Bristol to Bournemouth drive: Distance, time & best stops
The best stops on a Bristol to Bournemouth road trip are Bath, Longleat Safari Park and the Moors Valley Country Park. By car, the distance from Bristol to Bournemouth is 76 miles, with a driving time of 2h17m.
Planning a Bristol to Bournemouth road trip itinerary
The Bristol to Bournemouth drive connects the biggest city in South West England with a relatively upmarket coastal town with great beaches on the doorstep.
Good Bristol experiences include walking tours that cover everything from Blackbeard to Banksy, Only Fools and Horses tours and comedy magic shows.
Top Bournemouth experiences include a coastal highlights tour to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door and an e-bike trip to Corfe Castle.
Bristol to Bournemouth distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Bristol to Bournemouth is 76 miles. However, there are no motorways involved here, and the quickest route winds through the Cranbourne Chase Area Of Natural Beauty.
This makes it a pleasant drive, but an annoyingly long one. You can expect a Bristol to Bournemouth driving time of around two hours and 17 minutes.
The best stops to add to a Bristol to Bournemouth road trip are Bath, Longleat Safari Park and the Moors Valley Country Park.
Bristol to Bournemouth road trip attractions: Bath
The city of Bath is one of the biggest tourist lures in England. Highlights include the Royal Crescent, where 30 grand terraced houses combine to form a perfect sweep with majestic views.
Bath is also home to the Jane Austen Centre and the truly remarkable Roman Baths.
Top Bath experiences include a prosecco-sipping boat trip along the River Avon, nighttime guided ghost walks and walking tours that cover the splendid Georgian architecture.
Bristol to Bournemouth drive: Longleat Safari Park
Longleat Safari Park, in the grounds of Longleat House, was a pioneer in turning zoos into a safari-style experience. Essentially, you stay in your car and drive around the enclosures, seeing lions, gorillas, hippos and giraffes.
It’s the monkeys you need to watch out for, though – they are notorious for climbing on cars and playing with windscreen wipers.
Attractions between Bath and Bristol: Moors Valley Country Park
The Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood in Dorset has an activity zone with a big playground, plus a Zog-themed walking trail for younger children.
There are more idyllic walking trails, but the Moors Valley Country Park is run very much as an all-action kind of place. That means an 18 hole adventure golf course, a mini Land Rover experience, Segway rides through the forest, cycle hire and a Go Ape ropes and nets course.
