Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) are 50 km apart. Here are all the ways to transfer between them — with real times, costs, and schedules from GTFS timetable data.
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi / Grab | 45-60 min | ฿400-500 | Fastest door-to-door. Pay toll (~฿70 extra). |
| Free shuttle bus | 50-60 min | Free | Best value. Requires same-day boarding pass. Every 30-60 min. |
| ARL + BTS + SRT Dark Red | ~75 min | ~฿65 | Most reliable in traffic. ARL to Phaya Thai, BTS to Mo Chit, walk to SRT, Red Line to DMK. |
| ARL + MRT Blue + SRT Dark Red | ~70 min | ~฿80 | All-rail via Bang Sue. ARL to Makkasan, MRT to Bang Sue, SRT Dark Red to DMK. |
| Public bus 555 | 60-90 min | ~฿34 | Cheapest paid option. Traffic-dependent. |
Paying: every rail leg above takes a contactless Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay straight at the gate — MRT Blue, MRT Purple, MRT Yellow, MRT Pink, SRT Dark Red, SRT Light Red and ARL Airport Rail Link. Only BTS Sukhumvit, BTS Silom and MRT Gold still need the operator's own card or a single-journey ticket. So the airport run itself needs nothing but the card in your wallet; you only need a travel card if your hotel sits on one of those lines. Checked 2026-08-23.
Pick your flight departure time and airport, then see the latest time you should leave for each transfer option.
| Option | Total offset | Leave by |
|---|
Verified from GTFS 2026 feed. Times are approximate and subject to change.
| Line / Service | First | Last | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARL (Suvarnabhumi→Phaya Thai) | 05:30 | 24:00 | through service |
| BTS Sukhumvit (Phaya Thai→Mo Chit) | 05:15 | 24:30 | |
| SRT Dark Red (Bang Sue→Don Mueang) | 05:30 | 23:30 | |
| Free shuttle bus (BKK↔DMK) | 05:00 | 24:00 | subject to airline reconfirmation — confirm at transfer counter |
Verify locally: timetable data may change. Check at the official SRT / BTS / ARL websites or at the station before relying on these times for tight connections.
The fastest option — 45-60 minutes via the tollway. Costs ฿400-500 plus ~฿70 in tolls. Use Grab or Bolt for upfront pricing, or meter taxis at the official queue (avoid touts).
⚠️ Traffic can double this during rush hour (7-9am, 4-7pm).
Both airports operate a free shuttle bus between BKK and DMK for passengers with a same-day boarding pass or flight confirmation. Runs every 30-60 minutes. Journey time: 50-60 minutes.
Check current schedule at the airport information desk — the service has been intermittent post-COVID.
📍 BKK departure: Level 2, Gate 3. DMK departure: Terminal 1, Gate 6.
The rail option avoids traffic entirely. Two routes:
Total: ~60 min + transfers. ~฿85 total.
Total: ~65 min + transfers. ~฿89 total.
Bus 555 runs between BKK and DMK via the expressway. Cheap (~฿34) but subject to traffic. Buses run every 30 minutes from 5am to midnight.
If you have 3+ hours between flights: the free shuttle or public bus is fine. If you have less than 2 hours: take a taxi. The rail route is best during rush hour when road traffic is unpredictable.
Both BKK and DMK have left luggage services. BKK: Level 2, near Gate 8. DMK: Terminal 1, Level 1.
Yes. You must clear immigration at BKK, collect bags, transfer to DMK, and re-check in. Allow at least 4 hours total connection time.
The free shuttle has been intermittent. Check at the information desk on arrival. Do not rely on it as your only option.
If your connection is overnight, it may be better to sleep near one airport:
🏨 Hotels near BKK (Suvarnabhumi) →
🏨 Hotels near DMK (Don Mueang) →