Driving in Pattaya: rules, one-way streets and the motorway

Documents and speed limits

• Traffic keeps to the left, and cars are right-hand drive.
• Licences from ASEAN countries are valid without an International Driving Permit. Thailand is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so an International Driving Permit of the 1949 model is recognised together with your national licence.
• The limit is 80 km/h in built-up areas, which by law include Pattaya City, 90 km/h outside them and 120 km/h on Motorway 7; signs may set lower limits. Speeding is fined up to 1,000 THB, usually 500 THB, and on Motorway 7 the limit is enforced mainly by cameras.
• Drivers under 20 and those with a provisional licence have a 20 mg/dl alcohol limit; for everyone else the safe rule is not to drink and drive.

Streets in the centre

Beach Road and Second Road form an anti-clockwise one-way loop: south along Beach Road and north along Second Road to Dolphin Roundabout. Walking Street is closed to cars from 19:00 to 03:00, with parking at the Bali Hai end. Jomtien Beach Road has been two-way again since 22 December 2025. Thappraya Road is the main way from Jomtien into Pattaya over Pratamnak, and Thepprasit Road links it to Sukhumvit.

Motorway 7 and the free route

Motorway 7 covers the 125.9 km from Bangkok to Pattaya on eight lanes. Tolls for a car come to about 105–130 THB for the whole trip; the cash lanes are usually on the left. The Pattaya spur leaves the motorway via Nong Prue and joins Sukhumvit. If you prefer to avoid tolls, Highway 34 (Bang Na–Trat), the Chonburi bypass and Highway 3 (Sukhumvit) through Bang Saen lead to Pattaya without charge.

Fuel

On 24 September 2026 Bangchak retail prices were 39.94 THB a litre for Gasohol 95, 34.94 THB for E20 and 41.44 THB for B7 diesel; prices in Chonburi province can differ slightly.