FIRST-HAND KOREA FAMILY ROAD TRIP · GANGWON-DO
Can you combine Gangneung, a quiet Yangyang beach and a Korean hot spring in one day? We did exactly that with our children, starting before sunrise and returning home late at night.
Our small shade tent at Gaetmaeul Beach, the place we eventually chose for the afternoon.
Yes, Gangneung and Yangyang can work as a one-day family road trip from the Seoul area if you start very early. Our route was Gangneung for breakfast, Namae 3-ri Beach, Gaetmaeul Beach for most of the day, and Osaek Carbonated Hot Spring before driving home.
Actual start
6:00 a.m. from Seongnam, south of Seoul
Gangneung arrival
About 8:40 a.m.
Main beach
Gaetmaeul Beach, Yangyang
Best for
Families traveling by rental car or private car
Our actual Gangneung and Yangyang day-trip route
One important detail first: we did not actually start in central Seoul. We live in Seongnam, immediately south of Seoul. For international visitors, however, this is still a useful Seoul-area road-trip route.
This was also Chuseok Day, one of Korea's biggest public holidays. Traffic, parking and restaurant conditions on our day should not be treated as normal weekday conditions.
| Time | What we actually did |
|---|---|
| 06:00 | Left Seongnam for Gangwon-do |
| About 08:40 | Arrived in Gangneung for Chodang sundubu breakfast |
| Morning | Drove about 35 minutes to Namae 3-ri Beach in Yangyang |
| Late morning | Decided not to set up there and moved to Gaetmaeul Beach |
| Late morning–afternoon | Beach time, shade tent, shell hunting and a paid shower at Gaetmaeul |
| About 16:30 | Left the coast for Osaek Greenyard Hotel |
| Evening | Carbonated hot spring, heated relaxation area and dinner |
| About 21:00 | Started driving home |
| About 23:30 | Arrived back in Seongnam |
The most important part of this itinerary:
We kept the beach part flexible. Our original plan was Namae 3-ri, but we changed beaches after seeing the conditions in person. That decision made the rest of the day much easier.
We kept the beach part flexible. Our original plan was Namae 3-ri, but we changed beaches after seeing the conditions in person. That decision made the rest of the day much easier.
Leaving at 6 a.m. gave us a sunrise and a surprisingly manageable drive
The sun coming up while we were driving east toward Gangwon-do.
Our biggest concern before leaving was holiday traffic. The night before, we loaded the car with a small shade tent, camping chairs and a few simple snacks so that we could leave immediately in the morning.
About 30 minutes after leaving, the sun began to rise over the mountains beside the highway. The children were still sleeping in the back.
Apart from a few slower sections, the traffic was better than we had expected. We reached Gangneung at about 8:40 a.m., roughly 2 hours 40–50 minutes after leaving Seongnam.
Do not use our holiday drive time as a guarantee.
Travel time between Seoul and Gangneung changes significantly with weekends, public holidays, weather and departure time. Check live navigation on the morning you travel.
Travel time between Seoul and Gangneung changes significantly with weekends, public holidays, weather and departure time. Check live navigation on the morning you travel.
We started in Gangneung with a proper Chodang tofu breakfast
Our breakfast table at Chodang Maetdol Sundubu in Gangneung.
Our first real stop was Chodang Maetdol Sundubu in Gangneung's famous Chodang tofu area.
Because it was Chuseok morning, I had expected many restaurants to be closed. Instead, several tofu restaurants in the area were open and visitors were already arriving.
For our family of four, we ordered two set meals and one spicy jjamppong-style sundubu. It was enough to give everyone a proper breakfast before moving on to the coast.
Namae 3-ri was our original beach, but we changed the plan
After breakfast, we drove for roughly 35 minutes to Namae 3-ri Beach (남애3리해수욕장) in Yangyang.
The original plan was simple: park, set up our small shade tent and spend most of the day there.
But when we arrived, the sea was not calm. We had also been receiving safety messages about strong waves, and surfers were clearly enjoying the conditions.
More importantly, we saw on-site guidance that made us uncomfortable with simply setting up our own shade tent without asking.
That does not mean private shade tents are permanently banned at Namae 3-ri. Beach zones and seasonal operating rules can change. It simply meant that on our visit, with strong waves and unclear tent conditions, we did not want to force our original plan.
Local tip:
Korean beaches can operate differently inside and outside the official summer season. Rules for tents, parasols, camping and showers may change by date. If the sign is not clear, ask the beach staff before setting anything up.
Korean beaches can operate differently inside and outside the official summer season. Rules for tents, parasols, camping and showers may change by date. If the sign is not clear, ask the beach staff before setting anything up.
A short drive later, Gaetmaeul Beach fit our family much better
The beach and camping area at Gaetmaeul, where we eventually stayed.
We drove a little farther along the coast and found Gaetmaeul Beach (갯마을해변).
It is smaller and quieter than some of Yangyang's better-known beaches. There was also a paid camping area, and because it was a holiday, many of the camping and platform spaces were already occupied.
We were not camping overnight. We simply wanted to put up a small shade tent close to the beach, let the children play and leave later that afternoon.
This time, before opening anything, I asked the person managing the area directly whether a day-use shade tent was okay.
We were told that on that day, because we were not using one of the paid overnight camping sites, we could put up our small tent near the beach without an additional charge.
That answer applies only to our visit. If you go on another date, ask again.
Late September was cooler, but our children still ended up in the sea
The sea was beautiful, but the waves were strong enough that we stayed very close to the children.
Because it was late September, I had assumed the children would only get their feet wet. That assumption lasted about five minutes.
They eventually went properly into the water. The sky was cloudy and the waves were fairly strong, but the water looked very clear.
We did not let the children go far out. Even if the shoreline looks shallow, shallow water and safe waves are not the same thing. We stayed close the entire time.
This is not a recommendation to swim in late September.
Beach opening periods, lifeguard operations, water temperature, wind and wave conditions change throughout the year. Follow current weather warnings and on-site instructions.
Beach opening periods, lifeguard operations, water temperature, wind and wave conditions change throughout the year. Follow current weather warnings and on-site instructions.
Shell hunting kept the children busy almost as long as the water
The activity that held their attention the longest was surprisingly simple: looking for shells in the sand.
At first we did not notice many, but once we started looking carefully, we found shells of several sizes.
It became one of those family activities that required no reservation, no ticket and almost no planning.
The shower and convenience store were a big advantage with children
When you travel to a beach with children, toilets, showers and food suddenly become almost as important as the beach itself.
Gaetmaeul had an Emart24 convenience store and a paid shower facility very close to the beach.
On our visit, the posted shower price was KRW 5,000 per person for both adults and children. All four of us used it.
We were heading to a hot spring afterward, so we mainly wanted to remove the salt and sand, change into clean clothes and continue the trip.
Having a shower directly beside the beach made that transition much easier.
Price note:
KRW 5,000 was the posted price during our September 2026 visit. Treat it as a first-hand historical price, not a guaranteed future price.
KRW 5,000 was the posted price during our September 2026 visit. Treat it as a first-hand historical price, not a guaranteed future price.
For this exact itinerary, I would use a car
Gangneung station and the main tourist areas can be visited without a car, but this specific route connects a restaurant, two smaller Yangyang beaches and a mountain hot spring.
For that combination, a rental car or private car is by far the most practical option.
1. Chodang Maetdol Sundubu · 초당맷돌순두부
Google Maps
2. Namae 3-ri Beach · 남애3리해수욕장
Google Maps
3. Gaetmaeul Beach · 갯마을해변
Google Maps
4. Osaek Greenyard Hotel · 오색그린야드호텔
Google Maps
For driving in Korea, I would also save the Korean place names in Naver Map or KakaoMap.
At around 4:30 p.m., we traded the beach for a hot spring
Osaek Greenyard Hotel was our final major stop of the day.
After spending most of the afternoon at the beach, we showered, changed and left the coast at around 4:30 p.m..
Our next stop was Osaek Greenyard Hotel Carbonated Hot Spring.
We had already bought an online afternoon ticket that included both the hot spring and the heated stone relaxation area.
Parking was almost full because it was Chuseok, but once inside, the hot spring was a very good way to finish a long beach day.
We also had dinner inside before leaving. For a family road trip, being able to bathe, rest and eat without making another stop was extremely convenient.
The late drive home was easier than I expected
After the hot spring, dinner and one final shopping stop in Yangyang, we started driving home at around 9:00 p.m..
I had expected heavy holiday return traffic, but at that hour the road was manageable. We reached Seongnam at around 11:30 p.m..
That made the entire day roughly 17½ hours from leaving home to getting back.
It sounds exhausting, but the day included long periods sitting at the beach and resting again at the hot spring. For us, it felt less tiring than a sightseeing itinerary where we would walk continuously from attraction to attraction.
The trip technically continued the next morning when the sandy tent had to be dried at home.
There was, of course, one final stage of the trip. The next day we opened the tent again at home to dry the remaining seawater and sand.
A beach day trip does not always end when the car reaches the parking garage.
What I would know before copying this itinerary
- Leave early. Starting at 6 a.m. gave us enough time for breakfast, the beach and the hot spring without constantly watching the clock.
- Use a car for this exact route. The individual stops are spread across Gangneung, the Yangyang coast and inland Osaek.
- Keep your beach flexible. Our original beach was Namae 3-ri, but changing to Gaetmaeul improved the day.
- Do not assume a tent is automatically allowed. Ask staff when seasonal rules are unclear.
- Check waves, not just water depth. The shore can look shallow while the sea is still rough.
- Bring a change of clothes. A shower before the hot spring made the next part of the trip much more comfortable.
- Save Korean place names. They are extremely useful when searching Naver Map, KakaoMap or showing a destination to a Korean driver.
FAQ
Can you visit Gangneung and Yangyang in one day from Seoul?
Yes, by car and with an early start. Our actual day began in Seongnam at 6 a.m., reached Gangneung at about 8:40 a.m., continued through Yangyang and ended back home at about 11:30 p.m.
Would I do this route without a car?
Not in exactly the same form. Gangneung itself is accessible by KTX, but linking Chodang, smaller Yangyang beaches and Osaek Hot Spring in one day would be much less convenient without a car.
Which beach did we prefer, Namae 3-ri or Gaetmaeul?
On our specific visit, Gaetmaeul Beach worked better because we were able to confirm the day-use shade-tent arrangement with staff and had convenient access to a shower and convenience store.
That does not mean it is always the better beach. Wave conditions and seasonal operations can completely change the experience.
Can children swim in Yangyang in September?
Our children went into the water in late September, but this should not be treated as general advice. Water temperature, official beach season, lifeguard operations and wave conditions vary. Check the conditions on the day you visit.
Was the paid shower useful?
Very much so. On our visit it cost KRW 5,000 per person, and being able to wash off the sand and salt before driving to the hot spring was worth it for our family.
Is Osaek Hot Spring a good final stop?
It was for us. After several hours at the coast, we could bathe, rest in the heated rooms and eat dinner before the drive home.
The beach we hadn’t planned to visit
We left Seongnam at six that morning expecting to spend the day at Namae 3-ri. When we saw the waves, we drove on to Gaetmaeul. I asked before putting up our shade tent, and my daughters spent part of the afternoon looking for shells.
By the time we reached Osaek, I was glad the last stop was a hot bath instead of another place to walk around. We got home close to 11:30 that night. It was a long day, and the stretch of beach we hadn’t planned to visit was the part I’d do again.
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