One-way car rental

One-way car rental: Phuket Airport to Kata & Karon

Pick up your car at Phuket Airport and drive to Kata & Karon – about 45 km and 60 min in light traffic, mainly on Route 402, via Patong or Chalong.

45 km 60 min Drop-off: Kata & Karon From THB 730 / day + one-way fee

Tick "return to a different location" and choose Kata & Karon as the drop-off.

Driving one way from Phuket Airport to Kata & Karon

Kata and Karon are neighbouring west-coast beaches popular with families, about an hour from the airport. Two routes work: over Patong Hill and down the coast, or via Phuket Town and Chalong.

From here, the Big Buddha, Karon Viewpoint and Promthep Cape are all a short drive away.

Directions

Route 402 southDrive south from the airport junction.
Choose your routeEither Route 4029 over Patong Hill and the coast road, or via Phuket Town and Chalong.
Arrive at Karon / KataBoth beaches sit along the coast road.

Route at a glance

Pick-up	Phuket Airport (HKT)
Drop-off	Kata & Karon
Distance	45 km
Drive time	60 min
Main roads	Route 402, via Patong or Chalong
From	THB 730 / day + one-way fee

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On the way

Worth a stop

Big BuddhaHilltop statue between Chalong and Kata.

Karon ViewpointThree bays in one view.

Good to know

One-way tips

Rules 01

Check live traffic

The Patong route can be slower in the evening; the Chalong route at rush hour.

Rules 02

Hill roads

Expect steep sections on both routes.

Rules 03

One-way fee included

The drop charge is part of the total price in your search – compare totals, not daily rates.

Going home

Driving back to Phuket Airport

Allow 1 h 15 min or more to the airport, plus 30 minutes for the car return. Follow the "Car Rental Return" signs on the airport road.

Places to visit

Places to visit on this route

Karon Beach50 min Long sandy beach with a more relaxed atmosphere than Patong. How to get there

Big Buddha55 min Iconic hilltop landmark with panoramic island views. How to get there

Promthep Cape65 min One of Phuket's best-known sunset viewpoints. How to get there

Help

Questions about Phuket Airport to Kata & Karon

About 45 km, or 60 min of driving in light traffic, mainly on Route 402, via Patong or Chalong.

Recent searches start from about THB 730 a day for an economy car. A one-way fee (drop charge) is added for leaving the car in Kata & Karon – it is included in the total price you see when you search.

At Kata & Karon. Your voucher shows the exact return point and the desk opening hours.

Mainly the larger suppliers that have a desk at both ends of the route. Tick "return to a different location" in the search form to see who offers it for your dates.

Good stops include Big Buddha, Karon Viewpoint. See "Worth a stop" above for details.

In daylight and outside rush hours (about 7–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.). In the rainy season, from May to October, morning drives are usually drier than the afternoons.

No – the same as any rental: your full licence, an International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva type) where required, your passport and a credit card in the main driver's name. Rental cars may not be taken on ferries or across borders.