Best route into Cornwall- locals please advise?

[ameliagrey]

Anyone got any strong feelings over the A30 or A38? We'll be traveling from the M5 via from Exeter on a Friday, but possibly staying over south of Exeter for 1 night and completing the journey on the Saturday morning- week before half term hols. Best route to avoid jams and get off if busy?

A38 is a straight road right through and over the tamar bridge.

If you go back that way it is a toll bridge so make sure you have a few pounds to pay the tolls.

Depends where you are heading to in Cornwall. We live in Exeter and always go A30. We find the A38 slower as the roads are very windy once over the tamar.

Personally I would say a30 all the way (depending on where you're staying) but avoid traveling on a Saturday! Tis the busiest day for travel as it is the 'changeover day' although the week before half term may not be too bad. Good luck! :)

Depends where you are staying, but I would broadly agree that A38 is windy and slow, A30 is a better road.

Does depend how far into Cornwall youre going. We always go on the a30 but can be a bit jammy around Bodmin on a Saturday. Not much of an alternative really.

Changeover day tends to be Saturday and the bulk of traffic IME is heading out of Cornwall in earlier morning with traffic build up on roads in at late morning/ lunchtime. So if you're past Bodmin early ish can be really clear.

Thank you! That's really helpful. We are staying near Falmouth. The idea was to travel on Friday as far as Exeter or a bit further , then make an early start Saturday for the last part of the journey. I now need to look for a hotel near the A30.

There isn't a brilliant route to Falmouth tbh, so the best thing to do as others suggested is pick your time carefully. Have a lovely holiday, it's actually forecast to be ok weather for once here :o

Oh thank you!

I think we will go with the Exeter over night stop, then early onto the A30.

Hope it doesn't rain every day!

NOt a local but suggest you go A38 to Liskeard and stay in the premier travel inn there. it is only 10 minutes from A30 at Bodmin. if travelling to Falmouth on the saturday i would say leave as early as you can and make sure you have something to do when you get there as you unlikely to be allowed into your accomodation before 2 or 3pm.

Glorious sunshine atm :)

A30 all the way. There will be a jam going over Bodmin Moor as the dual carriageway goes down to 1 lane for a couple of miles but the traffic will gradually clear. If its not jammed, then look out for police around there as (obviously) the speed limit changes.

Thanks- all wonderfully helpful- will look at the Premier Inn you mention.

a30, as others have said jams up around Temple - especially on a Fri and Sat - watch out for speed cameras there if traffic is moving!

I booked the Teign Valley Golf Hotel last minute on last minute.com for only £35 a night when on the way down via Exeter last year, a great price and the rooms were lovely.

Make sure you go via the A30. The A38 has various bottlenecks where it goes from 2 into single lane and there are some road works just after Plymouth also.