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Road Travel

See other travel pages for Cornwall: Air, Bus and Coach, Ferry, Sea, Taxi, Rail.

Getting to Cornwall by Road

Distance Conversion

Taxis & Car Hire

What to carry with you

Basic distances

Distances between towns

Travelling in Cornwall by Car

What to do at an accident

Driving in Cornwall

Getting to Cornwall by Road

Distance Conversion:

Miles to Kilometres = multiply by 1.6090

Kilometres to Miles = multiply by 0.6214

Because the County is a peninsula, the journey to your destination in Cornwall must pass through Devon, that is where the decisions on which road to take must be made.

There are four places in Devon which might be important to your travel plan -


Barnstaple, Exeter, Okehampton and Plymouth.

For:

North Cornwall from North Devon

If you are coming from or plan to arrive in Cornwall via North Devon then you will need to head towards Barnstaple and then Bideford and thence down the A39 to Bude.

Barnstaple to Bideford is 7 miles, Bideford to Bude is 27 miles.

For the majority of travellers Exeter is the linchpin in route planning. All roads lead to Exeter, as it were, and here there are two options in your decision making (other than North Devon).


For:

Torpoint/Saltash, Callington, Looe/Polperro, Liskeard, Fowey/Lostwithiel and St. Austell areas

It is probably wisest to travel via Plymouth - A38.

Exeter to Plymouth is 45 miles, Saltash (Cornwall) is 3 miles from Plymouth.


An alternative route is to Callington (for Liskeard and area), from Okehampton via Tavistock A386 which takes you across Dartmoor.

Okehampton to Callington is 23 miles.

For:

North Cornwall, Newquay, West and rest of Cornwall


Travel via Okehampton A30 which will take you to Launceston.

Exeter to Okehampton (Sourton) is 26 miles, Okehampton to Launceston is 15 miles.

Travelling in Cornwall by Car.

Whichever route you take to reach Cornwall a look at the road map will show that there are three roads which are important for travelling in Cornwall. These are:

A39 which enters Cornwall from North Devon and from Bude goes via Camelford, Wadebridge, Indian Queens, Truro and ends in Falmouth.

A38 which enters Cornwall at Saltash passes through Liskeard and ends at the A30 at Bodmin.

A30 is Cornwall's main road which enters Cornwall at Launceston and ends at Land's End. This road carries the bulk of dual carriageway in Cornwall.

Traffic volumes.

It is very difficult to predict traffic conditions in Cornwall during the height of the summer holiday season if you are travelling in Cornwall tune into one of the local radio stations which give regular traffic reports.

Apart from the main holiday periods road travel in Cornwall is usually uncomplicated and can often be a great pleasure if you choose one of the more scenic routes.

Basic distances:

The 'length' of Cornwall: from the Devon border to Land's End is approximately 75 miles.

Cornwall varies in width dramatically: from coast to the coast, Bude to Torpoint is approx. 40 miles, Newquay to St. Austell is 15 miles, Godrevy Point to Lizard Point is 21 miles and Hayle to Marazion is 4 miles.

Distances between towns in Cornwall.

To give you approximate travelling distances in Cornwall we have listed the major towns and strategic travelling points. The detail in brackets shows the route which we have used to calculate the distance.


Click to go to:

Bodmin

Bude

Camelford

Falmouth

Indian Queens

Launceston

Liskeard

Newquay

Helston

Penzance

Redruth

St. Ives

St. Austell

Truro

 

Wadebridge

Bodmin

Bodmin - Bude (Camelford -> A39) = 28 miles

Bodmin - Indian Queens (A30) = 13 miles

Bodmin - Launceston (A30) = 24 miles

Bodmin - Liskeard (A38) = 13 miles

Bodmin - Newquay (A30 -> A392) = 21 miles

Bodmin - Penzance (A30) = 50 miles

Bodmin - St. Austell (A389 -> A391) = 12 miles

Bodmin - Truro (A30 -> A3076) = 20 miles

Bodmin - Wadebridge (A389) = 7 miles

Bude

Bude - Bodmin (A39 -> Camelford -> B3266) = 28 miles

Bude - Boscastle (A39 -> B326) = 16 miles

Bude - Camelford (A39) = 16 miles

Bude - Indian Queens (A39) = 39 miles

Bude - Launceston (A3072 -> B3254) = 18 miles. (A39) = 29 miles

Bude - Liskeard (Launceston -> Callington -> A390) = 34 miles

Bude - Newquay (A39 -> A3059) = 42 miles

Bude - Penzance (A39 -> A30) = 76 miles

Bude - Redruth (A39 -> A30) = 56 miles

Bude - St. Austell (Wadebridge -> Bodmin) = 46 miles

Bude - Truro (Wadebridge -> St. Columb) = 36 miles

Bude - Wadebridge (A39) = 27 miles

Camelford

Camelford - Bodmin (B3266 -> A389) = 12 miles

Camelford - Boscastle (B3266) = 5 miles

Camelford - Bude (A39) = 16 miles

Camelford - Launceston (A39 -> A395) = 17 miles

Camelford - St. Austell (Wadebridge -> Bodmin) = 30 miles

Camelford - Wadebridge (A39) = 11 miles

Falmouth

Falmouth - Helston (A394) = 16 miles

Falmouth - Lizard Point (A393 -> A3083) = 26 miles

Falmouth - Penryn (A39) = 5 miles

Falmouth - Penzance (A394) = 31 miles

Falmouth - Redruth (A393) = 13 miles

Falmouth - St. Ives (A393 -> A30 -> A3074) = 29 miles

Falmouth - St. Mawes (By Ferry) = 1 mile

Falmouth - St. Mawes (Via Truro) = 31 miles

Falmouth - Truro (A39) = 12 miles

Helston

Helston - Falmouth (A394) = 16 miles

Helston - Land's End (A394 -> A30) = 24 miles

Helston - Lizard Point (A3083) =10 miles

Helston - Penzance (A394) = 15 miles

Helston - Redruth (B3297) = 11 miles

Helston - St. Ives (B3302) = 15 miles

Helston - St. Keverne (B3293 = 12 miles

Helston - Truro (A394 -> A30) = 18 miles

Indian Queens

Indian Queens - Bodmin (A30) = 13 miles

Indian Queens - Bude (A39 -> A30) = 39 miles

Indian Queens - Falmouth (Truro -> A39) = 25 miles

Indian Queens - Launceston (A30) = 37 miles

Indian Queens - Liskeard (A30 -> A38) = 26 miles

Indian Queens - Newquay (A392) = 8 miles

Indian Queens - Penzance (A30) = 37 miles

Indian Queens - Redruth (A30) = 17 miles

Indian Queens - St. Austell (A39 -> A3058) = 19 miles

Indian Queens - St. Ives (A30 -> A3074) = 33 miles

Indian Queens - Truro (A39) = 13 miles

Indian Queens - Wadebridge (A39) = 12 miles

Launceston

Launceston - Bodmin (A30) = 24 miles

Launceston - Bude (B3254 -> A3072) = 16 miles

Launceston - Camelford (A395 -> A39) = 17 miles

Launceston - Indian Queens (A30) = 37 miles

Launceston - Liskeard (A388 -> A390) = 18 miles

Launceston - Newquay (A30 -> A392) = 45 miles

Launceston - Penzance (A30) = 74 miles

Launceston - St. Austell (A30 -> A391) = 32 miles

Launceston - Truro (A30 -> St. Columb) = 44 miles

Launceston - Wadebridge (A30 -> A389) = 31 miles

Liskeard

Liskeard - Bodmin (A38) = 13 miles

Liskeard - Bude (Callington -> Launceston) = 34 miles

Liskeard - Callington (A390) = 8 miles

Liskeard - Fowey (A38 -> B3269) = 19 miles

Liskeard - Launceston (A390 -> A388) = 18 miles

Liskeard - Looe (B3254) = 9 miles

Liskeard - Lostwithiel (A390) = 13 miles

Liskeard - Newquay (A38 -> A30 -> A392) = 34 miles

Liskeard - Penzance (A38 -> A30) = 63 miles

Liskeard - Plymouth (A38) = 15 miles

Liskeard - Saltash (A38) = 12 miles

Liskeard - St. Austell (A390) = 21 miles

Liskeard - Torpoint (A38 -> A374) = 15 miles

Liskeard - Truro (A38 -> A390) = 35 miles

Liskeard - Wadebridge (A38 -> Bodmin) = 20 miles

Newquay

Newquay - Bodmin (A392 -> A30) = 21 miles

Newquay - Bude (A3059 -> A39) = 42 miles

Newquay - Indian Queens (A392) = 8 miles

Newquay - Launceston (A392 -> A30) = 45 miles

Newquay - Liskeard (A392 -> A30 -> A38) = 34 miles

Newquay - Penzance (A3075 -> A30) = 35 miles

Newquay - Redruth (A3075 -> A30) = 15 miles

Newquay - St. Agnes (A3075 -> B3277) = 14 miles

Newquay - St. Austell (A3058) = 19 miles

Newquay - Truro (A3075 -> A390) = 17 miles

Newquay - Wadebridge (A3059 -> A39) = 15 miles

Penzance

Penzance - Bodmin (A30) = 50 miles

Penzance - Bude (A30 -> A39) = 76 miles

Penzance - Falmouth (A394) = 31 miles

Penzance - Helston (A394) = 15 miles

Penzance - Indian Queens (A30) = 37 miles

Penzance - Land's End (A30) = 9 miles

Penzance - Launceston (A30) = 74 miles

Penzance - Plymouth (A30 -> A38) = 77 miles

Penzance - Redruth (A30) = 20 miles

Penzance - St. Ives (B3311) = 7 miles

Penzance - St. Just (A3071) = 7 miles

Penzance - Truro (A30 -> A390) = 30 miles

Penzance - Wadebridge (A30 -> A39) = 49 miles

Redruth

Redruth - Bodmin (A30) = 30 miles

Redruth - Bude (A30 -> A39) = 56 miles

Redruth - Falmouth (A393) = 13 miles

Redruth - Hayle (A30) = 11 miles

Redruth - Helston (B3297) = 11 miles

Redruth - Indian Queens (A30) = 17 miles

Redruth - Land's End (A30) = 29 miles

Redruth - Newquay (A30 -> A3075) = 15 miles

Redruth - Penzance (A30) = 20 miles

Redruth - Portreath (B3300) = 4 miles

Redruth - St. Agnes A30 -> B3277) = 7 miles

Redruth - St. Austell (Truro) = 26 miles

Redruth - St. Ives (A30 -> A3074) = 16 miles

Redruth - St. Just (A30 -> A3071) = 27 miles

Redruth - Truro (A30 -> A390) = 10 miles

Redruth - Wadebridge (A30 -> A39) = 24 miles

St. Austell

St. Austell - Bodmin (A391 -> A389) = 12 miles

St. Austell - Bude (Bodmin -> Wadebridge) = 46 miles

St. Austell - Camelford (Wadebridge -> A39) = 30 miles

St. Austell - Launceston (A391 -> A30) = 32 miles

St. Austell - Liskeard (A390) = 21 miles

St. Austell - Newquay (A3058) = 19 miles

St. Austell - Truro (A390) = 16 miles

St. Austell - Wadebridge (A391 -> A389) = 19 miles

St. Ives

St. Ives - Land's End (A30) = 16 miles

St. Ives - Penzance (B3311) = 7 miles

St. Ives - Redruth (A3074 -> A30) = 16 miles

St. Ives - St. Just (B3306) = 12 miles

St. Ives - Truro (A3074 -> A30 -> A390) = 26 miles

Truro

Truro - Bodmin (A3076 -> A30) = 20 miles

Truro - Bude (St. Columb -> Wadebridge) = 36 miles

Truro - Falmouth (A39) = 12 miles

Truro - Helston (A39 -> A394) = 18 miles

Truro - Land's End (Penzance -> A30) = 31 miles

Truro - Launceston (A3076 -> A30) = 44 miles

Truro - Liskeard (A390 -> A38) = 35 miles

Truro - Newquay (A390 -> A3075) = 17 miles

Truro - Penryn (A39) = 7 miles

Truro - Penzance (A39) = 30 miles

Truro - Redruth (A390 -> A30) = 10 miles

Truro - St. Austell (A390) = 16 miles

Truro - St. Ives (A390 -> A30 -> A3074) = 26 miles

Truro - St. Mawes (A39 -> A3078) = 19 miles

Truro - Wadebridge (A3076 -> St. Columb) = 28 miles

Wadebridge

Wadebridge - Bodmin (A389) = 7 miles

Wadebridge - Bude (A39) = 27 miles

Wadebridge - Camelford (A39) = 11 miles

Wadebridge - Indian Queens (A39) = 12 miles

Wadebridge - Launceston (A389 - A30) = 31 miles

Wadebridge - Liskeard (Bodmin -> A38) = 20 miles

Wadebridge - Newquay (A39 -> A3059) = 15 miles

Wadebridge - Padstow (A39 -> A389) = 8 miles

Wadebridge - Polzeath (B3314) = 6 miles

Wadebridge - St. Austell (Bodmin -> A389 -> A391) = 19 miles

Wadebridge - Truro (A39 -> A3076) = 28 miles

Wadebridge - Penzance (A39 -> A30) = 49 miles

Wadebridge - Redruth (A39 -> A30) = 29 miles

What to carry with you.

What to do at an accident.

Action taken at the scene of an accident in the first few minutes can save lives.

Ensure your own safety first. Do not be hasty, assess the situation from a safe distance.

Protect the scene from other road users and alert them to the presence of an accident - use warning triangle and hazard warning lights.

Call for help - 999 for Police, Ambulance and Fire Brigade.

Prevent fire by switching off the ignition of crashed cars. Do not smoke

Establish priorities among casualties. Do not move casualties unless they are in danger. Do not let dazed people to wander off.

Do not attempt to move crashed cars except to prevent another accident.

Make the scene safe.

On motorways or dual carriageways to help prevent further accidents call the police first, then warn other drivers.

On single carriageway roads the danger from high speed traffic is less. Warn other drivers first and then find a telephone and dial 999.

Motorway and dual carriageway.

Marker posts along the hard shoulder indicate the direction of the nearest emergency telephone. Use this 'phone to call the police who will switch on roadside signals, send a police car and alert the ambulance and fire services. The police will be able to identify your position.

Warn other drivers by switching on hazard lights and placing warning triangle at least 150 yards back from the accident.

Single carriageway.

Warn other drivers by switching on hazard lights and placing warning triangle at least 150 yards back from the accident.

Find a telephone or get someone else to do so. The caller should do the following:

Ask for the relevant service (police, ambulance, fire service).

Give the telephone number of where you are calling from.

Say where the accident is, give landmarks and other relevant information.

Give details of the accident - number of vehicles involved, number of casualties and information as to their suspected injuries and details of any hazards such as leaking fuel.

General.

If possible, always pull over to the hard shoulder as close to the grass verge as possible, get out of the vehicle on the verge side.

If you are involved in an accident, except in case of fire or other threat, do not leave your vehicle until all traffic has stopped and it is clearly safe to do so.

Do not walk across the lanes of a Motorway.

Always stand on the hard shoulder well clear of the accident and face oncoming traffic.

Never stand behind any vehicle - keep clear of danger.

Casualties.

Ensure that casualties are safe from fire and oncoming traffic. Do not move them unless they are in danger.

Speak reassuringly to all involved since they may be suffering from shock.

Treat casualties in this order:

Anyone unconscious and not breathing

Anyone bleeding badly

Anyone unconscious but breathing

See First Aid.

What to do after an accident.

If you are involved in an accident:

you must stop if there has been - injury to people or animals, damage to property or another vehicle.

You must give your name and address to anyone who has reasonable grounds for asking.

If someone has been injured you must produce your insurance certificate.

If there has been damage to property or injury to animals or people you should give details, as described above, to those involved. If you have not done so you must report the accident to the police as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after the accident.

Failing to stop at or failing to report an accident is a serious offence.

You may summon the police to an accident but they do not have to attend. You have no right to detain another driver until the police attend.

Driving in Cornwall.

It is valid to point out that once away from the main roads things change dramatically and interestingly. Narrow country lanes become tunnels of greenery and colour in spring and summer. Behind this foliage often lurks a centuries old stone hedge, beware contact with a cornish 'hedge'. For every linear metre of standard highway 'hedge' there is approximately two tonnes of stone and soil, all hand built into place and designed to stay there for a very long time. Work out the width of your car, its tonnage and then calculate the equivalent tonnage in the cornish 'hedge'. Not an argument to involve your vehicle in.

Coastal roads will often awe you with the magnificence of the scenery you come across and the back lanes can have a similar affect on you.

Taxis & Car Hire

This is just a suggestion, if you want to get about in Cornwall, who knows all the local beauty spots, the best way to get from A to B? Correct! In Destination Information there is an Index of Taxis. Before you leave for your holiday it might pay to check out what prices and availability are like, perhaps make a tentative booking.

Car hire is worth thinking about and if its in your mind to hire a car, same as taxis - ring around.

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