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How to Get from Don Mueang Airport into Bangkok

Don Mueang is Bangkok’s older airport, about 25 km north of the centre and the base for most low-cost carriers. It is closer to the city than Suvarnabhumi but the roads in are more congested, so the journey times end up similar. There are several cheap ways in, and one thing that catches people out.

Private taxi · DMK Airport → BangkokFixed fare per car, tolls included. Pay the driver at the end. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup; after that 25–100% of the fare.

Sedan: ฿600
SUV: ฿800
Van: ฿1,000

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The journey at a glance

From	Don Mueang Airport (DMK)
To	Bangkok
Distance	≈ 25 km
Journey time	30 – 50 minutes, longer in peak traffic
Private taxi fare	Sedan ฿600 · SUV ฿800 · Van ฿1,000 — per car, tolls included
Payment	Cash in Thai baht to the driver at the end. Nothing is charged when you book.
Cancellation	Free up to 24 hours before pickup; after that 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the fare, and 100% for a no-show, also when you pay the driver in cash.

Every option compared

Option	Typical cost	Total time	Departures	Door to door	Booking
Private transfer (fixed price)	฿600 per vehicle	30 – 50 min	Meets your flight	Arrivals to your hotel door	Same day usually fine
SRT Red Line	≈฿33 – 40 per person	20 – 30 min	Every 10–20 min	No — then a connection	Buy at the station
A1 / A2 bus	≈฿30 – 50 per person	45 – 70 min	Frequent	No — Mo Chit or Victory Monument	Pay on board
Metered taxi from the rank	฿200 – 350 total	30 – 50 min	Queue at arrivals	Yes	No — take a ticket and queue

Bus, minivan, train and ferry fares are approximate and were last checked in September 2026. They change without notice. Our own taxi fares are live from our booking system.

The connecting-flight trap

The single most expensive mistake at Don Mueang is assuming it connects easily with Suvarnabhumi. They are separate airports about 50 km apart on opposite sides of Bangkok, with the whole city between them. A free shuttle runs for passengers with connecting tickets, but in traffic the transfer can take well over an hour and there is no guarantee attached to it.

If you are connecting between the two airports on separate tickets, leave far more time than the map suggests — four hours is not excessive in the evening — and consider booking a private transfer directly rather than relying on the shuttle.

Practical tips

The Red Line station is connected to the terminal by a walkway. It is genuinely quick, but it drops you at Krung Thep Aphiwat, from which most hotels still need a connection.
Many Don Mueang flights land late at night, when the Red Line and the A1 bus have stopped. Check the last departure before planning to use them.
Don Mueang is north of the city; Suvarnabhumi is east. Journeys onwards to Pattaya, Ban Phe or Koh Chang take about an hour longer from here.
Give us your flight number — low-cost carrier delays are common on these routes, so a person checks the flight before the driver sets off, and 60 minutes of free waiting are included.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way from Don Mueang into Bangkok?

The A1 or A2 bus at roughly ฿30 to ฿50, or the SRT Red Line at ฿33 to ฿40. The Red Line is faster and more predictable; the bus goes to Mo Chit or Victory Monument, which may suit you better depending on where you are staying.

How much is a taxi from Don Mueang to Bangkok?

A metered taxi from the official rank is typically ฿200 to ฿350 including the ฿50 airport surcharge and any tolls. A fixed-price private transfer is ฿600 for a sedan, with the driver waiting and no meter to watch.

How do I get from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi?

They are separate airports roughly 50 km apart with Bangkok in between. A free shuttle runs for passengers holding connecting tickets, but the transfer can take over an hour in traffic. If you are on separate tickets, allow several hours and consider booking a private transfer.

Is there public transport from Don Mueang late at night?

Not reliably. Many low-cost flights land after the Red Line and airport buses have finished for the day, which leaves the taxi rank or a pre-booked transfer. If you are landing late, arranging the ride in advance is worth doing.