Cha-am is 170 km south of Bangkok and lies directly on the main rail and road corridor heading south.
By bus: Buses to Cha-am depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) every 30 minutes or so throughout the day. The journey takes 2.5 to 3 hours. Air-conditioned coaches are cheap and comfortable. Cha-am also has direct services from Surat Thani and several southern destinations.
By train: Cha-am railway station is on the Southern Line and is served by regular services from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station and from Surat Thani. The train journey from Bangkok takes around 3.5 to 4 hours depending on the service. The station is a short motorbike taxi ride from the beach. The station itself — a small wooden structure dating from the early twentieth century — is worth a look if you arrive by rail.
By minivan: Shared minivans (rot tu) depart frequently from Victory Monument in Bangkok and drop passengers at Cha-am or continue to Hua Hin. Travel time is around 2.5 hours; they are faster than buses but less comfortable on a long journey.
By car: The road south from Bangkok via Phetchaburi (Route 4) is good, and the drive takes about 2.5 hours in normal traffic.