How to Get from Seoul to Gangneung: KTX, Bus & Car

There are three main ways to travel from Seoul to Gangneung: KTX, express bus, and car.

For most international travelers, KTX is the best choice. It is fast, comfortable, and unaffected by highway traffic.

But KTX is not always the best option for everyone.

If you are staying close to a bus terminal, or KTX tickets are sold out, an express bus can be a very good alternative. If you are traveling with family or a group—or want a car while exploring Gangneung—driving may also be worth considering.

Instead of comparing only the time from Seoul to Gangneung, think about your entire journey:

Your accommodation in Seoul → departure point → Gangneung → getting around Gangneung

That will help you choose the option that actually saves you the most time and effort.

IN THIS GUIDE

1. KTX — Best for Most Travelers
2. Express Bus — The Best Alternative
3. Driving — Worth Considering for Families & Groups
4. Where Should You Depart from in Seoul?
5. Which Option Should You Choose?
6. After You Arrive in Gangneung

1. KTX — Best for Most Travelers

For most travelers, KTX is the easiest way to get from Seoul to Gangneung.

The journey takes around two hours from Seoul Station and roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes from Cheongnyangni Station, depending on the train.

Unlike buses and cars, KTX is not affected by highway traffic.

If tickets are available, KTX is usually the easiest choice when both travel time and convenience are considered.

There is one important catch.

On weekends, public holidays, and major Korean holidays, seats across all departure times can sell out well in advance.

If your travel dates are fixed, booking as early as possible is recommended.

Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni Station?

KTX trains to Gangneung can be boarded at both Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station.

There is no single best station for every traveler.

Your accommodation location and preferred departure time should determine which one you use.

KTX from Seoul Station

Seoul Station is one of the city’s main railway hubs.

If you are staying in central Seoul and find a convenient Gangneung-bound train, there is little reason to travel across the city just to depart from Cheongnyangni.

The standard adult economy-class fare is ₩27,600 one way.

Seoul Station → Gangneung KTX Schedule & Fare

KTX from Cheongnyangni Station

One major advantage of Cheongnyangni Station is that there are more KTX departures to Gangneung to choose from than at Seoul Station.

Many trains departing from Seoul Station also stop at Cheongnyangni, while additional services can be boarded there.

The standard adult economy fare is also slightly cheaper at ₩26,000 one way.

If you are staying in eastern Seoul, Cheongnyangni can be particularly convenient.

Cheongnyangni Station → Gangneung KTX Schedule & Fare

How Do I Book KTX Tickets?

KTX tickets can be booked online in advance.

On weekends, public holidays, and major Korean holidays, seats across all departure times can sell out well in advance, so booking early is recommended once your travel dates are fixed.

→ How to Book KTX Tickets in Korea

KTX & Bus Booking Guide → KTX section · Guide in preparation

2. Express Bus — The Best Alternative to KTX

If KTX tickets are unavailable—or your accommodation is closer to a bus terminal—an express bus can be an excellent alternative.

There are two major departure points in Seoul for Gangneung:

• Seoul Express Bus Terminal
• Dong Seoul Bus Terminal

Buses generally take longer than KTX and can be affected by highway traffic.

However, depending on where you are staying, taking a bus may actually be more convenient once the time required to reach a KTX station is included.

Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Gangneung

The biggest advantage of Seoul Express Bus Terminal is the number of departures.

The schedule checked for this guide had 23 departures, with an estimated journey time of about 2 hours 50 minutes.

The standard one-way fare for a Deluxe bus is ₩24,600.

This is particularly useful if you are staying around Gangnam or southern Seoul.

Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Gangneung Schedule & Fares

Temporary promotional discounts are excluded; standard fares are shown.

Dong Seoul Bus Terminal → Gangneung

Dong Seoul Bus Terminal has fewer departures than Seoul Express Bus Terminal, but its listed journey time is around 20 minutes shorter.

The schedule checked for this guide had 12 departures, with an estimated journey time of about 2 hours 30 minutes.

The standard Deluxe fare is ₩26,100.

It can be a particularly convenient option if you are staying in eastern Seoul.

Dong Seoul Bus Terminal → Gangneung Schedule & Fares

Seoul Express Bus Terminal vs Dong Seoul Bus Terminal

If having more departure times to choose from is important, Seoul Express Bus Terminal has the advantage.

If Dong Seoul Bus Terminal is much closer to your accommodation, however, it may be the better choice.

The 20-minute difference in scheduled travel time can easily matter less than the time you spend crossing Seoul to reach the terminal.

How Do I Book Bus Tickets?

Intercity and express bus tickets can also be booked online.

We explain the booking process for international travelers together with KTX reservations in a separate guide.

→ How to Book Bus Tickets in Korea

KTX & Bus Booking Guide → Bus section · Guide in preparation

3. Driving — Worth Considering for Families & Groups

The biggest advantage of having a car isn’t necessarily the drive from Seoul.

It’s what you can do after arriving in Gangneung.

A car makes it much easier to explore the coastline and places outside the city center that can be less convenient by public transport.

The trade-off is the cost of fuel and tolls, possible traffic congestion, and the fatigue of driving across the country.

There are two main approaches to driving east from Seoul:

• Yeongdong Expressway route — the classic route across the mountains toward Gangneung.
• Seoul–Yangyang Expressway route — travels toward Yangyang before heading south to Gangneung and can be useful depending on your starting point and traffic conditions.

The exact distance and travel time therefore depend on your departure point, route, and traffic.

As a rough guide, expect around 210–230 km and at least 2 hours 10–15 minutes in good conditions.

Weekend and holiday traffic can make the journey considerably longer.

How Much Does Driving Cost?

For a simple comparison, let’s use a journey of approximately 230 km.

For a gasoline car averaging 12 km/L, the trip would use roughly 19 liters of fuel.

Using an estimated fuel cost of around ₩35,000:

• Fuel: about ₩35,000
• Highway tolls: ₩12,900
• Estimated one-way total: about ₩48,000

That works out to roughly ₩96,000 round trip.

Actual costs will vary depending on your vehicle, fuel price, starting point, route, and driving conditions.

Solo Traveler? KTX Is Usually Easier

For one person, driving isn’t necessarily the economical option.

Once fuel, tolls and the effort of driving are considered, KTX is usually much easier.

But the calculation changes when several people travel together.

Train and bus fares increase with each passenger, while fuel and toll costs do not increase at the same rate.

For families and groups, driving is therefore worth comparing.

Need a Car in Gangneung? Consider Renting After You Arrive

You don’t necessarily need to rent a car in Seoul and drive it all the way to Gangneung.

A very practical alternative is:

KTX to Gangneung → Rent a car near Gangneung Station

This avoids the long drive from Seoul while still giving you the flexibility of a car during your stay.

It can be particularly useful if your itinerary includes several places outside central Gangneung.

4. Where Should You Depart from in Seoul?

The four main departure points covered in this guide are:

1. Seoul Station — KTX
2. Cheongnyangni Station — KTX
3. Seoul Express Bus Terminal — Bus
4. Dong Seoul Bus Terminal — Bus

One thing travelers often overlook is travel time within Seoul itself.

KTX may be faster than a bus, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your total door-to-door journey will be much faster.

Instead of comparing only:

2 hours by KTX vs 2½–3 hours by bus

compare:

Your accommodation → station/terminal → Gangneung

Seoul is a very large city, so the location of your accommodation can make a significant difference.

5. Which Option Should You Choose?

First time visiting Gangneung?
Choose KTX first. It’s fast, comfortable, and avoids highway traffic.

Can’t find the KTX you want from Seoul Station?
Check Cheongnyangni Station before giving up on the train. It has more Gangneung-bound KTX options.

KTX sold out?
Check the buses from Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Dong Seoul Bus Terminal.

Staying in Gangnam or southern Seoul?
Compare the bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal with KTX before crossing the city to a railway station.

Staying in eastern Seoul?
Compare Cheongnyangni KTX with Dong Seoul Bus Terminal.

Need a car while in Gangneung?
Consider KTX + a rental car in Gangneung.

Traveling with family or a group?
Compare driving costs. The per-person cost can become more attractive as the number of passengers increases.

6. After You Arrive in Gangneung

Arriving at Gangneung Station or the bus terminal is only the first step.

Next, you’ll need to decide how to reach your accommodation and get around the city.

It helps to know in advance whether you can comfortably explore Gangneung without a car, how to reach the main beach areas, and which neighborhoods are most convenient for your trip.

→ Getting Around Gangneung

→ Gangneung Station to Gyeongpo Beach

Guide in preparation

→ Where to Stay in Gangneung Without a Car

Guide in preparation

→ 1-Day Gangneung Itinerary

Guide in preparation

SOURCES & UPDATES

Transportation information checked: September 2026

Seoul Express Bus Terminal schedule and fares: September 10, 2026

Dong Seoul Bus Terminal schedule and fares: For travel on September 16, 2026

Schedules and fares can change. Check the official booking service for your actual travel date before purchasing a ticket.