Traffic plan for Isle of Wight Festival — what you need to know
Published: 16 June 2025
With the Isle of Wight Festival fast approaching, residents and visitors are being reminded of upcoming changes to traffic arrangements in and around Newport.
From late morning on Wednesday, 18 June, a temporary one-way system will be introduced along Fairlee Road to help manage the increased flow of vehicles heading to the event.
The outbound route from Newport will be diverted via Staplers Road, with normal traffic arrangement expected to resume on the afternoon of Monday, 23 June.
Visitors travelling to the Island by vehicle are advised to follow official festival signage and use the following designated routes to reach car parking areas:
East Cowes
For those arriving via the Red Funnel terminal in East Cowes, the main route to the Festival site will be via York Avenue and Whippingham Road, turning right onto East Cowes Road and into the car park.
During peak times, traffic may instead be directed up to the Racecourse roundabout before looping back to turn left into East Cowes Road.
Fishbourne
Festival-bound vehicles disembarking at the Wightlink terminal in Fishbourne will be directed right onto Kite Hill, through Wootton, down Lushington Hill, and then right at the Racecourse roundabout before turning left into East Cowes Road and into the festival car park.
Yarmouth
On leaving the Wightlink Ferry, traffic for the festival should follow the signs to through to Newport, take the dual carriage to Coppins Bridge and follow the diversion to Wootton and turn left into Lushington Hill, right at the Racecourse roundabout and then left onto East Cowes Road and into the festival car park.
Newport Quay
Access to Newport Quay and the Riverside Centre will be maintained via the bridge from Sea Street. There will be no access through Seaclose Park.
In the event of any temporary blockages at car park entrances or incidents on festival routes, a number of diversion options are in place to allow traffic to be safely ‘stacked’ away from main roads and released once the issue is resolved.
Stay informed
Residents can stay informed with routine traffic updates, road closures, and diversions via social media, local radio, and news outlets.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary will provide safety and security updates throughout the event.
Horsebridge Hill
The roadworks and diversions will be suspended to allow usual traffic flows during the period festival traffic arrangements are in place.
Wednesday 18 June
When changes are made to key routes, some delays are initially inevitable until drivers settle into the revised arrangements. This is most likely to occur on Wednesday, 18 June and motorists are asked to bear this in mind when planning a journey.
Cowes Floating Bridge festival timetable
The Cowes Floating Bridge will be operating an extended timetable during the weekend of the Isle of Wight Festival. For details of the revised operating hours, please see below:
From Cowes
Friday 20 June 2025
First ferry 0500 Last ferry 0120
Saturday 21 June 2025
First ferry 0500 Last ferry 0120
Sunday 22 June 2025
First ferry 0630 Last ferry 0120
Monday 23 June 2025
First ferry 0500 Last ferry 0020
From East Cowes
Friday 20 June 2025
First ferry 0510 Last ferry 0110
Saturday 21 June 2025
First ferry 0510 Last ferry 0110
Sunday 22 June 2025
First ferry 0640 Last ferry 0110
Monday 23 June 2025
First ferry 0510 Last ferry 0010
Further information
People are also encouraged to look at the council's dedicated festival pages which contain important information about the road closures and diversions, including access to Seaclose Park and changes to council services, as information becomes available.
The council asks that residents plan their routes carefully to avoid the designated festival traffic routes on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Monday of the event — when traffic volumes will be their highest.