Racetracks
Castle Combe Circuit
A charming Wiltshire circuit in a picturesque Cotswolds village, one of England's oldest operational racing venues.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
Bristol to Cardiff drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 58 min
- Distance
- 43 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £7
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Bristol to Cardiff drive
The drive from Bristol to Cardiff covers 43 miles (69 km) and takes about 58 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £7 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between Bristol and Cardiff
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Cathedrals & Temples
Wells Cathedral
Exquisite Early English Gothic cathedral with a magnificent sculpted west front displaying nearly 300 medieval figures.
Scenic Viewpoints
Symonds Yat Rock
A famous viewpoint 504 feet above the River Wye, where peregrine falcons nest and the river performs a dramatic horseshoe bend.
Scenic Viewpoints
Devil's Pulpit
A narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
Landmarks
Castle Combe
A film-set medieval village of honey cottages with no visible modern intrusions, often called England's prettiest village.
Bristol to Cardiff FAQs
How long is the drive from Bristol to Cardiff?
Driving from Bristol to Cardiff takes about 58 min nonstop, covering 43 miles (69 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Bristol to Cardiff?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £7 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Bristol to Cardiff in one day?
Yes, at about 58 min of driving, Bristol to Cardiff is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between Bristol and Cardiff?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Castle Combe Circuit, Wells Cathedral, Symonds Yat Rock: see the full list of 5 stops on this page.
More drives from Bristol & Cardiff
Birmingham → BristolBirmingham → CardiffBristol → PlymouthBristol → St IvesLiverpool → CardiffLondon → BristolLondon → CardiffManchester → BristolManchester → Cardiff
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.