Cardiff to Bath drive: Distance, time & best road trip stops
The best road trip stops on the Cardiff to Bath drive are the Celtic Manor Resort, the Wave and Aerospace Bristol. By car, the distance from Cardiff to Bath is 55 miles, with a 1h17m driving time.
Planning a Cardiff to Bath road trip itinerary
The Cardiff to Bath drive takes you from the capital of Wales to Britain’s most famous spa town.
Good Cardiff experiences include the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, a Cardiff Bay boat cruise, a Doctor Who-themed walking tour and a trip to the Brecon Beacons waterfalls.
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.
Cardiff to Bath distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Cardiff to Bath is 55 miles. Traffic permitting, you can expect a driving time of around one hour and 17 minutes.
The Cardiff to Bath drive is mostly along the M4, and skims the outskirts of Newport and Bristol.
The best stops to add to a Cardiff to Bath road trip itinerary are the Celtic Manor Resort, the Wave and Aerospace Bristol.
Cardiff to Bath road trip stops: The Celtic Manor Resort
Just north of Newport, the Celtic Manor Resort is home to three of the finest golf courses in the UK. The 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament was hosted here, and it is also does a nice line in spa retreats.
There’s also an impressive range of activities to tackle at Celtic Manor, including archery, a high ropes course and laser clay pigeon shooting.
Cardiff to Bath drive: The Wave
On the northern fringes of Bristol, the Wave is a remarkable inland surfing destination. Big pools with artificially-generated waves sit in the middle of a farm.
You can just rock up and have a go, too. A session includes wetsuit and board hire. It’s also possible to have surfing lessons at the Wave.
Attractions between Cardiff and Bath: Aerospace Bristol
Also close to the junction of the M4 and M5 is Aerospace Bristol. This museum delves into Bristol’s illustrious plane-making industry.
But all the aviation heritage pales in comparison to the star attraction – one of the few remaining Concordes. It’s inside its hangar, and visitors are welcome to head on board and look around.
