A taxi from Portsmouth to Gatwick with Esskay Cars costs from £116 in a saloon. The fare is fixed for the whole car and includes the airport charge. It is the same to the North and South Terminals, and the same for the return trip. We collect from homes across Portsmouth and Southsea, from Portsmouth International Port and the Isle of Wight ferry terminals, and from the hotels around Gunwharf Quays and the Historic Dockyard.

Portsmouth to Gatwick is a cross-country trip with no direct train. By rail, you would change at least once, often at Havant, Barnham or in London, and the whole journey with luggage takes two hours or more. A car takes about an hour and a half door to door. For families, ferry passengers and anyone with a lot of luggage, it is the obvious choice.

Portsmouth to Gatwick taxi fares

Live fares from our booking system, checked on 24 October 2026 for a weekday. All prices are per vehicle with the airport charge included.

Vehicle	Seats and luggage	Portsmouth to Gatwick	Gatwick to Portsmouth
Saloon	3 passengers, 3 large cases	£116	£116
Estate	4 passengers, 4 large cases	£133	£133
Executive	3 passengers, 2 large cases	£155	£155
People Carrier	6 passengers, 5 large cases	£155	£155
8-Seater Minivan	8 passengers, 8 large cases	£173	£173
Executive Minivan	6 passengers, 6 large cases	£210	£210
12-Seater Minibus	12 passengers, 10 large cases	£416	£416
16-Seater Minibus	16 passengers, 14 large cases	£480	£480

Shared by four people in an estate, the fare is about £34 each. Six people in a people carrier pay about £26 each.

Route and journey time

Gatwick is about 70 miles from Portsmouth. There are two main routes. The A27 runs east past Chichester, Arundel and Worthing to the A23 at Brighton, then up the M23. The A3(M) and A3 run north past Petersfield and Guildford to the M25, then round to the M23. Drivers check the traffic and take the quicker one, and your fare is the same whichever way they go.

When you travel	Typical journey time
Early morning or late evening	1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes
Weekday off-peak	1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
Weekday peak	1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours
Summer weekends	Up to 2 hours 15 minutes

Getting off Portsea Island can be slow at rush hour, especially on the M275 and around the Eastern Road. The A27 around Chichester and Arundel is often busy in summer, and the A3 can queue near Guildford. Allow extra time on holiday weekends.

When to leave Portsmouth

Flight	Leave Portsmouth by
Short-haul, hand luggage only	3 hours before departure
Short-haul with checked bags	3 hours 30 minutes before departure
Long-haul	4 hours before departure
Summer Saturday	Add 30 minutes

Ferry passengers

Portsmouth is one of the busiest ferry ports in the country. Portsmouth International Port has sailings to France, Spain and the Channel Islands. If you are arriving on a ferry and flying out of Gatwick the same day, give us your ship and expected arrival time. The driver will be waiting at the port. If your crossing is running late, call us and we will move the pickup. Foot passengers usually clear the terminal fairly quickly, but allow at least four hours between docking and your flight.

Isle of Wight travellers

Many Isle of Wight residents fly from Gatwick and cross to Portsmouth first. We can meet you at the Wightlink car ferry terminal at Gunwharf, the Wightlink FastCat at Portsmouth Harbour, or the Hovertravel terminal at Southsea. Give us your crossing time, and allow for the ferry to run a little late in poor weather. On the way home, we can time your arrival at the port to match your sailing back to the island.

Where we pick up

Portsea Island: Old Portsmouth, Gunwharf Quays, the Historic Dockyard, Southsea, Fratton, Eastney, Milton, Copnor and North End.
Mainland Portsmouth: Cosham, Drayton, Farlington, Wymering and Paulsgrove.
Nearby towns: Havant, Waterlooville, Fareham, Gosport, Emsworth and Hayling Island.
The ports: Portsmouth International Port, the Wightlink and FastCat terminals, and the Southsea hovercraft terminal.

Naval and military families

Portsmouth is home to the Royal Navy’s main base, and service personnel and their families often travel at short notice and at odd hours. We run 24 hours a day, and the fare is fixed whatever time you need the car. Tell us the address or the gate you will be at, and we will arrange the pickup point.

University students

The University of Portsmouth has many international students, and the end of each term brings a rush of flights home. Students often travel with a lot of luggage. An estate holds four large cases, and two or three friends flying on the same morning can share one car and split the fare. Give us your hall of residence or street address when you book.

Taxi or train?

	Esskay Cars taxi	Train
Changes	None	At least one
Door-to-door time	About 1 hour 30 minutes	2 hours or more
Early flights	Any time	Limited before 6am
Luggage	Room for all your cases	You carry it between trains
Family of four	£133 in an estate	Four sets of tickets

Early flights

For a 6:30am departure with checked bags, you need to leave Portsmouth around 3am. No trains run at that hour, so a pre-booked car is the only practical option. The fare is the same at night, and the roads are clear, so the journey is at its quickest.

Families and groups

A people carrier takes six passengers and five cases, at £155. The 8-seater minivan takes eight people and eight cases, at £173. Larger groups, such as sports clubs or family celebrations, can book a 12 or 16-seater minibus. Mention car seats, pushchairs and sports equipment when you book.

Visitors to Portsmouth

Visitors fly into Gatwick to see the Historic Dockyard, HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and the Spinnaker Tower, or to stay by the sea in Southsea. We can meet you in arrivals and drop you at your hotel, then collect you at the end of your stay. Give us the hotel name and your flight number when you book.

Parking or a taxi?

Driving from Portsmouth and parking at Gatwick for a week or two can cost more than two fixed taxi fares, and you still face the drive home after a long flight. A fixed fare each way, with the airport charge included, is often the simpler option, especially for families.

Coming home

The driver tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals at the North or South Terminal with a name sign. The fare does not change if your flight is delayed. If you are catching a ferry from Portsmouth after landing, tell us the sailing time, and we will plan the drive around it.

Accessibility

If anyone travelling uses a wheelchair or needs extra help, tell us when you book. We will send a suitable vehicle and allow more time at the pickup.

Our drivers

All Esskay Cars drivers are licensed private hire drivers, insured and DBS-checked. They know both routes between Portsmouth and Gatwick and the ports well.

Booking

Use the booking form at the top of this page for a fixed price, call 0207 8400 344, or WhatsApp 020 3355 8186. Please include ferry details if you are coming off a crossing.

Related routes

See also our Worthing to Gatwick taxi, Brighton to Gatwick taxi and the main Gatwick airport taxi page. Our airport drop-off charges guide explains the airport fees.