Minehead and Butlin's are around 82km (51 miles) from Bristol Airport by road, roughly a 1 hour 50 minute to 2 hour drive via the M5. There's no direct bus or train, but the practical public transport route is a coach or train to Taunton followed by the number 28 bus, which drops right outside Butlin's main gate and takes just over an hour from Taunton for about £4.50. Checked 2026.
Driving to Minehead and Butlin's
Butlin's own directions put the resort at just over an hour and 45 minutes from Bristol by road, leaving the M5 at Junction 23 and following the A39 into Minehead; the postcode for sat nav is TA24 5SH. Since Bristol Airport sits south of the city, slightly further from the M5's northern junctions than central Bristol, allow a little extra on top of Butlin's own estimate, so budget closer to 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours in normal traffic. Parking on the Butlin's resort itself is free of charge once you arrive.
Coach: the Falcon to Taunton, then the 28
The most useful option most people miss is that the megabus Falcon coach, which runs throughout the day and night connecting Plymouth, Exeter, Taunton, Bridgwater, Bristol Airport and Bristol city centre, stops at the airport itself. Taking the Falcon from Bristol Airport to Taunton takes roughly 50 to 55 minutes based on the published timetable, and fares are dynamic, so check megabus.com for the current price on your travel date rather than assuming a fixed fare.
From Taunton, the number 28 bus (currently run under the National Express brand, serving Taunton, Williton, Watchet and Minehead) runs regularly on weekdays and Saturdays, stopping right outside Butlin's main gate. Butlin's own guidance quotes this leg at just over an hour and around £4.50. Combining both legs, allow roughly 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes from the airport to the Butlin's gate with one change in Taunton, and you avoid the need to detour into Bristol city centre first.
Train, if you'd rather not use the coach
If you prefer rail, take the A1 Airport Flyer into Bristol Temple Meads (30 to 40 minutes, adult single from £9.50), then a Great Western Railway or CrossCountry train onward to Taunton, before picking up the same number 28 bus for the final leg to Minehead and Butlin's. This route takes longer overall than the direct Falcon coach from the airport, since it routes via Bristol first, but it suits anyone who prefers the train or is combining the trip with time in Bristol itself.
Rail enthusiasts should also note that Watchet and Minehead sit on the West Somerset Railway, a heritage steam line that runs seasonally between Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) and Minehead. It's a scenic option worth building a day around, but it isn't a year-round, every-day public transport service, so it shouldn't be relied on as your main way to reach Butlin's, especially outside its operating season.
Taxi and private hire
A taxi or pre-booked private hire car covers the same 82km (51 miles) as the drive above and takes a similar 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours. Because it's one of the longer taxi routes from the airport, it's also one of the more expensive, so it's worth comparing a metered rank fare against a pre-booked fixed-price transfer before you travel, particularly for a family with luggage where the coach-plus-bus combination would mean two changes. See the taxis page for how the rank and pre-booking work at the airport.
At a glance
| Option | Cost | Time from the airport | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive yourself | Free parking at the resort | Around 1h50 to 2 hours | Families, flexibility, luggage |
| Taxi or private hire | Check current rank or app pricing; one of the longer routes | Around 1h50 to 2 hours | No changes, direct to the gate |
| Falcon coach + number 28 bus | Falcon fare varies (megabus.com) plus about £4.50 | Around 2h15 to 2h30 with one change | Budget travellers, no need to detour via Bristol |
| Train via Temple Meads + number 28 bus | Rail fare to Taunton plus about £4.50 | Longer than the direct coach, routes via Bristol | Rail travellers, combining with time in Bristol |
For the wider West Country picture, see Bristol Airport to Taunton and Bristol Airport to Weston-super-Mare. For booking a taxi in advance, see the taxis page.
FAQs
Is there a direct bus from Bristol Airport to Minehead or Butlin's?
No single direct service. The most efficient route is the megabus Falcon coach from the airport to Taunton, followed by the number 28 bus, which drops outside Butlin's main gate.
How far is Minehead from Bristol Airport?
Around 82km (51 miles) by road, roughly a 1 hour 50 minute to 2 hour drive via the M5 and A39, a little longer than Butlin's own quoted time from central Bristol since the airport sits further from the motorway.
Can I take a train all the way to Minehead?
Not on the mainline network. The closest mainline station is Taunton, from which you take the number 28 bus for the final leg. Minehead does have its own station, but it's served by the seasonal West Somerset heritage steam railway rather than year-round National Rail services.
How much is the bus from Taunton to Butlin's Minehead?
Around £4.50 for the number 28 bus, which takes just over an hour and stops right outside the Butlin's main gate, according to Butlin's own travel guidance.
Is parking free at Butlin's Minehead?
Yes, parking on the resort itself is free of charge once you arrive, according to Butlin's official directions.