Chiang Mai bus station (Arcade): buses to everywhere up north

When you'd rather travel by road — cheaper than flying, more flexible than the train — Chiang Mai's bus network has you covered. Almost everything intercity leaves from one place: the Arcade Bus Terminal. Here's how it works, where it'll take you, and how to do it comfortably.

Where it is

The Arcade Bus Terminal (Terminals 2 & 3) sits about 3 km northeast of the old city, just off Kaeo Nawarat Road in Wat Ket — a short hop from the house by Grab or red songthaew (around 20–30 THB shared from the centre). The two terminals face each other; locals just call the whole thing "Arcade." Don't confuse it with Chang Phuak station north of the moat, which handles only local routes like Mae Rim and Lamphun. For the full lay of the land on city transport, see our getting-around guide.

Where the buses go

Arcade is the jumping-off point for the whole north and beyond. Rough journey times (always changing, so check when you book):

• Bangkok — overnight and day coaches, about 9–12 hours. The classic budget move: a VIP overnight bus doubles as your hotel for the night.
• Chiang Rai — frequent buses, about 3 hours; the easy way to start a Chiang Rai day trip.
• Pai — mostly minivans (see below), 3–4 hours of mountain curves.
• Mae Hong Son — around 7 hours on the spectacular loop road.
• Sukhothai — about 5–6 hours to the old kingdom's ruins.
• Chiang Khong (Laos border) — 5–7 hours, for the Mekong slow boat to Luang Prabang.
• Mae Sai & the Golden Triangle — roughly 5–6 hours via Chiang Rai.

The operators (simplified)

You don't need to memorise the list — just two rules of thumb:

• Green Bus runs most northern routes (Chiang Rai, Chiang Khong, Mae Sai, Mae Hong Son, Lampang). Modern fleet, several classes.
• Sombat Tour, Nakhonchai Air and the state Transport Co. cover Bangkok and other long hauls, from standard 2nd class up to roomy VIP/first class with big reclining seats.

Across all of them, "VIP" or "first class" means fewer seats, more legroom, strong air-con and sometimes a snack and blanket; "2nd class" is more basic with more stops.

Booking: counter or online

You can buy at each company's counter in Terminal 2 or 3 — fine for short routes off-season. But for overnight Bangkok buses, Chiang Rai/Chiang Khong connections and anything during high season (Dec–Feb) or Thai holidays, book ahead: the Green Bus site/app for northern routes, or aggregators like 12Go for everything else (small fee, but you see live availability). Arrive 30–45 minutes early (an hour for holidays) to collect tickets and find your platform.

Pai and nearby towns

Pai is served mostly by minivans, several a day from Arcade (and tourist pick-up points near the old city). The road has hundreds of curves — if you're prone to motion sickness, sit near the front and take a tablet beforehand. For closer towns like Mae Rim, Chiang Dao or San Kamphaeng, cheap local songthaews run from Chang Phuak and the Warorot Market area — great for day trips.

Insider tips

• Pack a layer — the air-con on long-distance buses runs cold. A hoodie, long trousers and socks make overnight trips bearable.
• Keep valuables with you — phone, cash and electronics in a daypack on your lap, never in the luggage hold; keep your baggage tag.
• Buy from official counters or trusted apps — skip touts outside who insist a bus is "full" and push a pricier private van.
• Bring snacks, earplugs and an eye mask for overnight routes (buses do stop at roadside food courts).

One seasonal note: if you're travelling between February and April, the haze of Chiang Mai's burning season can swallow the mountain views from the windows — worth knowing before you pick a scenic daytime route over a sleep-through overnight one.

So whether it's a midnight VIP coach to Bangkok or a morning bus to the Laos border, the road north starts at Arcade. Prefer the rails or the skies? Compare with our train station guide and the Chiang Mai airport guide — and tell us your plans at the house; we'll help you pick the smoothest way to go.