Landmarks
Glastonbury Tor
Mystical terraced hill crowned by St Michael's Tower, steeped in Arthurian and early Christian legends with panoramic Somerset views.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
Bristol to Plymouth drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 2 hr 24 min
- Distance
- 121 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £20
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Bristol to Plymouth drive
The drive from Bristol to Plymouth covers 121 miles (195 km) and takes about 2 hr 24 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £20 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between Bristol and Plymouth
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
National Parks
Dartmoor National Park
Wild and ancient moorland dotted with granite tors, Bronze Age settlements and roaming Dartmoor ponies across 368 square miles of Devon.
Racetracks
Castle Combe Circuit
A charming Wiltshire circuit in a picturesque Cotswolds village, one of England's oldest operational racing venues.
Cathedrals & Temples
Exeter Cathedral
Magnificent Gothic cathedral boasting the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in England, dating back to the 12th century.
Cathedrals & Temples
Wells Cathedral
Exquisite Early English Gothic cathedral with a magnificent sculpted west front displaying nearly 300 medieval figures.
Scenic Viewpoints
Devil's Pulpit
A narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
Landmarks
Castle Combe
A film-set medieval village of honey cottages with no visible modern intrusions, often called England's prettiest village.
Natural Wonders
Wistman's Wood
Stunted, moss-drowned oaks growing between granite boulders form one of Britain's last high-altitude temperate rainforests, long linked with Druid legend. A 20-minute walk from the Two Bridges car park on Dartmoor.
Cafes & Pit Stops
The Bike Shed Exeter
The original Bike Shed venue in Exeter's historic city centre, blending motorcycle culture with independent food and drink.
Bristol to Plymouth FAQs
How long is the drive from Bristol to Plymouth?
Driving from Bristol to Plymouth takes about 2 hr 24 min nonstop, covering 121 miles (195 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Bristol to Plymouth?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £20 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Bristol to Plymouth in one day?
Yes, at about 2 hr 24 min of driving, Bristol to Plymouth is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between Bristol and Plymouth?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Glastonbury Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Castle Combe Circuit: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Bristol & Plymouth
Birmingham → BristolBristol → CardiffBristol → St IvesLondon → BristolLondon → PlymouthManchester → Bristol
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.