There's no reasonable way of seeing the White Cliffs (of Dover) from Southampton in one day. Via London it's at least 150 miles each way and the shorter route along the coast is slooowww. It's not totally impossible but really not worth it.

A better suggestion would be to visit the Isle of Wight. At the SW end there are white cliffs that are arguably better than those at Dover.

http://www.needles.shalfleet.net/ may encourage you. An easy day trip from Southampton. Ferry to IOW then bus.

"the big question is....Is there any reasonable way that I could travel to see the White Cliffs from Southampton?"

Not really given your timings as the previous poster said. And unless you have a WWII veteran with you who wants to see them again, they are not much to shout about and arguably not worth a visit in any case.

Whilst the cliffs on the IOW, 'The Needles', are easier to visit from Soton, plus more scenic from land and sea than the WCOD, they obviously don't have the same WWII association which I presume is behind your desire to see them. But if you just wanted to see large chalk cliffs then you could certainly go to the IOW instead.

Why not spend your 1 1/2 days in Paris rather than go to Normandy (I end up in tears when visiting the graveyards in France - all those young lives lost in 2 wars -)

But thats not what you asked - no way you can get to see the White Cliffs from Southampton - if you hired a car drove 150 miles there (and back ) you would still be on land -

Come to Europe again (for longer ! )

I agree with all others, whilst the white cliffs of Dover may tug at the heartstrings of homesick Brits on their way home via the shortest cross channel route, as a sight in themselves warranting a 200 mile round trip from Southampton?

Better off heading west from Southampton and spending some time in Dorset, or some other better suggestions made already by others