Chiang Mai lies at the heart of the main road network for all of northern Thailand. Virtually every town and village is connected to the city by road, so exploring the region by car is very easy.

Ordinary and air-conditioned buses are usually run by the government transport company Baw Khaw Saw. Privately owned air-conditioned buses, such as those run by Nakonchai (tel: (02) 936 3355; website: www.nca.co.th), also ply some of the more popular long-distance routes. Ordinary buses are cheap and frequent, but work on a commission basis so pack in as many people as possible and may not leave on time as a result of touting for extra business. To flag down an ordinary bus wait at a bus stop or sala. Air-conditioned buses are a little more expensive, but run according to a timetable, allocate seats to travellers and provide snacks and videos on longer routes. Tickets for air-conditioned buses can be bought at the terminals: ordinary bus tickets should be bought once onboard.

The main Arcade bus station, on Thanon Kaeo Nawarat (tel: (053) 242 664), is 3km (2 miles) northeast of town. Buses to and from most northern provinces, as well as elsewhere in Thailand, arrive and depart here. To get to the city centre from here, catch bus 4 to Tha Pae Gate. Alternatively hail a songthaew (share-taxi) or tuk-tuk (motorised rickshaw). However, if you are coming from Fang or Tha Ton in the north, you will arrive at the Chang Phuak bus station on Thanon Chotana, 500m (1,600ft) north of the city centre's northern Chang Phuak Gate and 2km (1.25 miles) northwest of Tha Pae Gate.