The distance between Southampton and Dover is around 233km (145 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 30m.
We've found 5 different ways to get from Southampton 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 Dover → Southampton if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Dover Priory.
Multiple train operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Canterbury.
There are several options for getting from Southampton to Dover by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £19 ($22) and will take around 5h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £42 ($50).
The distance between Southampton and Dover is around 233km (145 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 192km (119 miles)
It takes around 3h 10m to get from Southampton and Dover by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 30m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Southampton to Dover is to drive which takes around 2h 30m and will set you back approx £42 ($50).
The cheapest way to travel between Southampton and Dover, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £19 ($22) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Southampton and Dover. It typically takes around 3h 10m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Southampton 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 10m.
South Western Railway, South Eastern Trains Service, Southern Service and Great Western Railway run train services between Southampton and Dover. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 10m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Southampton and Dover. It typically takes around 5h 25m and departs every 4 hours.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Southampton 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 5h 25m.
National Express run regular bus services between Southampton and Dover. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 5h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Southampton to Dover. We recommend that you take the train to London Waterloo and then to Dover Priory. instead which will take 3h 10m.
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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Southampton and Dover. The distance is around 241km (150 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 30m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southampton to Dover is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around £83 ($100).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train via London Waterloo + 2 similar | 2h 45m | £79($95) | every 3 hours | 256km (159 miles) |
Train | 3h 10m | £83($100) | hourly | 249km (155 miles) |
Train via Brighton | 4h 20m | £52($61) | hourly | 233km (145 miles) |
Bus | 5h 25m | £19($22) | every 4 hours | 259km (161 miles) |
Drive | 2h 30m | £42($50) | on demand | 241km (150 miles) |
South Western Railway
South Eastern Trains Service
Southern Service
The following major airports near Dover offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.