The distance from Bangkok to Udon Thani is approximately 560 km by road. The fastest way to travel is by plane. Around a dozen direct flights depart daily from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airports. The flight time is between 1 hour 5 and 1 hour 15 minutes, and the airport lands 5 km from the city center. Prices typically range from 1,200 to 2,000 baht if you book several weeks in advance. I would personally recommend the Special Express No. 25, a night train that departs Bangkok at 8:25 pm and arrives in Udon Thani at 5:39 am. A second-class seat costs between 877 and 977 baht at the SRT fare.

Check the current journey times and seat availability for Bangkok → Udon Thani on 12Go.

There is a daytime train, Express No. 75, departing at 8:45 a.m. and arriving at 4:55 p.m. Night buses from Mo Chit take 8 to 10 hours and cost approximately 550–990 baht. Udon is also the airport for Nong Khai and the Laotian border, which lies 55 km to the north.

Accommodation in Udon Thani

This route ends in Udon Thani. Search for hotels in Udon Thani 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 recommendations in Udon Thani for every price category

  • Centara Udon (Middle Class) · 4 stars · 4.4 (2,829)
  • President Hotel Udonthani · Budget · 3 stars · 4.2 (657)

    • Key facts

    It's approximately 560 km by road.

    OSRM routes from Mo Chit to central Udon Thani are 554 km long, which corresponds to approximately 7 hours of driving without breaks. The route follows Highway 1, Friendship Highway, and Highway 2.

    Flights from both airports in Bangkok

    Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang Airport, while Thai Airways and Thai Vietjet fly from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Flight time is between 1 hour 5 and 1 hour 15 minutes, with the first flight departing around 6:00 AM.

    Three trains per day, two of them overnight.

    The express train No. 75 at 08:45, the special express No. 25 at 20:25 and the fast train No. 133 at 21:25, all from Krung Thep Aphiwat, all stop 17 minutes later at Don Mueang station.

    The sleeping car is number 25.

    It is the only train to Udon with sleeper berths in first and second class and arrives at 5:39 AM. According to SRT, a sleeper berth in second class costs 877 baht (upper class) or 977 baht (lower class).

    Buses depart from Mo Chit day and night.

    Nakhonchai Air, Transport Co. and Cherdchai Tour offer bus services from Bangkok's northern airport to Udon. The night buses depart between approximately 6:45 pm and 11:45 pm and arrive in Udon at dawn.

    Udon is the gateway to Nong Khai and Laos.

    From Nong Khai and the Friendship Bridge, it is about 55 km to Khamsavath train station outside Vientiane, where he arrives at 09:05.

    All routes from Bangkok to Udon Thani compared

    Prices for flights, buses, and rental cars are from 12Go for mid-November 2026 and include fees. Train fares are those of the State Railways of Thailand (SRT) and are based on Richard Barrow's Thai Train Guide; 12Go charges higher prices. Train schedules are based on the Rail Thailand timetable from January 2026. Road distances and travel times were calculated using the OSRM route via OpenStreetMap.

    Bookable departures · updated daily

    Bangkok → Udon Thani: 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.

    Train

    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 the current train, bus and flight connections from Bangkok to Udon Thani.

    The 12Go live display board shows the three train connections from Krung Thep Aphiwat and Don Mueang, the bus connections from Mo Chit, and the flights from both airports, including seat selection and e-tickets. Prices include a booking fee, so train tickets are slightly more expensive than at the station.

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    Flight from Bangkok to Udon Thani

    Which airport, which airline, and the 5 km to the city?

    Udon Thani is served by two airports in Bangkok. Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang Airport, while Thai Airways and Thai Vietjet fly from Suvarnabhumi Airport. There are approximately a dozen direct flights daily between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM, with flight times ranging from 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. The 12Go website listed flights for mid-November starting at around 1,200 baht, with most fares below 2,000 baht, all prices excluding checked baggage with low-cost carriers.

    If you're arriving in Bangkok on an international flight, book a departure from Suvarnabhumi Airport and stay in the transit area, rather than crossing the city to Don Mueang, which takes 60 to 90 minutes. Starting your journey in Bangkok means Don Mueang offers more frequent flights and generally cheaper fares.

    Udon Thani Airport is located approximately 5 km south of the city center and can be reached in about 10 minutes by taxi or Grab. Shared taxis run from the airport to Nong Khai for about 200 baht, and the BKS bus to Vientiane stops at the airport on its way to the border.

    The train timetable from Bangkok to Udon Thani

    The train times are taken from the Rail Thailand timetable for January 2026; according to Barrow's Thai Train Guide, train no. 133 arrives in Udon Thani at 06:57. From Nong Khai, train no. 133 continues at 08:35 to Khamsavath station outside Vientiane, where it arrives at 09:05.

    The train from Krung Thep Aphiwat

    Why I would book number 25 and when the daytime train is better

    Trains to Udon Thani run on the Northeast Line towards Nong Khai, departing from the main Krung Thep Aphiwat station in Bang Sue, beneath which the MRT runs (not in Hua Lamphong). All three lines stop 17 minutes later at Don Mueang station, opposite the airport. They do not go through Korat. The Nong Khai Line branches off from the Ubon Line at Kaeng Khoi and runs via Lam Narai and Bua Yai to Khon Kaen. Therefore, if you get off in Korat, you will need to take a different train.

    I would book the Special Express No. 25. It departs at 8:25 PM and offers air-conditioned first and second class sleeper cars, as well as a dining car. Arrival in Udon Thani is at 5:39 AM. A second-class sleeper berth costs 877 baht (upper category) or 977 baht (lower category) according to SRT, while 12Go quotes around 1,267 baht. A first-class cabin costs 1,313–1,513 baht, and a single cabin costs 2,313 baht. Since the arrival is early, it's advisable to book a room that you can check into at dawn or continue your journey to Nong Khai (45 minutes further).

    During daylight hours, the express train No. 75 at 8:45 a.m. is recommended. It is a diesel multiple unit with seats (244 baht in third class or 477 baht for an air-conditioned seat in second class). After crossing the Pasak Chonlasit Reservoir on long viaducts, the train arrives in Udon Thani at 4:55 p.m. The more affordable night train is the express train No. 133 at 9:25 p.m. (204 baht in third class). Seats are also available on this train for the journey to Udon Thani. Arrival is around 7:00 a.m., before the journey continues to Laos.

    According to SRT's booking regulations, seats to Udon Thani are available approximately 90 days in advance on the SRT website (D-Ticket), at any train station, or via 12Go (for a fee). Early booking is particularly recommended for Line 25, especially for weekends and Thai holidays.

    The bus from Mo Chit

    All buses to Udon Thani depart from Mo Chit 2 bus station in the Chatuchak district of northern Bangkok. Nakhonchai Air offers the most frequent service. First-class coaches cost approximately 736 baht via 12Go, while the more affordable Gold Class costs around 552 baht. Express buses from Transport Co. and Cherdchai Tour are available for approximately 470–620 baht. Buses run between 8:15 and 11:00 AM during the day and between 6:45 and 11:45 PM at night.

    The journey takes 8 to 10 hours, so you arrive by bus around 5 or 6 a.m., usually around 8 or 9 p.m. This is no faster than sleeper car number 25 and considerably less comfortable, so I would only take the bus if the train is full or if you want to travel during the day.

    The best-rated hotels in Udon Thani

    Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Udon Thani. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.

  • #2 Amanta Hotel 4.4 (1,294 reviews) A relaxed riverside hotel in Nong Khai with a garden, rooftop bar, and Mekong River views. Check prices
  • #3 Princess Hotel Udon Thani 4.6 (749 reviews) An elegant hotel in Udon Thani with an outdoor pool, restaurant, and gym on Nityo Road. Check prices
  • #4 Napalai Hotel 4.1 (1,064 reviews) A reputable hotel in Udon Thani, open daily from early morning until late evening. Check prices

    • Arrival in Udon Thani

    The airport is located approximately 5 km south of the city center and can be reached in about 10 minutes by taxi or Grab. The train station is located in the city and is easily accessible from most hotels by tuk-tuk or Grab. Buses from Bangkok terminate at one of three locations: Udon Thani Bus Station 1 in the city, Bus Station 2 on the ring road, or Nakhonchai Airport. Please check the stop on your ticket. Most hotels are located within a few kilometers of Nong Prajak Park and UD Town shopping mall. City-owned songthaews operate on fixed routes for 10–15 baht.

    By car

    According to the OSRM route, it's 554 km from Mo Chit to the center of Udon Thani. Without breaks, the drive takes about seven hours. You take Highway 1 north to Saraburi and then continue on Highway 2 through Korat and Khon Kaen. Including breaks and Bangkok traffic, you should allow eight to nine hours. On 12Go, you can find private cars and vans from Bangkok starting at around 6,300 baht per vehicle. This is only a viable alternative to flying if you're traveling in a group of four or plan to make stopovers along the way.

    Onward to Nong Khai and Laos

    The last 55 km, the Friendship Bridge and the train journey to Vientiane

    Nong Khai is located 53 km north of Udon Thani and can be reached by car in about 50 minutes. All three Bangkok trains continue on to Nong Khai: Line 25 at 6:25 a.m., Line 133 at 7:55 a.m., and Line 75 at 5:30 p.m. Therefore, you can book direct trains from Bangkok to Nong Khai. From Udon Thani, minibuses run to Nong Khai during the day for about 250 baht (via 12Go). A shared taxi from the airport costs about 200 baht.

    The easiest option for traveling to Vientiane is the express bus line 133. This bus stops in Nong Khai for about 40 minutes, during which all passengers disembark at the train station for immigration control. It then crosses the Friendship Bridge to Khamsavath Station, located 7 km outside of Vientiane, arriving at 9:05 AM. The Lao Immigration Bureau is located there, and according to Seat61, e-visas have been accepted there since February 2025. From Udon Thani, BKS buses depart from Udon Thani 1 bus station at 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM, stopping at the airport 30 minutes later and traveling the 87 km to Vientiane for 80 baht. From Nong Khai, a shuttle bus runs from the bus station across the bridge approximately every 20 minutes. Our travel guide from Bangkok to Vientiane includes information about the train's sleeper car, the Khamsavath border crossing, and the Laotian visa.

    More about Udon Thani and Isan

    From Udon Thani to Bangkok

    For the return journey, Express Train No. 76 departs Udon Thani at approximately 8:30 a.m. and arrives in Bangkok at 4:35 p.m. Special Express Train No. 26 departs at 8:20 p.m. and arrives at 5:30 a.m., and Rapid Bus No. 134 departs at approximately 9:00 p.m. and arrives at 7:30 a.m. All trains stop at Don Mueang en route. Flights to both Bangkok airports are available during the day, and night buses to Mo Chit run between approximately 5:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. My guidebook for the Udon Thani–Bangkok route includes the complete return timetable with all flight and bus connections.

    More on the topic of transportation in the northeast

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions about the Bangkok–Udon Thani route.

    If time is of the essence, fly. The flight time from Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi is 1 hour 5 to 1 hour 15 minutes, with about a dozen flights daily. Alternatively, you can take the night train No. 25 from Krung Thep Aphiwat at 8:25 p.m., arriving at 5:39 a.m.

    Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang Airport, Thai Airways and Thai Vietjet from Suvarnabhumi Airport. All flights are direct.

    Approximately 8 hours 10 minutes by daytime train, Express No. 75 at 08:45, and approximately 9 hours 15 to 9 hours 35 minutes by night trains No. 25 at 20:25 and No. 133 at 21:25.

    On SRT, a seat in third class costs 204–244 baht, a seat in second class 327–477 baht, a sleeper berth in second class on train no. 25 877–977 baht, and a seat in first class 1,313–1,513 baht. 12Go is slightly more expensive.

    Yes. Nakhonchai Air, Transport Co. and Cherdchai Tour offer flights from Mo Chit. The journey takes 8 to 10 hours and costs approximately 550–990 Baht.

    The route is approximately 560 km by road, which equates to about seven hours of driving time without breaks. By plane, the journey can be completed in just over an hour.

    Yes, Udon Thani International Airport (UTH) is located about 5 km south of the city center. You can fly there from Bangkok via either Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi Airport.

    Take the train directly. Line 25 arrives in Nong Khai at 6:25 a.m., Line 133 at 7:55 a.m., and Line 75 at 5:30 p.m. Alternatively, you can fly to Udon Thani and then take a shared taxi for the last 55 km (approximately 200 baht from the airport).

    Yes. BKS buses depart five times daily from Udon Thani 1 bus station between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM and cost 80 baht. They stop at the airport. Alternatively, you can take express bus number 133, which passes through Udon at 7:09 AM and arrives at Khamsavath railway station outside Vientiane at 9:05 AM.

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    Further from Udon Thani

    Return journey? From Udon Thani to Bangkok – All routes in Thailand

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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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