How to travel from Southampton to Exeter, United Kingdom

The distance between Southampton and Exeter is around 174km (108 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 5m.

3 routes found

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

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

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
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train
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Train

Take the train to Westbury (Wilts) and then to Exeter St Davids.

  • Duration2h 5m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £56($66)

1 similiar route

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

2
car
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Drive

Drive to Exeter.

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Distance174km (108 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Southampton and Exeter

There are several options for getting from Southampton to Exeter by train and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around £56 ($66) and will take around 2h 5m.

The distance between Southampton and Exeter is around 174km (108 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 150km (93 miles)

It takes around 2h 5m to get from Southampton and Exeter by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Southampton to Exeter is to take the train which takes around 2h 5m and will set you back approx £56 ($66).

The cheapest way to travel between Southampton and Exeter, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around £56 ($66) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Southampton and Exeter. It typically takes around 2h 5m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Southampton to Exeter. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Westbury (Wilts). These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 2h 5m.

Great Western Railway and South Western Railway run train services between Southampton and Exeter. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 2h 5m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Southampton and Exeter. We recommend that you take the train to Westbury (Wilts) and then to Exeter St Davids. instead which will take 2h 5m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Southampton to Exeter. We recommend that you take the train to Westbury (Wilts) and then to Exeter St Davids. instead which will take 2h 5m.

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 Southampton and Exeter. The distance is around 174km (108 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southampton to Exeter is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 5m and will usually cost around £56 ($66).

How do I get from Southampton to Exeter

Compare travel optionsbetween Southampton and Exeter

Transport options from Southampton to Exeter
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 5m
£56($66)
every 3 hours203km (126 miles)
Train via Salisbury2h 20m
£59($70)
hourly180km (112 miles)
Drive
2h 10m
£20($24)
on demand174km (108 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Southampton and Exeter

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