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Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: Bus, Van, Car or Day Tour (2026)

Last updated 2026-07-08

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TL;DR: Green Bus is the standard way to cover the roughly 190km between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, with Express seats from ฿290 (~US$9, 3h45) and VIP seats from ฿400 (~US$12, 3h20), running from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 (Arcade) to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1. A shared minivan costs a bit more, around ฿700-750 (~US$21-23) for a similar 3.5-hour ride. A private car runs roughly ฿3,800-6,700 (~US$115-204) per vehicle for up to four people, door to door in about 3-3.5 hours. Many travellers skip the standalone transfer altogether and join a White Temple day tour instead, which covers the same road (via Highway 118 and Highway 1) but turns the trip into a 12.5-13.5 hour round-trip sightseeing day from Chiang Mai, from about ฿950 (~US$29) plus admission fees. There is no direct flight between the two cities. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

If you’re searching “Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai,” you’ve got four realistic ways to cover the roughly 190km between the two: the public Green Bus, a shared minivan, a private car, or folding the transfer into a White Temple day tour. This guide compares the price, duration and terminal details for each, walks through the actual driving route, and explains why flying isn’t a sensible option for this particular leg even though both cities have airports. Every price and time below is checked against current 2026 operator listings, sourced at the end.

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: options compared

OptionDurationPriceNote
Green Bus Express~3h45฿290 (~US$9)Cheapest fixed option, 7 daily departures
Green Bus VIP~3h20฿400 (~US$12)Faster, more legroom, USB ports, onboard restroom
Shared minivan~3.5 hrsUS$22 (฿730)Smaller vehicle, sometimes hotel pickup
Private car (per vehicle, up to 4)~3-3.5 hrsUS$115-204 (฿3,800-6,700)Door to door, split cost across a group
White Temple day tour12.5-13.5 hrs round trip~฿950 (~US$29) + ฿280 admissionSightseeing day, returns to Chiang Mai same evening
Direct flightDoesn’t existN/ANo CNX-CEI nonstop route

Prices compiled from Siam Tickets, Bookaway and Kiwitaxi listings; see Sources.

Green Bus: the standard way to go

Green Bus is the default choice for most travellers, running 13 combined daily departures between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The Express service costs around ฿290 (~US$9) and takes about 3 hours 45 minutes; the VIP service costs around ฿400 (~US$12) and takes about 3 hours 20 minutes, with roomier reclining seats, USB charging and an onboard restroom that the Express tier doesn’t always have. Both depart from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 (also called the Arcade Bus Terminal) and arrive at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1. The earliest departures start around 7am and the last leaves Chiang Mai in the early evening, so there’s usually a departure that fits a same-day arrival plan without an overnight stop.

Buying online through Green Bus’s own site or an aggregator locks in a seat, but on this route it’s rarely fully booked outside major Thai holidays, so turning up at the terminal and buying same-day is usually fine too.

Shared minivan

A shared minivan covers the same route in a similar 3.5 hours but tends to cost more than the bus, around US$22 (roughly ฿730) per person according to current Bookaway listings. Minivans are smaller and can feel cramped with a full load and luggage, and they don’t have a clear speed or comfort advantage over the Green Bus VIP service on this particular route. The main reason to pick one over the bus is a specific departure time or hotel-area pickup that lines up better with your plans.

Private car or driver

A private car makes sense for groups, families with luggage, or anyone who wants a flexible, door-to-door schedule rather than a fixed terminal-to-terminal departure. Per-vehicle pricing runs from about US$115 (a standard 4-seat sedan) up to around US$204 (a comfort sedan or 4-passenger minivan class), per Bookaway and Kiwitaxi listings, for a 3 to 3.5 hour transfer. Since that’s priced per vehicle rather than per person, splitting it across 3-4 travellers brings the per-person cost close to what a shared minivan charges, while adding hotel pickup and drop-off and the option to stop along the way.

Joining a White Temple day tour instead of a straight transfer

A lot of travellers never book a standalone Chiang Mai-to-Chiang Rai transfer at all, and instead join a full-day tour that visits the White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House and drives the same road as a round trip. A typical tour costs around ฿950 (~US$29) per person, with hotel pickup around 7-7:30am and drop-off back in Chiang Mai around 7:30-8:30pm, so it’s a 12.5-13.5 hour day rather than a one-way transfer. On top of the tour price, budget the ฿280 (~US$8) admission fee for the White Temple/Black House complex, which rose from ฿180 at the start of January 2026. This option works well if your goal is to see Chiang Rai’s famous temples as a day trip and you’re staying based in Chiang Mai rather than relocating to Chiang Rai itself; it’s the wrong choice if you actually want to end the day in Chiang Rai, since it returns you to Chiang Mai.

What about flying?

There is no direct flight between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Chiang Mai Airport’s published list of nonstop destinations runs to 30 cities and doesn’t include Chiang Rai, despite both cities having their own international airports (CNX and CEI) roughly 190km apart. Booking sites will still sell you a “flight” between the two, but it routes through Bangkok and takes around 5 hours including the connection, which is both slower and pricier than any of the ground options above. For this specific city pair, driving or busing beats flying outright.

The route: Highway 118 then Highway 1

The drive runs on Highway 118 from Chiang Mai to the town of Mae Suai, then switches to Highway 1 for the final, flatter stretch into Chiang Rai city. Highway 118 is described as smooth and well-maintained but genuinely hilly, cutting through forest and national park land with occasional sharp curves, so it’s a scenic drive rather than a flat highway run. Fog is possible in the early morning or evening on the higher sections. Whether you’re on the bus, in a private car, or self-driving, the total trip lands around 3 to 3.5 hours barring traffic, weather or roadworks.

Which should you pick?

If you just want to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai as cheaply and simply as possible, take the Green Bus. Express saves a bit of money if the extra 25 minutes doesn’t matter; VIP is worth the difference for the restroom and legroom on what’s still a 3+ hour ride. Take a private car if you’re travelling as a group, have heavy luggage, or want hotel-to-hotel convenience and don’t mind paying more per person for it. Book a White Temple day tour if seeing Chiang Rai’s temples matters more than actually relocating there, and you’re happy sleeping back in Chiang Mai that night. Skip flying for this specific leg; it isn’t a real option here the way it is between Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

For a wider look at every way into Chiang Rai, including from Bangkok, see outthailand.com’s getting to Chiang Rai guide. Once you’ve arrived, outthailand.com’s things to do in Chiang Rai guide and White Temple guide cover the main sights, where to stay in Chiang Rai helps pick a base, and the best time to visit Chiang Rai guide is worth checking before you lock in dates, since fog and rain both affect this road. If a day trip from Chiang Mai suits you better than relocating, see outthailand.com’s Chiang Rai White Temple day trip guide for the full tour breakdown. Check what’s on in Chiang Rai once you’ve settled on dates.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

The Green Bus Express service is cheapest at around ฿290 (~US$9) for the 3h45 ride between Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 and Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1. It's a fixed-schedule public bus with air conditioning and reclining seats, and with 7 Express departures a day it's easy to find a convenient time without booking far ahead.

How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

By Green Bus, 3h20 on the VIP service or 3h45 on Express, covering the roughly 190km road distance. A private car or shared minivan takes about the same 3-3.5 hours, since they're driving the identical Highway 118/Highway 1 route without scheduled stops at intermediate towns.

Is there a direct flight from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

No. Chiang Mai Airport's published nonstop route list doesn't include Chiang Rai, so there's no direct CNX-CEI service. Flying this leg would mean routing through Bangkok, which takes roughly 5 hours including the connection, far longer than the 3-3.5 hour drive, so it isn't a realistic option for this specific route even though both cities have their own airports.

Should I take a minivan or the Green Bus?

The Green Bus is usually the better value: it's cheaper (from ฿290 vs around US$22/~฿730 for a minivan) and covers the route in a similar 3.5-4 hours on a larger, more stable vehicle. Minivans can be worth it if a specific departure time or hotel pickup lines up better with your schedule, but they don't have a clear price or comfort edge over the bus on this route.

Can I stop at the White Temple on the way to Chiang Rai?

Not on the scheduled Green Bus, which runs straight to the bus terminal. A private car or hired driver can build in a stop at Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), which sits just south of Chiang Rai city on the way in. The more common approach, though, is to book a dedicated White Temple day tour from Chiang Mai, which is a full round trip back to Chiang Mai the same day rather than a one-way transfer to Chiang Rai.

How much does a private car from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai cost?

Roughly US$115-204 (about ฿3,800-6,700) per vehicle, not per person, for a 3-3.5 hour door-to-door transfer, according to Bookaway and Kiwitaxi pricing. A standard car seats up to 4 passengers; a minivan option seats up to 9 for a higher price. Split across a group of 3-4, this can land close to the minivan's per-person fare while offering a private, flexible schedule and hotel-to-hotel pickup.

Where do the buses actually depart from and arrive at?

Green Bus and most other operators depart from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3, commonly called the Arcade Bus Terminal, on the eastern edge of Chiang Mai. They arrive at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1, which is close to central Chiang Rai and sits right next to the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar, making it an easy walk into town with your bags.

What's the road like between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai?

Well-maintained but hilly. The route runs on Highway 118 from Chiang Mai to Mae Suai, described as smooth and wide, then joins Highway 1 for the flatter final stretch into Chiang Rai city. Expect winding mountain sections with occasional sharp curves through forest and national park land, plus a chance of morning or evening fog, so budget a little extra time if you're self-driving rather than relying on a fixed bus schedule.

Out Thailand Team

Based in Chiang Mai

The Out Thailand team lives in and around Chiang Mai and writes practical, on-the-ground guides to events, cost of living, and daily life in Thailand.