4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest buses from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Cheapest price
$10
Average price
$12
Fastest journey
3 h 20 m
Average duration
3 h 24 m
Buses per day
12
Distance
153 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai will cost around $12 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $10.
Of the 12 buses that leave Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai on Mon, Jul 13, 12 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, Jul 13 the direct buses cover the 153 km distance in an average of 3 h 24 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 20 m .
On Mon, Jul 13 the slowest buses will take 3 h 40 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
1666:15 PM3h45Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 310:00 PMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$101One-way0 transfers- 1667:00 AM3h45Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 310:45 AMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$101One-way0 transfers
- 1668:45 AM3h45Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 312:30 PMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$101One-way0 transfers
- 1665:00 PM3h45Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 38:45 PMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$101One-way0 transfers
- 166112:45 PM3h40Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 34:25 PMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$101One-way0 transfers
- 1666:00 AM3h20Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 39:20 AMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$161One-way0 transfers
- 1666:30 PM3h20Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 39:50 PMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$161One-way0 transfers
- 1667:30 AM3h20Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 310:50 AMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$161One-way0 transfers
- 1662:00 PM3h20Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 35:20 PMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$161One-way0 transfers
- 166112:45 PM3h40Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 34:25 PMChiang Rai Bus Terminal 1$101One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $8. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 33m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $8, and a flight costs an average of $67.
Distance: 95 miles (153 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$11 Average price Cheapest | $167 Average price | $23 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 7m Average total duration 3h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 33m Average total duration Fastest 2h 33m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 23m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai:
A bus is $156 (€128) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai costing on average $167 (€137).
Other travel options to Chiang Rai take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 37m.
Tickets start at around $11 (€9) compared to roughly $23 (€19) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $12 (€10). The journey takes 3h 37m versus 3h 23m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by Greenbus, Greenbus Thailand.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 06:00AM | Arrival Time 09:20AM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 10:45AM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 07:30AM | Arrival Time 10:50AM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 08:45AM | Arrival Time 12:30PM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 03:35PM | Duration 6h35 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 02:45PM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 12:15PM | Arrival Time 03:35PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 12:45PM | Arrival Time 04:25PM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 05:15PM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 05:20PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 08:45PM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 09:15PM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 06:15PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator Greenbus | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 09:50PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $16 |
Live departures
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai bus times
The table below shows live departures for Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai buses for today, Sunday, July 12. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 166 | 11:00 AM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h45 | 2:45 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 12:15 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h20 | 3:35 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 1661 | 12:45 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h40 | 4:25 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 1:30 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h45 | 5:15 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 2:00 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h20 | 5:20 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 5:00 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h45 | 8:45 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 5:30 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h45 | 9:15 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 6:15 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h45 | 10:00 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 6:30 PM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h20 | 9:50 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Monday, July 13 | |||||
| 166 | 6:00 AM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h20 | 9:20 AM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 7:00 AM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h45 | 10:45 AM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 7:30 AM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h20 | 10:50 AM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 166 | 8:45 AM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 3h45 | 12:30 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 148 | 9:00 AM Chiang Mai, Bus Terminal 3 | 6h35 | 3:35 PM Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus or flight
Compare bus and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
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Aug 02
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
ThailandThailand
Buses from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai run on average 14 times per day, taking around 3h 37m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $8 (€7) if you book in advance.
There are 14 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 06:00, the last at 19:00. The fastest bus covers the 95 miles (153 km) distance in 3h 20m.
Distance 95 miles (153 km) |
Average bus duration 3h 37m |
Cheapest ticket price $8 (€7) |
Buses per day 14 |
Direct buses 14 |
Fastest bus 3h 20m |
First bus 6:00 AM |
Last bus 7:00 PM |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Bus providers: Greenbus, Greenbus Thailand from Chiang Mai to Chiang RaiYou can travel by bus between Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with Greenbus, Greenbus Thailand for as low as $8 (€7). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
Greenbus
Greenbus Thailand
FAQs: Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Chiang Rai, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
Most popular bus connections from Chiang Mai
More options for your journey from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular buses to and from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai
Most popular bus connections to Chiang Rai
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