RealCost Guide
Cost to Drive to Devon UK
Driving to Devon can look simple if you only count fuel, but the real cost of a day trip, weekend break or week-long holiday depends heavily on parking, the season and how busy the roads are.
Use this page to estimate your fuel cost, check the real parking and seasonal costs specific to Devon, and plan a trip that doesn’t cost more than you expected.
The simple answer
The fuel cost of driving to Devon depends on your starting distance, fuel price and MPG. As a real example, Bristol to Exeter is about 80 miles each way — in a 45 MPG petrol car at £1.60 per litre that is roughly £13 in fuel one-way, or about £26 return.
That is not the full cost. Local town parking varies widely, but tiered charges are typical – for example around £1.70 for up to 1 hour rising to roughly £13.60 for 24 hours at Mid Devon car parks, with coastal towns often pricier in summer. Peak season and weekends can also mean significantly more traffic and busier car parks than an off-peak weekday visit.
Quick Devon driving cost examples
These examples use £1.60 per litre and 45 MPG. Your actual cost will change with fuel price, MPG, traffic and whether the journey is one-way or return.
50 miles to Devon
About £8.08 one-way in fuel.
Return fuel: about £16.16
100 miles to Devon
About £16.16 one-way in fuel.
Return fuel: about £32.33
200 miles to Devon
About £32.33 one-way in fuel.
Return fuel: about £64.66
Peak season warning
Parking and traffic can matter more than fuel once you factor in a busy weekend or school holiday visit.
Calculate your fuel cost to Devon
Enter your distance to Devon, fuel price and MPG to estimate the fuel cost. For a return journey, double the distance or run the calculation twice.
This calculator estimates fuel only. It does not automatically include parking, accommodation, attraction costs or vehicle wear.
RealCost note: For a simple mileage fuel check, use the Fuel Cost Calculator UK. For longer return journeys with traffic and journey type included, use the Trip Fuel Cost Planner UK.
Extra costs of driving to Devon
These are the costs that often make the real trip more expensive than the fuel estimate.
Expect tiered hourly rates rising toward £13-14 for a full day at many Devon town car parks, with coastal towns often charging more in summer.
The M5, A38 and A30 all converge near Exeter, and congestion is common around Junctions 29-30 and on the A30/A38 approaches, especially on peak summer Saturdays.
Most trips need the cost of getting home included, not just the outward journey.
Tyres, brakes, servicing and depreciation still matter on longer journeys.
Entry fees, equipment hire or food and drink can add up quickly on a day out.
Almost every route into Devon passes near Exeter, where the M5, A38 and A30 meet – this is consistently where delays build first.
Devon trip checklist before you drive
Check these before deciding your visit is going to cost what you expect.
Where will you park?
Exeter’s Park & Ride sites (Sowton, Matford, Honiton Road) are usually cheaper and less stressful than driving into the city centre itself.
Is it peak season?
Dartmoor and coastal towns like Salcombe and Dartmouth get noticeably busier in the summer school holidays — the A38 through the county is at its worst on changeover Saturdays.
How many people are travelling?
Dartmoor’s limited bus routes mean a group sharing one car is often the only practical way to reach the more remote spots.
How long are you staying?
A multi-day stay near Exeter or on the coast usually justifies the drive better than a single long day trip, given how far the M5 approach can be.
Cost to drive to Devon by trip type
The same mileage can feel cheap or expensive depending on the kind of trip you’re planning.
Dartmoor day trip
National Park car parks are genuinely cheap for a full day out – Widecombe-in-the-Moor runs about £2.10-£2.20 for all-day parking, well below most coastal town rates.
Weekend break
Check whether your accommodation includes parking before assuming you’ll need a paid car park too.
Week-long holiday
Consider GWR into Exeter St David’s instead of driving both ways from London – up to twice hourly, about 2h16, from £19.45 if booked ahead.
Dartmoor walking trip
Private Dartmoor parking runs from about £0.90 an hour, or £48.50 a month if you’re a regular visitor – worth it if you’re walking often rather than paying National Park day rates each time.
How to reduce the cost of driving to Devon
Small planning decisions can make a big difference to the total cost, especially in peak season.
Driving to Devon is not just fuel cost
Use these tools and guides to compare the whole trip cost properly.
Open calculator →
Open planner →
Open calculator →
See live prices →
Compare options →
Read guide →
Flying from Exeter Airport
Exeter Airport is Devon’s main airport, a few miles east of the city.
Car Park P4 offers a genuinely free 30-minute drop-off or wait, which covers most passenger drop-offs comfortably — Car Park P1, the closest to the terminal, now charges £8.50 for up to 10 minutes since an 18 May 2026 price rise (up from £6, which also removed the EV discount). Pre-booked long-stay rates start from around £62 for 4 days, but the unbooked gate rate can run to £220 for a week — book ahead. Bus 4/4A runs direct to Exeter St David’s and the city centre up to every 12 minutes, with every single fare capped at £3, whatever the distance.
Purple Parking gives 12% off Exeter Airport long-stay automatically (affiliate link).
Related staycation and travel cost guides
Use these pages to compare driving with other travel options before you commit.