Patong to Surin by Car
Patong to Surin is two stretches: 15 min over the pass to Kamala, then 10 min north on the flat coast road into Surin. The drive is rarely the problem; arriving after eleven in high season, when the short row of beach parking is already full, is.
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How long it takes and which road
The trip splits in two. First 15 min from Patong over the pass to Kamala: a long ascent with two sharp bends, a viewpoint at the top and good asphalt all the way. Then 10 min on the coast road, the 4025, north through Kamala and into Surin. That second stretch is flat and has no bends at all.
Where the pass slows you
The climb out of Patong is the only part that takes attention. Overloaded pickups and tour vans slow right down on it, and a few stretches tempt you to overtake where the next bend is hidden. Rented scooters with first-time riders sit in the middle of the lane. When the road is wet, water gathers on the inside of the bends, so brake before the corner and roll through it.
Surin itself is a small bay whose whole life runs along one coast road. You will see the beach before you have to think about where to turn.
People often ask about the distance between Patong and Surin. On the map the two bays look close, and they are; what sets your time is the pass and whoever is crawling up it ahead of you, not the length of the road. On a clear morning you barely notice the second half of the trip.
What that means for the car
Any automatic manages the pass in the dry. What decides the choice in Surin is length. The beach parking is a short row along the road plus a couple of small bays, and in season the space goes to whoever arrived before eleven or took a shorter car. An economy car is the practical answer for two people heading to the beach and to dinner.
Where you stay matters too. Villas above Surin sit on steep, narrow driveways, and long vehicles ground out on them. A compact car with decent clearance handles both the driveway and the beach row.
Use low gear, L or B, on the descent from the pass in either direction, and keep the air conditioning running before you set off.
If you are staying in Surin, Kamala or Patong, we deliver the car to your hotel, villa or apartment at any hour: automatic, first-class commercial insurance, refundable deposit, the total for your dates fixed in chat. Send the dates on WhatsApp or through the booking form; car rental in Surin and car rental in Patong describe how both ends of this trip work.
Where to park in Surin
Parking by the beach is limited to the row along the road and two small bays, and both fill in season. Restaurants and beach clubs have their own car parks, usually free for guests, which makes lunch the easiest way to secure a space. If you are comparing beaches on this coast, west coast beaches by car covers the bays north and south of here.
Once you have a space, keep it. Surin is small enough to walk from one end of the bay to the other, and moving the car at midday usually means losing the spot for good.
- Arrive before eleven in season — after that the beach row is usually full
- Stay off the narrow turnings down to the sand — they are single-lane and blocking one traps other cars
- Park at the restaurant or beach club you are using — their car parks are usually free for guests
- Pick the shortest car that fits your group — the beach spaces go to shorter cars
Villas on the slope
The villa road above Surin is steep and narrow, and in many places two cars cannot pass. When you meet someone, one of you reverses to a wider spot. Do it slowly, with the mirrors folded out and the window down, and let the car that is climbing keep its momentum.
Rain carries sand down the driveways. After a downpour the surface is slippery on the way down, so take the slope at walking pace in low gear and avoid braking hard on the sand.
ImportantA long car on a steep Surin driveway can ground out on the change of slope. Damage to the underbody is the kind you do not want to explain at handover, so take the smaller car if you are staying on the hill.
The way back from Surin to Patong
Most drives back happen after dinner. The coast road from Surin to Kamala is dark in the evening and in places unmarked, and scooters with no lights appear on the bends. Keep the speed down until you reach the pass.
At night the pass needs a completely different speed. The hill road is unlit for its whole length, the bends are blind, there is no verge, and cars coming up use main beam. Scooters often ride with no rear light. Our guide to driving at night has the details. If you have had a drink with dinner, leave the car in Surin and take a taxi: insurance does not work at all when the driver has been drinking.
Parking in Patong
Back in Patong, the colour of the kerb decides where you stop. Yellow and white allows only a brief stop or drop-off; a plain kerb is parking; red and white means no stopping, and the tow truck clears the seafront in the evenings. The roof of the Jungceylon shopping centre always has spaces, shade and Bangla Road ten minutes on foot. The side streets closer to the hill above Rat-U-Thit are free but narrow.
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 Patong? See car rental in Patong.
Also useful before you book: can you rent without a deposit?.
Cars for this question
Cars that suit this short drive:
Common questions
How long does it take from Patong to Surin Beach?
Two stretches: 15 min over the pass from Patong to Kamala, then 10 min on the flat coast road to Surin. Allow extra time behind slow vans on the climb and for finding parking once you arrive.
Is parking at Surin Beach difficult?
In season, yes. There is a short row along the road and a couple of small bays, full after about eleven. Restaurants and beach clubs have their own car parks, usually free for guests.
Which car is best for a villa above Surin?
A short car. The villa driveways are steep and narrow, long vehicles ground out on them, and on the villa road someone often has to reverse to let another car pass.
Is the coast road from Surin dark at night?
Yes, in places. The coast road is dark and partly unmarked in the evening, and scooters without lights appear on the bends. The pass into Patong is unlit for its entire length.
Should I drive back to Patong after dinner in Surin?
Only if you are sober and comfortable with a dark pass. If you have been drinking, leave the car and take a taxi, because insurance does not work at all when the driver has been drinking.