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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.
With its sub-tropical climate, you can experience seaside joy without the hustle and bustle of an airport. Simply pack up your car and embark on your drive to Cornwall using this guide to get you there with ease.
How to drive to Cornwall
Driving to Cornwall from anywhere in the UK is not a journey you’ll want to take lightly. It can take a few hours, and with kids in tow, you’ll want to plan plenty of stops and car games to keep the little ones entertained.
Your holiday can begin when you get in the car if you plan ahead. Google Maps might be a good place to start, but adding key destinations means you can see some of the UK’s most iconic sights on your drive to Cornwall.
Driving to Cornwall using the A30
If you’re heading to locations such as St Ives, Newquay, Penzance and Truro, you may drive to Cornwall using the A30. This road runs through Devon, around the top of Dartmoor. If you follow the A30, you’ll almost reach Land's End. As a dual carriageway, the road can get particularly busy at peak times, so be sure to check the traffic before you set off.
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Driving to Cornwall using the A38
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. Be mindful that the Tamar Bridge is a toll bridge, but you’ll only need to pay a small fee if you choose this route when leaving Cornwall.
Find out morePlaces 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 Dene 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.
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.
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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.
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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:
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I Spy: Take turns guessing what one person is thinking based on the first letter of the thing they can see.
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Trivia questions – Each passenger prepares a list of trivia questions based on their interests.
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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).
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Twenty questions—Someone thinks of a person, place, or thing, and the group has 20 ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to guess it.
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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.
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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?
When embarking on any long drive to Cornwall, it is recommended to avoid using major roads between late morning and early evening between Thursday and Sunday, meaning a midweek break might be ideal.
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.
How long is the London to Cornwall drive?
The drive from London to Cornwall is about 270 miles from the centre of London, meaning it could take over five hours. 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!
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 can take around six hours. The best way to go is generally via the M5, then onto the A30, and you could stop in Birmingham on your way.
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!