The route in five stages
| Stage | What it is like |
|---|---|
| 1. Airport to Highway 402 | You leave the airport area in the north of the island and join Phuket's main north-south road heading south. |
| 2. Heroines Monument, Thalang | The roundabout is the first landmark. From here the road carries on south through the island. |
| 3. The middle of the island | Highway 402 crosses the hilly centre of the island. How fast it goes depends on the hour. |
| 4. Kathu and Patong Hill | At Kathu the road turns west and climbs Patong Hill on Phra Barami Road. It is the winding section. |
| 5. Into Patong | You come down from the hill into town. This is the slowest part of the trip, most of all in the evening. |
The total is 40 km, and the driver adjusts lanes and turns to the traffic on the day.
Why 40 km takes 1 hour 5 minutes
Two things hold the average speed down. The hill road is winding, and the last stretch is town driving among scooters, tuk-tuks and pedestrians.
The figure of 1 hour 5 minutes is driving time to central Patong in normal traffic. It does not include immigration, baggage or the walk to the gate. A hotel at the far end of the beach adds a few minutes.
When the road is faster or slower
- Late night and early morning: the highway is clear. The town itself is still busy after dark.
- Late afternoon and evening: Patong fills up, and the final approach to your hotel can take longer than the first hour on the highway.
- Heavy rain: expect the hill and the town to slow down more than the highway.
If you have a connection or a tight check-in, leave a margin rather than plan to the minute.
Patong compared with other beaches
The time does not follow the kilometres. Karon is only 3 km farther than Patong and takes about 5 minutes longer. Kata Beach is farther again and takes another 5.
| From the airport to | Distance | Time by road |
|---|---|---|
| Kamala | 27 km | 49 minutes |
| Patong | 40 km | 1 hour 5 minutes |
| Karon | 43 km | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Kata Beach | 46 km | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Phuket Town | 36 km | 50 minutes |
The fare for any of them starts at 999 THB per car. See the Patong price page for the detail.
Questions about this transfer
How many kilometres is it from Phuket airport to Patong?
40 km by road to central Patong. Hotels at the far ends of the beach add a little.
How long does the drive take?
About 1 hour 5 minutes in normal traffic. In the evening the last stretch through Patong can add to that.
Does the time include getting out of the airport?
No. It is driving time only. Immigration, baggage and the walk to the meeting gate come first, and the driver waits for you.
Which road does the car use?
Highway 402 south past the Heroines Monument roundabout in Thalang, then Kathu and the climb over Patong Hill on Phra Barami Road.
Is Patong closer than Karon or Kata?
Yes, by a little. Patong is 40 km, Karon 43 km and Kata Beach 46 km from the airport. Kamala, to the north, is 27 km.