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Search round tripsDomestic route UTH to CNX
Udon Thani to Chiang Mai: the direct way from Isan to the north
Both airlines link Udon Thani with Chiang Mai nonstop in about an hour, landing just 3 km from the Old City moat.
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Fares are pulled from the airlines and our partners when you search. Search your dates
Nonstop, Nok Air and Thai AirAsiaEconomy
UTH
Udon Thani
CNX
Chiang Mai
- Distance
- 433 km
Return
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Looking for Udon Thani to Chiang Mai air tickets and not sure what to pay? Two airlines fly this route, and fares change with demand, so the same seat can cost noticeably more close to a holiday weekend. Put your dates in the search above to compare today's fares and book with bookingMentor.
Everything you should know
Udon Thani to Chiang Mai flight guide
Flying from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai
In short
From Udon Thani (UTH) you can reach Chiang Mai (CNX) without going near Bangkok: both airlines fly the route nonstop. It is about 433 km in a straight line and roughly an hour in the air, and the arrival airport is one of the closest to a city centre anywhere in Thailand.
Departing from Udon Thani airport is quick. Ninety minutes before departure is usually enough, with two hours on holiday weekends and while the Horticultural Expo is on (1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027). Eat before you clear security: the first-floor buffet and the landside coffee shops have far more choice than the gate area. The paid Coral Executive Lounge is in Terminal 2 near Gates 4 and 5.
Both airlines sell low-cost fares, which means a seat and a cabin bag. If you are carrying a suitcase, add a checked bag at the time of booking rather than at the counter.
Taxis, apps and buses from Chiang Mai arrivals
Domestic and international flights share one long building at Chiang Mai International Airport. Bags arrive quickly in the compact hall, and from there you have four ways into town:
- The airport taxi counter in arrivals sells flat-fare rides to most addresses, about 10 to 20 minutes to the Old City.
- Grab and Bolt pick up at the marked area outside Exit 2.
- RTC city bus route 24 leaves from Exit 2 in daytime: 24L heads towards the Night Bazaar and Tha Phae Gate, 24R towards Suan Dok and Nimman.
- Shared vans drop at hotels by zone when they fill up.
Ignore drivers who approach you inside the hall; the counter and the apps are cheaper.
Picking your dates
The cool season from November to February is the best time to arrive, and Chiang Mai's Yi Peng lantern festival falls in this window, usually in November. Hotels fill fast around it. Avoid February to April if you can: smoke from fires across the north often brings poor air and occasional flight delays.
Leaving from a former Vietnam War air base
The airport you leave from has served Udon Thani since 1932. Owned by the Royal Thai Air Force and run for civil flights by the Department of Airports, it became Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War, a front-line American base and the Asian headquarters of Air America.
Military flying continues: the air force's Wing 23 and its 231 Squadron, equipped with Alpha Jets, share the 3,048 m runway with airliners. Passenger traffic reached 2,012,155 in 2025, about 7 percent more than in 2024 and well above the 677,411 counted in 2006. Chiang Mai, at the other end, handled about 2.57 million international passengers in 2025 on top of its domestic traffic.
From Udon, Nok Air flies to Don Mueang and Chiang Mai; Thai AirAsia to both Bangkok airports, Chiang Mai and Phuket; Thai Lion Air to Don Mueang, Hat Yai and U-Tapao; and Thai Airways and Thai VietJet to Suvarnabhumi.
Nok Air or Thai AirAsia
Nok Air, founded in 2004 and based at Don Mueang, flies Boeing 737-800s with 189 seats and a painted beak on the nose. Thai AirAsia, also launched in 2004, flies Airbus A320s and A321neos and has its head office at Don Mueang. Both have Chiang Mai as an operating base.
Chiang Mai International Airport, run by Airports of Thailand, handled 9.52 million passengers in 2025 and has been open 24 hours since April 2014.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
We check practical details such as entry rules, seasons and costs against official government and tourism sources.
Udon Thani to Chiang Mai flights at a glance
Both airlines fly nonstop from Udon Thani (UTH) to Chiang Mai (CNX). The trip is about 433 km and takes about an hour.
| Flight time | 1h 00m nonstop |
|---|---|
| Best time to go | November to February |
| Distance | 433 km |
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Airlines flying Udon Thani to Chiang Mai
Both low-cost airlines fly the route. Both check in at Udon Thani's compact terminal and land at the domestic side of Chiang Mai's single building.
Basic fares include a cabin bag only. Checked bags, seats and meals are add-ons, so compare the full price once you have added what you need.
Departure and arrival airports
UTH Udon Thani International Airport
- Codes
- IATA UTH, ICAO VTUD
- Location
- South-western edge of Udon Thani, about 10 to 20 minutes from the centre
- Check-in
- 90 minutes ahead is usually enough; two hours at busy weekends
- Lounge
- Coral Executive Lounge, Terminal 2 near Gates 4 and 5
CNX Chiang Mai International Airport
- Codes
- IATA CNX, ICAO VTCC
- Location
- About 4 km south-west of the centre, 3 km from the Old City moat
- Into town
- Taxi counter, Grab or Bolt from Exit 2, RTC bus route 24 in daytime
- Terminal
- One building; domestic arrivals at the northern end
How to book Udon Thani to Chiang Mai for less
Small things that save time on this trip.
1st floorbuffet restaurant, landside
Eat in Udon before security
Airside at Udon Thani is mostly coffee and snacks. The first-floor buffet is the only proper meal in the terminal, so have lunch there before you go through.
3 kmairport to the Old City moat
Use Exit 2 at Chiang Mai
The RTC bus stop and the Grab and Bolt pick-up area are both outside Exit 2. With light bags in daytime, the bus is the cheapest way to the moat; with luggage, use the taxi counter.
Novlantern festival month
Book early for Yi Peng
Chiang Mai's lantern festival brings one of the busiest weekends of the year. Fares and hotel prices rise early, so lock in both as soon as the dates are announced.
Flight, train or bus to Chiang Mai
No train runs directly between Udon Thani and Chiang Mai, and the drive takes most of a day. The nonstop flight saves a full travel day.
| Mode | Journey time | Total trip time | One-way fare | Operators and timings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight (nonstop) | About 1 hour | About 3 hours including airport time | Search fares | 2 airlines |
| Flights via Bangkok | Two flights with a change at Don Mueang | Half a day or more | Search fares | 2 airlines |
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
Most first-time visitors stay inside or close to the Old City moat, or in the Nimman area to the west; both are 10 to 20 minutes from the airport.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Timing & weather
About an hour. The airports are roughly 433 km apart, and the scheduled time changes slightly with the airline and season.
November to February, when the north is cool and dry. Try to avoid February to April, when smoke from fires often brings haze and the odd delay.
General
Nok Air and Thai AirAsia. There is no full-service airline on the route, so expect low-cost fares with optional extras.
Yes, but on basic fares it is an extra. Add the checked bag when you book; buying it at the counter costs more.
Getting there
Ninety minutes is usually enough at this small airport. Allow two hours on holiday weekends and during the Horticultural Expo between November 2026 and March 2027.
At the marked ride-hailing area outside Exit 2, beyond the RTC bus stop. Request the car once you have your bags.
Only a few kilometres. A taxi or app ride takes about 10 to 20 minutes, and the RTC 24R bus loop runs towards Suan Dok and Nimman.
The paid Coral Executive Lounge is airside in Terminal 2, near Gates 4 and 5. Book at least an hour ahead.
Not directly. Udon Thani is on the north-eastern line and Chiang Mai on the northern line, and the two only meet in Bangkok. Flying saves a full day.
Yes, the terminal stays open around the clock, though most cafés and shops close late in the evening and the bus stops running at night.
Prices & payment
RTC city bus route 24, which leaves from Exit 2 during the day. Larger suitcases pay a small extra charge, so with heavy luggage a Bolt or Grab ride is often similar in price.
