The simplest way from Bath to Bristol Airport is the Air Decker (A4) bus, which runs direct from about £9.50 and takes roughly 80 minutes. A taxi or private transfer is faster, at around £50 for about 40 minutes door to door. The 19 miles are easy enough; the only real decision is whether you're paying for time or saving money.
Bristol Airport sits south-west of the city, about 19 miles from Bath Spa, with no direct railway. That leaves five sensible options, and the right one depends almost entirely on your flight time and how much luggage you're wrestling.
The five ways, compared
| Option | Cost | Door-to-door time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Decker (A4) bus, direct | About £9.50 single, £16 return | About 80 min | Budget travellers, daytime flights |
| Train to Bristol, then Airport Flyer | From about £19.70 combined | 45 to 60 min | Anyone near Bath Spa station |
| Taxi or private hire | About £50 to £76 | About 40 min | Groups, luggage, early flights |
| Pre-booked private transfer | From about £50 | About 40 min | Fixed price, no surprises |
| Drive and park | Parking from about £6.62 a day | About 40 min plus shuttle | Longer trips with a car |
Prices checked August 2026. Bristol Airport changed its parking and drop-off tariffs on 5 January 2026, so ignore older figures.
The Air Decker (A4): direct, and the cheapest
The Air Decker is the only bus that runs straight from Bath to the airport without changing. It leaves from Newbridge and central Bath, then calls at Saltford, Keynsham, Brislington, Hengrove and Highridge before reaching the terminal. There are up to 19 services a day each way, seven days a week, and the ride takes about 80 minutes.
On price it's hard to argue with: a single is around £9.50 and a return about £16, held for a month. The trade-off is time and luggage. Eighty minutes with cases on a stopping service is a different proposition from a 40-minute car, so this suits a daytime flight and light bags more than a dawn departure with a family. One point worth confirming: the exact first departure from Bath and the published Bath-to-airport fare shift occasionally, so check the live A4 timetable and airdecker.com before you commit to a tight connection.
Train plus Flyer: quick if you're near the station
If you're close to Bath Spa station, the fastest public-transport route is the train to Bristol Temple Meads (from about £10.20 off-peak, and only 11 to 17 minutes), then the Airport Flyer (A1) from the station forecourt to the terminal (£9.50, about 25 minutes). Combined, that's roughly £19.70 and, allowing for the transfer, 45 to 60 minutes door to door. GWR also sells a through ticket to "Bristol Airport (A1 Bristol)". It costs more than the direct bus but can be quicker, and the trains are frequent.
Taxi and private transfer: buy back the time
For an early flight, a group, or a pile of luggage, a car to the door is the calm option. Expect roughly £50 to £76 depending on the operator and the hour, for a drive of about 40 minutes off-peak via the A37 and A39. Pre-booked fixed-price transfers start around £50 and remove the guesswork, which matters at 4am when you're not in the mood to negotiate.
A word on who publishes this, and a recommendation: WeKnowBath is part of the Tick Taxi group, which runs fixed-price Bath-to-airport transfers. To be upfront about the plug: on the public numbers it's the best-rated firm around, 5.0 on Google from 700+ reviews and the QSI Gold Award 2026, with a fixed fare (20% off online) it says undercuts the rank by about 30%, so you know the price before the 4am alarm. We still set out the bus and train options first and price the competition plainly, because a guide that quietly steers you into the owner's car isn't a guide.
Driving and parking
If you're away long enough, driving over and leaving the car can pay off. Silver Zone long-stay parking at Bristol Airport starts from around £6.62 a day pre-booked, with a free shuttle every 15 minutes taking about seven minutes to the terminal. The drive from Bath is about 40 minutes off-peak. Two cautions: the per-day parking price is dynamic, so price it for your dates, and the airport's old Long Stay car park has been closed for a major upgrade due to reopen in spring 2026, so check what's open.
The honest alternative
For a sensible daytime flight with modest luggage, the Air Decker at about £9.50 is the value pick and needs no planning beyond turning up. If you're near Bath Spa, the train-and-Flyer combination is the quickest public route. Save the taxi for the flights that are genuinely early, the groups, and the trips where 40 minutes of calm is worth £40 more than 80 minutes on a bus.
FAQs
How do I get from Bath to Bristol Airport without a car?
Two good options. The Air Decker (A4) bus runs direct from about £9.50 in roughly 80 minutes. Or take the train from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads (about 15 minutes) and change to the Airport Flyer (A1) to the terminal, roughly £19.70 and 45 to 60 minutes combined.
How long does it take to get from Bath to Bristol Airport?
About 40 minutes by car off-peak for the 19-mile trip, roughly 80 minutes by the direct Air Decker bus, and 45 to 60 minutes by train to Bristol then the Airport Flyer.
How much is a taxi from Bath to Bristol Airport?
Around £50 to £76 depending on the operator and the time of day, with pre-booked fixed transfers starting near £50. The drive is about 40 minutes off-peak.
Is there a direct bus from Bath to Bristol Airport?
Yes. The Air Decker (A4) runs direct from Bath to the terminal, up to 19 times a day, seven days a week, taking about 80 minutes. It calls at Saltford, Keynsham and South Bristol on the way.
What's the best way to get to a very early flight from Bath?
For a dawn departure, a pre-booked taxi or private transfer (about £50, roughly 40 minutes) is usually the least stressful, since the direct bus is slower and early departures can be sparse. Confirm the first Air Decker time on the live timetable if you'd rather take the bus.