How to travel from Portsmouth to Dover, United Kingdom

The distance between Portsmouth and Dover is around 205km (128 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 20m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Portsmouth to Dover 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 DoverPortsmouth if you're planning a return trip.

1
train
+
train
+

Train via London Waterloo

Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Dover Priory.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £79($95)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Canterbury.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £19($22)
🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Dover.

  • Duration2h 20m
  • Distance224km (139 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Portsmouth and Dover

There are several options for getting from Portsmouth to Dover by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £19 ($22) and will take around 4h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £39 ($46).

The distance between Portsmouth and Dover is around 205km (128 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 171km (106 miles)

It takes around 3h 20m to get from Portsmouth and Dover by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Portsmouth to Dover is to drive which takes around 2h 20m and will set you back approx £39 ($46).

The cheapest way to travel between Portsmouth and Dover, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £19 ($22) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Portsmouth and Dover. It typically takes around 3h 20m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Portsmouth to Dover. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo and London Bridge station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 20m.

South Western Railway, South Eastern Trains Service, Southern Service and Great Western Railway run train services between Portsmouth and Dover. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 20m, 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 Portsmouth and Dover. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Portsmouth to Dover. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station and Canterbury. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 4h 50m.

National Express and Autokar Polska run regular bus services between Portsmouth and Dover. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 4h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Portsmouth to Dover. We recommend that you take the train to London Waterloo and then to Dover Priory. instead which will take 3h 20m.

The closest major airport to Dover is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 97km (61 miles) from Dover. Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) and London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) 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 Portsmouth and Dover. The distance is around 224km (139 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Portsmouth to Dover is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 20m and will usually cost around £83 ($100).

How do I get from Portsmouth to Dover

Compare travel optionsbetween Portsmouth and Dover

Transport options from Portsmouth to Dover
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train via London Waterloo + 2 similar
3hrs
£79($95)
every 3 hours247km (153 miles)
Train3h 20m
£83($100)
hourly240km (149 miles)
Train via Brighton3h 45m
£46($55)
hourly205km (128 miles)
Bus
4h 50m
£19($22)
every 4 hours255km (158 miles)
Drive
2h 20m
£39($46)
on demand224km (139 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Portsmouth and Dover

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Dover

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

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
97km (61 miles) from Dover
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
104km (65 miles) from Dover
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
112km (69 miles) from Dover