How to travel from Plymouth to Bournemouth, United Kingdom

The distance between Plymouth and Bournemouth is around 202km (126 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 25m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Plymouth to Bournemouth 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 BournemouthPlymouth if you're planning a return trip.

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Train

Take the train to Reading and then to Bournemouth.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £125($150)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Bristol Bond St and then to Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd.

  • Duration6h 35m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £24($28)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Bournemouth.

  • Duration2h 25m
  • Distance202km (126 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Plymouth and Bournemouth

There are several options for getting from Plymouth to Bournemouth by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £24 ($28) and will take around 6h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £24 ($28).

The distance between Plymouth and Bournemouth is around 202km (126 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 165km (102 miles)

It takes around 4hrs to get from Plymouth and Bournemouth by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Plymouth to Bournemouth is to drive which takes around 2h 25m and will set you back approx £24 ($28).

The cheapest way to travel between Plymouth and Bournemouth, 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 Plymouth and Bournemouth. It typically takes around 4hrs and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Plymouth to Bournemouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Reading. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 4hrs.

Great Western Railway and CrossCountry run train services between Plymouth and Bournemouth. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 4hrs, 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 Plymouth and Bournemouth. It typically takes around 6h 35m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Plymouth to Bournemouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bristol Bond St and Bristol Bus & Coach Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 6h 35m.

Megabus UK, Stagecoach South West, FlixBus and National Express run regular bus services between Plymouth and Bournemouth. Buses run once daily and take around 6h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Plymouth to Bournemouth. We recommend that you take the train to Reading and then to Bournemouth. instead which will take 4hrs.

The closest major airport to Bournemouth is Bournemouth Airport (BOH) (BOH) which is approximately 7km (4 miles) from Bournemouth. Southampton Airport (SOU) (SOU) and Bristol Airport (BRS) (BRS) 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 Plymouth and Bournemouth. The distance is around 202km (126 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Plymouth to Bournemouth is to take the train which takes, on average, 4hrs and will usually cost around £125 ($150).

How do I get from Plymouth to Bournemouth

Compare travel optionsbetween Plymouth and Bournemouth

Transport options from Plymouth to Bournemouth
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
4hrs
£125($150)
every 3 hours425km (264 miles)
Bus
6h 35m
£24($28)
once daily326km (203 miles)
Drive
2h 25m
£24($28)
on demand202km (126 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Plymouth and Bournemouth

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Bournemouth

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

BOH
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
International Airport
Distance
7km (4 miles) from Bournemouth
SOU
Southampton Airport (SOU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
44km (28 miles) from Bournemouth
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
94km (59 miles) from Bournemouth