Driving to Gatwick - advice gratefully received

[benjii]

Hi Saints fans!

;)

 

I need to drive from Southampton to Gatwick on a Friday morning in a couple of weeks. I need to arrive at the South Terminal by 08:00.

 

Does anyone have any tips on the best route to take that time of day please? I suppose I will leave at about 06:00 so I would hope traffic congestion is not an issue but we shall see!!

 

Thanks.

[mcjwills]

How long are you going for, if it's for more than seven days and you are going to leave your car there you can get a deal with a hotel and parking cheaper than just parking.

[pedg]

One useful thing you could do is if you go into google maps and turn on traffic. You will see a box in the bottom left that says "Live Traffic". If you select Change you can select the time of day you are interested in and it will show what the typical traffic speeds are at that time.

[Saint Keith]

i do the journey on average twice a week, and 99 times out of 100 i use the A27 and A24. best is an hour 10 mins, never longer than an hour 45. but if you take a chance with the M25 it can be an hour 10, or can be 2 and a half hours on bad day

[Essruu]

If you leave anytime after 06:00 on any weekday morning, you'll hit traffic at Ligh****er/ Junction 3 on the M3 and, probably on the M25 as well if you go M3 / M25 / M23. You should do it in 2hrs though, although it can take longer if there's any accidents along the way.

 

Any time of the day when I know there could be delays, to save miles and minimise any potential problems en route, I go A27 through Chichester > A29 through Pulborough > A264 through Five Oaks > I then ignore the signs for Gatwick which shove you onto the M23, but instead go through Crawley on the A23 and some shortcuts depending on which terminal I need to get to ; but from the A264 you may want to follow the signs if in doubt.

 

There's never really any delays or hold ups like you can experience on the M3/M25 route, it's a nicer drive, shorter distance and you should do it in around 1hr 45ish every time. If you were travelling later in the day or setting off an hour or more earlier, then you would probably do it in 1hr 30ish on the M3 route, but that will 9 times out of 10 take you a while longer if you're not on your way on the M3 before 6am.

[sussexsaint]

at Ligh****er

[colehillsaint]

Used to drive it very regularly for work. I always found the M3 quick but like people have intimated, once in a blue moon, there would be a big accident shutting the M25 for hours, causing total chaos. For an important trip best to allow a bit more time and take the predictable route via Chichester.

[Huffton]

Taxi drivers routes.

M3, A31, M25. This route misses the busiest bit of M25, and is only about 10 mins longer than going right up the M3, although it can get a bit busy getting on the M25 at Guildford.

M27, A27, A29, B2139, A283, A24

Takes between 1hr 15 and 1hr 30. Might look a bit of a backroad route but cuts out all the crap at Arundel, and the burger van on the 2139 is the best in the south!

[Essruu]

M27, A27, A29, B2139, A283, A24

Takes between 1hr 15 and 1hr 30. Might look a bit of a backroad route but cuts out all the crap at Arundel, and the burger van on the 2139 is the best in the south!

 

I used to use this route, but got caught in traffic too many times around Storrington or on the A272 if I cut through on the Cowfold Road.

 

Of course, my route takes in the Sainsburys superstore at Pulborough for healthy snacks instead of a burger can, but if you can live without a cholesterol burger, I would recommend it ;-)

[Horley CTFC Saint]

Try M27 - A27 - A3M - A3 - M25 - M23 route

[Essruu]

Try M27 - A27 - A3M - A3 - M25 - M23 route

 

If you're going to do M25/M23, it's daft to go A27/A3 from the centre or west side of the city (you may as well do A31/A3); If you're starting from the east side then fair enough. You still risk theA3 at Guildford and M25 problems though. From the east side of town I'd always go A27/A29/A264.

[derry]

I did Gatwick for ten years sometimes 6 days in a row. I found both routes from Fontwell to A24 sometimes a nuisance if busy and mostly used A27 past Arundel to Patching then across the downs to Findon up the A24 then either through Crawley for the South or the Crawley link to the M23 at Pease Pottage then off at the LGW junction to the Car Park or through to the North Terminal. If you are aiming for 0800 there may be congestion at Crawley. If it was me I'd leave about 0530 and probably get a clear run through. Speed cameras on A27 east of Chichester and on the A24 South of the A272 traffic lights, where there used to be a traffic camera for red light runners.

[ZebadeeRust]

I live in Crawley and go back and forth to Southampton quite a bit. The M3/M25/M23 is the faster route but only if its totally clear, which it rarely is. 9 times out of 10 I use the route suggested by Essruu, only 5-10 minutes longer than the M3/M25 route but shorter, a much nicer drive and more reliable too. I did it in 1 hour 35 minutes a couple of days ago without going at silly speeds.

[red&white56]

I live just south of Crawley and usually drive M27, A27, A24, A272, A23/M23.

 

I wouldn't come via M25 / M23 as there can be horrendous queues coming off at exit for Gatwick on the southbound M23 around 07.00.

[Essruu]

I live just south of Crawley and usually drive M27, A27, A24, A272, A23/M23.

 

I wouldn't come via M25 / M23 as there can be horrendous queues coming off at exit for Gatwick on the southbound M23 around 07.00.

 

Anytime around rush hours and you'll get held up on the Cowfold Road (A272 section after A24) which is why, after years of doing early morning runs to Gatwick, I always do the A29 through Pulborough. You can always do that route in the same time.

[benjii]

Thanks everyone.

 

How long are you going for, if it's for more than seven days and you are going to leave your car there you can get a deal with a hotel and parking cheaper than just parking.

 

Not long, parking is booked but thanks for the tip.

 

One useful thing you could do is if you go into google maps and turn on traffic. You will see a box in the bottom left that says "Live Traffic". If you select Change you can select the time of day you are interested in and it will show what the typical traffic speeds are at that time.

 

I didn't know it was that sophistimacated - thank you.

 

i do the journey on average twice a week, and 99 times out of 100 i use the A27 and A24. best is an hour 10 mins, never longer than an hour 45. but if you take a chance with the M25 it can be an hour 10, or can be 2 and a half hours on bad day

 

Cheers. M25 and M3 seem like needless risks....

 

If you leave anytime after 06:00 on any weekday morning, you'll hit traffic at Ligh****er/ Junction 3 on the M3 and, probably on the M25 as well if you go M3 / M25 / M23. You should do it in 2hrs though, although it can take longer if there's any accidents along the way.

 

Any time of the day when I know there could be delays, to save miles and minimise any potential problems en route, I go A27 through Chichester > A29 through Pulborough > A264 through Five Oaks > I then ignore the signs for Gatwick which shove you onto the M23, but instead go through Crawley on the A23 and some shortcuts depending on which terminal I need to get to ; but from the A264 you may want to follow the signs if in doubt.

 

There's never really any delays or hold ups like you can experience on the M3/M25 route, it's a nicer drive, shorter distance and you should do it in around 1hr 45ish every time. If you were travelling later in the day or setting off an hour or more earlier, then you would probably do it in 1hr 30ish on the M3 route, but that will 9 times out of 10 take you a while longer if you're not on your way on the M3 before 6am.

 

Cheers, leaning further from M3...

 

at Ligh****er

 

Yet ironically you could go through Clungepuddle, which sounds filthy.

 

Used to drive it very regularly for work. I always found the M3 quick but like people have intimated, once in a blue moon, there would be a big accident shutting the M25 for hours, causing total chaos. For an important trip best to allow a bit more time and take the predictable route via Chichester.

 

Yep, M3 can suck my ****ing balls f'sure.

 

Taxi drivers routes.

M3, A31, M25. This route misses the busiest bit of M25, and is only about 10 mins longer than going right up the M3, although it can get a bit busy getting on the M25 at Guildford.

M27, A27, A29, B2139, A283, A24

Takes between 1hr 15 and 1hr 30. Might look a bit of a backroad route but cuts out all the crap at Arundel, and the burger van on the 2139 is the best in the south!

 

I won't need a burger at 7.00 am but I like the route, thanks.

 

I did Gatwick for ten years sometimes 6 days in a row. I found both routes from Fontwell to A24 sometimes a nuisance if busy and mostly used A27 past Arundel to Patching then across the downs to Findon up the A24 then either through Crawley for the South or the Crawley link to the M23 at Pease Pottage then off at the LGW junction to the Car Park or through to the North Terminal. If you are aiming for 0800 there may be congestion at Crawley. If it was me I'd leave about 0530 and probably get a clear run through. Speed cameras on A27 east of Chichester and on the A24 South of the A272 traffic lights, where there used to be a traffic camera for red light runners.

 

The Mrs will moan if I say we have to leave at 5.30.

 

I live in Crawley and go back and forth to Southampton quite a bit. The M3/M25/M23 is the faster route but only if its totally clear, which it rarely is. 9 times out of 10 I use the route suggested by Essruu, only 5-10 minutes longer than the M3/M25 route but shorter, a much nicer drive and more reliable too. I did it in 1 hour 35 minutes a couple of days ago without going at silly speeds.

 

Cheers. That's another rusty spanner in the works of the M3's hoop.

 

I live just south of Crawley and usually drive M27, A27, A24, A272, A23/M23.

 

I wouldn't come via M25 / M23 as there can be horrendous queues coming off at exit for Gatwick on the southbound M23 around 07.00.

 

Thanks.

 

 

Cheers all.

[swannymere]

The Mrs will moan if I say we have to leave at 5.30.

 

Inform her that it leaves more time for Duty Free.

[trousers]

Or go the night before and stay in a hotel near the airport...