About 80 miles · from £145
Southampton to Gatwick Airport Transfers
North and South Terminal drop-off
Gatwick is the longer of the two main airport runs from Southampton — around 80 miles, and a genuinely different drive from the Heathrow journey. There are two sensible ways round: east along the M27 and A27 through Sussex, or north up the M3 and round the M25. Neither is always quicker, and the right choice on the day depends on the time you are travelling and what the roads are doing.
Because Gatwick splits across a North and a South Terminal connected by a shuttle, arriving at the right one matters. Give us your flight number in the quote form and we will confirm your terminal before the day, so you are dropped at the correct set of doors rather than working out the transit train with your cases.
The quote form will open with this journey already filled in. You can change either address before sending it.
Guide prices for a standard car, one way. The final price depends on the number of passengers, the amount of luggage, your exact addresses and the time of day. We confirm the price when we come back to you, and nothing is charged through this website.
Southampton to Gatwick Airport
from£145
About 80 miles by road · one way, standard car
About 1 hour 45 on a clear road — a typical time rather than a promise.
Send us the journey and we will come back with a confirmed price within two hours.
The journey
The journey, step by step
Times are elapsed from pickup rather than clock times, because this journey starts whenever suits you.
- 0:00
Pickup at your door
Cases loaded once. Because this is the longer of the two airport runs, the pickup we suggest usually sits a little earlier than you would expect for the same flight time out of Heathrow.
- 0:10
East on the M27, or north on the M3
The two sensible routes to Gatwick diverge right at the start of the journey. Neither is always quicker: your driver picks based on the time of day and what the roads are actually doing, not on which looks shorter.
- 0:50
Across Sussex, or round the M25
The A27 route runs past Chichester and Arundel and is pleasant but not fast. The M3 and M25 route is longer in miles and usually quicker outside the peaks. This middle stretch is where the two differ most.
- 1:30
The approach to the airport
Both routes converge on the same last few miles. The North and South Terminal turnings split before the airport, so being on the right one matters here rather than at the doors.
- 1:45
Drop-off at North or South Terminal
Straight to the departures entrance of the terminal your flight actually goes from, so nobody is riding the inter-terminal shuttle with a suitcase.
About 1 hour 45 on a clear road. That is a typical run rather than a promise — the time of day makes more difference than the distance does. We suggest a pickup time when we confirm your booking, and it allows for the road being busier than the map thinks.
Worth knowing on this journey
- North or South matters at Gatwick. Send the flight number and we confirm the terminal before the day.
- Allow more than you would for Heathrow: it is fifteen miles further and about twenty-five minutes longer on a good day.
- The A27 is the route most affected by rush hour and by summer weekends heading for the coast.
- Very early departures are common on this run. Tell us the time you need and we will confirm whether we can cover it.
The route
The road we take
Drag, zoom and switch to satellite view. Google's own time is for the road alone and assumes a clear run.
What to expect
Planning this journey
Planning your pickup time
Gatwick is the journey where allowing extra time pays off most, simply because it is longer and there are two viable routes that can each be affected by different roads. We would rather set off a little earlier and arrive comfortably than take a chance on the A27. When you send your booking request, include your flight time and we will come back with a pickup time we are confident in.
Rather than changing trains
Getting to Gatwick from Southampton by rail generally means changing — often more than once — and the connections thin out considerably early in the morning and late at night, which is exactly when most flights go. If your flight leaves at 06:00, a private transfer is frequently the only realistic option, and it is a great deal easier with a family and a boot full of cases.
What to tell us when you book
- Your flight number, so we can confirm North or South Terminal
- Your departure time
- Number of large cases and cabin bags
- Any child seat requirement, with the age of the child
- Whether anyone in the party needs help with mobility
Southampton to Gatwick Airport: common questions
Do you drop at both Gatwick terminals?
Yes, North and South. Give us your flight number when you book and we will confirm which one you need so you are not left crossing between the two.
Which route do you take to Gatwick?
Either the M27 and A27 across Sussex or the M3 and M25, depending on the time you are travelling and the conditions on the day. Your driver will take the sensible option rather than the one that looks shortest on a map.
Is Gatwick a longer journey than Heathrow?
Yes. Gatwick is around 80 miles from Southampton against roughly 65 to Heathrow, so we normally suggest setting off a little earlier for the same departure time.
Can you collect a group?
Tell us the number of passengers and bags in the quote form and we will confirm what we can arrange for your journey.
Travelling from Southampton to Gatwick Airport?
Send us the details and we will come back to you to confirm the journey and the price.