Khao Yai National Park from Pattaya

At a glance

By road from central Pattaya

About 317 km to the park's visitor centre through Pak Chong, around four hours without traffic, according to route planningSource 1

Opening hours

06:00 to 18:00; tourist information 08:30 to 16:30Source 2

Entry, foreign visitors

400 baht for adults, the elderly included; 200 baht for children under 14Source 3

Entry, Thai visitors

40 baht for adults, 20 baht for children; free for the elderly and disabledSource 3

Vehicles

30 baht for a car or other four-wheeled vehicle, 20 baht for a motorcycleSource 3

Ticket

Good for entering and leaving on one day onlySource 3

Gates

Pak Chong in the north (Nakhon Ratchasima) and Noen Hom in the south (Prachinburi)Source 3

Sources: 1OpenStreetMap route planner: central Pattaya to Khao Yai National Park visitor centre, checked 1 Oct 2026 2Khao Yai National Park: official site, opening hours and notices, checked 1 Oct 2026 3Khao Yai National Park: park entry fees, checked 1 Oct 2026

A day trip or a night away

A night is the better plan. By the shortest road route, the park's visitor centre is about 317 km from central Pattaya, around four hours without traffic, so a day trip means eight hours or more in the car for a few hours in the forest.

Inside, the park road between the two gates runs about 50 km through the forest, and the waterfalls and viewpoints are spread along it. The entry ticket covers one day, so a second day in the park means a second ticket.

If a day is all you have, go by private car, leave Pattaya around 05:00, reach the park as the morning cools, choose one area and turn back by mid-afternoon. Agree the whole day with the driver first, including waiting time, tolls and the park's vehicle fee.

Getting there from Pattaya

By car: the shortest route on route planning heads north around Bangkok's outer ring road, then follows Highway 2 to Pak Chong and Thanarat Road (Highway 2090) to the northern gate. The Noen Hom gate on the Prachinburi side is the other way in. The park's own directions from Bangkok suit drivers coming from the capital.

Vehicle rules: the park lets small tour buses in only by the Noen Hom gate, because the road from Pak Chong is steep, and bars vehicles with more than six wheels, double-deckers and vehicles taller than 3.5 metres.

By bus: there is no direct service. On 1 October 2026 the booking site 12Go listed only private cars and vans from Pattaya to Pak Chong, about four hours, and no bus. The park's own public transport directions start in Bangkok: a coach or minivan to Pak Chong, then a local bus to the northern gate every 30 minutes from 06:00 to 17:00, for 15 baht. Starting from Pattaya, that means a Bangkok coach first, so allow two days.

Once inside, the sights are far apart, and the park's own directions suggest asking other visitors for a lift between them, so without your own car you depend on a tour or a driver. For coaches to Bangkok, see Bangkok to Pattaya.

Entry fees and opening hours

The park lists its hours as 06:00 to 18:00, with tourist information from 08:30 to 16:30. Fees are paid at the Pak Chong gate's visitor centre or the Noen Hom visitor centre, in cash to the officials or through the Department of National Parks' e-ticket in the QueQ app.

Foreign adults pay 400 baht and children under 14 pay 200 baht; the park counts anyone from 14 to 60 as an adult, and foreign visitors over 60 pay the adult fee. Thai visitors pay 40 baht and 20 baht. On top come 30 baht for a car and 20 baht for a motorcycle. The park has listed these rates since September 2022.

What a visit covers

Khao Yai covers almost 2,206 square kilometres across four provinces and is part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, which UNESCO inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2005. The park's own map marks these stops along the main road:

• Waterfalls: Haew Suwat, Haew Narok and Pha Kluay Mai.
• Viewpoints: the Km 30 viewpoint, Pha Diao Dai cliff and Khao Khiao.
• Wildlife: the Nong Pak Chi observation tower, and the forest roads themselves.
• Also on the map: the visitor centre and the Sai Sorn reservoir.

The park also lists birdwatching, camping, nature trails, a night safari and stargazing, which are reasons to stay over. Wild elephants use the park roads: the park publishes advice on what to do if you meet one, so read it before you drive.

Heavy rain can bring flash floods: the UK Foreign Office's travel advice names waterfalls among the places most at risk. On a wet day, keep away from the water and follow the rangers.

Who it suits

• Nature lovers and birdwatchers with two days to spare, who want forest and wildlife rather than a beach.
• Families with older children who travel well by car; for small children, the drive alone is a long day.
• Travellers with their own car or a driver: without one, the park is hard to see.

It suits a short stay less well: on a few days in Pattaya, a road day closer to town, such as Khao Kheow Open Zoo or Nong Nooch, gives more time at the destination. More ideas are in day trips from Pattaya.

Questions