About 20 miles · from £45
Southampton to Portsmouth Transfers
City to city, harbour and ferry port
Southampton to Portsmouth is a short journey — around 20 miles along the M27 — but it is one where a private car often makes more sense than it first appears, because so many of the reasons for going involve luggage or a fixed time.
The Isle of Wight and cross-Channel ferries, the Historic Dockyard, Gunwharf Quays and the cruise terminal at Portsmouth International Port all sit in different parts of the city, and none of them is quite next to the station. A door-to-door transfer takes you to the actual entrance rather than leaving you a walk at the far end.
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 Portsmouth
from£45
About 20 miles by road · one way, standard car
Usually 35 to 45 minutes — 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
How the journey goes
Times are elapsed from pickup rather than clock times, because this journey starts whenever suits you.
- 0:00
Pickup at your address
Bags in the boot. If you are catching a ferry, we work back from check-in rather than the sailing time — for vehicle ferries the two are well apart.
- 0:10
East on the M27
Twenty miles between the two cities, almost all of it motorway. Reliable most of the time; heavier at rush hour, which is worth allowing for on an early-evening sailing.
- 0:40
Into Portsmouth, to the right entrance
The harbour, Gunwharf, Southsea, the Historic Dockyard and the ferry port are all in different places. Tell us which and you are dropped at that door rather than at the station.
Usually 35 to 45 minutes. 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.
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
Ferries and fixed times
If you are connecting with an Isle of Wight or cross-Channel sailing, tell us the departure time and we will plan to have you there with room to spare — check-in for vehicle ferries closes well before the sailing. The M27 between the two cities is reliable most of the time but does get heavy at rush hour, so an early-evening sailing is worth allowing extra for.
Rather than the train and a walk
The rail journey between the two cities is straightforward, but it leaves you at Portsmouth & Southsea or Portsmouth Harbour rather than at your actual destination. With cases, or a ferry to catch, or an early start, the door-to-door option is usually the easier one.
What to tell us when you book
- The exact part of Portsmouth you need — the harbour, Gunwharf, Southsea and the ferry port are all different
- If you are catching a ferry, the sailing time and operator
- Number of passengers and bags
- Whether you need a child seat
- Any stops you would like on the way
Southampton to Portsmouth: common questions
Do you go to the Isle of Wight ferry terminals?
Yes. Tell us which operator and sailing time in the quote form and we will plan to get you there in good time for check-in.
Can you collect from Portsmouth back to Southampton?
Yes — just enter Portsmouth as your pickup and Southampton as your destination in the quote form.
How long does the journey take?
It is about 20 miles on the M27, usually well under an hour outside busy periods. We will give you a realistic time when we confirm your booking.
Do you cover Southsea, Gunwharf and the Historic Dockyard?
Yes, all of them. Put the full destination address in the quote form so your driver takes you to the right entrance.
Travelling from Southampton to Portsmouth?
Send us the details and we will come back to you to confirm the journey and the price.