My Thai wife always told me there is no way to get to Khao Sahn Road easily using mainly the Sky Train network, On my last trip to Thailand as I was arriving alone I thought I would try the trip I mapped out as there was no easy google map auto prediction of the journey taking you strange ways to which seemed to be quite straight forward.

If there was more than 2 person would probably be cheaper to just get a taxi but depending on Bangkok traffic may not be much faster. Which would be approx 330 Baht (including the airport fee of 50 baht) but excluding the Tolls which may be needed depending on the time of travel and usually insisted by the taxi driver.

How much does it cost?

If traveling solo will be approximately
120 Baht
This is calculated by
35 Baht Airport Rail Link
35 Baht MRT
50 Baht Taxi

Total Being approx $5 Aussie, $3.40 USD, £2.8 pound, €3.30 euro, ¥23 Chinese yen, ¥458 Japanese Yen

Simple Explanation of route

1. Go to the bottom Floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport
2. Pay 35 baht per person at the Airport Rail Link gate.
   to go to Makkasan Station.
3. Ride 5 stops (approx 22 mins)
4. Exit the pay gate & Follow Signs to walk to Phetchaburi MRT station (keep left along skywalk)
5. Buy a ticket for 35 baht to Sam Yot Station
6. Go down Escalator and get on Train on SIDE 1
7. Ride 9 stops (approx 18mins)
   – *NOTE* The 1st station you stop at should be Sukhumvit station if you got on the wrong side just transfer here to the opposite way.
8. Follow signs to Exit 1 at SAM YOT MRT Station
9. Get a taxi from the exit at the stairs of exit 1. You will be heading in the same direction of the road as at exit faces.
   – To Khao San Road Meter cost Approx 45-50 baht (Approx 8 Mins)

Detailed route

1. Go to the bottom floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport and either take the flat escalators or elevator. Note there are not many elevators around and often are full and take a long time usually quicker to just take the long flat escalators.
2. At the gate, you will pay 35 baht per person either to the counter or machine and select Makkaan Station scan your token at the gate
3. The airport line is the end of the line so you can board the train on either side. Be aware once the train arrives and people disembark they will close the train doors and do a security check and clean before you board. These trains arrive around every 8 mins in my experience.
4. Ride 5 stops and get outGo to the bottom floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport and either take the flat escalators or elevator. Note there are not many elevators around and often are full and take a long time usually quicker to just take the long flat escalators.
5. At the gate, you will pay 35 baht per person either to the counter or machine and select Makkasan Station scan your token at the gate
6. The airport line is the end of the line so you can board the train on either side. Be aware once the train arrives and people disembark they will close the train doors and do a security check and clean before you board. These trains arrive around every 8 mins in my experience.
7. Ride 5 stops taking about 22 min getting off train at MAKKASAN STATION
8. Take exit 2 and follow the signs to Phetchaburi MRT station the walk will take approx 5-7 minutes. The signs are very visible and follow the crowd of people as most will be heading the same way
9. Purchase a ticket/token to SAM YOT from vending machine or counter at the gateway
10. Go down the escalator and get on the train on SIDE 1
11. To ensure you have entered the correct train you will stop at Sukhumvit station on the first stop. If you happen to get on the wrong side just transfer at the next station
12. From Sam Yot, you will ride 9 stops taking approximately 18 min
13. Once you disembark at Sam Yot MRT Station you will head up 2 really long escalators and want to head to exit 1.
14. Once you pass the pay point place your token in the exit gate and walk to the road. You will be on the correct side of the road so just head down the 4 or so stairs and get a taxi directly out the door
15. The taxi will cost approx 50 baht. There is no taxi stand here but they will frequently pull up if none here. You may also opt for a Tuk Tuk but you will have to negotiate a price before you go otherwise you may get a shock of 200 baht+ when arriving. Generally a TUK TUK will cost more.
16. You will arrive at Khao San Road in approx 8 mins