# Thalang to Patong by Car in Phuket Page URL: https://kolesio.com/en/routes/thalang-to-patong/ Thalang to Patong is a run from the flat inland north of Phuket to the busiest bay on the west coast, south on Thepkrasattri, road 402, and then over one of the two passes into Patong. Thalang sits on the same road as the airport to Patong drive, which takes 40–45 min in calm traffic, so from Thalang it is shorter, the time depending on where in the district you start. In the evening the direction matters: the through traffic from the south funnels onto that one highway, and the return trip north slows sharply. ## In short - Road 402 — Thepkrasattri, the island's main north to south artery, runs through Thalang - Under 40–45 min — the airport to Patong run passes through Thalang, so the drive from here is shorter - 2 passes — into Patong: over the Kathu hill or from the north past Kamala - Roundabouts — the major junctions in Thalang are circles, the monument roundabout among them ## Which way do you drive from Thalang to Patong? South first, always. Then you choose your pass. Thalang is flat country: plantations, fields, villages strung along Thepkrasattri. You join road 402 and head south, through the big roundabouts, and the easy part of the drive is over before you notice. The difference comes at the end. Patong sits in a bowl, both ways in go over a hill, and you pick one of them. ### Kathu pass or the Kamala road? The direct way stays on the main road towards Kathu and climbs the Kathu pass, then drops steeply into Patong. The other turns west to the coast on the 4025 and comes into Patong from the north, over the pass from Kamala, which on its own is a 15 minute drive with a viewpoint at the top. The coastal way is often the calmer choice when the Kathu side is jammed, and it shows you the west coast on the way. Which one wins on a given day? Honestly, the one with less traffic at the climb. If you live or stay in Thalang and want a car for trips to the beaches, we deliver to your house or hotel in the district at any hour: automatic, first-class commercial insurance, a refundable deposit from 5,000–30,000 ฿ depending on the model, the total for your dates fixed in chat. Send the dates and the address in the chat, or use the booking form. ## What that means for the car Thalang itself asks nothing of the car. There are no serious climbs, the roads are wide and the traffic moves at highway speed. That last part is the real test, not the terrain. Road 402 is the fastest road on the island, and joining it from a side road means merging into traffic that does not slow down for you. An automatic makes that easier. Then comes the pass at the Patong end, which any class handles in a low gear. For a couple an economy car is plenty; for a family with beach kit and a long day ahead, a crossover gives more room and a steadier descent. Rain changes the balance. On the flat 402 it mostly means spray and slower lorries, but on the pass the surface gets slick and visibility on the bends drops. On a wet afternoon we would leave a little earlier, take the climb steadily and keep a longer gap to the car in front on the drop into Patong. ## Where to park in Patong coming from the north Parking by the beach is paid and gone by lunchtime in high season, so the drive from Thalang is best started early if the beach is the goal. In the evening, go round the centre once, then take the first legal space a few streets back from the sea and walk. Hotel and restaurant parking saves the search if you ask ahead. - Leave Thalang early — the beach lots in Patong fill by lunchtime - Pick the pass by the traffic — Kathu for directness, Kamala when Kathu is jammed - Park a few streets back in the evening — then walk to the beach road - Head home before the evening rush — the 402 north slows sharply > Do not stop on a red and white kerb in Patong, even to drop someone off. Tow trucks work the beach road steadily, and the car goes to a pound a long way from Thalang, with a fine on top. ## The drive back north in the evening This is the part people underestimate. In the evening all the through traffic from the south funnels onto Thepkrasattri, and the roundabouts at the major junctions turn into queues. Leave Patong before the rush or after it. If you are already on the 402 at peak time, stay in your lane through the roundabouts, give way to traffic already on the circle, and expect scooters on both sides. After dark the district's side roads empty out, and the last few kilometres to a house among the plantations are best taken slowly, with an eye out for scooters turning out of the lanes. A practical trick for regular trips: if you are coming back from a late dinner in Patong, the hour after the rush is the calm one. The highway clears, the roundabouts flow again, and the whole run home takes far less effort than an hour earlier. ## Things to see in Thalang before you head south Thalang is not only a place to drive out of. The Khao Phra Thaeo reserve with the Bang Pae and Ton Sai waterfalls is here, and Wat Phra Thong, the temple with the golden Buddha half sunk into the ground, is in the district as well. For the reserve, see Khao Phra Thaeo by car. For the first drive from the terminal, see Phuket Airport to Thalang by car; for the area as a base, car rental in Thalang. If you are heading to the coast rather than to Patong, the beaches of the north are closer than any of the southern bays. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to drive from Thalang to Patong? Less than the 40 to 45 minutes of the airport to Patong run, because Thalang lies on that road. The exact time depends on your start point in the district and the traffic at the pass. ### Which road goes from Thalang to Patong? Thepkrasattri, road 402, heading south. From there you either climb the Kathu pass straight into Patong, or take the 4025 to the west coast and come in over the pass from Kamala. ### Is the drive from Thalang to Patong difficult? The Thalang part is flat and easy but fast. The only climb is the pass at the Patong end, which is manageable in a low gear. ### When is traffic worst between Thalang and Patong? In the evening, heading north. Through traffic from the south funnels onto the one highway and the roundabouts back up, so leave Patong before or after the rush. ### Can you deliver a rental car to Thalang? Yes, to a house or hotel anywhere in the district, day or night. Send the address in the chat, and we inspect the car together on the spot. ### Is it better to live in Thalang or Patong with a car? Thalang if you want quiet, easy parking and the airport close by. Patong if you want the beach and nightlife on foot, with the car kept for trips out. --- Source: kolesio, https://kolesio.com/en/routes/thalang-to-patong/. The canonical version of this page is the HTML at this address.