How to travel from Dover to Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
The distance between Dover and Isle of Wight is around 249km (154 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive and then take a ferry which takes around 3h 20m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Dover to Isle of Wight by train, ferry, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Isle of Wight → Dover if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Stratford International and then to St Denys then take a ferry to Cowes Red Jet Ferry Terminal.
- Duration3h 50m
- Departstwice daily
- Typical cost£95($115)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Southampton Coach Station Harbour Parade then take a ferry to Cowes Red Jet Ferry Terminal.
- Duration6h 25m
- Departsevery 4 hours
- Typical cost£24($28)
Multiple operators
Car and Ferry
Drive to Portsmouth Portsea IOW Car Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Fishbourne IOW Ferry Terminal.
- Duration3h 20m
- Departshourly
- Typical cost£56($66)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Dover and Isle of Wight
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Dover to Isle of Wight by train, ferry, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £24 ($28) and will take around 6h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and then take a ferry and arrive in approximately 3h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £56 ($66).
The distance between Dover and Isle of Wight is around 249km (154 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 192km (119 miles)
It takes around 3h 50m to get from Dover and Isle of Wight by train and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Dover to Isle of Wight is to drive and then take a ferry which takes around 3h 20m and will set you back approx £56 ($66).
The cheapest way to travel between Dover and Isle of Wight is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £24 ($28) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Dover and Isle of Wight. We recommend that you drive to Portsmouth Portsea IOW Car Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Fishbourne IOW Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 3h 20m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Dover and Isle of Wight. We recommend that you drive to Portsmouth Portsea IOW Car Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Fishbourne IOW Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 3h 20m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Dover to Isle of Wight. We recommend that you take the train to Stratford International and then to St Denys then take a ferry to Cowes Red Jet Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 3h 50m.
The closest major airport to Isle of Wight is Southampton Airport (SOU) (SOU) which is approximately 31km (19 miles) from Isle of Wight. Bournemouth Airport (BOH) (BOH) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Dover to Isle of Wight. We recommend that you take the train to Stratford International and then to St Denys then take a ferry to Cowes Red Jet Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 3h 50m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Dover to Isle of Wight is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 3h 50m and will usually cost around £95 ($115).
Compare travel optionsbetween Dover and Isle of Wight
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Ferry + 2 similar | 3h 50m | £95($115) | twice daily | 285km (177 miles) |
| Train to Stratford International, ferry | 4h 15m | £95($115) | 6 times a week | 267km (166 miles) |
| Train to London Victoria, ferry | 5h 20m | £90($105) | 6 times a week | 281km (175 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 6h 25m | £24($28) | every 4 hours | 295km (183 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 3h 20m | £56($66) | hourly | 249km (154 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Dover and Isle of Wight
Train operators
South Eastern Trains Service
South Western Railway
Southern Service
Ferry operators
Red Funnel
Wightlink
Bus companies
Airports near Isle of Wight
The following major airports near Isle of Wight offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Southampton Airport (SOU)
- Distance
- 31km (19 miles) from Isle of Wight
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
- Distance
- 37km (23 miles) from Isle of Wight
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
- Distance
- 97km (60 miles) from Isle of Wight