20 Best Day Trips From Bangkok: Easy Escapes You Can Do in One Day

You finally have a day off, the city feels loud, and a proper holiday is still months away. The good news is that some of the best day trips from Bangkok start less than two hours from your front door. Islands with clear water, waterfalls in the forest, floating markets, temple ruins, and beaches with seafood grills along the sand — all of it is close enough to leave after breakfast and be home in time for dinner. This article rounds up 20 of them, with addresses, opening hours, contact numbers and map links so you can plan without hunting around.

No car, no problem. GrabRent lets you book a car with a driver by the hour, so you can explore as many stops as you like in a single day. Download the Grab app to get started.

 

Highlight

• Koh Kham, Sattahip, Chonburi
• Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima
• Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club, Khao Yai
• Ganesha Park, Nakhon Nayok
• Celosia Flower Fields, Prachinburi
• Bang Krachao, Samut Prakan
• Koh Si Chang, Chonburi
• Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam, Nakhon Nayok
• Krasae Cave, Kanchanaburi
• Cha-am Beach, Phetchaburi
• Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya
• Bang Pu Recreation Centre, Samut Prakan
• Bamboo Tunnel, Nakhon Nayok
• Khao Ngu Stone Park, Ratchaburi
• Suan Phueng, Ratchaburi
• Khao Chong Lom, Nakhon Nayok
• Amphawa Floating Market, Samut Songkhram
• The Ancient City, Samut Prakan
• Dinosaur Valley, Nong Nooch Garden, Pattaya
• Sao Hai Market, Uthai Thani

20 Day Trips From Bangkok, Thailand to Recharge on Your Day Off 

Nature, culture, beaches, food, or somewhere the kids will actually enjoy. Whatever kind of day you are after, one of these 20 destinations will fit.

1. Koh Kham, Sattahip, Chonburi 

Crystal-clear island water without the overnight stay. Koh Kham sits inside a marine park managed by the Royal Thai Navy, which is exactly why the water stays clear, the sand stays white and the crowds stay small. Snorkel over the coral, take a kayak out, walk the nature trail, or just take photos on the wooden pier and do very little for a few hours.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2.5 hours by car to Sattahip, then a short boat ride

Address: Koh Kham Marine Park Eco-Tourism Office, 1st Naval Area Command, Sattahip, Chonburi

Opening hours: From 29 May 2025, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (check the official website before traveling)

Phone: 03-312-4848, 093-397-1342 (Mon – Fri, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.)

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dyJVqWNN8JsPGTyt8

Website: https://www.kohkham.com

 

2. Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima 

Thailand’s first national park is huge, green and far easier to reach than most people assume. Haew Narok and Haew Suwat are the waterfalls worth walking to, Pha Diao Dai is the viewpoint worth the detour, and the Nong Phak Chi observation tower is where you sit quietly and wait for something to wander out of the trees. Go early, as the drive back is much more pleasant in daylight.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2.5 – 3 hours by car

Address: PO Box 9, Pak Chong Post Office, Mu Si, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130

Opening hours: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Phone: 086-092-6529

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ps739kQzUEQiacTU9

Website: https://www.khaoyainationalpark.com/

 

3. Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club, Khao Yai 

A European-style resort nestled into the Khao Yai countryside, with enough activities to fill a whole day without checking in. Ride a horse, take an ATV out, play a round of golf, and savor Italian cuisine on a terrace with the hills in front of you. It works just as well as a day trip as it does as a weekend getaway.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2.5 hours by car

Address: 333/4 Moo 12, Khanong Phra, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima

Opening hours: 24 hours

Phone: 088-378-2324, 044-756-2103

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cVgFAqUcifSTCgwf8

Website: Facebook: Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club (https://www.facebook.com/A.Rancho.Charnvee/)

 

4. Ganesha Park, Nakhon Nayok 

This one is for anyone seeking spiritual blessings and good fortune. The park is home to two of the largest stucco Ganesha statues in Thailand, drawing visitors from across the country to pay respect and make a wish. Before you leave, whisper your wish into the ear of Mushika, the loyal mouse who serves Lord Ganesha, believed to deliver prayers directly to the deity.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 1.5 – 2 hours by car

Address: Sarika, Mueang Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Nayok

Opening hours: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Phone: –

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d1qmcVWmM1NMvfbu7

Website: –

 

5. Celosia Flower Fields (Saksupha Farm), Prachinburi 

More than 10 rai of vibrant purple celosia, and plenty of photography enthusiasts looking for the perfect shot,, which is why timing matters here. The blooms open widest from early morning until just before noon, with the flowering season running from October to November. When you have taken enough photos, the farm has a restaurant and café to sit down in.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2.5 – 3 hours by car

Address: 28 Saphan Hin, Na Di, Prachinburi

Opening hours: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Phone: 081-343-2786

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZEPEwXmd1RKoX9gVA

Website: www.saksupha.com (check for seasonal updates before travelling)

 

6. Bang Krachao, Samut Prakan 

Bangkok’s green lung sits just across the river, making it the easiest escape on this list. Rent a bike, follow the elevated boardwalks through the trees, browse Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market on weekends, and finish at a café with a cold drink. You can leave home at nine and still feel like you took a genuine vacation.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 30 – 45 minutes by car

Address: Bang Krachao, Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan

Opening hours: varies by attraction

Phone: –

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eUjhEFFmCasZaZERA

Website: –

 

7. Koh Si Chang, Chonburi 

A small island off the coast of Si Racha that packs in more than you might expect. Swim at Tham Phang Beach, walk out onto the white Asdang Bridge for the classic shot, visit the temples, then wander through a fishing community that still moves at its own rhythm. The ferry ride over is short enough that you will be stepping onto the island before you even finish your coffee.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2 hours by car to Si Racha, then a ferry

Address: Koh Si Chang District Office, 68 Moo 5, Tha Thewawong, Koh Si Chang, Chonburi

Opening hours: varies by attraction

Phone: 038-216-201 (Koh Si Chang District Office)

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8QPvJyzeYqbxGcNE7

Website: https://www.chonburi.go.th/travel/detail/10

 

8. Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam, Nakhon Nayok 

One of Nakhon Nayok’s most prominent landmarks, and a great spot for a slow day. Walk along the dam crest with mountains on one side and the reservoir on the other, grab a coffee, take in the view and stay longer than you planned. Pair it with number 16 on this list and you have a full day without driving much at all.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2 hours by car

Address: Ban Tha Dan, Moo 2, Hin Tang, Mueang Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Nayok

Opening hours: 6:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 037-349-557

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qMctiPaK1uJk4agdA

Website: https://www.khundan.com/

 

9. Krasae Cave, Kanchanaburi 

The wooden trestle here carries the Death Railway along a cliff above the River Kwai, built during World War II at a cost most visitors only understand once they step onto the tracks. Walk the track, look out over the river, then step into the cave to pay respect to the Buddha statue inside. Taking the train instead of driving makes the journey a key part of the experience.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 3 hours by car, or by train from Thonburi

Address: Wang Pho, Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi

Train times (6 services daily):

• Outbound (Thonburi – Nam Tok): 7:28 a.m. / 11:40 a.m. / 5:48 p.m.
• Return (Nam Tok – Thonburi): 5:47 a.m. / 1:28 p.m. / 4:00 p.m.

Phone: 0-3451-1200 (TAT Kanchanaburi Office)

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eC3d6RKpDgh2RJAA7

Website: https://kanchanaburi.center/

 

10. Cha-am Beach, Phetchaburi 

The classic beach getaway from Bangkok, and still a great one. A long stretch of sand, calm water, beach loungers under the casuarina trees, and a row of seafood restaurants and cafés behind you. Ride a horse along the shore if you feel like it, or order a plate of grilled prawns and let the afternoon drift by. Families, couples and groups of friends all leave happy here.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2.5 – 3 hours by car

Address: Cha-am, Cha-am District, Phetchaburi

Opening hours: 24 hours

Phone: 032-471-124 (Cha-am Town Municipality)

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kqHFtn9REvqPdvCD7

Website: https://www.cha-amcity.go.th/

 

11. Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya 

You have seen the photograph: a stone Buddha head entwined in the roots of a Bodhi tree. It is here, at the centre of Ayutthaya Historical Park, surrounded by the ruins of what was once one of the great cities of Asia. Walk slowly, read the signs, and give yourself time to take in how much of the old capital is still standing.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 1 – 1.5 hours by car

Address: Naresuan Road, Tha Wasukri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya

Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (as listed by the source, worth confirming before you go)

Phone: 035-242-525 (Ayutthaya Historical Park Office)

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8UqJgtTUUQZHN31k8

Website: Facebook: Ayutthaya Historical Park (https://www.facebook.com/AY.HI.PARK)

 

12. Bang Pu Recreation Centre, Samut Prakan 

Sukhta Bridge runs straight out over the sea, and in the cooler months it fills with thousands of seagulls wheeling overhead. Walk out into the sea breeze, take your photos, then follow the mangrove trail behind the centre to see how the coastline actually works. It is close, it is flat, and it suits every generation in the family.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 1 hour by car

Address: 164 Moo 2, Bang Pu Mai, Samut Prakan

Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Phone: 02-323-9911

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DA1e5spGXumBxx2G9

Website: Facebook: Bang Pu Recreation Center (https://www.facebook.com/BangpuRecreationCenter/)

 

13. Bamboo Tunnel, Nakhon Nayok 

At Wat Chulabhorn Wanaram, bamboo leans in from both sides of an 800-metre path until it arches overhead into a green tunnel, cool even at midday and often compared to the bamboo groves in Japan. Walk it, photograph it, make merit at the temple, then eat your way through the community market next door.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2 hours by car

Address: Wat Chulabhorn Wanaram, Ban Phrik, Ban Na, Nakhon Nayok

Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Phone: 080-011-3791

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7jVqU52KDSwii5kA8

Website: Facebook: Wat Chulabhorn Wanaram (https://www.facebook.com/watchula)

 

14. Khao Ngu Stone Park, Ratchaburi 

Limestone cliffs rise straight out of a lake in the middle of this park, and the reflection on a still morning is the reason most people come. There is no elaborate plan needed here. Walk the paths, sit by the water, snap photos, and enjoy a quieter side of Ratchaburi before heading home.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 1.5 – 2 hours by car

Address: Ko Phlapphla, Mueang Ratchaburi, Ratchaburi

Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 032-919-176 (TAT Ratchaburi Office)

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/H45BJJKZa16ef2gMA

Website: https://www.tourismthailand.org/Ratchaburi

 

15. Suan Phueng, Ratchaburi 

If the heat is what you are running from, this is the direction to drive. Suan Phueng sits among hills close to the Myanmar border, where the air is noticeably cooler and the valley is full of animal farms, photogenic cafés and small resorts. Hike in the morning, cool off at Kao Jon Waterfall, then spend the afternoon unwinding.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2.5 – 3 hours by car

Address: Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi

Opening hours: varies by attraction

Phone: 032-395-242

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/teuF3TzJBJAtnDqf8

Website: https://www.suanphung.go.th/homepage

 

16. Khao Chong Lom, Nakhon Nayok 

Tucked behind Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam is a valley of open meadows, a clear stream running through the middle and a breeze that never seems to stop, which is how the place got its name. Walk in, follow the water, and in the right season you will find small waterfalls along the way. Combine it with the dam and you have one of the most rewarding day trips from Bangkok with minimal driving.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2 hours by car

Address: inside Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam, Na Hin Lat, Mueang Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Nayok

Opening hours: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Phone: 037-349-557 (Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam)

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9jEdhqnaFfa4tP6z9

Website: –

 

17. Amphawa Floating Market, Samut Songkhram 

Come hungry. Both banks of the canal are lined with grills, fruit stalls and trays of Thai sweets, while vendors paddle past selling noodles straight from their boats. Operating from Friday through Sunday afternoons, and the best hour is the one just before sunset as warm lights illuminate the waterways. Stay on for the firefly boat tour if you are not in a rush.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 1.5 hours by car

Address: 253 Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram

Opening hours: Friday – Sunday, 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. (closed Monday – Thursday)

Phone: 083-433-5613

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hvt4bey3izbEorde8

Website: https://amphawafloatingmarket.org/

 

18. The Ancient City (Muang Boran), Samut Prakan 

One of the largest open-air museums in the world, laid out roughly in the shape of Thailand, with reconstructions of important buildings from every region standing where they would sit on the map. Walk it, cycle it, or take the tram, and in a single afternoon, you can cover ground that would otherwise take weeks of travel to see.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 1 hour by car

Address: 296/1 Moo 7, Sukhumvit Road, Bang Pu Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan, Samut Prakan

Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Phone: 02-026-8800-9

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CGv4Wt8zc4xyUStn6

Website: https://www.muangboranmuseum.com/

 

19. Dinosaur Valley, Nong Nooch Garden, Pattaya, Chonburi 

Life-size dinosaurs standing throughout the gardens, dozens of species, and children who will not want to leave. Beyond the valley there are play zones, educational activities and the rest of Nong Nooch’s landscaped gardens to walk through, which is why this one tends to fill an entire day rather than just a few hours. Go early in the morning before the midday heat sets in.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 2 – 2.5 hours by car

Address: 34/1 Moo 7, Na Jomtien, Sattahip, Chonburi 20250

Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Phone: 038-238-160

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xuQCTjhmmw49fLxTA

Website: https://www.nongnoochpattaya.com/en/dinosaur

 

20. Sao Hai Market, Uthai Thani 

The longest drive on this list, and the one that feels furthest from the city. This weekend market in Ban Rai is where the local community sells what it grows and makes: regional dishes you will not find in Bangkok, cheap organic produce, hand-woven cloth and crafts from the surrounding villages. Come for lunch, stay for the shopping.

Travel time from Bangkok: around 3.5 – 4 hours by car

Address: Ban Rai, Ban Rai District, Uthai Thani

Opening hours: Saturday – Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Phone: –

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4QHjoJJKTmRofxkq5

Website: Facebook: Sao Hai Market (https://www.facebook.com/sawhai2018/)

 

Twenty destinations, all of them close enough to experience between breakfast and dinner. The only real decision left is how you choose to get there. Driving yourself means hunting for parking, paying for fuel and staying alert on the way home after a long day in the sun, which is the part nobody looks forward to. Booking a car with a driver completely removes the hassle, and makes it far easier to string two or three stops together instead of settling for one. Pick a direction, check the opening hours, and go before the weekend slips away again.

 

Want to visit several places in one day without changing cars or hunting for a ride between stops? GrabRent lets you book a car with a driver by the hour, so your driver waits while you explore. For shorter hops, JustGrab, GrabCar and GrabTaxi are available around the clock.

 

FAQ 

Q: How can I go on a one day trip from Bangkok without a car? 

A: Minivans and trains cover most of these destinations, and for anywhere the public routes do not reach easily, booking a car with a driver through GrabRent is the simplest option.

 

Q: How should I prepare for a day trip from Bangkok, Thailand? 

A: Plan your route, check opening and closing times (several places on this list only open on weekends), pack water and essentials, and look at the weather forecast the night before.

 

Q: Is it difficult to visit several places in one day? 

A: Not with a driver waiting for you. GrabRent lets you stop at as many places as you like within your chosen package, with no limit on the number of destinations.

 

Q: Can I extend my GrabRent booking? 

A: Yes, subject to your driver’s availability. An overtime fee of THB 5 per minute applies.

 

Q: Can I share the cost of GrabRent with friends? 

A: Each car seats up to 4 passengers, so splitting the fare between friends makes the day out considerably more affordable.

 

Q: Which day trips from Bangkok are best with children? 

A: Dinosaur Valley at Nong Nooch Garden, The Ancient City and Bang Pu Recreation Centre all involve short drives, plenty of open space and activities that keep younger travellers entertained.