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Khao Yai National Park: Fees, Getting There, Rules

Khao Yai is an easy day from Bangkok, and foreign visitors pay THB 400 per adult and THB 200 per child at either gate. A car adds THB 30 and a motorcycle THB 20, and one ticket covers a single day.

On this page
  1. What you pay at the gate
  2. Who it suits
  3. Getting there from Bangkok
  4. Park rules and elephants
  5. Closures to know about
  6. When to go
  7. Before you go
  8. Step by step
  9. Common questions

What you pay at the gate

Carved wooden Khao Yai National Park entrance sign with Thai and English lettering
The entrance sign at the visitor centre.

Bring THB 400 for each foreign adult and THB 200 for each foreign child; that is the rate at both the Pak Chong and Noen Hom gates. Khao Yai is a Group 2 park on paper, but the park carries a special service charge that lifts the foreigner rate.

Visitor Child Adult
Foreigner at the Pak Chong and Noen Hom gates THB 200 THB 400

If you drive, a motorcycle costs THB 20 and a 4-wheel vehicle THB 30 on top. You can pay the officers at the gate or use the DNP QueQ app, and one ticket works for a single day only. For the other parks, see Thailand national park fees for foreigners.

Big vehicles are the exception: anything taller than 3.50 m or with more than 6 wheels cannot enter, and towed RVs are turned away at both main gates.

Who it suits

Khao Yai is a good fit if you want wildlife without a long trip, because wild elephants are often seen right beside the road. If you prefer quiet, arrive at the 06:00 opening.

Skip it if you are towing an RV, travelling with a pet, or hoping for a drink inside the park.

Getting there from Bangkok

Rope suspension footbridge and wooden walkway beside a pond leading to a low visitor centre building
The walkway by the visitor centre.
Khao Yai National Park Visitor Center
PO Box 9, Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Khao Yai has two gates, and the one you pick decides your route. The road between them runs about 50 km, so you can enter at one and leave by the other.

By car, Pak Chong is the more common side at roughly 205 km from Bangkok. The Noen Hom gate via Nakhon Nayok is a bit closer at about 190 km.

Without a car, go to Pak Chong. Take the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima coach or a minivan and get off at Pak Chong. From there a bus to the visitor centre leaves every 30 minutes for THB 15. If you came by train, a songthaew from Pak Chong Market does the same job. For the Noen Hom side, take the Prachinburi coach and get off at the Naresuan Shrine roundabout.

For other trips out of the city, see Bangkok day trips.

Park rules and elephants

Tall buttressed tree trunks with a twisted vine in green rainforest
Old forest trees on a park trail.

The rules are short: no alcohol, no pets, and drones need permission. Do not feed or touch the animals. For national limits, read drone rules in Thailand.

If an elephant stands on the road ahead, stop the car at least 30 m away and reverse slowly if it approaches. Keep the engine running, and skip the horn and the flash.

Closures to know about

Royal Gazette table listing the Khao Yai rows of the national park closure list, with waterfalls, a viewpoint and a trail each shown with a closure period.
The Khao Yai rows of the Department of National Parks closure list for 2026. Source: Royal Gazette: Department of National Parks closure list for B.E. 2569 (page 2 of the PDF) (opens in a new tab), captured 24 October 2026

Several waterfalls close for part of the year. Kaeng Hin Phoeng and Takhro waterfall close from 1 March to 30 April, and Sarika waterfall from 1 to 30 April. The Pha Diao Dai viewpoint closes from 1 June to 30 September, and the trail between Kong Kaeo and Heo Suwat waterfalls from 1 July to 31 August. Than Thip waterfall and the Pha Kluai Mai campsite stay closed with no end date.

When to go

October to February is the cool season and the busiest time. The park is open from 06:00 to 18:00. For the wider picture, start with Best time to visit Thailand.

Still dark pond fringed by green forest, seen from a wooden deck
A quiet pond inside the park.

Before you go

Take cash or the QueQ app for THB 400 per adult and THB 200 per child, plus THB 30 if you bring a car. Keep your ticket with you in the park, and check the closure dates above before you plan a waterfall. The 24-hour emergency line is 086-092-6527.

Photos (4)
  • เอกชัย
  • Arunchai Peerakachorn
  • Monica Mazza
  • Peter Lifestory

↑ Contents

Step by step

  1. Choose your gateUse the Pak Chong gate (Chao Por Khao Yai Shrine) in Nakhon Ratchasima or the Noen Hom gate in Prachinburi.
  2. Get to Pak Chong without a carTake the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima coach or a Bangkok to Pak Chong minivan and get off at Pak Chong.
  3. Reach the Pak Chong gateFrom Pak Chong, take the bus to the visitor centre or, if you came by train, a songthaew from Pak Chong Market.
  4. Pay the feePay THB 400 per foreign adult and THB 200 per foreign child through the QueQ app or to the officers.

Not confirmed: Pak Chong buses: the THB 15 fare and 30-minute departures come from the park's own undated page, so confirm both at Pak Chong. Getting between waterfalls without a car: no hire or shuttle service is described, so ask at the visitor centre.

Common questions

How much does a foreigner pay to enter Khao Yai National Park?

Foreign adults pay THB 400 and foreign children THB 200 at the Pak Chong and Noen Hom entrances. Vehicles are charged separately.

How much is the vehicle fee at Khao Yai?

A motorcycle pays THB 20 and a 4-wheel vehicle THB 30.

Is the Khao Yai ticket valid for more than one day?

No. One ticket lets you enter and exit the park on a single day only.

What time does Khao Yai National Park open and close?

The park is open from 06:00 to 18:00.

Can you pay for Khao Yai by app?

Yes. You can pay through the DNP QueQ e-ticket app or to the officers at the gate.

Can you bring a drone, alcohol or a pet into Khao Yai?

Alcohol and pets are not allowed, and drones need permission.

What should you do if you meet an elephant on the road at Khao Yai?

Stop the car at least 30 m away and reverse carefully if it approaches. Keep the engine running.

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Sources and reader comments

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