How to travel from Dumfries to Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The distance between Dumfries and Edinburgh is around 117km (73 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 1h 35m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Dumfries to Edinburgh by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out EdinburghDumfries if you're planning a return trip.

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train
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Train

Take the train to Carlisle and then to Edinburgh.

  • Duration1h 55m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £51($60)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Tollcross Home Street.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £10($12)
Operated by

Stagecoach West Scotland

🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Edinburgh.

  • Duration1h 35m
  • Distance117km (73 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Dumfries and Edinburgh

There are several options for getting from Dumfries to Edinburgh by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £10 ($12) and will take around 2h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 1h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £20 ($24).

The distance between Dumfries and Edinburgh is around 117km (73 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 102km (63 miles)

It takes around 1h 55m to get from Dumfries and Edinburgh by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Dumfries to Edinburgh is to drive which takes around 1h 35m and will set you back approx £20 ($24).

The cheapest way to travel between Dumfries and Edinburgh, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £10 ($12) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Dumfries and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 1h 55m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Dumfries to Edinburgh. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Carlisle. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 1h 55m.

First ScotRail Service, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express Service and LNER run train services between Dumfries and Edinburgh. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 1h 55m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Dumfries and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 2h 40m and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Dumfries and Edinburgh with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 2h 40m.

Stagecoach West Scotland run regular bus services between Dumfries and Edinburgh. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 2h 40m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Dumfries to Edinburgh. We recommend that you take the train to Carlisle and then to Edinburgh. instead which will take 1h 55m.

The closest major airport to Edinburgh is Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (EDI) which is approximately 11km (7 miles) from Edinburgh. Dundee Airport (DND) (DND) and Glasgow Airport (GLA) (GLA) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Dumfries and Edinburgh. The distance is around 117km (73 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Dumfries to Edinburgh is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 55m and will usually cost around £51 ($60).

How do I get from Dumfries to Edinburgh

Compare travel optionsbetween Dumfries and Edinburgh

Transport options from Dumfries to Edinburgh
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 55m
£51($60)
every 2 hours215km (134 miles)
Bus
2h 40m
£10($12)
every 4 hours132km (82 miles)
Drive
1h 35m
£20($24)
on demand117km (73 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Dumfries and Edinburgh

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Edinburgh

The following major airports near Edinburgh offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
11km (7 miles) from Edinburgh
DND
Dundee Airport (DND)
Domestic Airport
Distance
57km (35 miles) from Edinburgh
GLA
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
International Airport
Distance
78km (48 miles) from Edinburgh