Choose park
Check in
Check out
Guests
Check in/out
Guests
Search
Planning your drive to Cornwall
Cornwall is one of the top UK holiday destinations, and it’s clear why. With blue seas, a rugged coastline and golden sands, it’s no wonder you’re looking to drive to Cornwall for your next holiday Cornwall for your next holiday.
Key takeaways
-
Top routes to Cornwall: Drive via the A30 for western Cornwall destinations or the A38 for southeast Cornwall, with scenic stops along the way.
-
Plan your journey wisely: Check traffic, tide times, and travel conditions to make the drive smooth and stress-free.
-
Must-see stops en route: Explore attractions like Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Dartmoor, and Bath to break up your journey.
-
Service stations and rest stops: Key stops along the M4, M5, and A30 ensure fuel, snacks, and leg stretches for a comfortable drive.
-
Fun for the family: Keep kids entertained with car games, audiobooks, and I Spy to make the journey part of the holiday adventure.
-
Travel tips & timing: Avoid peak traffic hours (especially Thursday–Sunday) and consider midweek or early/late departures for a smoother drive.
Could your next adventure be a holiday home in Cornwall?
If Cornwall’s stunning beaches, charming villages and epic attractions make your heart skip a beat, imagine having them all just steps from your door! Explore our Cornwall holiday homes for sale and start turning your dream escape into a reality today.
Drive to Cornwall: Which route should you take?
If you want to drive to Cornwall, the right road depends on which part of Cornwall you’re heading to:
|
Heading to |
Best route |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
West Cornwall — St Ives, Newquay, Penzance, Truro, Land's End |
A30 |
Runs through Devon around the north of Dartmoor; dual carriageway, busy at peak times |
|
South-east Cornwall — Looe, Liskeard, Saltash, the Rame Peninsula |
A38 |
Runs south of Dartmoor, past Plymouth, over the Tamar Bridge (toll eastbound only) |
If you're choosing between the A303 and the motorway from the south-east of England, both are valid: the A303 lets you pass Stonehenge before it joins the A30 into Cornwall, while the M4/M5 then A30 is the faster motorway option in most conditions. Check predicted travel time for each on the day, as it varies with traffic, roadworks and where you plan to stop.
Driving to Cornwall using the A30
The A30 is the main route to west Cornwall, running through Devon around the top of Dartmoor and continuing almost to Land’s End. If you’re heading to locations such as St Ives, Newquay, Penzance and Truro, you may drive to Cornwall using the A30. As a dual carriageway, the road can get particularly busy at peak times, so be sure to check the traffic before you set off, particularly on summer weekends.
Find out more
Driving to Cornwall using the A38
The A38 is the main route to south-east Cornwall, running south of Dartmoor, past Plymouth and over the Tamar Bridge into Saltash. If you’re looking to visit the southeast coast of Cornwall, you may find yourself driving to Cornwall using the A38. This road goes south of Dartmoor, past Plymouth and over the Tamar Bridge.
The Tamar Bridge is a toll bridge, but the toll is charged in one direction only — eastbound, from Cornwall into Devon — so you pay nothing on the way into Cornwall. You only pay on the way home (see costs below).
How much is the Tamar Bridge toll?
The Tamar Bridge toll is charged only when travelling eastbound from Saltash (Cornwall) to Plymouth (Devon); the westbound crossing into Cornwall is free. For a car, the toll is £3.00 paid by cash or card, or £1.50 with a pre-paid TamarTag (May 2025 rates). Motorcycles cross free in both directions. Charges apply 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day. Always check current rates at tamarcrossings.org.uk before travelling.
How long does it take to drive to Cornwall?
Drive times depend on your start point and your Cornwall destination (Newquay is used below as a central reference). Always pad these figures for summer traffic and stops.
|
From |
Distance to Cornwall |
Typical drive time |
Suggested stop en route |
|---|---|---|---|
|
London |
~270 miles |
5–6 hours |
Stonehenge or Bath |
|
Liverpool |
~314 miles |
~6 hours |
Birmingham |
|
Birmingham |
~250 miles |
~4.5–5 hours |
Bristol / Taunton |
|
Bristol |
~150 miles |
~3 hours |
Exeter services |
Places to stop on your drive to Cornwall
As mentioned, you’ll want to plan some stops on your drive to Cornwall, especially if you have children to keep occupied.
Service stations
Sometimes, you just need to refuel. Thankfully, there are many service stations on your drive to Cornwall where you can stretch your legs.
- On the M4, you’ll find Moto Reading between junctions 11 and 12 and Moto Chieveley at junction 13.
- Welcome Break Membury is between junctions 14 and 15, and Moto Leigh Delamare is between junctions 17 and 18.
- On the M5, you’ll find Welcome Break Gordano at junction 19, Sedgemoor between junctions 21 and 22, and Taunton Dane between junctions 25 and 26.
- The M5 also has service stations at Junction 28 and Junction 30.
- Finally, if you’re taking the A30, you’ll find the Cornwall Services at Victoria, just past Bodmin — the last major services before west Cornwall.
Windsor Castle
If you’ve got some history fans in the car, you might want to stop at Winsor Castle on your drive to Cornwall. Just 50 minutes from London, this stop is still around four hours away from Newquay, but you won’t want to miss it if you’re passing the east side of London.
Find out moreYou could tour the castle or have a stroll around the grounds. Or, you could take the little ones to Legoland to tire them out before the rest of the drive to Cornwall!
Stonehenge
Stonehenge in Wiltshire is an iconic spot full of the UKs history and a must-visit for all the family. The stones are around two hours from London and three hours from Newquay and are visible if you are driving to Cornwall via the A303. Whilst not a dog-friendly attraction, we recommend visiting this breathtaking site on your drive to Cornwall. If not, it’s the perfect thing to I Spy.
Find out more
Dartmoor, Devon
Around a 90-minute drive from Newquay, Dartmoor is just one of the places you could stop in Devon to soak up the countryside. There are many walks and villages to explore, alongside ponies and expansive scenery, so you won’t want to miss it.
Bath, Somerset
Bath, around three hours from London and two from Newquay, could be the perfect place to stop on your drive to Cornwall. Not only is Bath home to some iconic filming locations but the Roman baths and architecture are an unmissable part of your drive to Cornwall.
Find out more
Best car games for your drive
While planning places to stop is key, you’ll also want to have some car games ready to keep you and the little ones occupied when driving. You could listen to an audiobook, have a sing-a-long to some of your (and their) favourite tunes, or even make stories up from the number plates of the cars ahead of you.
Find out moreThere’s plenty more where that came from, and with a few hours to go, you’ll want to know more of the best car games for your drive to Cornwall:
-
I Spy: Take turns guessing what one person is thinking based on the first letter of the thing they can see.
-
Trivia questions – Each passenger prepares a list of trivia questions based on their interests.
-
Create a story – Set a time limit and take turns saying a few words or sentences that contribute towards creating a story together. (“Once upon a time” is usually a good place to start).
-
Twenty questions—Someone thinks of a person, place, or thing, and the group has 20 ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to guess it.
-
Memory test – Take turns to come up with a word for each letter of the alphabet, with each person starting from the beginning every time they add one.
-
Cow counting – Who can spot the most cows in 15 minutes? Yell out ‘cow’ every time you see one.
You can play many games in the car on your drive to Cornwall, as long drives are usually the perfect time to relax and spend quality time with each other.
What’s the best time to drive to Cornwall?
To avoid the heaviest traffic, don’t use the major roads (M5, A30, A38) between late morning and early evening from Thursday to Sunday, which is when holiday changeover traffic peaks.
A midweek break sidesteps this entirely. However, if you do want a weekend break to Cornwall, try timing your journey so you’re driving either before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Summer Saturdays on the A30 and M5 are the busiest periods of all, so the earlier the start, the better.
How long is the London to Cornwall drive?
The drive from central London to Cornwall is about 270 miles and usually takes 5–6 hours, before stops.
This is another reason why planning stops in your route is important. You could even stay overnight somewhere along the way and extend your holiday into another adventure!
Take a look at our Cornish resorts
Once you've planned the drive, here's where to point the sat-nav. Away Resorts has five parks across Cornwall:
-
St Ives Bay — south-west Cornwall, with private beach access; reached via the A30.
-
Retallack Resort — central Cornwall, an activity-packed resort near Newquay; A30.
-
Newperran Holiday Resort — near Newquay, relaxed and pet-friendly; A30.
-
Newquay Bay Resort — minutes from Newquay's beaches and surf; A30.
-
Bude Holiday Resort — north Cornwall, minutes from the South West Coast Path; A39 off the A30.
What’s the best way to go to Cornwall from London?
When driving to Cornwall from London, you could take two main ‘easy’ routes.
You could opt to start on the A303, which will mean spotting Stonehenge on your route before the road turns into the A30 in Cornwall.
If you prefer the motorway, you could drive to Cornwall via the M4, M5 and then the A30.
It’s worth checking the predicted travel time for each route, as this can vary depending on the time of day, traffic, potential road works, and where you’d like to stop.
Liverpool to Cornwall drive – the best route to take
The drive from Liverpool to Cornwall is around 314 miles and takes about 6 hours, generally via the M5 and then the A30. Birmingham makes a natural mid-journey stop.
Can you do a day trip to Cornwall?
Yes, you can take a day trip to Cornwall! However, if you’re driving to Cornwall from London, you may want to book a few days away to make the most of your trip – and the journey down! From London a day trip means roughly 10–12 hours of driving for a few hours on the ground, so booking a few nights away makes far more of both Cornwall and the journey.
What is the best route to drive to Cornwall?
Take the A30 for west Cornwall (St Ives, Newquay, Penzance, Truro) and the A38 for south-east Cornwall (Looe, Saltash, the south coast). From south-east England you can reach the A30 via the A303 past Stonehenge, or via the M4 and M5.
Do you have to pay a toll to drive into Cornwall?
No. The only toll on the main routes is the Tamar Bridge on the A38, charged eastbound only (leaving Cornwall). Driving in is free; the return car toll is £3.00 by card or £1.50 with a TamarTag.
When is the best time to drive to Cornwall to avoid traffic?
Midweek, or outside late morning to early evening Thursday to Sunday. At weekends, drive before 8am or after 7pm, and avoid summer Saturday daytimes on the A30 and M5.
Similar articles
Nathan Roots
Leading a dedicated on-site team for the past 4 years, he focuses on delivering exceptional guest experiences at one of the UK's most iconic seaside locations. Nathan contributes expert travel and destination content for Away Resorts, drawing on deep local knowledge of Cornwall's standout attractions, from the St Ives to St Erth scenic railway and St Ives harbour to Land's End, St Michael's Mount, and Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula.
Follow Nathan Roots for thoughtful takes, fresh ideas, and inspiring reads.