight gets you to the ruins around 9:30 AM—early enough to visit the park that same day.
Sukhothai Airport is located amidst rice paddies, approximately 33 km north of New Sukhothai and 42 km from the historical park. The journey takes about 40 to 45 minutes. A shuttle bus picks up passengers and takes them to their hotels for approximately 180 baht in the new town and 300 baht in the old town. Inquire at your hotel for the current price; they can also arrange a transfer for you. If flying with Bangkok Airways is too expensive, low-cost airlines fly from Don Mueang to Phitsanulok (about an hour). From there, the bus journey takes another hour.
The best-rated hotels in Sukhothai
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Sukhothai. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.
New Sukhothai or the old city?
Where the buses stop and how to get to the ruins
Sukhothai consists of two parts. New Sukhothai is the modern provincial town on the Yom River, home to the bus station, most of the budget guesthouses, and the night markets. The Old City, Mueang Khao, is the walled capital within the historical park, located 12 to 13 km to the west, with a small cluster of guesthouses and resorts near the gates. Bus tickets to Sukhothai almost always terminate at the bus station in Ban Kluai, about 1.5 to 2 km outside the New City. However, some departures, such as the 7:00 AM bus from Phitsanulok Yanyon and the 6:10 PM bus from Transport Co., continue to the historical park, so be sure to check the arrival stop on your ticket.
From the terminal, a tuk-tuk or songthaew will take you to the new town or the park. The blue songthaews run between the new and old towns during the day for about 30–40 baht and take approximately half an hour. If you plan to visit the ruins at dawn and explore by bicycle before the worst of the heat, I recommend staying near the old town. In the new town, you'll find a wider selection of restaurants and more affordable accommodation. Bicycles can be rented near the park entrance for about 30–50 baht per day. Entry costs 100 baht per park zone. You can find accommodation in both parts of the city on our Sukhothai page.
Stopover in Ayutthaya on the way
Ayutthaya, the future capital, lies on the same railway line, an hour north of Bangkok, making it an ideal first overnight stop. Take one of the express trains from Bangkok (Krung Thep Aphiwat), explore the ruins, and the following morning in Ayutthaya, change to train number 7 to continue your journey to Phitsanulok. The Ayutthaya–Phitsanulok route largely follows the route of train number 7 to Phitsanulok. According to SRT (Singapore Railway Transport) regulations, tickets for this route should be available approximately 30 days in advance. By bus, 12Go offers departures from Ayutthaya to Sukhothai at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., with a journey time of about six hours. Our travel guide “Bangkok–Ayutthaya” includes train connections, and our comparison of the two ancient capitals Ayutthaya and Sukhothai offers you the opportunity to visit them if you only have time for one.
By car or private transfer
The journey by private car, including a stopover, takes approximately six hours. This is the only way to travel directly from a hotel in Bangkok to a guesthouse in the old city. Rental cars from Bangkok start at around 4,400 baht and a nine-seater van at around 6,300 baht via 12Go. For a group of three to four people, this is roughly equivalent to the flight time. The driver can also make a stop in Ayutthaya or at the ruins of Kamphaeng Phet along the way.
More about Sukhothai and the Northern Line
From Sukhothai to Bangkok
Morning buses, the train from Phitsanulok, or an evening flight
You can take a bus from the bus station outside New Sukhothai in the morning. On 12Go, Win Tour's VIP buses depart at 8:00, 8:20, 10:00, and 10:30, arriving at Mo Chit 2 between 4:00 and 5:30 PM for 439–504 baht. Intercity buses departing at 8:45, 11:10, and 11:40 AM cost 376 baht and take approximately seven hours. The Cherdchai bus departs at 9:05 AM. Evening buses between 7:00 and 9:10 PM arrive in Bangkok between approximately 4:00 and 6:00 AM. A 12Go user reported that the 20:30 Transport Co. bus didn't reach Sukhothai until around 10:00 PM because it started its journey from a different location, and still didn't arrive in Bangkok until 4:50 AM. If you're staying in the Old City, Barrow says that Bangkok bus tickets are sold at a shop across from Wat Traphang Thong. Inquire there before heading to the bus station.
The best way to reach Phitsanulok by train is by taking a bus (approximately 1 hour) and then a tuk-tuk. Special train No. 8 departs Phitsanulok at 1:26 PM and arrives at Krung Thep Aphiwat at 5:40 PM. Express train No. 112 departs at 10:43 AM and arrives at 5:10 PM, and train No. 102 departs at 1:42 PM and arrives at 8:05 PM. There are also night trains: trains No. 108 and 52 at 10:05 PM and 11:03 PM respectively, as well as sleeper trains No. 14 and 10 to Chiang Mai shortly after midnight. All arrive between 4:30 AM and 6:30 AM.
Bangkok Airways flies to Suvarnabhumi twice daily, around 8:50 a.m. and again in the late afternoon between 5:30 and 5:50 p.m. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to land. Ask your hotel to book an airport transfer or car for you the day before, as the drive to the airport takes 40 to 45 minutes.
Sukhothai → Bangkok: Departure times you can book now
Check flights and bus connections from Sukhothai to Bangkok.
On the 12Go website you will find return travel options by bus from Win Tour, Transport Co. and Cherdchai to Mo Chit 2, flights from Bangkok Airways and rental cars. Prices include a booking fee.
More about traveling in Northern and Central Thailand
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the Bangkok–Sukhothai route.
For most travelers, a morning bus from Mo Chit 2 is recommended. Win Tour's VIP coaches depart at 8:00, 9:30, 10:00, and 11:00 AM and cost 439–460 baht. The journey takes approximately seven hours. The fastest way to reach the ruins is by flying with Bangkok Airways from Suvarnabhumi Airport (1 hour 20 minutes). The quickest connection to the ruins from the site is to take the 7:30 AM train to Phitsanulok and then a bus to the old city.
Not quite. Sukhothai doesn't have a train station, so take the train to Phitsanulok, about 60 km east. Special train number 7 departs Krung Thep Aphiwat at 7:30 am and arrives at 11:48 am for 397 baht. From there, a bus departs from Bus Station 1 and takes about an hour.
The journey on Win Tour's VIP and long-distance buses takes approximately seven hours, while the slower standard buses of Transport Co. can take up to eleven hours. All buses depart from Mo Chit 2, and most terminate at the bus station outside New Sukhothai.
Sukhothai Airport is located approximately 33 km north of New Sukhothai and 42 km from the historical park. Bangkok Airways offers two daily flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Phitsanulok Airport, about an hour away by bus, offers budget flights from Don Mueang.
The route is approximately 430 km long, and the journey takes five to five and a half hours without breaks. A private car costs from around 4,400 baht on 12Go.
Most buses stop at the bus station outside New Sukhothai, 12 to 13 km from the historical park. A few go directly to the park, so you should check the arrival stop. Songthaews between the new town and the old town cost about 30–40 baht.
Yes. Ayutthaya is an hour north of Bangkok on the same railway line. So spend a night there and take the special train No. 7 to Phitsanulok the next morning. You can also find bus connections from Ayutthaya to Sukhothai on 12Go, which take about six hours.
Take a bus from the New Sukhothai Terminal in the morning, which takes about seven hours to Mo Chit 2, a bus to Phitsanulok for the Special Express No. 8 at 13:26 (arriving at 17:40), or a flight with Bangkok Airways to Suvarnabhumi, around 08:50 or in the late afternoon.
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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