Mae Phim is about 105km east of Pattaya – roughly 1.5 hours by car on a straightforward road. The drive is easy, the bus route is manageable if you’re patient, and what’s waiting at the other end is a beach that feels like a different country.
Quick answer
By car or taxi: around 1.5 hours, 1,000–2,000 THB for a private taxi. Grab is available from Pattaya. By bus via Rayong: around 3 hours total, roughly 270 THB. Two legs – Pattaya to Rayong, then a minivan east to Klaeng.
By car or taxi
The road from Pattaya to Mae Phim is almost entirely Sukhumvit Road heading east – no motorway confusion, no complex junctions. You pass through Rayong town and continue east toward Klaeng. Google Maps handles it cleanly.
If you’re renting a car, budget around 1.5 hours with light traffic. Allow extra time on Friday evenings when Bangkok and Pattaya residents head east for the weekend.
A taxi from Pattaya runs between 1,000 and 2,000 THB depending on the driver and your negotiating. Grab is available and tends to be more transparent on price – worth checking before you agree to a metered or fixed-rate cab.
By bus
The bus route from Pattaya to Mae Phim is a two-leg journey: Pattaya to Rayong first, then a connecting minivan east to Klaeng. It takes around three hours in total but costs very little.
Leg 1: Pattaya to Rayong
Phetprasert Tour runs large scheduled coaches twice daily from their station on Sukhumvit Road in central/north Pattaya. Morning departure is around 7:20 AM, afternoon at 5:20 PM. The journey takes just over an hour and costs around 200 THB. The station has a ticket counter and a proper waiting area – worth booking your seat in advance if you’re catching the morning bus on a weekend.
If those times don’t work, minivans run throughout the day from two roadside stops on Sukhumvit Road. The South Pattaya (Pattaya Tai) intersection is the main hub for Route 57 vans heading toward Rayong. Further north, near Central Pattaya, there’s a dedicated minibus stop for eastern destinations including Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Vans start as early as 5:40 AM and run at frequent intervals. Both the Phetprasert coaches and the minivans arrive at either Rayong Transport Station 1 (Old Terminal) or Rayong Bus Terminal 2 (New Terminal).
Leg 2: Rayong to Klaeng
From Rayong, pick up a BH Rayong minivan heading east toward Chanthaburi or Trat – these pass directly through Klaeng. Depart from Rayong Transport Station 1. Vans run roughly every hour from 5:00 AM until around 7:00–8:30 PM. The journey takes 50 to 60 minutes and costs around 70 THB. Tell the driver you want Klaeng – you can ask to be dropped at the main Sukhumvit Road intersection or the Sam Yan market area in town.
From Klaeng, it’s a short taxi ride to De Mer and the beach. Grab works here, or there are usually taxis waiting near Sam Yan market. Expect to pay 50–100 THB.
Pattaya vs Mae Phim: why bother making the trip
Mae Phim is where Thai families come on holiday. The beach is backed by pine trees rather than hotel towers. The seafood restaurants on the strip are the kind of places where the fish was swimming that morning. There are no touts, no bar strips, and easy access to national parks and islands a few kilometres offshore.
If you’ve done what Pattaya has to offer and you want a different pace, Mae Phim is the obvious next move – and it’s close enough to do as a day trip, though staying a night or two makes more sense.
Good to know
- The Phetprasert station in Pattaya is on Sukhumvit Road in the central/north Pattaya area. Give yourself time to find it if you’re unfamiliar.
- Minivans on the Rayong leg fill up and leave when full – earlier in the day is more predictable.
- Friday evenings and Saturday mornings are the busiest travel times. The road can slow noticeably between Rayong and Klaeng.
- There is no direct single bus or minivan service from Pattaya to Mae Phim. The two-leg connection via Rayong is the only public transport option.
- Grab works in both Pattaya and Klaeng, which takes the uncertainty out of taxi pricing at both ends.
FAQ
How long does it take to get from Pattaya to Mae Phim?
By car or taxi, around 1.5 hours. By bus and minivan via Rayong, allow three hours including the connection.
Is there a direct bus from Pattaya to Mae Phim?
No direct service. The bus route goes Pattaya to Rayong with Phetprasert Tour (twice daily, around 200 THB), then a connecting BH Rayong minivan from Rayong to Klaeng (roughly hourly, 70 THB). Total cost around 270 THB.
Can I get a taxi directly from Pattaya to Mae Phim?
Yes. A private taxi runs 1,000–2,000 THB. Grab is available from Pattaya and will give you a fixed price before you book.
Where does the bus drop off in Klaeng?
The BH Rayong minivan drops at the main Sukhumvit Road intersection or Sam Yan market area in Klaeng town. From there, a local taxi to De Mer and the beach costs 50–100 THB. Grab works here too.
The bus route is doable and cheap but it moves at Thailand’s pace – two legs, a wait in Rayong, and a taxi at the end. If you’re renting a car anyway or sharing the cost of a taxi between two or three people, the direct run is straightforward enough that it’s usually worth it.
De Mer is directly on the beach in Mae Phim, which makes it a natural base whether you’re coming for a day trip or a few nights.