Cardiff to County Durham
How to get from Cardiff to County Durham by road and by rail — with the stops worth knowing about — and what's waiting when you arrive.
🚗 By car
5h 3m · 288 miles
Typical driving time without stops, from the centre of Cardiff to the heart of County Durham. Add time for traffic and breaks.
Service stations on the way
- mile 5 Welcome Break Cardiff Gate Services Welcome Break towing-friendly
- mile 29 Monmouth A40 North Services
- mile 29 Monmouth A40 South Services
- mile 42 First Symonds Yat Services First Motorway Services towing-friendly
- mile 42 Applegreen Applegreen
- mile 48 EuroGarages Ross Spur Services EuroGarages
- mile 68 RoadChef Strensham Services (Southbound) Roadchef towing-friendly
- mile 73 RoadChef Strensham Services (Northbound) Roadchef towing-friendly
🚆 By train
Nearest station to the centre of County Durham: Bishop Auckland · from Cardiff Central
No direct or one-change trains in the next two hours — the live planner shows other options.
Live train planner →Where to stay in County Durham
Low Cornriggs Farm - Alice's Cottage
Stanhope, North East England
Sleeps 6
£665 per break
Check availability
Once you're there
🗓️ A weekend in County Durham: an accessible itinerary🗓️ A weekend in County Durham with the kids🗓️ A weekend in County Durham
Newham Grange Leisure FarmZoos & Wildlife
Tees Cottage Pumping Station - Visitor Centre and Gas Engine HouseMuseums & Galleries
Tees Cottage Pumping Station - Beam Engine HouseMuseums & Galleries
Killhope Lead Mining MuseumMuseums & Galleries
Corstopitum Visitor's CentreMuseums & Galleries
The BishopsMuseums & Galleries
📬 Email me this plan
Get the Cardiff to County Durham journey in your inbox to share or read on the way. No account needed.
To County Durham from elsewhere
From Cardiff to elsewhere
Drive times from OpenRouteService; live trains from National Rail Enquiries. Times are typical, not a promise — check before you set off.