Getting Around Phichit
the Easy Way

The advantage that sets Phichit apart from many other small provinces is that it has a Northern Line train station right in the middle of town. The Northern Line railway running between Bangkok and Chiang Mai passes directly through Phichit, and many services — rapid, express, and special express trains — stop at Phichit Station to pick up and drop off passengers. Travelers without their own car can therefore take the train from Krung Thep Aphiwat or Hua Lamphong station and arrive right in the middle of Phichit town without needing to transfer multiple times. The journey takes roughly 6–8 hours depending on the train type, with fares ranging from a modest amount for third-class seating up to several hundred baht for an air-conditioned sleeper car, so you can choose based on budget and comfort.

The advantage of taking the train is enjoying the view of rice fields and towns along the way at a relaxed pace, without having to drive yourself — great for travelers who aren't in a rush and want a scenic journey. One thing to plan around is that the number of trains stopping at Phichit and their actual arrival times are limited each day; some arrive late at night or early morning, so check the timetable and book tickets in advance through the State Railway of Thailand's channels, especially during long holidays when tickets sell out fast. Another point: once you arrive in Phichit, getting around town near Bueng Sri Fai and Wat Tha Luang still works fine with a songthaew or motorbike taxi, but to reach Wat Bang Klan or Wat Khao Ruak outside town, you'll need to rent or charter a car, since public transport doesn't reach those areas.

Another popular method for travelers without a car is taking a bus or van from Mo Chit 2 bus terminal, since Phichit sits along the Asia Highway route that buses heading north already pass through. Several routes stop in Phichit to pick up and drop off passengers, whether air-conditioned coaches or passenger vans. The journey takes roughly 5–6 hours depending on traffic, which can sometimes be faster than certain train services. Fares mostly run from around three hundred to over four hundred baht per person depending on the operator and seat class. The advantage is having many departure time slots throughout the day, giving you more flexibility in scheduling than the train's limited runs.

One thing to check carefully is that some routes are headed to a distant final destination like Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai and simply pass through Phichit on the main road without necessarily entering the town center — or they may drop passengers off along the roadside, requiring another transfer into town. So it's worth asking clearly whether the bus stops at the Phichit bus terminal in town or drops off along the road, and booking seats in advance during long holidays when travel is busy. As with other public transport options, once you arrive in Phichit you'll still need to figure out how to get around the province — in-town spots like Bueng Sri Fai and Wat Tha Luang work fine with a songthaew or motorbike taxi, but for out-of-town spots like Wat Bang Klan-Khao Ruak you'll need to rent or charter a car.

Even though both the train and buses get you into Phichit town easily, driving yourself is still the most free and comprehensive method, especially for travelers who want to see both in-town spots and out-of-town temples. The route from Bangkok uses the Asia Highway (Route 32), the main road heading north, passing through Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, and Nakhon Sawan, then turning onto Route 117 into Phichit. The road surface is good and easy to drive the whole way, taking roughly 4.5–5.5 hours depending on timing and traffic. The clear advantage is freedom, since the province's sights are quite spread out — from Bueng Sri Fai and Wat Tha Luang in town, to Wat Bang Klan in Pho Thale district and Wat Phra Phutthabat Khao Ruak in Taphan Hin district outside town. Having your own car means you can stop wherever you like and plan a multi-spot itinerary in a single day.

When splitting fuel and toll costs among several people, driving yourself is usually more worthwhile than taking public transport and then having to rent or charter a car to get around the province anyway — and it also gets you to spots public transport can't reach, like Wat Bang Klan, about 40 kilometers from town. One thing to plan for is that the Asia Highway is a main route with plenty of trucks and buses running throughout the day and night, so drive at a controlled speed, keep your distance from the vehicle ahead, watch out when overtaking and at U-turn points, and take breaks periodically on long drives. As for the route to Wat Bang Klan and Wat Khao Ruak, parts are two-lane roads through rice fields and villages, so drive slowly through built-up areas and allow plenty of extra time since they're far from town.

For travelers who arrived in Phichit by train or bus but still want to visit spots outside town, renting a self-drive car within the province is the most flexible solution, since many of the highlights people come for aren't in town but scattered across the outer districts. That's especially true of Wat Bang Klan, or Wat Hiranyaram, in Pho Thale district, home to the Luang Pho Ngoen statue revered by people across the country, about 40 kilometers from town — roughly a 45-minute to 1-hour drive — and Wat Phra Phutthabat Khao Ruak in Taphan Hin district, in a different direction entirely. Neither spot has convenient public transport access, so having your own car lets you go at your own pace and plan a multi-spot itinerary in a single day. Renting a standard sedan or eco car costs around 1,000–1,600 baht per day plus fuel, which is still worthwhile when split among several people compared to chartering a car trip by trip.

One thing to know is that Phichit is a small province, so the number of car rental operators in town is more limited than in major tourist cities — during long holidays, cars can get booked up quickly, so contact and book ahead and clarify the insurance and deposit terms upfront. Another option many people use is renting a car from Bangkok and driving it the whole way, then using it around the province — convenient if you plan it from the start. As for the route, keep in mind that the roads to Wat Bang Klan and Wat Khao Ruak are mostly two-lane roads through rice fields and villages, with some stretches mixing farm vehicles and motorbikes, so drive slowly through built-up areas, keep an offline map handy in case of weak signal, fill up on fuel before leaving town, and set off early to have time to sightsee and return before dark, since roads in the outer districts have little lighting at night.

If you don't have a car and only plan to sightsee within town, songthaews and motorbike taxis are the main helpers for travelers who arrived by train or bus, since Phichit is a small town and in-town sights like Bueng Sri Fai — a large freshwater lake — Wat Tha Luang, home to Luang Pho Phet, the market, and the railway station area are all close together. Motorbike taxis are handy for quick transfers from the train station or bus terminal to your hotel, or for reaching nearby spots solo, while songthaews suit groups or travelers with luggage. Fares run from tens to a few hundred baht depending on distance — ask the price before getting on to avoid issues later.

For sightseeing around Bueng Sri Fai, which has a long lakeside road and viewing pavilions, many travelers charter a motorbike taxi or songthaew for a loop tour, or rent a bicycle to ride along the lake if their hotel offers one. One important limitation to understand is that songthaews and motorbike taxis only cover the town and nearby areas — they're not suited for reaching distant out-of-town spots like Wat Bang Klan in Pho Thale district or Wat Khao Ruak in Taphan Hin district, which are dozens of kilometers away. Those spots require a car, whether a self-drive rental or a chartered local driver on a go-wait-return basis. On top of that, Grab has very few cars in Phichit — barely any available — so you should rely mainly on songthaews, motorbike taxis, and charters recommended by your hotel.

If you don't have a car and don't want to drive yourself on unfamiliar rural roads, but still want to visit Wat Bang Klan or Wat Khao Ruak outside town, chartering a local vehicle is a solution that travelers actually use in the provinces, since Grab has very few cars in Phichit — barely available at many times of day. What actually works better is chartering a car or local taxi recommended by your hotel or locals, usually a sedan, van, or songthaew that takes bookings for loop tours or full-day trips. This method suits reaching distant spots like Wat Bang Klan in Pho Thale district, about 40 kilometers from town, by agreeing on a go-wait-return arrangement with a driver who knows the way, without having to drive yourself.

The popular approach is to charter a go-wait-return trip, agreeing on the total price, stops, and waiting time before setting off. The price depends on distance and number of stops, usually running from a few hundred to a few thousand baht per trip. The advantage is having a driver who knows the way, so you don't need to worry about the route or parking, and you can stop to pray or take photos as agreed. Things to watch out for: use a service recommended by your hotel or locals, agree on the price clearly before boarding to avoid cost disputes later, and if you're visiting multiple spots or multiple days, compare against the cost of a self-drive rental too, since renting a car for a full day can sometimes be more worthwhile than chartering trip by trip — especially if you plan to visit both Wat Bang Klan and Wat Khao Ruak, which are in different directions, on the same trip.