How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Lamphun?

Very close — about 26 km. Driving Highway 11 takes around 30 minutes, the train about half an hour, and the blue songthaew around 40–50 minutes depending on traffic. It's an easy out-and-back day trip.

Can I get to Lamphun without my own car?

Easily. The simplest and cheapest way is the blue songthaew from Khua Lek or Kad Luang in Chiang Mai, around 30 THB and leaving frequently all day. Another option is the train from Chiang Mai station to Lamphun station. Once you reach the compact old town you can rent a bike or just walk to explore.

Can you really cycle around Lamphun town?

Yes, and it suits the place perfectly. The old town is flat and small with the sights close together. There are about 15 Anywheel public rental bike points across town, around 10 THB per 30 minutes or roughly 100 THB for a full day. You can ride the old moat and stop at the temples and cover it all in a day.

Is the train to Lamphun worth it, and is the station far from town?

Worth it for the atmosphere and the price — third-class tickets are about 50–60 THB and the views on both sides are nice. But there are only a few trains a day, so check the schedule ahead. Lamphun station is about 2–3 km outside the old town; once you're off, rent an Anywheel bike at the station or take a Grab into town.

Which route should I drive from Chiang Mai?

If you want to get there fast, take Highway 11, the Superhighway — wide lanes, about 30 minutes. If you want the atmosphere, take Highway 106, the rain-tree road, lined with century-old yang na trees on both sides. It's shady and scenic with spots to stop for photos, but the road is fairly narrow, so watch for oncoming traffic.

Getting to Lamphun 2026 — Train, Songthaew, Driving & Cycling

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The best thing about Lamphun is how close it is to Chiang Mai — close enough for an easy out-and-back day trip. It's only about 26 km from central Chiang Mai to Lamphun town, roughly 30–45 minutes depending on how you go. Plenty of people treat Lamphun as a one-day add-on from Chiang Mai, while others stay overnight to cycle the old town at a slower pace. We've broken down each option so you can see which one suits you.

Overview: which option suits you

Blue songthaew — cheapest and most frequent. Catch one at Kad Luang / Khua Lek in Chiang Mai for about 30 THB. Best if you have no car and want to save money.
Train — nice views and a relaxed feel, dropping you at Lamphun station just outside town. Best if you're after the experience rather than speed.
Driving / car rental — the most flexible. You can stop for photos along the rain-tree road. Best if you're hitting several spots or heading out of town to Pa Sang or Doi Khun Tan.
Taxi / Grab — convenient but the priciest. Best for a group splitting the fare, or if you have a lot of luggage.

The blue songthaew, Chiang Mai–Lamphun

This is what locals actually use, and it's the cheapest way to go. The blue songthaews run between Chiang Mai and Lamphun all day. The main pickup points in Chiang Mai are around the Iron Bridge (Khua Lek) by the Ping River and near Kad Luang (Warorot Market). They leave often, so you usually won't wait long, and the ride takes about 40–50 minutes depending on traffic.

Pickup (Chiang Mai): Khua Lek / Kad Luang, by the Ping River
Fare: about 30 THB each way
Time: around 40–50 minutes, leaving frequently all day
Drop-off in Lamphun: near the in-town market, close to the old town — walk on or transfer from there

Good to know

Songthaews run thick and fast during the day, but in the evening (after about 17:00–18:00) the runs thin out and eventually stop. If you're heading back to Chiang Mai the same day, don't wait until dark — leave with some buffer and you'll get back before nightfall, which is safer.

Taking the train to Lamphun

The train is a favorite because of the atmosphere and the fields rolling past on both sides. Board at Chiang Mai railway station and ride to Lamphun station — about half an hour. Third-class tickets start in the double digits (around 50–60 THB), which is great value for such a short hop.

The catch: the Chiang Mai line only has a few trains a day, nowhere near as often as the songthaews. Check the schedule ahead of time through the State Railway (SRT) app/website or D-Ticket before you plan, because if you miss one you could be waiting a while.

From Lamphun station into town

Lamphun station sits a bit outside the old town — once you're off the train you still have about 2–3 km to go. The upside is that the station is one of the Anywheel bike-rental points, so you can pedal straight from the station into the old town, or grab a Grab/samlor to finish the trip.

Driving yourself / renting a car from Chiang Mai

If you want to hit several spots in a day, or you're thinking of heading out of town to Pa Sang, Wat Chamthewi, or Doi Khun Tan, driving yourself is the most flexible. There are two main routes from Chiang Mai.

Highway 11 (the Superhighway): the fast route, wide lanes, good if you just want to get there quickly — about 30 minutes.
Highway 106, the rain-tree road: the classic route, lined with century-old yang na (rain) trees the whole way from Chiang Mai to Lamphun. Shady and scenic — good for photos and a relaxed drive.

The rain-tree road (Highway 106) is a route that means a lot to people from Chiang Mai and Lamphun. The yang na trees along it were planted back in the reign of King Rama VI, around 1911, so they're tall and shade the whole road. You can pull over for photos here and there, but watch oncoming traffic — the road is fairly narrow.

Parking in Lamphun town

Lamphun's old town is small with narrow streets, and on weekends or during festivals it gets busy around Wat Phra That Hariphunchai. Park on the edge of town and walk or cycle in — it's far easier than circling the temple area looking for a spot.

Cycling around Lamphun's old town

This is the highlight of Lamphun that a lot of people miss. The old town is flat and small, with the sights clustered together in a loop. Cycling around the old moat and stopping at each temple is the most natural way to see it. Lamphun bills itself as a low-carbon travel town and has Anywheel public rental bikes spread across many points all over town.

There are about 15 Anywheel pickup/drop-off points across town, covering the main sights nicely — Lamphun railway station, Ku Chang Garden, the Queen Chamthewi Monument, Tha Nang Gate, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, and Wat Mahawan. You can ride from one point and return the bike at another, so there's no need to loop back.

Anywheel price: about 10 THB per 30 minutes, or roughly 100 THB for a full-day pass, with a minimum top-up through the app
Suggested route: railway station → Tha Nang Gate → Wat Phra That Hariphunchai → Wat Mahawan → Chamthewi Monument → Ku Chang–Ku Ma
Best time: morning or late afternoon, when the sun is gentler, the town is quiet, and the ride is easy

You don't have to cycle

If biking isn't your thing, Lamphun's old town is small enough to explore on foot, or you can take a samlor (cycle rickshaw) for a relaxed tour of the town — another bit of Lamphun's charm that you can still find around Wat Phra That.

Exploring outside Lamphun town

Some sights sit outside the old town, where cycling may be too far — you'll want your own car or a rented motorbike.

Out of town

Pa Sang

An old hand-woven cotton town about 10 km south of Lamphun town — a good drive out to shop for fabric and souvenirs.

Nature

Doi Khun Tan

A national park and an old railway tunnel, further out — you'll want your own car or to go by train.

Community

Nong Chang Khuen

A weaving village and longan orchards — nice for a drive through the village to see local life.

Sample one-day plan from Chiang Mai

One day