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Original poster

Is it possible to get to Cornwall on one full tank of petrol?

100 replies

HappyChappieDappe · 13/02/2025 13:38

Specifics are, travelling from East Anglia to St Ives, Google maps says 329 miles, up to 5.5 hours drive.
Car is a relatively new Dacia Duster, full petrol capacity is just over 300 miles I think (never put a FULL tank in)
Is it doable? or will I need to fill up part way through? (Obviously will fill up on the way back)
Just want to get the logistics defined as will be travelling with a small child who will need a couple of comfort breaks.

OP posts:
SpringingInto · 13/02/2025 14:41

Don’t stop at Exeter services it’s a nightmare either do Taunton or Okehampton are easier for a quick stop if on M5. And yes it will take you ALOT longer than 5.5hrs on a school holiday week. I drive a lot in this area our worst was Exeter to Colchester 9hrs in July. Even Exeter to Gatwick is 4hrs+ on a good run

NeverDropYourMooncup · 13/02/2025 14:42

Have you allowed for being stuck in traffic on the 303 for a couple of hours? Or behind a tank on an exercise realising they'd dropped a shell and had to stop, walk back 2 miles and look for it on the verge? (Genuinely, we got stuck because of that).

Fill up halfway, take food, a blanket each and don't rely upon getting food at the services down there as they will be rammed.

Warmautumnbreeze · 13/02/2025 14:47

HappyChappieDappe · 13/02/2025 13:55

I was planning to stop off at Winchester services then Exeter services on the way in any case. It's just over 2 hours between each (of course not factoring in half term traffic!) It was just a general question is all, of course I wouldn't risk my car conking out because I didn't fill up.

Currently debating whether to travel overnight with DD or crack of dawn like 5am!

At junction 30 m5 roundabout, instead of going to service station, take the turn off for IKEA and then follow signs for superstore. You'll be at tesco extra within a minute and I imagine the petrol prices will be much cheaper.

Shade17 · 13/02/2025 14:49

oldmanandtheangel · 13/02/2025 14:29

And please... definitely fill up on route, you just never know!

The OP has enough fuel in one tank to get there and idle for at least 18 hours.

mewkins · 13/02/2025 14:57

I have to say...I do love a car trip thread 😁

DazzlingCuckoos · 13/02/2025 15:15

If you're stopping anyway with DC, you might as well fill up with some fuel.

Last thing you want is to be stuck in a traffic jam, or winding through country roads in the deepest darkest depths of Cornwall panicking that your petrol light's just come on with no idea where the nearest petrol station is.

Maybe when you reach the end of the M5, find a supermarket with a petrol station (looks like there's a big Sainsbury's not far from the junction). Pop into Sainsbury's for a loo break and to pick up some snacks then fill up the car on the way out.

Definitely don't use a motorway service station for fuel.

Normallynumb · 13/02/2025 15:17

The A30 is now dual carriageway from Exeter to Hayle, nr St Ives, but is still very busy.
Can't help much but Bristol to Hayle 3 hours 45 last month

mindutopia · 13/02/2025 15:26

We live just off the A30 on the Devon/Cornwall border. It’s 3 hours for us to Winchester and 1.5 to St. Ives, That alone is 4.5 hours. I think it will be longer than you expect, especially in half term traffic. There have also been a lot of accidents on the A30 lately so I expect you will get stopped at some point. Just fill up, but don’t do it at a services as soon as much more expensive. There are plenty of cheaper petrol stations en route.

mitogoshigg · 13/02/2025 15:29

I could but I get over 400 miles per tank on a long run like that unless heavy traffic. I do recommend picking up petrol on a rest stop, if you are travelling via the m4&m5 come off the m5 at junction 17 where there are a large Asda and a large Morrisons plus lots of different eating options right there.

LadysMantle · 13/02/2025 15:30

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 13/02/2025 13:42

This will be fine because you'll be going south which is downhill.

😀

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 13/02/2025 15:46

Crikey - I live in Cornwall, right on the A30, and it would still take me more than an hour to get to St Ives, I'd be very surprised if you can do it in 6!

We tend to use Cullompton services (just mcdonalds and Costa and a shell garage) rather than Exeter, if that helps.
There is hog and hedge near Okehampton which people seem to like too https://www.hogandhedge.co.uk/

Hog & Hedge | Exeter A30 | Fresh locally sourced food | Speciality coffee

Hog & Hedge Fresh homemade food Speciality coffee

https://www.hogandhedge.co.uk

mrstreacle · 13/02/2025 15:47

There's a Sainsburys a couple of minutes of the M5 at Taunton that has reasonably priced fuel, there's the big Tesco by Ikea at the Exeter turn off. It's not as if we don't buy fuel down here in the west. Oh, and avoid Bridgwater services, they're meant to be the worst in the country

Original poster
HappyChappieDappe · 13/02/2025 15:50

Just looking at the route on Google maps for the route which is showing 45 miles on m25, another 90 odd on the M4 then 86 miles on the M5 turning off at Bodmin/Okehampton at junction 31 so I think I will definitely use that services.

OP posts:
ERthree · 13/02/2025 15:53

It is approx 400 miles and roughly 7 hours if the Motorways are clear. As for fuel, the distance the car can do on a full tank varies, depends on speed, weight and driving style.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2025 15:54

mrstreacle · 13/02/2025 15:47

There's a Sainsburys a couple of minutes of the M5 at Taunton that has reasonably priced fuel, there's the big Tesco by Ikea at the Exeter turn off. It's not as if we don't buy fuel down here in the west. Oh, and avoid Bridgwater services, they're meant to be the worst in the country

They're a bit odd, off the road and much smaller than any other services I've been to, with a fairly small multistorey car park. (We often holiday near there out of season and use it because it's the only M&S food for miles around that we know of)

Negroany · 13/02/2025 15:55

HappyChappieDappe · 13/02/2025 13:38

Specifics are, travelling from East Anglia to St Ives, Google maps says 329 miles, up to 5.5 hours drive.
Car is a relatively new Dacia Duster, full petrol capacity is just over 300 miles I think (never put a FULL tank in)
Is it doable? or will I need to fill up part way through? (Obviously will fill up on the way back)
Just want to get the logistics defined as will be travelling with a small child who will need a couple of comfort breaks.

You sure you haven't put in the other St Ives in Cambridge?

theboffinsarecoming · 13/02/2025 15:56

HappyChappieDappe · 13/02/2025 13:43

Just put my postcode in and the resort postcode and it says 5 hours 54 minutes to be exact.

Well I'm in Bedfordshire so on the western edge of East Anglia, and I just put in details and it told me 5 hours 48 minutes. So best part of 6 hours.

I've driven to Cornwall from here. It took well over 6 hours to get there, and due to horrible traffic, a desperate 10 hours to drive home again.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2025 16:08

You sure you haven't put in the other St Ives in Cambridge?

East Anglia is big but not quite that big!Grin

HelpMeGetThrough · 13/02/2025 16:13

I live in southeast Cornwall. It's still showing 2hrs from Exeter to St Ives as of right now!

Not surprised at all. No matter what they do to the A30, I reckon the road is doomed.

Every time I turn off the M5 onto the A30 I always think "here comes the shiittiest part of the journey home".

Still, it's nice to see the nearly home trees.

Boutonnière · 13/02/2025 16:15

I do the drive very regularly from edge of London near M3 to Cornish border and often right down to St Ives and am wondering why you are going via Winchester ? - M3 all the way to M27 then A31 ? I’d never choose to do it that way. The M3 is good but the M27 west seizes up and as for the A31 …… From M25 you could either do M4 to M5 at Bristol, come off at just past Exeter fo A30 and stay on all the way OR M3 to A303 just past Basingstoke, turns into A30, back on M5 for short bit around Exeter, off to A30 again .

DoloresDelEriba · 13/02/2025 16:21

Currently debating whether to travel overnight with DD or crack of dawn like 5am!

Highly recommend 5am or earlier start. Makes such a difference to the traffic levels. Good luck 💪

Seawolves · 13/02/2025 16:22

Negroany · 13/02/2025 15:55

You sure you haven't put in the other St Ives in Cambridge?

Show quote history

The M11 can be bad but it's not that bad!

roselilylavender · 13/02/2025 16:22

If you're travelling with DC, plan on the actual journey being a day trip and, rather than have pit stops at services, stop for a proper run around and break. There's a farm with soft play and loads of activities just off junc 22 of the M5 so we'd always stop there for two or three hours and then carry on. It gives you a proper chance to refresh and re-set too

Escaperoom · 13/02/2025 16:36

We go to Cornwall fairly often from West London and it takes us about 5 hours so I'm not sure how you are going to do it in that time from East Anglia as when we went to Norfolk from here it took us several hours to get there! There is pretty much always a hold up around the M4/M5 junction which slows things down until past the Avonmouth bridge. We always manage it on one tank of petrol but again you are travelling further so maybe not.

YarkYark · 13/02/2025 16:40

You must stop for a break and fuel top up at Trago Mills. It will be the cheapest fuel for miles around, and it's also the law.