Landmarks
Eden Project
Spectacular complex of enormous biome domes nestled in a former clay pit, housing the world's largest indoor rainforest.
← All routes
Road trip route · United Kingdom
Bristol to St Ives drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 3 hr 39 min
- Distance
- 190 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £32
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Bristol to St Ives drive
The drive from Bristol to St Ives covers 190 miles (305 km) and takes about 3 hr 39 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 £32 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 190 miles this is longer than 49% of the 144 routes covered here.
Best stops between Bristol and St Ives
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Glastonbury Tor
Mystical terraced hill crowned by St Michael's Tower, steeped in Arthurian and early Christian legends with panoramic Somerset views.
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.
Castles & Palaces
Tintagel Castle
Dramatic clifftop ruins steeped in Arthurian legend, connected to the mainland by a striking modern footbridge above the Atlantic.
Famous Roads
Atlantic Highway (A39)
Spectacular coastal road running through north Devon and Cornwall past dramatic cliffs, surfing beaches and picturesque harbour villages.
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.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to Derry along Northern Ireland's cliff-edge coast, via Game of Thrones country
200 km · 3.3h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
NC500: North Coast 500
Scotland's answer to Route 66: 516 miles of mountains, single-track roads, and empty beaches
755 km · 11.4h driving · 9 stops · 7 days
Bristol to St Ives FAQs
How long is the drive from Bristol to St Ives?
Driving from Bristol to St Ives takes about 3 hr 39 min nonstop, covering 190 miles (305 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Bristol to St Ives?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £32 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Bristol to St Ives in one day?
Yes, at about 3 hr 39 min of driving, Bristol to St Ives is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Bristol and St Ives?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Eden Project, Glastonbury Tor, Dartmoor National Park: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Bristol & St Ives
Birmingham → BristolBristol → CardiffBristol → PlymouthLondon → BristolLondon → St IvesManchester → Bristol
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.