RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk hosts a large US Air Force community, and families and personnel regularly use Gatwick for flights home and holidays in Europe. Airports Taxi UK collects you from your home, hotel or office in RAF Mildenhall and takes you straight to Gatwick Airport, with no changes, no carrying cases through stations and no waiting at a taxi rank. The car is booked for you alone, and the driver helps with your bags at both ends. Our drivers cover this run regularly, so they know the quickest way out of RAF Mildenhall and where to stop at the terminal.
The fare is fixed when you book and covers the whole vehicle, not each passenger, and a saloon on this route currently costs about £173 one way. There is no meter running and no surge pricing at busy times. The booking form at the top of this page shows the exact fare for your date, time and vehicle before you book.
Route and Journey Time
RAF Mildenhall is about 118 miles from Gatwick, normally two and a quarter to two and three-quarter hours, via the A11, M11, M25 and M23.
RAF Mildenhall to Gatwick Taxi Prices
These are the one-way fares our booking system is quoting for this journey today, based on the current distance and journey time. Your own price depends on the exact pickup and drop-off addresses and on the date and time you travel, so treat the table as a guide and check the booking form for your final fare.
| Vehicle | Fits | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | up to 4 passengers, 2 large cases | £173 |
| Estate | up to 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £188 |
| Executive | up to 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £213 |
| People carrier (MPV) | up to 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £223 |
| 8 Seater | up to 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £223 |
| Executive Minivan | up to 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £274 |
If you book a return journey at the same time, the booking form takes 5% off the return leg. Optional extras, such as meet and greet, are shown in the form before you confirm, so there are no surprises. For groups, one larger vehicle at around £223 is usually cheaper than booking two cars.
The Drive to Gatwick
The driver heads down the A11 past Newmarket to the M11, follows it to the M25 at Junction 27 and continues round to Junction 7, taking whichever side of the M25 is flowing better. If there is an accident or roadworks on the usual route, the driver takes the alternative. Your price stays the same whichever way you go, and you can ask the driver about the route at any time.
Allow 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes for the journey. Early starts and late evenings tend to be quickest. Weekday rush hours, Friday afternoons and the first weekend of the school holidays are the times to allow more, and we plan pickups with that in mind.
Where We Collect in RAF Mildenhall
We meet at the main gate or visitor centre, as drivers need authorised access to enter the base, or collect from off-base homes in Mildenhall, Beck Row, Red Lodge and Newmarket. Tell us the exact address when you book, and add a note if there is anything the driver should know, such as a gate code, a porter or a better place to stop.
Families living off base are usually in Mildenhall town, Beck Row, West Row, Red Lodge or out towards Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds, and we collect from all of these. Personnel who want to leave straight from the base can meet the driver at the main gate or visitor centre at an agreed time. The drive to Gatwick is long, so the drivers who cover this route are used to planning comfort stops, especially when there are young children on board.
Areas covered: the RAF Mildenhall main gate, Mildenhall, Beck Row, West Row, Red Lodge, Newmarket, and nearby streets.
When Should I Leave RAF Mildenhall?
As a rough guide, this is when we would suggest being collected for a few common departure times. It assumes the longer end of the journey time and the airport’s advice to arrive two hours before a short-haul flight. For long-haul flights, add another hour.
| Flight departs | Suggested pickup |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | 02:00 |
| 10:00 | 05:00 |
| 14:00 | 09:00 |
| 19:00 | 14:00 |
When you book, give us your flight time and we will confirm the pickup time. If you prefer to arrive earlier, for example to use a lounge or because you have a lot of luggage to check in, tell us and we will adjust it.
Taxi or Train?
Rail from the Mildenhall area means getting to Ely or Bury St Edmunds, changing at Cambridge and crossing London, which takes around three hours with several changes.
The train can be cheaper for one person travelling light, but it gets expensive quickly for a family or a group, because everyone needs a ticket. A car also saves the walk to the station, the stairs and platforms with heavy cases, and the worry about missing a connection before an early flight.
Drop-Off at Gatwick Airport
We drop you at the departures forecourt of your terminal, as close to the doors as the airport allows. The North and South Terminals are separate buildings linked by a free shuttle train, so check which one your airline uses the day before you fly and tell us when you book.
Gatwick recommends arriving two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul one. We work backwards from your departure time, add the typical journey time for the day and a margin for traffic, and suggest a pickup time. If you would like to leave earlier than that, just say so. Travelling with children or a lot of luggage is a good reason to allow extra time at the terminal.
What Is Included
You get a licensed, experienced driver, an insured and well-kept vehicle and help loading and unloading your bags, all for the fixed fare agreed at booking. If you are a few minutes behind schedule, the driver waits; if you expect a longer delay, call us. Extra stops and child seats can be added when you book.
More Passengers or Luggage
A saloon takes up to four passengers with two large cases, and an estate takes four with four large cases. For five or six people, the people carrier has room for everyone and four large cases, and the 8-seater takes up to eight passengers and eight cases. Golf bags, ski bags, pushchairs and folding wheelchairs all take space, so list them when you book. If you are not sure which vehicle you need, tell us how many people and cases there are and we will suggest the right one.
For bigger groups, such as sports teams, wedding parties or school trips, we also run 12-seater and 16-seater minibuses. Child seats and boosters are available on request; add them to your booking with the children’s ages so the right seats are fitted before the driver arrives.
Before You Travel
- Allow for the M25: the section between the M11 and the M23 decides the journey time, particularly on Friday afternoons.
- For an early flight, we can collect in the middle of the night; the roads are quiet and the journey is often at the shorter end of the range.
- If you are also travelling from Heathrow or Stansted on another trip, we cover those airports from Mildenhall as well.
- Keep your passport and boarding pass in your hand luggage rather than the boot, so you are ready as soon as you reach the terminal.
Business Travel
We carry a lot of business travellers on this route, from people heading to meetings to teams flying out for conferences. Receipts can be sent by email for expenses, and companies can book regular transfers. For teams, one people carrier or 8-seater usually costs less than several taxis. Bookings can be made by a colleague or assistant, with the driver details sent to the traveller.
How to Book
- Enter your pickup and destination in the booking form at the top of this page.
- Choose the date, time and vehicle, and add your flight details, passengers and luggage.
- Check the price and any extras, then confirm the booking.
- You receive a confirmation, and the driver’s details before the journey.
Booking early gives you the widest choice of vehicles, which matters most in the summer holidays and around Christmas. If your plans are last-minute, the form will show whether a car is available for your time, and you can call us if you need help.
Local Pickup and Drop-off Notes
We pick up from the base gate and from homes in Mildenhall, Beck Row and Red Lodge. Let us know your gate and any access requirements when you book.
Questions About This Journey
How much is a taxi from RAF Mildenhall to Gatwick?
Our booking system is currently quoting about £173 one way in a saloon, with larger vehicles priced in the table above. Your exact fare depends on the full address and the date and time, and the booking form shows it before you confirm.
How long does the journey take?
Usually 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. Early mornings and late evenings are often quicker, while weekday rush hours and Friday afternoons are usually the slowest times.
What happens if my flight time changes?
Let us know as soon as you can and we will move the pickup to suit the new time. If the change is at short notice, call us and we will do our best to adjust it.
Can I book a child seat?
Yes. Child seats and boosters are available on request. Add them in the booking form with the age of each child, and the driver will arrive with the right seats already fitted, so you do not have to bring your own or fit them at the kerb.
Can we pay in pounds by card?
Fares are charged in pounds sterling. If you pay by card, your card provider handles any currency conversion.
Is Gatwick or Heathrow better from Mildenhall?
Heathrow is slightly closer by road and has more direct US flights, but Gatwick often has better fares for Europe and some US routes. We cover both at fixed prices, so choose the airport that suits your flight.
Can you provide a receipt for official travel?
Yes. We can send a receipt showing the journey and fare, which you can use for travel claims.
Flying From Heathrow Instead?
Not every flight leaves from Gatwick, so we run the same fixed-fare service to Heathrow. A Heathrow airport taxi from RAF Mildenhall currently costs about £165 one way in a saloon, and the driver takes you to Terminal 2, 3, 4 or 5 depending on your airline. If you need a Heathrow taxi for the return trip, the driver meets you in arrivals in the same way. See our Heathrow airport taxi and transfers page for more.
Related Pages
- Gatwick Airport taxi
- All areas and routes we cover
- Official Gatwick Airport website for terminal information