Distance from Bournemouth (Dorset) to Salisbury (Wiltshire)
Straight-line distance: ~25 miles (40 km)
Driving distance: ~30 miles (48 km) via A338 / A36
Driving time: 45–60 minutes (normal traffic)
Route Options
| Route | Distance | Time | Notes |
|---|
| A338 north → A36 east | 30 mi (48 km) | 45–55 min | Most direct; dual carriageway sections |
| A35 → A36 (via Ringwood, Fordingbridge) | 33 mi (53 km) | 55–65 min | Scenic, New Forest edges |
| Coastal: A35 → M27 → A36 | 40+ mi | 60+ min | Longer; avoids town centers |
Public Transport
- Train: No direct rail. Bournemouth → Southampton Central (30 min) → Salisbury (25 min) = ~1 hr 15 min + transfer.
- Bus: Morebus X3/X6 (Bournemouth → Ringwood → Salisbury) — ~1 hr 30 min, infrequent.
Points of Interest En Route
- New Forest National Park (skirted by A36)
- Fordingbridge — medieval bridge, salmon ladder
- Old Sarum — Iron Age hillfort, original Salisbury site (just north of modern city)
- Stonehenge — 9 mi (15 km) north of Salisbury via A303 (detour)
Quick Facts
- Bournemouth: Dorset coastal resort, ~190,000 pop.
- Salisbury: Wiltshire cathedral city, ~45,000 pop., Magna Carta, spire (404 ft / 123 m)
- County border: Dorset/Wiltshire boundary crossed ~5 mi north of Ringwood.
Easy day trip: morning in Bournemouth gardens/beach, drive to Salisbury for cathedral, Close, and lunch, optional Stonehenge add-on.
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