How to travel from Oban to Thurso, United Kingdom

The distance between Oban and Thurso is around 343km (213 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 4h 35m.

3 routes found

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

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

💰 Cheapest
1
4 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Fort William Bus Station, Inverness Bus Station Stance 2 then Leirinmore Smoo Cave and then to Thurso Royal Bank of Scotland.

  • Duration8h 30m
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    £24($28)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

2
4 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Glasgow Queen Street, Perth then Inverness and then to Thurso.

  • Duration10h 25m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £100($120)
Operated by

First ScotRail Service

🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Thurso.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Distance343km (213 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Oban and Thurso

There are several options for getting from Oban to Thurso by bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £24 ($28) and will take around 8h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 4h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £60 ($71).

The distance between Oban and Thurso is around 343km (213 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 269km (167 miles)

It takes around 8h 30m to get from Oban and Thurso by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Oban to Thurso is to drive which takes around 4h 35m and will set you back approx £60 ($71).

The cheapest way to travel between Oban and Thurso, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £24 ($28) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Oban and Thurso. It typically takes around 10h 25m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Oban to Thurso. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Glasgow Queen Street, Perth and Inverness. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 10h 25m.

First ScotRail Service and LNER run train services between Oban and Thurso. Trains depart twice daily and will take around 10h 25m, 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 Oban and Thurso. It typically takes around 8h 30m and departs once a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Oban to Thurso. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Fort William Bus Station, Inverness Bus Station Stance 2 and Leirinmore Smoo Cave. These services run once a week and will take a minimum of 8h 30m.

West Coast Motors, Scottish Citylink and The Durness Bus run regular bus services between Oban and Thurso. Buses run once a week and take around 8h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Oban to Thurso. We recommend that you take the bus to Fort William Bus Station, Inverness Bus Station Stance 2 then Leirinmore Smoo Cave and then to Thurso Royal Bank of Scotland. instead which will take 8h 30m.

The closest major airport to Thurso is Kirkwall Airport (KOI) (KOI) which is approximately 54km (34 miles) from Thurso. Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) and Stornoway Airport (SYY) (SYY) 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 Oban and Thurso. The distance is around 343km (213 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Oban to Thurso is to take the bus which takes, on average, 8h 30m and will usually cost around £24 ($28).

How do I get from Oban to Thurso

Compare travel optionsbetween Oban and Thurso

Transport options from Oban to Thurso
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
8h 30m
£24($28)
once a week518km (322 miles)
Train
10h 25m
£100($120)
twice daily680km (423 miles)
Drive
4h 35m
£60($71)
on demand343km (213 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Oban and Thurso

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Thurso

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

KOI
Kirkwall Airport (KOI)
Domestic Airport
Distance
54km (34 miles) from Thurso
INV
Inverness Airport (INV)
International Airport
Distance
122km (76 miles) from Thurso
SYY
Stornoway Airport (SYY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
169km (105 miles) from Thurso