A taxi from Bristol Temple Meads to Gatwick costs £198 in a saloon car, and the price is the same whether you are going to the North or the South Terminal. It is roughly 133 miles, and the drive takes about 2 hours 25 minutes when the roads are clear.
Bristol Airport is on the doorstep, so this is a journey people make for a specific reason: a route or airline that only flies from Gatwick, a cruise or package holiday departing from there, or a cheaper fare that makes the longer trip worth it. The details below are meant to help you decide whether the car makes sense and, if it does, when to leave.
Bristol to Gatwick fares
| Car | Passengers | Suitcases | From Temple Meads | From Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 4 | 2 | £198 | £202 |
| Estate | 4 | 4 | £213 | £218 |
| Executive | 3 | 2 | £241 | £246 |
| MPV | 6 | 4 | £254 | £259 |
| 8-seater | 8 | 8 | £254 | £259 |
| Executive minivan | 8 | 8 | £310 | £316 |
One-way fares to Gatwick South Terminal from our booking system, October 2026. North Terminal is within £1 of these. For any other Bristol address, the booking form at the top of this page will give you the exact figure.
There is no extra charge for travelling overnight or at weekends, and booking the return journey at the same time reduces the total by 5%.
Is the car worth it against the train?
The train from Bristol to Gatwick generally means going via Reading or into London and changing, with your luggage, at least once. For one person travelling light, that is likely to be the cheaper option.
The car comes into its own when:
- There are three or more of you. Four people in an estate pay about £53 each; eight in the 8-seater pay under £32 each.
- Your flight leaves early. A 07:00 departure means being at Gatwick by about 05:00, which is earlier than you can usually reach Gatwick by train from Bristol.
- You have a lot to carry. Ski bags, pushchairs or cruise luggage are far easier when the car takes you from your front door to the terminal.
How long to allow
The drive is mostly motorway: east on the M4, then round the M25 to the M23 and Gatwick. The M4 is usually steady; the M25 is where delays build. Take the 2 h 25 drive time as the minimum and add the buffer below. The driver waits 5 minutes free at your door, so build that into your plan too.
| Time of travel | Add to the drive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight (00:00 to 05:00) | 20 to 30 minutes | Leave 02:15 to arrive about 05:00 |
| Weekday daytime | 60 to 90 minutes | Leave 07:00 to arrive by 11:00 |
| Friday afternoon | 90 minutes or more | Leave by 12:00 for a 17:00 check-in |
North or South Terminal?
Gatwick has two terminals, and airlines are split between them. Your booking confirmation will say which one you need. If you choose the wrong one, the free shuttle train between terminals takes a few minutes, but it is easier to tell your driver the correct terminal before you set off. Our guides to Gatwick North Terminal and Gatwick South Terminal cover each one.
Gatwick charges vehicles to use its terminal drop-off zones, and that charge is already included in the fares above. Our Gatwick drop-off charge explainer sets out how it works.
Coming back to Bristol
The return from Gatwick is the same distance and a similar fare. If you book both legs together, you get the 5% return reduction. Your driver meets you inside the arrivals hall at either terminal. We track your flight, and the first 60 minutes after it lands are free.
For other fares from Gatwick see our Gatwick taxi prices, or read about our Gatwick airport taxi service. If Heathrow suits you better, we also cover Bristol to Heathrow.
Questions
How much is a taxi from Bristol to Gatwick?
£198 in a saloon from Bristol Temple Meads, £213 in an estate and £254 in an MPV or 8-seater.
How long is the drive from Bristol to Gatwick?
About 2 hours 25 minutes in light traffic, for roughly 133 miles. Allow more during the day, mostly for the M25.
Is it the same price to the North and South Terminals?
Yes, within £1.