How to Get from Seoul to Sokcho by Bus or Car (2026)

From Seoul, Sokcho is a little over two hours by express bus and about 2 to 2.5 hours by car. It’s closer than you might think, so leave in the morning and you’ll be eating lunch by the sea.

It’s easily close enough for a day trip. We regularly get people who take the morning bus, eat mulhoe, walk the beach, and head back in the evening.

Here’s how each option works.

Express bus — the easiest way

Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gangnam) → Sokcho Express Bus Terminal About 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes

Departures run throughout the day, so you can usually turn up and get a seat. Book at kobus.co.kr or the Kobus T-money app.

Do reserve ahead on weekends and in peak summer. Friday afternoon and Saturday morning services often sell out on the day.

Which class?

• Standard — 4-across seating. Cheapest
• Udeung (deluxe) — 3-across. Roomy and comfortable
• Premium — reclining seats, but fewer departures

The price gap is small, so we’d take udeung.

A 3-minute walk from the express terminal

Our restaurant is a 3-minute walk from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal.

No need to find a taxi with your luggage. Step off, walk three minutes, and start your trip with a bowl of icy mulhoe.

And we are right in front of Sokcho Beach. After eating you can walk straight onto the sand, or swim in summer. We may be able to hold your suitcase for a while, so just ask.

Intercity bus — from Dong Seoul

Dong Seoul Terminal (Gangbyeon stn.) → Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal About 2 hours 20 minutes

Book via the T-money intercity bus site or the BusTago app.

If you’re staying in northern or eastern Seoul this may be easier than getting to Gangnam. Just note the different arrival point below.

Sokcho has two bus terminals — which one should you arrive at?

First-time visitors often get confused here. Sokcho has two bus terminals, in different parts of town.

If you have the choice, take the Gangnam express bus. Walk three minutes, eat, and step straight onto the beach. No luggage-hauling involved.

Arriving from Dong Seoul is fine too. A taxi takes about five minutes, and local buses run as well.

Driving

The Seoul–Yangyang Expressway takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. The road is good and the drive is straightforward.

Avoiding traffic

• Friday afternoon and evening — just getting out of Seoul can take a long time
• Sunday afternoon — the return leg to Seoul tends to get congested
• Early Saturday morning — a much easier start
• Allow extra time on peak-summer and foliage-season weekends

Parking once you’re here

Search “속초해변” (Sokcho Beach) in your navigation app. We’re right beside the Sokcho Beach public car park.

Our private car park is very large, so parking is less of a worry even in peak season. Leave the car and walk to the beach and the ferris wheel.

There’s still no train

As of 2026 there is no direct rail line between Seoul and Sokcho. The Chuncheon–Sokcho high-speed line is under construction but not yet open.

You can take the KTX to Gangneung and transfer to a bus, but counting the connection, the bus is the fastest and simplest option from Seoul.

What to do when you arrive

If you came by express bus:

Terminal → 3-minute walk to Sokcho Hangari Mulhoe for lunch → 2-minute walk to Sokcho Beach → 3-minute walk to the Sokcho Eye ferris wheel

All on foot. Diners can also use our top-floor Sky Stairs viewpoint free of charge, so grab a photo before you go.

For a full plan see our 1-night-2-days itinerary, and if you’re visiting in autumn, the Seoraksan foliage guide.

Practical notes

• Opening hours and last orders change with the day and the season, so we keep the current times on Find us.
• Coming as a group? Please call ahead. We have a large third-floor hall, but it fills fast in peak season.

Safe travels. See you in Sokcho.