Quick Options Ranked by Reliability
| Mode | Time | Cost | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi (Thailand Limo) | 1h | ฿2000-2500 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Private, AC, hotel pickup |
| Suwarnphum Burapha Minivan | 1h | ฿240 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spacious seats, luggage racks |
| 35 Group Bus | 1h | ฿200 | ⭐⭐⭐ Basic AC, hard seats |
| Phetprasert Minivan | 1h 5m | ฿60-240 | ⭐⭐ Cramped, luggage nightmare |
Distance is 60km. Traffic on Sukhumvit Road can add 15 minutes during peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm). All options drop you at Rayong Bus Terminal central hub.
Bus vs Minivan vs Taxi: Which Fits Your Trip?
Go Taxi if: You’re traveling with family, have 3+ bags, or arriving late at night. Thailand Limo drivers wait at your hotel lobby. No haggling. Book on Kiwitaxi to lock the ฿2000 rate (walk-up taxis charge ฿2500+).
Go Suwarnphum Burapha if: You want comfort without the taxi markup. Spacious seats beat the cramped Phetprasert vans. Catch it at BigC South Pattaya (easier than Terminal 1). Weekends sell out. Check schedules on 12Go the day before.
Go 35 Group if: You’re solo, have one bag, and don’t care about legroom. It’s ฿40 cheaper than Suwarnphum. Leaves from Pattaya Bus Terminal 1 twice daily. Seats don’t recline. Bring headphones.
Skip Phetprasert unless: You’re desperate or traveling ultralight. The ฿60 fare only applies to locals who book in Thai. Tourists pay ฿240 (same as Suwarnphum, but worse seats). Luggage space? Zero. One guy’s surfboard got left on the curb last week.
Live Schedules & Booking: Who Runs What
35 Group Pattaya: Departs 09:00 and 15:00 from Terminal 1. No online booking. Show up 20 minutes early, buy tickets at Counter 4. Cash only. ฿200 flat.
Suwarnphum Burapha: 09:00 and 13:00 daily. Book via 12Go or walk-in at BigC South Pattaya ticket desk (ground floor, near ATMs). Accepts cash and cards. ฿240.
Thailand Limo: 24/7 on-demand. Book 2 hours ahead minimum. Driver calls you 10 minutes before pickup. Payment via Kiwitaxi (credit card) or cash to driver. ฿2000-2500 depending on pickup location.
Phetprasert Tour: 3 departures (06:00, 10:30, 14:00). No fixed station in Pattaya—ask your hotel to call them. Or book walk-in at Thepprasit market stall (next to 7-Eleven). ฿60-240 depending on negotiation skills.
Comfort & Amenities: What You Actually Get
AC: All options have it. Thailand Limo’s is adjustable. Suwarnphum Burapha blasts it cold (bring a jacket). 35 Group’s AC smells like diesel for the first 10 minutes. Phetprasert’s cuts out randomly.
Luggage: Thailand Limo fits 4 large suitcases in the trunk. Suwarnphum Burapha has rear racks (2 medium bags per person max). 35 Group stores bags underneath (no size limit, but retrieval takes 10 minutes at arrival). Phetprasert? One backpack. Seriously.
WiFi: None. Tether your phone or download offline maps before departure.
Toilets: No onboard toilets. 35 Group and Phetprasert don’t stop mid-route. Suwarnphum Burapha sometimes stops at a PTT gas station (10 minutes, driver’s discretion). Thailand Limo will stop anywhere you ask.
Pro Tips: Avoid Scams, Best Pick-up Points & Alternatives
Best pick-up spot: BigC South Pattaya for Suwarnphum Burapha (easier parking than Terminal 1, free AC while you wait). Terminal 1 for 35 Group (no choice). Hotel lobby for Thailand Limo.
Avoid weekends: Friday-Sunday buses sell out by 8am. Book Thursday night or take the taxi.
Alternative route: Need to go beyond Rayong? Check Pattaya Bus Terminal 2 to Bangkok buses—some stop in Rayong. Slower (adds 30min) but more departure times.
Return trip: Rayong to Pattaya buses leave hourly (06:00-18:00). Same operators, same prices. Buy tickets at Rayong Bus Terminal ticket counters (cash only).
If you’re flying out: Rayong is 45 minutes from U-Tapao Airport. Factor in connection time if you’re catching an international flight.
Traffic wildcards: Sukhumvit Road construction (Km 163-165) adds 10 minutes until March 2026. Songkran (April 13-15) turns the 1-hour trip into 2+ hours. Plan accordingly.
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