Prachinburi is the southern side of Khao Yai — quieter than the Pak Chong side and closer to Bangkok. We list six grounds: beside waterfalls within the park, on a lake with Khao Yai as the backdrop, and a large ground at Khao Ito near the city.
Fees are low: ฿40 per person at the state-run sites, ฿100–250 per person per night at private camps. All have toilets and eight in ten have showers and electricity, but only one of the six rents gear.
Counted across the 6 campsites shown on this page, ordered by how many list each one.
The Takhro waterfall ground inside Khao Yai National Park has a stream running right past the pitches, and there is a camp at Wang Bo waterfall with both shallow and deep swimming. A private lakeside camp has a reservoir at its centre and the Khao Yai range in view. Near the city is Khao Ito, a recreation forest on Chakkraphong reservoir — a wide ground that takes a great many tents, with cycling and walking trails. On the border with Wang Nam Khiao there is a mountain-view homestay near Thap Lan National Park.
The waterfalls on this side run full from June to October, the swimming season — though after heavy rain the water rises fast and turns muddy, so heed the rangers. From late rains into early winter the air cools and there is morning mist on the Thap Lan side. Winter suits Khao Ito and the lakeside camp. In the dry season the falls thin out: choose a reservoir ground instead.
Prachinburi is about two hours from Bangkok, right for a single night. Bring your own tent and gear, as almost nothing is rented here. Grounds inside the national park have rules on entry times and cooking — check first. Khao Ito takes large numbers and rarely fills, though holidays can be lively: for quiet, come midweek.
฿40 per person at state-run sites; ฿100–250 per person per night at private camps.
Hardly — only one of the six grounds rents gear. Bring your own.
It is quieter, nearer Bangkok and strong on waterfalls and streams — but not as cool as the hilltop grounds on the Pak Chong side.
