Route 5 is the short, frequent link between Newport and East Cowes. From Newport Bus Station it runs past Seaclose Park and the Medina Leisure Centre, out along Fairlee Road to Whippingham, then past Osborne House into East Cowes, ending by Waitrose near the Red Funnel terminal. The trip takes about 20 minutes.
Southern Vectis runs it about every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays. The timetable in use dates from 26 December 2024, and it stayed the same through summer 2026 and into the winter timetable from 27 September 2026.
Pop-up campsite · Newport · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Stop: Seaclose · Seaclose stop, then about 300m via Harvey Road. Open only to festival ticket holders, during festival week in June.
Tents, motorhomes, pre-pitched tents
from £160/night
ViewSmall certificated site · Newport · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Stop: Binfield Corner · Binfield Corner stop on Fairlee Road, then about 175m to the site, 2 minutes. Members-only Camping and Caravanning Club CS.
Members only · join the Camping and Caravanning Club to stay
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £24/night
ViewHoliday park · East Cowes · 5 min walk to the stop
Stop: East Cowes, Waitrose · From the East Cowes Waitrose terminus it is about 650m on foot through the town to Old Road, around 9 minutes.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans
from £13/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
Monday to Saturday the first bus leaves Newport at 05:45, then buses run every 15 minutes through the day until about 17:55. In the evening they run every 20 to 45 minutes, with the last at 23:40. On Sundays and public holidays there are buses from 06:55, every 30 minutes from about 08:50 to 18:00, then the evening service to 23:40.
On Friday and Saturday nights an extra N5 night bus runs after midnight, adult fares only. Every route 5 journey stops at Osborne House, so it is the quickest bus there from Newport.
An adult single is £3 under the government fare cap, which Southern Vectis says stays until further notice. From 30 August 2026 an adult 24-hour Rover is £11.70 on paper or £11.40 in the app. Tap on, tap off with a contactless card charges the best daily fare automatically.
The Binfield Corner stop on Fairlee Road is about 175m from Last Post, a small members' site. At the East Cowes end, Waverley Park is about a 9 minute walk from the Waitrose stop.
Each June the Isle of Wight Festival camps at Seaclose Park, and the Seaclose stop is about 300m from the site. Check Southern Vectis for festival week travel before you go.
Luggage is carried at the driver's discretion, and bulky items can be refused. Dogs travel free, normally up to two, at the driver's discretion and off the seats. Bikes need the driver's agreement; folding bikes in a bag are usually fine. E-bikes and e-scooters are not allowed on Southern Vectis buses.
East Cowes Waitrose is about 175m from Red Funnel's Southampton car ferry, so route 5 is the easy way from the boat to Newport, where nearly every Island route meets. Route 4 also runs from East Cowes, hourly to Ryde. See campsites near the ferry.
About every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday in the daytime and every 30 minutes on Sundays, with buses until about 23:40. The timetable was unchanged in summer 2026 and on the winter timetable from 27 September 2026.
Yes. Route 5 stops at Osborne House on the way between Newport and East Cowes. Route 4 from Ryde stops there too.
Route 5. It leaves from the East Cowes Waitrose stop, about 175m from the Red Funnel terminal, and takes about 20 minutes to Newport Bus Station.
Waverley Park in East Cowes, Last Post CS on Fairlee Road, and the Isle of Wight Festival campsite at Seaclose Park, which only opens for the festival in June.
3 campsites are within a short walk of a stop: Isle of Wight Festival Campsite, Last Post CS and Waverley Park Holiday Centre.
