Phnom Penh to Kratie: Road Trip Guide (2025)

Route 6 from Phnom Penh to Kratie runs 280 kilometers due north, following the Mekong River for the final stretch. The first 40 kilometers are smooth asphalt, but expect unpaved sections near the bridge at Kampong Cham.

The road is notorious for overtaking trucks on narrow shoulders, a driving quirk that locals navigate with remarkable patience.

Here's a table of essential data:

After 90 kilometers, you leave the flat rice paddies and enter rubber plantations that give way to savanna-like grasslands. The dusty red soil tints the air at midday, creating a distinctive haze.

The Mekong River appears at Kampong Cham, where a ferry crossing adds 15-20 minutes to your trip. This ferry is a local commerce hub, with vendors selling fresh fruit and snacks.

Skun, known as the 'spider town,' offers fried tarantulas at roadside stalls—a regional delicacy you won't find elsewhere along the highway.

For a deeper dive on discovering such offbeat stops, check this how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities guide.

While no UN road safety ratings exist for this route, the Cambodian government regularly patrols NR6. The main hazards are livestock crossings and aggressive overtaking by trucks.

Family stops: the Kompong Cham Riverside Park has a playground and clean restrooms, ideal for stretching legs. For pets, the drive is pet-friendly as long as you carry water and stop at shaded areas; the riverbank at Stung Trang is a good spot.

Fatigue management: plan to stop every two hours. The town of Skuon (90 km) is the only major rest zone with multiple cafes; beyond that, smaller villages offer hammock cafes.

Hidden off-route spot: Take a 5 km detour at Chhlong to see the ancient temple ruins of Prasat Phnom Srok, rarely visited by tourists.

The route uses National Road 6 (NR6), a two-lane highway that's well-maintained for the first half, but potholes appear after Skuon.

Fuel economy thrives here as the terrain is flat, so a small car can average 20 km/l; a larger SUV might do 12 km/l.

• Diesel is cheaper than petrol by ~5%
• Fuel stations: Caltex and Tela at 70 km and 140 km marks
• Expected fuel cost: $15-20 for the entire trip