Gatwick sits 28 miles south of central London just off the M23, with good rail and road access from London, Brighton and Sussex. Getting to the right terminal matters because North and South are separated by an inter-terminal shuttle, and picking the wrong exit costs you 15 to 25 minutes on the return. Here is the operational guide for driving to Gatwick in 2026.
Which terminal you need
- North Terminal: EasyJet, Norwegian, TUI, Wizz, and most low-cost and leisure carriers.
- South Terminal: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BA partner carriers, plus selected EasyJet routes.
Check your terminal on your booking before you set off. Gatwick has a free inter-terminal shuttle running every 2 to 3 minutes, but it adds 15 to 25 minutes each way.
Routes by direction
From central and south London
A23 southbound or M23 from the M25 anticlockwise (Junction 7). Junction 9 of the M23 is the dedicated Gatwick exit, with signposted splits for North and South.
From the south coast and Sussex
M23 northbound from Brighton or the A23. Leave at Junction 9 for both terminals, signs split ahead.
From Surrey and Kent
M25 to Junction 7, then M23 southbound to Junction 9. The M25 between J6 and J7 is congested most of the day, build in 15 to 30 minutes contingency.
From the west
M25 anticlockwise to Junction 7, then M23 south to Junction 9. The M3-M25 interchange at Junction 12 is a bottleneck at rush hour, allow extra time.
From the north
M1 to M25, anticlockwise to Junction 7, then M23 south. Total drive from the Midlands is 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic.
The drop-off rule for 2026
Gatwick forecourt drop-off is £10 for up to 10 minutes per visit at both North and South Terminals, increased from £7 on 6 January 2026. After 20 minutes the rate jumps to £1 per minute. ANPR enforced, payable online by midnight the day after your visit. £100 Penalty Charge Notice if you miss the deadline (£60 reduced rate). For the full breakdown and the free alternative, see our Gatwick drop-off charges guide.
The free drop-off alternative
Park at the Long Stay car park for the matching terminal and use the free shuttle into the terminal. First 2 hours of any visit are free, so a 90-minute drop-off costs nothing. The trade-off: a 30 to 50 minute round trip for the driver versus 10 to 15 minutes for forecourt drop-off. The maths works for travellers with time and breaks down for tight schedules.
Traffic timing
- 04:00 to 06:30 weekday mornings: easy traffic, peak Gatwick departure pulse, parking forecourts busy.
- 09:30 to 14:00: the easiest window for road and forecourt.
- 15:30 to 19:30 weekday evenings: M25 and M23 evening peak, build in 30 minutes contingency.
- Late evening 20:00 onwards: easy traffic but shuttle queues build at Long Stay.
Add 30 minutes contingency on any school-holiday Saturday, particularly Saturday of summer half-term.
Where to park once you arrive
Each terminal has Premium Short Stay (multi-storey, 2 to 3 minute walk), Short Stay (hourly), Long Stay (cheapest weekly, 5 to 20 minute shuttle), and off-airport operators along the M23 corridor. For the full comparison, see our Cheapest Gatwick Airport Parking in 2026.
Five mistakes that cost you time on arrival
- Aiming at the wrong terminal. Inter-terminal shuttle adds 15 to 25 minutes each way.
- Walking up to Long Stay without booking. £230 a week vs £60 pre-booked. The largest pre-book gap of any UK airport.
- Forgetting the £10 drop-off charge. £10 every visit, plus the £100 PCN if you miss the midnight-next-day payment.
- Not factoring inter-terminal time for collection. If you parked at the wrong Long Stay lot, you have 15 to 25 minutes of free shuttle to ride back.
- Cutting the timing too fine. M25 and M23 traffic is unpredictable, build 30 minutes contingency on top of your normal route time.
See live parking prices
For real-time prices across both terminals at Gatwick, see our Gatwick parking comparison page. For the full guide to choosing the right product, see our Gatwick buyer guide.