Don't Miss the Last Train: 8 Small-City Day Trips by Rail, With Cheonan Round Trip on the Mugunghwa from KRW 12,600

Check the last train back before you check the train there

Departure stations in Seoul differ by destination. For the southern Chungcheong region, take the train from Seoul Station or Yongsan Station; for Gangwon and Gyeongbuk to the east, Cheongnyangni Station; and for Chungju, Pangyo Station. Pick the wrong station and you've lost an hour on that alone.^[1][3][7]

The key to a day trip is the last train back. The times in this article are what the unofficial timetable site Asamaru shows for Monday, October 12, 2026, and the last train is the last Seoul-bound train leaving that city. The number of trains can change on weekends, so check Korail again when you buy a ticket.^[7][8]

1. Cheonan: 1 hr From Seoul Station, Last Train at 23:00

From Seoul Station to Cheonan Station, the ITX-Saemaeul takes 1 hr to 1 hr 16 min (9,300 KRW) and the Mugunghwa takes 1 hr 8–18 min (6,300 KRW). On Mondays there are 27 a day, with the first train at 05:54. The last train from Cheonan to Seoul Station leaves at 23:02 and to Yongsan at 23:25, the most relaxed in this article.^[1][9]

The one key stop is the Independence Hall of Korea. From the east plaza of Cheonan Station, city bus 815 runs via the Independence Hall.^[10]

• Morning: Seoul Station 07:02 ITX-Saemaeul → arrive in Cheonan, then bus 815 to the Independence Hall
• Afternoon: Back downtown for Cheonan's famous walnut cakes and lunch
• Evening: Cheonan Station 21:24 or 23:02 train to Seoul Station

2. Asan: 1 hr 30 min From Yongsan, Soak in a Hot Spring and Head Back

From Yongsan to Onyang Oncheon Station, the Saemaeul takes 1 hr 26–32 min (10,400 KRW) and the Mugunghwa takes 1 hr 28–35 min (7,000 KRW). There are 16 a day, with the first train at 05:32. The last train from Onyang Oncheon Station to Yongsan is the 22:26 Mugunghwa.^[2][11]

The one key stop is the hot spring district around the station. Hot spring facilities cluster in Asan's Oncheon-dong around Onyang Oncheon Station, so you can walk there right after getting off the train.^[2]

• Morning: Yongsan 08:28 Saemaeul → arrive at Onyang Oncheon around 09 o'clock
• Afternoon: After the hot spring, a city bus or taxi to nearby sights like Oeam Folk Village
• Evening: Onyang Oncheon 21:18 Saemaeul or 22:26 Mugunghwa to Yongsan

3. Gongju: 1 hr by KTX, Plus 20 More Minutes From the Station to Downtown

From Yongsan to KTX Gongju Station, the KTX and KTX-Sancheon take 57 min to 1 hr 9 min and cost 22,800 KRW. There are around 17 a day, with the first train at 05:08. The last train from Gongju Station to Yongsan leaves at 21:26.^[3][12]

One thing to watch: Gongju Station is in Inmyeon, about 12.8 km from downtown. A taxi takes a little over 20 min.^[13] The one key stop is Gongsanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Baekje Historic Areas. City buses such as no. 100 pass in front of Gongsanseong.^[14][15]

• Morning: Yongsan 07:47 KTX → from Gongju Station, taxi or bus downtown, then the Gongsanseong fortress wall walk
• Afternoon: Muryeong Royal Tomb and Royal Tombs Site, Gongju National Museum, Jemincheon alleys
• Evening: Leave downtown around 20h 30min and take the 21:26 KTX from Gongju Station to Yongsan

City

Gongju: 1-Hour KTX Ride from Yongsan, a 20-Minute Taxi, Then the Baekje Walls of Gongsanseong and Jemincheon Bookshop Alleys

4. Boryeong: 2 hr 40 min From Yongsan, See the Sea and Catch the Last Train

From Yongsan to Daecheon Station on the Janghang Line, the Saemaeul takes 2 hr 32–42 min (17,400 KRW) and the Mugunghwa takes 2 hr 41–50 min (11,700 KRW). There are 15 a day, with the first train at 05:32. The last train from Daecheon Station to Yongsan is the 21:11 Mugunghwa, which gets into Yongsan around midnight.^[4][16]

The one key stop is Daecheon Beach. It's about 3 km from Daecheon Station, a little over 10 min by taxi, and you can also go by city bus.^[4]

• Morning: Yongsan 05:32 Mugunghwa (arrive around 08 o'clock) or 08:28 Saemaeul (arrive around 11 o'clock)
• Afternoon: Stroll Daecheon Beach, lunch at the Daecheon Port Fish Market
• Evening: Daecheon 20:09 Saemaeul or 21:11 Mugunghwa to Yongsan

5. Gunsan: Only on a Day You Don't Mind Riding Over 6 hr Round Trip

From Yongsan to Gunsan Station on the Janghang Line, the Saemaeul takes 3 hr 7–26 min (21,600 KRW) and the Mugunghwa takes 3 hr 22–35 min (14,500 KRW). Take the first Mugunghwa at 05:32 and you arrive around 9 o'clock. The last train from Gunsan Station to Yongsan is the 20:26 Mugunghwa, which gets in around midnight.^[5][17]

A day trip is possible, but you spend more than 6 hr on the train alone. The one key stop is the Modern History Museum and the Modern Cultural Street around it. During the 2026 Chuseok holiday, Gunsan ran extra city tour buses (adult 5,000 KRW) departing from Gunsan Station, the Modern History Museum and other stops.^[18]

• Morning: Yongsan 05:32 Mugunghwa → from Gunsan Station, bus or taxi to the Modern History Museum
• Afternoon: Modern Cultural Street alleys, Chowon Photo Studio, a bowl of jjamppong
• Evening: Gunsan 19:25 Saemaeul or 20:26 Mugunghwa to Yongsan. For a more relaxed visit, we recommend a 1-night trip

City

Gunsan 1-Night 2-Day: Take a Photo at the Studio From 'Christmas in August,' Then Cross Six Bridges Out to the Islands

6. Chungju: 65 Min From Pangyo, With Only 4 a Day

For Chungju, you take the Jungbu Naeryuk Line KTX-Eum from Pangyo Station. It takes 1 hr 5 min and costs 12,300 KRW. Trains leave Pangyo at 08:22, 12:31, 16:45 and 20:56 (4 a day), and the trains from Chungju back to Pangyo leave at 06:30, 10:52, 15:02 and 19:21. If you miss the last train at 19:21, there is no next train.^[6][19]

The same train also stops at Salmi and Suanbo Oncheon stations after Chungju Station. The one key stop is Tangeumdae on the Namhan River, and if you want a hot spring, get off at Suanbo Oncheon Station.^[20]

• Morning: Pangyo 08:22 KTX-Eum → arrive in Chungju around 09h 30min, Tangeumdae
• Afternoon: Lunch downtown, then a drive toward Chungju Lake or the Suanbo hot springs
• Evening: Chungju 19:21 KTX-Eum to Pangyo (this is the last train)

7. Andong: 2 hr From Cheongnyangni, Last Train at 6 p.m.

From Cheongnyangni to Andong Station, the KTX-Eum takes 1 hr 52 min to 2 hr 5 min (27,700 KRW) and the ITX-Maum takes 2 hr 33–42 min (21,100 KRW). Take the first KTX-Eum at 05:40 and you arrive at 07:32. The last trains from Andong Station to Cheongnyangni are the KTX-Eum at 18:14 and the ITX-Maum at 18:22, so you have to be back at the station before 6 p.m.^[7][21]

The one key stop is Hahoe Village, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. You take a city bus from the station, but the village is some distance away, so it's best to go first thing in the morning.^[22]

• Morning: Cheongnyangni 05:40 or 06:27 KTX-Eum → Hahoe Village
• Afternoon: Back downtown for lunch at Jjimdak Alley in the Old Market, then a walk on Woryeonggyo Bridge
• Evening: Andong 18:14 KTX-Eum to Cheongnyangni

City

Andong 1-Night 2-Day: 2-Hour KTX-Eum Ride from Cheongnyangni — Hahoe Village by Day, Lantern-Lit Woryeonggyo Bridge by Night

8. Donghae: 2 hr 20 min to the Sea, Last Train at 9:30 at Night

From Cheongnyangni to Donghae Station, the KTX-Eum takes 2 hr 15–23 min and costs 29,700 KRW. On Mondays there are 5 a day (first train at 07:05), and 8 on Saturdays. The last train from Donghae Station to Cheongnyangni leaves at 21:32, so you can stay by the sea through dinner and still get home.^[8][23]

The same train also stops one station earlier at Mukho Station. The one key stop is Nongol-damgil on the hill behind Mukho Port, and Mukho Lighthouse. South of Donghae Station is Chuam Beach, known for its Chotdae Rock.^[8]

• Morning: Cheongnyangni 07:05 KTX-Eum → get off at Mukho Station, Nongol-damgil and Mukho Lighthouse
• Afternoon: A plate of raw fish at Mukho Port, then a taxi to Chuam Chotdae Rock
• Evening: Donghae Station 21:32 KTX-Eum to Cheongnyangni

City

Donghae, 2h20 on the KTX-Eum: an emerald lake born from a 40-year cement quarry

Cities worth visiting with this guide

• Cheonan: 1-Hour Ride from Seoul Station, Then Independence Hall of Korea, Built 300 Years Later on a Prime Site Left Empty
• Asan: Train Round Trip for Two KRW 28,000 · Dinner at the Mediterranean Village at the End of the Ginkgo Road
• Gongju: 1-Hour KTX Ride from Yongsan, a 20-Minute Taxi, Then the Baekje Walls of Gongsanseong and Jemincheon Bookshop Alleys
• Boryeong: 2h 40min by Train from Yongsan — The Muddy Couple Date from a TV Movie, Now in Real Boryeong Mud
• Gunsan 1-Night 2-Day: Take a Photo at the Studio From 'Christmas in August,' Then Cross Six Bridges Out to the Islands
• Chungju: 65 Minutes by KTX from Pangyo to Akeobong, the Ridge Where Crocodiles Seem to Crawl Down to the Lake
• Andong 1-Night 2-Day: 2-Hour KTX-Eum Ride from Cheongnyangni — Hahoe Village by Day, Lantern-Lit Woryeonggyo Bridge by Night
• Donghae: 2h 20min on the KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni, an Emerald Lake Born from a 40-Year Cement Quarry

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