You are in Bangkok with your family and you really want to get out in nature. Bangkok does offer some amazing parks you can run around. However, if your kids are like ours then what you really want is a place that they can hike, explore, get dirty, and go camping! Luckily, there is the amazing Khai Yai National Park just a short drive away from Bangkok.
Khao Yai National Park is a very popular location for local Thai and expats alike. However, it is a large National Park, and there are plenty of places you can go to get away from people and explore the beautiful jungles of Thailand. There are also awesome opportunities to go camping in Khao Yao National Park, and our family has taken many trips there for trips ranging from one to three days.
Location of Khao Yao National Park
Khao Yai National Park is located around a 2 ½ hour drive away from Bangkok. This makes it an easy weekend trip to go camping. It is close enough to even do as a day trip if that fits your schedule better.
It is recommended to have your own set of wheels when visiting Khai Yai National Park. You can arrange for a tour to go and see it, but many of the hikes and waterfalls you would want to go to are far apart from each other. Having a car makes the experience more enjoyable and manageable as a family.
Why visit Khao Yai National Park?
Khao Yai National Park was given national park status in 1962. It was also given UNESCO world heritage status. Why? It was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its five different types of forest that can be found within the park. On top of that there are around 200 different species of birds. There are also 20 different large animal species. Some include: elephants, tigers, civets, bears, and some species of deer.
Khao Yai was the first designated national park in Thailand
It covers just over 2,000 square kilometers, so it is easy to get away from people and into the deep jungle. There are plenty of amazing hikes to go on.
Visiting the Khao Yai Area vs. Khao Yai National Park
If you are familiar with Bangkok, you will hear many people talk about going to Khao Yai for the weekend. It is extremely popular and attracts many people. However, the term Khao Yai generally refers to the entire area surrounding the park to the locals. Most of the time people are talking about the town of Pak Chong, which is found just above the north side of the National Park. They are not referring to the National Park itself.
This area is known mostly for its outdoor adventure entertainment. It also draws a large crowd of shoppers who will find some rather good outlet malls to shop at. On top of that, the area around the National Park is also the center of the dairy industry for Thailand, and there are many farms you can visit to learn about milk. Actually, these farms can be quite fun for children! One of our personal favorites is Chokchai Farm.
So while the Khai Yai area is extremely packed with tourists, once you enter the National Park you will find yourself in a much more relaxed atmosphere. And instead of the adventure tours, shopping, and farming; you will find hiking, waterfalls, and animal sightings.
If you are visiting Thailand and plan to spend several days in the Khao Yai area, we recommend entering the National Park and spending a night or two camping. This will give you the full experience of this amazing National Park. If you want to learn more tips on Thailand National Parks in general, you can check out our overview.
The Things You Need to Know about Camping at Khao Yai
The first thing you will need to do is find your way to the park. There is a north entrance and a south entrance. You will pay the same National Park entrance fee upon entrance to the park regardless of which entrance you enter at. The main headquarters is closest to the north entrance, but you do not need to go to the headquarters in order to camp.
The cost is for your whole duration of stay so you do not need to pay this again if you leave and reenter the park. So, if you are camping that night and have proof that you paid for it, you are allowed to leave the park and return and will not have to pay the entrance fee again. You will be given the proof you need when you pay for the camping site.
You do NOT need to pay the park fee for each day you are there.
Cost to Enter Khao Yai National Park
THB 400 for foreign adult
THB 40 for Thai citizen
(Please note that having a work permit does not give you a Thai rate)
Once you’ve entered the park you will need to make your way to the national park office at the campground you want to stay at. Tell them how many people are planning on camping and what you need or want to rent (tents, etc.)
How to Rent Camping Equipment
When you camp at Khao Yai you have two options. First, you can show up with nothing and rent everything you need. Second, you can bring all your own gear and use all your own things.
If you are just visiting Thailand and you don’t have any camping gear, do not worry! We will break down everything you need to know about renting the equipment!
It is important to note that each different campsite has a Camping Equipment Rental Store through the national park. That means you can show up at any campground and get the equipment you need.
Rental Equipment Prices (2025)
Tent for 3-4 people THB 225
Tent for 2 people THB 150
Blanke THB 20
Sleeping Mat THB 20
Woven Mat THB 30
If you plan to cook your own food, you can also ask about items to cook with, such as a clay stove, charcoal, and a grill rack. These are also available to rent on site. Fires are not allowed to be built wherever you want with wood from the park. Cooking must be done in the clay stove with charcoal.
After you have told them what you want to rent and paid the camping fee you will be directed on how to receive your rental equipment. Sometimes they have the piles of stuff right with them (if they are expecting a lot of visitors), and sometimes the stuff is packed away in a separate room for storage and they will pull out the items for you as needed.
How to Bring Your Own Camping Equipment
The second way you can camp at Khao Yai is by bringing your own camping gear. If you do all you will have to pay is the camping fee of THB 30 per person.
Cost to Bring Tent
THB 30 per adult per night
THB 10 per child per night
We have experienced different charges when it comes to children. Some people have not bothered to count the kids, and we end up just paying for the adults. Some have given us the THB 10 cost for the kids. It is best to plan on paying for each person to be on the safe side. They’ve never charged us for babies.
The Best Areas to go Camping with Kids
As Khao Yai is a large national park, there are many different places you can go camping. Each offers slightly different amenities. Some are well stocked and some are most rustic. We have listed out a brief overview of each of the main camping spots to the best of our ability so you can get an idea of the best spots. Please note that these are always subject to change with renovations by the park.
Lam Ta Kong Campground
The largest area to camp in the National Park is called the Lam Ta Kong Campground. It is a little over a 10-minute drive from the National Park visitor’s center. It has some really nice fields to set your tent up in. There are some nice nature trails
Lam Ta Kong Campground Amenities
Cafe
Canteen
Restaurant (open only during busy times)
Camping Equipment Rental Store
Toilets
Showers
Gazebos with outlets
Pha Kluai Mai Campground
Pha Kluai Mai is the second campground in the park. The main attraction of staying in this campground is to take a hike to a waterfall. It is about an hour hike to get to the waterfall. This campground is much smaller than Lam Ta Kong, but can get really busy on holidays.
Pha Kluai Mai Campground Amenities
Restaurant/Canteen
Camping Equipment Rental Store
Toilets
Showers
Khao Rom Viewpoint Campground
Khao Rom Viewpoint Campground is the third and final campground in Khao Yai National Park. It is only open on holidays when there is a need for more camping space. Because of this it does not offer much in the way of amenities. Our family has camped many times at Khao Yai National Park and never camped at the overflow campground. This campground is just one kilometer from the visitor’s center.
Khao Rom Viewpoint Campground Amenities
Camping Rental Equipment Store
Toilets
Showers
The Culture Around Choosing a Camping Spot
There are no reserved spots unless you rent a tent. If you rent a tent it is likely that the national park ranger wants you to use a specific tent that is already put up. You can ask them to move a tent to another location, but they are not usually eager to do so. We’ve moved them ourselves in the past and they are fine with it. However, having them preset up usually only happens at high traffic times. Usually they will set it up for you when you ask to rent one.
If you brought your own tent or they gave you a tent to set up, you can choose any spot in the campground area. Campground areas are open fields with no spots marked out. Pick a place you want and go with it. Generally the areas near buildings or by water are more busy than other places.
We recommend staying away from the forest line as the monkeys will be more prevalent there. Also, in the open grassy areas there will be large deer grazing. These deer are harmless, but you should still avoid harassing them. They are wild animals afterall. Just be warned that if you hear heavy breathing outside your tent it could be a deer.
It is common practice in Thailand to do group camping. That means there is a tendency for people to like to set up a tent right next to other tents. Keep this in mind when you find a perfect spot away from people. Once your tent is set up, others will likely set up alongside it.
As a family with noisy children we like to be away from other people. Sometimes we have set up our tent at a location and then moved it after sunset once most visitors come so we can be separated from the group.
It is also common in Khao Yai to come in for camping after viewing the sunset, so expect an influx of visitors once it gets dark.
When is the Best Time to Go Camping?
As Khao Yai is tropical you can expect the temperature year round. However there is a rainy season which runs from July through October. The weather is slightly more cool from November through March. During these months you should expect rain often. If you camp during these months, you will have rain. However, rain can and often does come even outside these months.
Yearly Rough Weather Guide to Khao Yai
Hot (30 C highs / 20 C lows)
March-May
Rainy (30 C highs / 20 C lows)
June- September
Cool (28 C highs / 16 c lows)
October-February
Even with a waterproof tent, the ground under your tent can become a puddle quickly and flood you out (we’ve learned that the hard way!). The fields where you go camping in Khao Yai have a tendency to pool up water when it rains. If it is going to rain, find a gazebo or higher land that will keep you out of the water. There are a few gazebos dotted around the campground that you can park your tent under.
When Do I have to Get there by?
Khao Yai National Park is open 24 hours, which means that you can be in the park all the time. However, if you wish to go camping or be in the park during the night you have to arrive before 6:00 PM for your first entry. If you are already staying in the park and have a pass you can arrive after the 6:00 PM cutoff time.
Other Tips for a Great Khao Yai Camping Experience
Make sure you have enough food and water. The restaurant may be open different hours depending on seasonality, and the store may not have a large stock of items. Come prepared! Assume that you need to have enough water to drink on hand for your entire camping trip.
Bring along toilet paper. While it is wonderful to have restrooms in the campground, they are not stocked with toilet paper. If you wish to use this luxury, plan to have your own supply of it ready. Most public bathrooms in Thailand are equipped with handheld bidets. The restrooms in Khao Yai also have them.
Make sure you have insect repellent ready to use. The humidity of the rainforest makes for an ideal mosquito habitat. Use your repellent and you should be fine. Mosquitos and the diseases that come with them are not a joking matter in Southeast Asia. Fortunately the mosquitoes in Khao Yai don’t tend to carry Dengue as much as mosquitoes in and around Bangkok and more populated areas. However, dengue is not uncommon in Thailand and avoiding mosquitoes is always best.
In addition to the mosquitos, you should also pay attention to leeches. Since leeches like water and muddy areas, the rainy season sees an increase in the leech population. This means, if you are walking through water or mud, you can easily get leeches on your skin.
The visitor center sells leech protection in their store. It consists of special bags you can secure around your legs and feet to help keep the leeches out. As our teen said about our trips hiking in Khao Yai during the rainy season, “The entire puddles are literally squirming.” Make sure that when you go hiking, you have leech protection. While leeches are a problem during the rainy season, and are gross, they are not actually dangerous. Being attentive of mosquitos is a much higher priority.
Lastly you should ignore the wild animals. Khao Yai is full of wild animals, and it is so fun to see them out where you are sleeping. However, your best protocol is to watch them and not interact with them. There are monkeys and deer that like to hang around the campgrounds. We have even gotten to see wild elephants walking through Khai Yai National Park. While they are not common to see, you should avoid them should you see them.
Staying Outside the National Park
Now you have the basics about going camping in the Khai Yai National Park. But let’s say you wish to explore Khao Yai National Park and are not into camping. Luckily you do have options.
There are multiple options just a few minutes away that you can stay at and have easy access to the park. Here are a few of our top choices.
You can also use these places as a last resort if you don’t make it to the park before the cutoff time. Maybe this has happened once or twice. Or maybe our family always has impeccable timing and we are never late. If only that were true!
The first option that is great for families is Bann Khaoyao. Baan Khaoyao is very close to the north entrance of the park. It is under a kilometer and takes less than 2 minutes to get there. This means it ends up being around a 20-minute drive to the visitor’s center. It gives you plenty of space for a family as you get an entire apartment. It is also very reasonably priced.
The second option that works well is located near the southern entrance to Khao Yai National Park. It is called Baan Suan Khu Kob. This place is around a 7-minute drive to get you into the park entrance. To get yourself all the way to the visitor center it will be around a 50-minute drive. We recommend this one because it is a no-frills place. The rooms are small, but you can fit kids in with you, and it is ok.
Conclusion
Once you have explored Bangkok, we suggest our 10-day Bangkok itinerary, or our 1-day Bangkok itinerary you should explore the natural side of Thailand. And from Bangkok, Khao Yai is the place to go. It is one of the most convenient National Parks to get to from the city. It offers plenty of family friendly things to do. From hikes, waterfalls, to animal and bird watching. Our family thinks that camping is one of the best ways to experience Khao Yai. When you camp, you really get to immerse yourself in the nature. However, if camping is not your family’s thing, then you can still enjoy Khao Yai National Park by staying outside and going in to explore!