How to travel from Exeter to Southampton, United Kingdom

The distance between Exeter and Southampton is around 174km (108 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 10m.

3 routes found

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

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

💰 Cheapest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Salisbury and then to Southampton Central.

  • Duration2h 15m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £59($70)
Operated by

South Western Railway

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

🚀 Fastest
2
car
+

Drive

Drive to Southampton.

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Distance174km (108 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Exeter and Southampton

There are several options for getting from Exeter to Southampton by train and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around £59 ($70) and will take around 2h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £20 ($24).

The distance between Exeter and Southampton is around 174km (108 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 150km (93 miles)

It takes around 2h 15m to get from Exeter and Southampton by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Exeter to Southampton is to drive which takes around 2h 10m and will set you back approx £20 ($24).

The cheapest way to travel between Exeter and Southampton, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around £59 ($70) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Exeter and Southampton. It typically takes around 2h 15m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Exeter to Southampton. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Salisbury. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 15m.

South Western Railway, Great Western Railway and CrossCountry run train services between Exeter and Southampton. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 15m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Exeter and Southampton. We recommend that you drive to Southampton. instead which will take 2h 10m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Exeter to Southampton. We recommend that you take the train to Salisbury and then to Southampton Central. instead which will take 2h 15m.

The closest major airport to Southampton is Southampton Airport (SOU) (SOU) which is approximately 6km (4 miles) from Southampton. 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

Yes it is possible to drive from Exeter and Southampton. The distance is around 174km (108 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Exeter to Southampton is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 15m and will usually cost around £59 ($70).

How do I get from Exeter to Southampton

Compare travel optionsbetween Exeter and Southampton

Transport options from Exeter to Southampton
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 15m
£59($70)
hourly180km (112 miles)
Train via Bristol Temple Meads2h 35m
£84($100)
hourly244km (152 miles)
Drive
2h 10m
£20($24)
on demand174km (108 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Exeter and Southampton

Train operators

Airports near Southampton

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

SOU
Southampton Airport (SOU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
6km (4 miles) from Southampton
BOH
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
International Airport
Distance
33km (21 miles) from Southampton
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
90km (56 miles) from Southampton