How to travel from Poole to Exeter, United Kingdom

The distance between Poole and Exeter is around 126km (78 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 Poole to Exeter 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 ExeterPoole if you're planning a return trip.

1
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Upwey then Castle Cary and then to Exeter St Davids.

  • Duration2h 30m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £56($66)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Bristol Bus & Coach Station and then to Exeter Sidwell St.

  • Duration5h 45m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £14($17)
🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Exeter.

  • Duration1h 35m
  • Distance126km (78 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Poole and Exeter

There are several options for getting from Poole to Exeter by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($17) and will take around 5h 45m. 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 £14 ($17).

The distance between Poole and Exeter is around 126km (78 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 111km (69 miles)

It takes around 2h 30m to get from Poole and Exeter by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Poole to Exeter is to drive which takes around 1h 35m and will set you back approx £14 ($17).

The cheapest way to travel between Poole and Exeter, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($17) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Poole and Exeter. It typically takes around 2h 30m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Poole to Exeter. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Upwey and Castle Cary. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 2h 30m.

South Western Railway and Great Western Railway run train services between Poole and Exeter. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 2h 30m, 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 Poole and Exeter. It typically takes around 5h 45m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Poole to Exeter. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bristol Bus & Coach Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 5h 45m.

National Express run regular bus services between Poole and Exeter. Buses run once daily and take around 5h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Poole to Exeter. We recommend that you take the train to Upwey then Castle Cary and then to Exeter St Davids. instead which will take 2h 30m.

The closest major airport to Exeter is Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) which is approximately 8km (5 miles) from Exeter. Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) 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 Poole and Exeter. The distance is around 126km (78 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 Poole to Exeter is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 30m and will usually cost around £56 ($66).

How do I get from Poole to Exeter

Compare travel optionsbetween Poole and Exeter

Transport options from Poole to Exeter
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 30m
£56($66)
every 4 hours195km (121 miles)
Bus
5h 45m
£14($17)
once daily267km (166 miles)
Drive
1h 35m
£14($17)
on demand126km (78 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Poole and Exeter

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Exeter

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

EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
8km (5 miles) from Exeter
CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
76km (47 miles) from Exeter
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
93km (58 miles) from Exeter