There is no direct train from Aberdeen to Aviemore. The main routing runs to Inverness on ScotRail, about 2h 16m with eleven stops, then changes to another ScotRail train for the 44-minute run on to Aviemore. Altogether that takes about 3h 24m on a typical journey and 3h 05m on the quickest.
On the weekday timetable we checked, these connections left Aberdeen at 06:14, 07:18, 08:23, 10:08, 11:57, 13:41, 16:04 and 17:25. The first of them reaches Aviemore before ten on a typical journey. With the two train times adding up to three hours, a typical journey leaves you about 24 minutes at Inverness to make the change, which is enough slack for a few minutes’ delay on the Aberdeen train.
The spacing is what to watch. After the 08:23 the next one found via Inverness was the 10:08, and the afternoon departures on the list were the 13:41, 16:04 and 17:25, so an Aberdeen departure needs choosing before the rest of the day is planned. The 17:25 is the latest connection through Inverness that we found.
The planner also routed Aberdeen to Aviemore with a change at Perth, taking about 3h 50m and leaving at 05:30, 07:24, 08:35, 09:44, 10:44, 12:45, 14:35, 15:35, 16:32 and 18:33. That is close to half an hour slower than going through Inverness, but the 18:33 was the latest Aviemore departure from Aberdeen that the planner found, so it is the one to know if you are leaving in the evening. The Perth trains also fill the mid-morning stretch, with the 09:44 between the 08:23 and the 10:08.
A few journeys changing at Dundee and then Perth took about 3h 41m, while the ones changing at Stirling took about 4h 52m.
Aviemore’s station is some 430 metres from Grampian Road, about six minutes on foot, the last short step at the end of a three-and-a-half-hour trip from Aberdeen.
Journey times and changes below come from the rail and bus timetables for Tuesday 1 December 2026. Weekend and holiday timetables differ, so check the day you travel.
From Aberdeen on the weekday we checked: 06:14, 07:18, 08:23, 10:08, 11:57, 13:41, 16:04 and 17:25.
By road it is about 94 miles from Aberdeen to Aviemore, mostly via the A96 and A95 — roughly 2h 20m with clear roads. Car parks in Aviemore are listed on the Getting Here page.