Cornwall & Devon Coast Road Trip, England
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South West England

Cornwall & Devon Coast Road Trip

Dartmoor, the south coast, Land's End, St Ives and Exmoor

7 days~720 kmCalculating… drivingExeter → Exmoor (Lynmouth)

Exeter to Exmoor via Dartmoor, the south coast, Land's End and the surf coast.

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Your Road Trip

ExeterLynmouth

7 days · One-way

About this route

This is the classic south-west loop compressed into one unforgettable week. Start in Exeter and climb onto the open granite moorland of Dartmoor — a deliberate contrast to the coast that follows. Then hug the South Devon shoreline through Dartmouth and Salcombe, cross the Tamar into Cornwall, and work west past Fowey and Falmouth to the Lizard, Kynance Cove and Land's End. St Ives and the surf beaches of the north coast follow, before the trip swings back east past Tintagel, Bude and Clovelly to finish on Exmoor. Expect roughly 450 miles and 17–19 hours of driving. It suits cars, campervans and motorhomes, families, dog owners, surfers and anyone who loves seafood — with clear warnings wherever Cornwall's famous lanes are too tight for big vehicles.

BeachesCoastal scenerySeaside townsSurfingSeafoodHikingFamiliesDogsCampervans

Day by day

Today's drive: about 50 miles / 1 hr 45 min. Morning: Exeter Cathedral and Quay. Lunch: tea rooms in Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Afternoon: Haytor Rocks and Becky Falls on open moorland — a wild contrast to the coast ahead. Evening: down to Dartmouth for harbourside seafood.

Roads: A38 · B3387 (Haytor) · A381

  • Scenic section: the B3387 across Haytor Down.
  • Dartmoor roads are unfenced — slow down for ponies, sheep and cattle.
  • Motorhomes: use the Dartmouth park-and-ride.

Weather on this route

Best travelled April to October; May, June and September are ideal. Dates beyond the 16-day forecast window show a seasonal outlook.

Weather along the way

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Approximate costs

Indicative totals for 7 days, 2 adults. Fuel is based on the live route distance.

Budget

£450–£1,100

  • Accommodation£180–£420
  • Food & drink£180–£320
  • Attractions & activities£0–£140
  • Fuel£60–£90
  • Parking£35–£140

Comfort

£1,400–£2,550

  • Accommodation£700–£1,200
  • Food & drink£420–£700
  • Attractions & activities£140–£420
  • Fuel£60–£90
  • Parking£35–£140

Premium

£2,600–£5,200

  • Accommodation£1,300–£2,500
  • Food & drink£750–£1,400
  • Attractions & activities£420–£1,050
  • Fuel£60–£90
  • Parking£35–£140
  • Approximate fuel: about 50 litres for a car, 65–85 litres for a campervan or motorhome over the whole route.
  • Crossing the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall is free; the toll is only charged eastbound into Devon (not on this route).
  • The Dartmouth Higher and Lower ferries charge a small fee if used.
  • Beach and town parking is the biggest everyday cost — National Trust members park free at many coastal sites.
  • Estimates only — Roadly never quotes live prices.

Who this route suits

Families

excellent

Beaches, rock pools, castles and short drives — one of the best family road trips in the UK.

  • · Lifeguarded sandy beaches at Blackpool Sands, Perranporth, Watergate Bay and St Ives.
  • · Tintagel, St Michael's Mount and the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth are family favourites.
  • · Surf lessons for children run from Newquay, Bude and Sennen.
  • · Easy Dartmoor walks: Haytor and Becky Falls.

Campervans

excellent

The south-west is campervan heartland, with campsites close to every overnight stop.

  • · Excellent clifftop and farm campsites throughout Cornwall and Devon.
  • · Park4Night lists many approved stops, especially around St Ives, Padstow and Bude.
  • · Overnight bans in many beach car parks are enforced in summer.

Motorhomes

good

Very doable on main roads, but plan around narrow lanes and village centres.

  • · Stick to the A30, A38, A39 and main B-roads; avoid single-track shortcuts.
  • · Do not drive into Polperro, Mousehole, Port Isaac, Clovelly or St Ives centre — use park-and-ride or top car parks.
  • · The Dartmouth Higher Ferry takes motorhomes; the Lower Ferry has size limits.
  • · Porlock Hill (A39) on Exmoor is very steep — use the toll road or approach Lynmouth from the west.

Electric vehicles

Charging is plentiful in Exeter, Plymouth, Truro, Newquay and Barnstaple, thinner on Dartmoor, the Lizard and Exmoor. Roadly EV mode will plan charging stops when your vehicle is configured.

  • · No tolls westbound into Cornwall; Tamar Bridge tolls apply eastbound only.
  • · Optional small tolls: Porlock toll road, Dartmouth ferries.
  • · Total distance about 450 miles (≈720 km); roughly 17–19 hours of driving across the week.

Practical travel notes

Best time to visit
April to October. May, June and September give the best mix of weather, daylight and quieter roads.
Recommended duration
7 days at a steady pace; 9–10 days lets you add a beach day in St Ives and the Exmoor coast.
Fuel
Fuel is easy to find on the A30, A38 and in towns. Fill up before the Lizard, the Land's End peninsula and Exmoor.
Road conditions
Main roads (A30, A38, A39) are good. Many coastal lanes are single-track with high hedges and passing places — be ready to reverse.
Narrow lanes
Cornish and Devon lanes are the biggest challenge for large vehicles. Avoid Polperro, Mousehole, Port Isaac and Clovelly village streets entirely in a motorhome; use car parks above town.
Parking
Pay-and-display almost everywhere. St Ives, Mousehole, Polperro, Port Isaac and Salcombe have very limited parking — use park-and-ride or edge-of-town car parks.
Campervan considerations
Campsites are plentiful and many have sea views. Overnight parking in beach car parks is usually prohibited — use campsites, CL/CS sites or Park4Night-approved stops.
Weather
Mild but changeable. Atlantic wind and drizzle can roll in quickly; the south coast is usually more sheltered than the north.
Mobile signal
Patchy on Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Lizard, around Land's End and in deep coastal valleys. Download offline maps.
Walking & hiking
The South West Coast Path runs the whole route. Wear proper footwear, check tide times for beach walks and keep away from cliff edges.
Beach safety
Swim at RNLI lifeguarded beaches between the red and yellow flags. Rip currents are common on surf beaches like Fistral, Perranporth and Sennen.
Travelling with children
Rock pools, sandy beaches, castles, surf lessons and short walks make this ideal for families. Daily drives are short.
Travelling with dogs
Very dog friendly — pubs, cafés and the Coast Path welcome dogs. Check seasonal beach bans; Gwithian/Godrevy and parts of Perranporth stay dog-friendly year round.

Roadly tips

  • · Arrive at popular beaches before 10am in summer, especially Kynance Cove and Porthcurno.
  • · Motorhomes: never follow the sat-nav into Polperro, Mousehole, Port Isaac or Clovelly — park above and walk.
  • · Check tide times for Kynance Cove, St Michael's Mount causeway and Sennen.
  • · Book Minack Theatre performances and Rick Stein restaurants well ahead in summer.
  • · Try a proper Cornish pasty, a Devon cream tea (cream first!) and a Cornish one (jam first!).
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Highlights

Best time to go

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  • Best travelled April to October; May, June and September are ideal.
  • In August, beach car parks at Kynance, Porthcurno, Sennen and St Ives can be full by 10am.
  • Many beaches have seasonal dog restrictions from Easter or May to the end of September.