Bangkok Traffic Time Estimator

Compare drive, BTS, MRT, and Chao Phraya boat with rush-hour and rain-day adjustments.

Origin district

Destination district

Departure time

Day of week

Rain expected?

What this solves

Bangkok's rush hours are 07:00–09:00 and 16:00–19:00 on weekdays, with major chokepoints around Asok, Phetchaburi, and Rama IV. A 6 km drive that takes 12 minutes off-peak can become 45 minutes during peak. This estimator uses a base drive time, applies rush-hour and rain multipliers, and contrasts with BTS/MRT fixed times plus Chao Phraya boat options.

How to read results

Drive times are estimates with a heavy uncertainty band — Bangkok traffic is famously unpredictable. BTS/MRT times are much more reliable (rail runs on grade-separated tracks). The Chao Phraya Express is a wildcard — scenic and quick across the river, but only useful when at least one endpoint is near a pier.

Limitations

Drive times are modeled averages; actual times during rain can be 50% longer than predicted.
BTS/MRT coverage excludes suburbs — if origin or destination is far from a station, walking/transit time adds up.
Boat option only appears when both endpoints are river-adjacent.

FAQ

When should I never drive in Bangkok?

Monday–Friday 07:30–09:00 and 17:00–19:00 are the worst. Heavy rain worsens things further — sometimes a 15-minute trip becomes 90 minutes. Avoid the Silom-Rama IV interchange, Asok-Phetchaburi junction, and the bridges over the Chao Phraya during peak.

Is BTS really that much faster?

Yes. BTS/MRT averages 28 km/h with stops. Bangkok drive averages 14 km/h in the day, often below 10 km/h in rain. Rail is usually twice as fast for any cross-town trip.

When is the river boat useful?

When you're going between Old City / Chinatown / Silom / Asok — all of which have piers. The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat (150 baht/day pass) is tourist-friendly and has commentary.

Sources

Google Maps typical-traffic published median times for Bangkok districts.
BTS Skytrain — published timetable and station-to-station travel times.
Chao Phraya Express Boat — pier list and tourist-boat one-day pass pricing.