Southampton – East Cowes
Ferries to Isle of Wight
Southampton – East Cowes
Ferries to Isle of Wight
Red Funnel provides the ferry from Southampton to East Cowes. Southampton East Cowes ferries cost between 72€ and 301€, depending on ticket details. Prices exclude any service fees. Ferry timetables change seasonally, use our Deal Finder to get live pricing and availability for Southampton East Cowes ferries.
The first Southampton East Cowes ferry typically departs from Southampton at around 03:00. The last ferry usually departs at 23:59.
The Southampton East Cowes ferry trip can take around 1 hour. The fastest sailings are approximately 59 minutes. Sailing times can vary between ferry operators and can be impacted by weather conditions.
There is 120 weekly sailings from Southampton to East Cowes provided by Red Funnel. Timetables can change from season to season.
Southampton East Cowes ferry prices typically range between 72€* and 301€*. The average price is typically 201€*. The cheapest Southampton East Cowes ferry prices start from 72€*. The average price for a foot passenger is 62€*. The average price for a car is 213€*.
Pricing will vary depending on number of passengers, vehicle type, route and sailing times. Pricing is taken from searches over last 30 days and exclusive of service fees, last updated 1 May 2025.
The distance between Southampton to East Cowes is approximately 12.4 miles (20.0km) or 10.8 nautical miles.
Yes, Red Funnel ferries allow cars on board ferries between Southampton and East Cowes. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for car ferries between Southampton and East Cowes.
Yes, foot passengers can travel with Red Funnel ferries between Southampton and East Cowes.
Pets are currently not allowed on board the ferries from Southampton to East Cowes.
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| Southampton - Cowes Route summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Departure Country | UK | |
| Destination Country | UK | |
| No. of Operators | 1 | |
| Operators | Red Funnel | |
| Average Price | 145 €* | |
| Average Daily Sailings | 14 | |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 99 | |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1h 0m | |
| First Ferry | 03:00 | |
| Last Ferry | 23:59 | |
| Distance | 10 nautical miles | |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 2024-11-05.
A glance at the map gives some idea of the strategic maritime importance of Southampton, which stands on a triangular peninsula formed at the place where the rivers Itchen and Test flow into Southampton Water, an eight-mile inlet from the Solent. Sure enough, Southampton has figured in numerous stirring events: it witnessed the exodus of Henry V's Agincourt-bound army, the Pilgrim Fathers' departure in the Mayflower in 1620 and the maiden voyages of such ships as the Queen Mary and the Titanic. The Second World War hit Southampton particularly hard, because of its strategic importance as the major industrial area on the South Coast. Pockets of Georgian architecture remain, but much of the city was levelled. The accuracy of the locally-based Ordnance Survey's maps did not go unrecognised by the Luftwaffe: the German bomber pilots used them to bomb Southampton.
Famed for its world famous yachting scene, Cowes Port has become a globally acknowledged centre of boat-building. Found on the northern coast of the Isle of Wight, Cowes Port is one of the smaller towns of the island, though possibly the most widely recognised due to its hugely popular yachting and royal connections. Also known as the ‘Floating Bridge’, Cowes Chain Ferry carries foot passengers and vehicles on the short crossing to East Cowes, across the narrow mouth of the fast flowing River Medina. The ferry route runs frequently throughout the day, beginning very early in the morning and running till late in the evening. The harbour has created several jobs around the town, contributing in excess of £25 million worth of revenue to the local economy.
