There are three ways to travel from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai by public transport: by bus, by train or by plane. Travel by bus is from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai is faster than travel by train and cheaper than flying.
Bus Times from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai
There are currently 4 direct bus services a day from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai available to book online.
Nakhon Ratchasima | Chiang Mai | Service | Ticket | Company |
06:30 | 19:30 | Express | 839 THB | Nakhonchai Tour |
08:00 | 21:00 | Express | 839 THB | Nakhonchai Tour |
17:30 | 06:30 | VIP 24 | 1,100 THB | Nakhonchai Tour |
19:30 | 08:30 | VIP 32 | 846 THB | Nakhonchai Tour |
- The scheduled journey time by bus from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai is 13 hours 00 minutes.
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Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Station
Bus services from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai depart from Nakhon Ratchasima Terminal 2.
Chiang Mai Bus Station
- Bus services from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai terminate at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3.
About Travel to Chiang Mai
Travelling by bus from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai is considerably faster than travelling by train.
Bus vs Train
Although for most of the journey the railway line and the road follow the same route, travelling by bus means that you don’t need to travel west to Ayutthaya to change train lines for the long journey northward to Chiang Mai. The disadvantage of travelling by bus, however, is that the scenery simply isn’t as good as it from the train and of course if you travel overnight by train you can book a sleeper berth.

Arrival in Chiang Mai
The arrival point in Chiang Mai for bus services from Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3, is over 4 km by road from Chiang Mai’s old city area which is much too far to walk. There is an inexpensive shared taxi service from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 to Chiang Mai’s old city area, which passes by the popular riverside area on route. The fare is 30 THB per person and the departure point is inside the terminal itself.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
There are two main areas in Chiang Mai where most visitors stay: inside the old city and the riverside area near the lively Changklan Road. The old city is where many of Chiang Mai’s most visited attractions, particularly its temples, are located, along with a lot of budget accommodation and cheaper restaurants. The riverside area doesn’t have many tourist attractions but it does have most of the best mid range hotels, as well as lively night markets, bars and international restaurants. A popular option for families and older visitors to Chiang Mai is to stay in the riverside area and make day trips to the old city to visit the sights.