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🛣️ Cross-Province Plan

Phitsanulok-Uttaradit
3 Days 2 Nights

Phitsanulok and Uttaradit sit only about 100 kilometers apart, just over an hour by car, so it's easy to string them into a single trip. Start by paying respects to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat in Phitsanulok, then work your way north to the legend town of Laplae, the Phraya Phichai Dap Hak monument, and finish at Sirikit Dam. If you want to push on to Nan or Phrae afterward, you can carry straight on from here. This is the 3-day, 2-night plan, already laid out for you.

🛣️ Drive ~100 km🙏 Temples + old town🌄 Sirikit Dam
Phitsanulok-Uttaradit 3 Days 2 Nights

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The Lower North often gets skipped. Most people just drive through Phitsanulok on their way up to Chiang Mai. But slow down a little and add the next province, Uttaradit, and you get Laplae with its old legend, hard-to-find local food, and Sirikit Dam with a really nice view. This plan suits self-drivers, and 3 days and 2 nights is just about right, full enough to see the highlights without wearing yourself out rushing.

Route Overview

From Phitsanulok town to Uttaradit town you'll mostly take Highway 11, a distance of around 100-118 kilometers depending on where you start and end. That's roughly an hour and a half to nearly two hours of relaxed driving. The road is wide and easy. If you don't have your own car, buses and vans run between the two provinces and take about the same time.

  • Day 1 — Cover Phitsanulok: pay respects to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, walk the Nan riverside market, and stay the night in Phitsanulok town.
  • Day 2 — Drive up to Uttaradit, head into Laplae, eat the local specialties, pay respects at Wat Phra Thaen Sila At, and stay the night in Uttaradit town.
  • Day 3 — See the Phraya Phichai Dap Hak monument, then run out to Sirikit Dam before heading home or carrying on to Nan or Phrae.
🎟️

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Day 1 — Phitsanulok

Day 1

Temples + the Nan Riverside

08:30
Pay respects to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Wat Yai)A Buddha image many people rate among the most beautiful in Thailand. Go early while it's still quiet and you can take photos comfortably. Free entry.
10:30
Stop by the Sergeant Major Thawee Folk MuseumA huge collection of everyday tools and objects from the Lower North; a great way to get a feel for local life. Entry is just a few tens of baht.
12:00
Lunch — leg-dangling noodles (kuaytiao hoi kha) by the Nan RiverThe town's signature dish: you sit with your legs dangling over the river while you eat. Bowls start at around THB 40-60, and there are several stalls along the Nan riverside.
14:00
Chan Palace + a riverside cafe to escape the heatWalk around the historic site believed to be King Naresuan's birthplace, then find a riverside cafe to duck out of the afternoon sun.
17:30
Evening/night market on the Nan, then try the flying morning-glory stir-fryThe town's signature party trick: cooks toss the stir-fried morning glory through the air. It's fun and genuinely tasty, a light dinner before bed.

Tip

If you only have half a day in Phitsanulok, trim it down to Wat Yai + leg-dangling noodles + flying morning-glory stir-fry. Those three are the heart of the town, and you can knock them out in a couple of hours before heading on.

Day 2 — Up to Uttaradit, into Laplae

Day 2

The Laplae Legend + Local Food

08:00
Leave Phitsanulok, drive up Highway 11 toward UttaraditA distance of around 100 km, an easy hour and a half. Fill up the tank before you leave town to be safe.
09:45
Laplae town gate + Laplae MuseumThe classic check-in spot for Laplae district, with the local legend about a town where you mustn't tell a lie. It's a fun story to hear.
11:00
Pay respects at Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang + Wat Phra Thaen Sila AtAncient temples that define the area. Phra Thaen Sila At is a sacred relic known across the country, set on a small hill.
12:30
Laplae local lunch — mi phan from Pa Wang + khao phan phakMi phan is rice noodles, blanched and wrapped in thin rice crackers, with a balanced sour-salty-sweet flavor; khao phan phak is soft steamed rice rolls. You can't find these elsewhere, and they cost just a few tens of baht a plate.
14:30
Laplae fruit market (in season) or a cafe in townIn the hot season there's a festival for Long Laplae and Lin Laplae durians, langsat, and longkong. Out of season, just drop into a town cafe and chill instead.
17:00
Check in to your Uttaradit town lodging + find dinnerIn-town lodging runs from a few-hundred-baht guesthouse to a thousand-baht-plus hotel. The location near the train station makes it easy to walk out for food.

Worth knowing

Many of the mi phan stalls and local Laplae food spots sell from morning into the afternoon, and some close early once they sell out. To be sure you get to try them, treat it as lunch rather than pushing it to dinner.

Day 3 — Phraya Phichai Dap Hak + Sirikit Dam

Day 3

History + the Dam's Nature

08:30
Phraya Phichai Dap Hak monument, in front of the provincial hallKing Taksin's trusted general, who fought until his sword broke but never backed down. In the same grounds there's a museum with a giant Nam Phi iron sword to see.
10:30
Drive to Sirikit Dam, Tha Pla districtAbout an hour from town, with a scenic climb up the hills. It's one of Thailand's large earth-fill dams, and the water turns emerald green when the reservoir is full.
12:00
Lunch at a dam-side restaurant + photos at the viewpointThere are restaurants and photo spots looking over the reservoir. If you want to stay overnight, there's lodging on the bank and floating rafts you can book.
14:30
Pick your route — back to Phitsanulok, or carry on to Nan or PhraeIf you're wrapping up the trip, it's about two hours back down to Phitsanulok. If you want to keep traveling, the Uttaradit-Nan road is gorgeous, passing the stargazing road and the mountains of the Upper North.

How to Extend the Lower North Route

The nice thing about this plan is how easily it extends. Uttaradit is a gateway to the Upper North. You can carry on to Nan via a mountain road many people rate as one of the prettiest drives, or turn off to Phrae for its old town and the Khum Chao Luang mansion. If you have leave days to spare, extending the trip is easy.

Drive ~3 hrs

On to Nan

The Uttaradit-Nan road runs through mountains and the stargazing road, with pretty scenery the whole way. Nan town is quiet, with Wat Phumin and riverside cafes.

Drive ~2 hrs

On to Phrae

Take in Phrae's old town, the Khum Chao Luang mansion, and mo hom indigo cloth. It's a small province but there's plenty to see.

Drive ~2 hrs

Back to Phitsanulok

If you're keeping the trip short, head back down to Phitsanulok to fly out or catch a train home, which is convenient thanks to its airport and major station.

Before You Go

  • Car — your own vehicle is by far the smoothest, since Uttaradit's sights are spread out, especially Sirikit Dam, which sits outside town.
  • Season — the cool season (Nov-Feb) has the nicest weather, while the hot season throws in the Laplae durian festival as a bonus.
  • Cash — many local eateries and markets mainly take cash, so keep small notes on hand.
  • Time — allow time for driving between stops and don't pack the schedule too tightly. This trip is at its best when you can take it slow.

Want a well-located place to use as a base before you set off

See the Top 10 Phitsanulok Hotels →

FAQ

Is Uttaradit far from Phitsanulok, and how long is the drive?

Not far. It's around 100-118 kilometers depending on where you start and end, roughly an hour and a half to nearly two hours along Highway 11. The road is wide and easy, and buses and vans run between the two provinces as well.

How many days does this plan need?

3 days and 2 nights is just right. Day one covers Phitsanulok, day two heads up to Uttaradit and into Laplae, and day three takes in the Phraya Phichai Dap Hak monument and Sirikit Dam. If you're short on time, you can condense it to 2 days and 1 night by cutting a few stops.

What's good to eat in Laplae?

The local specialties that are hard to find elsewhere are mi phan, rice noodles blanched and wrapped in thin rice crackers, and khao phan phak, soft steamed rice rolls. Well-known spots like Pa Wang's mi phan sell from morning into the afternoon, and in the hot season there are Long Laplae and Lin Laplae durians to try at the fruit market.

Where else can this trip extend to?

Uttaradit is a gateway to the Upper North. You can carry on to Nan via a scenic mountain road, or turn off to Phrae for its old town and the Khum Chao Luang mansion. If you have leave days to spare, extending the trip is easy.

Can I do this plan without my own car?

You can, but it's harder. In both Phitsanulok and Uttaradit towns you can walk and take hired vehicles, but out-of-town spots like Sirikit Dam are tough to reach by public transport. We'd suggest renting a car or hiring a local vehicle for stretches of the trip.

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