If you drive the Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima motorway (M6) on a Sunday, especially after a weekend at Khao Yai or Pak Chong, the Department of Highways has changed how that stretch works from the afternoon onwards. The new pattern starts on Sunday 8 November 2026 and then repeats every Sunday from 1pm to midnight.
What changes on Sundays
Between Muak Lek and Pak Chong, outbound traffic leaving Bangkok for Nakhon Ratchasima must leave M6 at the Muak Lek toll plaza, continue on Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road) towards Pak Chong, then rejoin M6 at the Pak Chong plaza to carry on north-east.
Inbound traffic coming from Nakhon Ratchasima towards Bangkok can stay on M6 through the Pak Chong section without leaving the motorway. Highways officers will run a reversible lane between kilometre posts 109 and 82 so that return traffic can continue straight to Bang Pa-in instead of dropping onto Mittraphap Road and rejoining at Muak Lek.
Drivers starting from Pak Chong district itself who are heading to Bangkok should enter M6 at the Muak Lek plaza as usual, the department said.
Fridays and Saturdays stay as they are
The Sunday-only change does not apply on Fridays or Saturdays. On those days the existing pattern continues: outbound traffic can stay on M6 all the way towards Nakhon Ratchasima, while inbound traffic still leaves at Pak Chong, uses Mittraphap Road and rejoins at Muak Lek.
Why it matters for expats and weekend drivers
Pak Chong is the usual motorway gateway for Khao Yai National Park weekends. The Sunday plan is designed to clear the bottleneck at the Pak Chong exit when large numbers of cars head back to Bangkok in the afternoon and evening. If you are outbound on a Sunday after 1pm, budget extra time for the Mittraphap diversion. If you are inbound, you should be able to stay on the motorway, but follow the temporary signs and police directions around the reversible lane.
The Inter-City Motorway Division, Nakhon Ratchasima Highway District 2, Saraburi Highway District, concessionaire BGSR6 and the Highway Police are running the arrangement together. For live updates call the free Department of Highways hotline 1586, then press 6.
This is separate from the Sikhio and Kham Thale So access points that opened on 2 November 2026 and from the planned Bang Pa-in M9 exit works covered in our earlier M6 note. Those remain in place alongside this Sunday traffic plan.