Kamala to Phuket Old Town by Car
Kamala to Phuket Old Town is about 35 min of driving on clear roads via Patong: 15 min south over the pass into Patong, then about 20 min east through Kathu and over the second pass into town. Two hill climbs make it the steeper way across the island, and on the descents a low gear matters more than speed. At the hours when through traffic and the school run meet on the Kathu climb, the pass slows right down, and a flat detour to the north can be the calmer choice.
Updated 2 October 2026
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How long is the drive from Kamala to Phuket Old Town?
Roughly 35 minutes of driving when nothing gets in the way. Add the time it takes to cross Patong in the middle, which depends entirely on the hour.
You leave Kamala south on the 4025, which is also its main street, and climb the pass to Patong: 15 minutes, two sharp bends on the long ascent and a viewpoint at the top. Through Patong you head east for the Kathu road, climb the second pass and drop down through Kathu into Phuket Town. That last part is about 20 minutes when the road is clear.
Is there a way without the passes?
Yes, the long way round. North along the flat coast through Surin to Cherngtalay, then onto the main roads south to town, the same flat run that people from Bang Tao take. It covers more distance but has no climbs, and at the worst hours on the Kathu pass it can be the more relaxed drive.
If you are staying in Kamala and want a car for the old town and beyond, we deliver it to your hotel or villa at any hour: automatic, first-class commercial insurance, refundable deposit, and the total for your dates fixed in the chat before we set off.
What that means for the car
Two passes on one trip mean four long descents on the round trip. That is the thing to prepare for, whatever the class.
An economy automatic climbs both without trouble. On the way down, move the selector to the low range or the L or M mode, so the engine holds the car and the brakes stay cool. The Kathu side of the second pass has a runaway lane for lorries, which tells you how seriously the gradient is taken here.
Size matters at the far end. The old town's streets are narrow and many run one way, so a short car is easier there than a big SUV. If the family needs a crossover for the climbs home to a Kamala villa, just plan to leave it at the edge of the quarter.
- Descents — low range or L/M mode, never just the brakes
- Crossing Patong — avoid the evening, when the centre is slow
- Kathu climb at school-run time — consider the flat northern route
- Old town — park at the edge, walk in
Where to park in Phuket Old Town
At a car park around the historic quarter, then on foot. Inside, parked cars cut the narrow streets to a single lane, and every wrong turn in the one-way system costs about ten minutes going round again.
Multi-storey car parks are the format that works. At the kerb, the colour of the paint is the only reliable guide, so if it is not clearly allowed, keep driving.
ImportantOn weekends and Sunday evening the walking street closes several central streets, and the nearby car parks fill long before it starts. Coming from Kamala, set off early or park further out and walk.
Driving the passes after dark
The Kamala pass is unlit for its whole length. In daylight it is a pleasant climb with a view; after dark, behind a loaded pickup or in rain, the same road feels twice as long.
So plan the old town as a day trip and be back over the hills before night if you can. There is almost no dusk here, the light goes in about half an hour, and scooters often ride without a rear light. If the evening in town runs late, the flat northern route home via Surin avoids both climbs.
Where to break the drive
At the top of the first climb. The viewpoint on the Kamala pass is the natural pause: a few minutes out of the car, a look at the coast, and the descent into Patong starts with cool brakes and a clear head.
Kathu is the second natural pause. The district between the two passes is flat inside, and its shopping centres have covered car parks, which makes it a simple place for a coffee, a supermarket run or a break from the heat before the town streets. It is also a good place to fill up, since the historic quarter itself has no petrol stations.
In Phuket Town, the Khao Rang viewpoint looks over the city rather than the sea and is reached on a sealed road with parking near the top. Go there first, then leave the car at the edge of the quarter for the walk.
Getting back to Kamala
The same way in reverse: Kathu pass to Patong, through the centre, then north over the pass into Kamala. The evening is when Patong is slowest, and from eight Bangla Road is closed to traffic, so time your return to cross before the night crowd.
For the whole district, see car rental in Kamala. Other drives to the old town are in Bang Tao to Phuket Old Town by car and Kata to Phuket Old Town by car.
Renting a car for this drive
What a car costs for this trip depends on the class and on how long you keep it: see the price per day in Phuket, and the search gives the total for your dates. We deliver the car to your hotel or villa at any hour, and a refundable deposit is taken at handover, its size depending on the model. First-class commercial insurance is included, and every car we deliver is an automatic, since manual cars are rare in Phuket. Booking, payment and return are explained in how renting a car with Kolesio works. Starting from Kamala? See car rental in Kamala.
Also useful before you book: can you rent without a deposit?.
Cars for this trip
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Common questions
How long does it take to drive from Kamala to Phuket Old Town?
About 35 minutes of driving on clear roads via Patong: 15 over the first pass and about 20 from Patong to town. Traffic in Patong adds to it.
Is there a route from Kamala to town without hills?
Yes. Go north through Surin to Cherngtalay and take the flat main roads south. It is longer in distance but avoids both passes.
Is the Kamala to Patong pass difficult?
Not in daylight. It is one climb with two sharp bends and a viewpoint at the top. After dark it is unlit, so take it slowly.
Where do I park in Phuket Old Town coming from Kamala?
At a car park around the edge of the historic quarter, ideally multi-storey. The streets inside are narrow and many run one way.
What gear should I use on the Kathu pass?
The low range, or L or M mode in an automatic. The engine then holds the car on the descent and the brakes stay cool.
When is the worst time to cross Patong by car?
In the evening. The centre slows down, and from eight Bangla Road is closed to traffic, so cross before the night crowd arrives.
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