The 15 Best Day Trips from Chiang Mai
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 15 good day trips from Chiang Mai, Thailand, led by Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae. The closest is San Kamphaeng, about 25 min by car, and 5 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated October 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Chiang Mai
- 1
Lampang, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car77 km south-east of Chiang Mai - 2
Lamphun, Thailand
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car23 km south of Chiang Mai - 3
Phrae, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car141 km south-east of Chiang Mai - 4
San Kamphaeng, Thailand
Half-day tripAbout 25 min by car15 km east of Chiang Mai - 5
Dok Kham Tai, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car114 km east of Chiang Mai - 6
Phayao, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car104 km north-east of Chiang Mai - 7
Thoen, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car133 km south of Chiang Mai - 8
San Pa Tong, Thailand
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car20 km south-west of Chiang Mai - 9
Den Chai, Thailand
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km south-east of Chiang Mai - 10
Pa Sang, Thailand
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car30 km south of Chiang Mai - 11
Pong, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car141 km east of Chiang Mai - 12
Pa Daet, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car132 km north-east of Chiang Mai - 13
Chom Thong, Thailand
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car53 km south-west of Chiang Mai - 14
Rong Kwang, Thailand
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car149 km east of Chiang Mai - 15
Long, Thailand
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car120 km south-east of Chiang Mai
A sample day: Chiang Mai to Lampang
- 08:30Leave Chiang Mai
- 10:00Arrive in Lampang (1 hr 30 min drive)
- 10:15Walk the centre of Lampang
- 12:15Lunch
- 13:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Lampang
- 16:00Head back to Chiang Mai
- 17:30Home in Chiang Mai
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Chiang Mai?
- The best day trips from Chiang Mai are Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae, San Kamphaeng, Dok Kham Tai. The closest is San Kamphaeng, about 25 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Chiang Mai?
- San Kamphaeng is the closest, 15 km east of Chiang Mai, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Chiang Mai?
- 5 places are within about an hour's drive of Chiang Mai: San Kamphaeng (25 min), San Pa Tong (30 min), Lamphun (35 min), Pa Sang (35 min), Chom Thong (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Chiang Mai for a day out?
- Lampang is the largest city in day-trip range, 77 km south-east of Chiang Mai and about 1 hr 30 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Chiang Mai?
- For a weekend away from Chiang Mai, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Rong Kwang (149 km, 2 hr 20 min), Den Chai (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Pong (141 km, 2 hr 10 min), Phrae (141 km, 2 hr 10 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Chiang Mai?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Rong Kwang at 149 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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