Sukhothai enjoyed a golden age under their third king, King Ramkhamhaeng
The province is most famous for the historic city of Sukhothai, the capital of the Sukhothai kingdom.
It is located about 12 km from the modern New Sukhothai city. Not far from Sukhothai are the Si Satchanalai historical park and the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park.
The province was at first known as Sawankhalok; it was renamed to Sukhothai in 1939.