When to leave Kamala for your flight
These times use a rule of thumb: arrive about 3 hours before an international flight and about 2 hours before a domestic one, then add the 49-minute drive and a margin. It is general advice, and your airline may ask for something different.
| Flight | Be at the airport | Leave Kamala about |
|---|---|---|
| International, 06:00 | 03:00 | 02:00 |
| International, 13:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 |
| International, 21:00 | 18:00 | 17:00 |
| Domestic, 08:00 | 06:00 | 05:00 |
| Domestic, 16:00 | 14:00 | 13:00 |
If you are travelling with children, a lot of luggage or a connection you cannot afford to miss, leave earlier than the table suggests.
What the 49 minutes covers
The figure is the drive from your hotel in Kamala to the departures hall in normal traffic. It does not include loading the bags, finding your airline desk or the queue for security. The average works out at about 33 km/h, which fits busy island roads with junctions and lights.
When the road is slower
- Night and early morning: the roads are clear, so the car can beat the average.
- Daytime in the busy season: expect the full 49 minutes, or a few more.
- Heavy rain: traffic slows, so allow extra.
- 24 December to 5 January: the airport itself is busy, so plan a larger margin at check-in.
Other beaches for comparison
If you are deciding where to stay near the end of your trip, the distances to the airport are 24 km from Surin, 40 km from Patong and 43 km from Karon. Kamala, at 27 km, is on the nearer side of the group. The airport to Kamala distance page has the full comparison with times.
Questions about this transfer
How many kilometres is it from Kamala to Phuket airport?
27 km by road.
How long does the drive take?
About 49 minutes in normal traffic. That is driving time from the hotel to the departures hall.
When should I leave for a 13:00 international flight?
As a rule of thumb, be at the airport about 3 hours before, so around 10:00. With 49 minutes of driving and a margin, leave Kamala about 09:00.
Does the time change at rush hours?
A little. Daytime traffic can add a few minutes to the average, and rain adds more. It is why a margin is worth having.
Is the road to the airport the same as the road from it?
It is the same 27 km and the same drive of about 49 minutes in normal traffic. The arrival side is described on the airport to Kamala distance page, with a comparison of the other west-coast beaches.
Can the car stop on the way?
Ask the dispatcher when you book. A direct drive is the default, and a stop adds time to the 49 minutes.