How to travel from Reading to Portsmouth

Sun, Sep 20
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Travel by train, bus with
South Western Railway
National Express
CrossCountry
Great Western Railway
RailAir
1,000+ more
South Western Railway
National Express
CrossCountry
Great Western Railway
RailAir
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare train and bus for Reading to Portsmouth

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Reading to Portsmouth among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of $41 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 6m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $41, while a bus costs an average of $68.

Distance: 45 miles (74 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Driving

$41

Average price

Cheapest

$68

Average price

$21

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

2h 6m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 36m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 51m

Average total duration

2h 21m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

1h 29m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

South Western Railway

Most popular train company

National Express

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Reading to Portsmouth is a train with an average price of $41.

This is compared to other travel options from Reading to Portsmouth:

A train is $27 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Reading to Portsmouth costing on average $68.

The fastest way to travel from Reading to Portsmouth is by train with an average journey time of 2h 6m.

Other travel options to Portsmouth take longer:

Bus takes on average 2h 51m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Reading and Portsmouth including taking a train and bus.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Reading to Portsmouth among Omio's users.
Take the train. It's the cheaper option, and the extra time on board is usually more relaxing than driving it.

Tickets start at around $41 compared to roughly $21 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-19.26. The journey takes 1h 36m versus 1h 29m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.

Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.

Travel options
from Reading to Portsmouth

How to get from Reading to Portsmouth by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Reading to Portsmouth is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • National Express
    11:03 PM3h15
    Reading
    2:18 AMPortsmouth
    $641One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • National Express
    11:03 PM3h15
    Reading
    2:18 AMPortsmouth
    $641One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • National Express
    11:03 PM3h15
    Reading
    2:18 AMPortsmouth
    $641One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • National Express
    12:56 PM3h34
    Reading
    4:30 PMPortsmouth
    $731One-way
    0 transfers
  • National Express
    11:56 AM3h34
    Reading
    3:30 PMPortsmouth
    $731One-way
    0 transfers

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Reading to Portsmouth

Travel to Portsmouth easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Reading to Portsmouth.

FAQs
There are 2 options to travel between Reading and Portsmouth including taking a train and bus.
The cheapest way to travel from Reading to Portsmouth is a train with an average price of $41.

This is compared to other travel options from Reading to Portsmouth:

A train is $24 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Reading to Portsmouth costing on average $64.

The fastest way to travel from Reading to Portsmouth is by train with an average journey time of 2h 6m.

Other travel options to Portsmouth take longer:

Bus takes on average 3h 44m.

The distance from Reading to Portsmouth is approximately 45 miles (74 km).
The average frequency per day from Reading to Portsmouth is:
  • Around 12 buses per day.
  • Around 8 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Reading and Portsmouth as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Reading to Portsmouth:
  • Trains mostly depart from Reading station (RDG) and arrive in Portsmouth & Southsea (PMS).
  • Buses mostly depart from Reading, Blagrave Street and arrive in Portsmouth, The Hard Interchange.
  • Ferries mostly depart from Portsmouth Harbour and arrive in Portsmouth Harbour.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Reading to Portsmouth, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with South Western Railway, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Cross Country, Great Western Railway (GWR) to go to Portsmouth by train.
  • Travel with National Express, RailAir to go to Portsmouth by bus.
Omio customers who travel from Reading to Portsmouth often also extend their vacation to go to London, Southampton, Manchester, Birmingham, London Waterloo (WAT). Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Portsmouth and these popular destinations at a great price.
Most travelers need at least three days in Portsmouth to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. If you want day trips or a slower itinerary, consider adding extra time.
Spending two to three days in Portsmouth is generally enough to explore key attractions such as the Historic Dockyard, Spinnaker Tower, and enjoy the vibrant waterfront.

Travelling from Reading to Portsmouth: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTravelTravel to United KingdomTravel to PortsmouthHow to travel from Reading to Portsmouth

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