A38 or A30?
We will be travelling to Carnon Downs Caravan Park, near Truro, in a couple of week's time - via Broadway and Exeter Racecourse Club sites. I was wondering which is the best route from Exeter to Truro - A38 or A30? Time and distance wise, there doesn't seem to be much difference but just wondered if local knowledge might suggest one or the other.
Thanks, Richard
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A30.
One now uninterrupted road nearly all the way there.
Nice site, been on it once, due to it always been fully booked when we go on our annual Cornwall trip.
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Personally, A30 down to Three Burrows, the A390 to skirt South of Truro, then A39 to Carnon Downs. But you will need to time things well, the A390 has Treliske Hospital and retail outlets on it. Avoid at certain times. A38 route is a tad more convoluted.
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The A30 to Chiverton Cross/Three Burrows then the A390 and A39.
Pros - it’s a dual carriageway almost all the way.
Cons - it’s not quite so easy to pick up from Exeter Racecourse than the A38, the section from Carland Cross to Chiverton is still single carriageway and prone to hold ups, the A390 can be nose to tail down through the edge of Truro.
The A38 to Dobwalls then the A390 via St Austell to Truro then the A39.
Pros - it’s easier to pick up from Exeter Racecourse (you'll hear the traffic all night), it’s a more interesting route, it’s dual carriageway to Plymouth and parts beyond, the road into Truro may be slightly less congested than the other route.
Cons - it can get busy around Plymouth, you may meet queues for the Tamar Bridge (free westbound), the A390 from Dobwalls is single carriageway so slower, traffic can build up in St Austell.
You pays your money and you makes your choice. So much depends on the time of day, the time of year and the inevitable roadworks.
Which do we use? Mostly the A30 but not always. When towing a caravan we always used the A30.
Hope that helps.
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Just a thought R&R, but if you choose A30, you might find it easier to take that route from Exeter, give the Racecourse a miss and keep going onto Okehampton. (Adds around 30 minutes towing) We have used a nice CL close to Okehampton Services for years, and you get on and off A30 easily. It has grass pitches, but we have never had a problem. Service station is good for all fuels, has a nice eatery for breakfast etc....
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/devon/okehampton/
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I would only go A30 but a personal opinion. It seems so easy these days. When I went to work at Trelsike hospital back in the 1980's the A30 went straight through the centre of Okehampton. Getting up to Oxford from Truro to visit my mother was misery.
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We spent decades awaiting Dobwalls’ bypass! Now that was one heck of a bottleneck! Like you, we can recall driving through Okehampton, but the site above doesn’t need to go through town. We like Okehampton, interesting town, lots to see and do around there.
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Some interesting information - thank you. My inclination was for the A30, so it's looking like that's the route I will take. Thanks for the info re the CL, TTDA - but my wife used to live in Exeter (in her 'former' life!) and she wants to see how it has changed since the 70's (significantly, I assume) - so a stop-over there is a must. I was aware of the traffic noise at Exeter Racecourse but it's only for a couple of nights so we can put up with it.
Whilst we have travelled to Devon, regularly, over the last 15 years or so, we rarely make that extra push into Cornwall, so it's some time since I drove those roads - so this info has been helpful.
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We do both, but I would say the A30 is more straightforward with better service stops until you get towards the St Agnes side of Truro and then, at peak times very slow moving traffic past Treliske hospital etc.
The A38/A390 misses that bit but it has some steep twisting stretches with only lay by stops and then some more urban and sometimes slow driving as you get to St Blazey onwards.
The Cornwall Services are now a good point to stop and get your bearings as you head south for the turn off towards Truro and Falmouth, they're on the A30.
So if you're not used to the area I think the A30 wins.
We've been to Carnon Downs several times, nice site but if there's a choice opt for pitches away from the main road.
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Exeter has indeed changed a lot since the 70s. It’ll be quite an experience.
Enjoy your visit to Cornwall, R&R.
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Ah you know it then, not a problem. We love the Exeter Racecourse Site, the bit of road noise never bothers us, but we use the bottom woodland grassed area, much nicer. Like Exeter as well, so very interesting.
Have a lovely trip, we are on Dartmoor later in year, but going in a cottage.
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Oh, yes, I did😛
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Evening
I've always preferred the a30, can be a bind at times especially chivvy roundabout at the Cornish rush hour, drag race starts are a must!! We worked Exeter Racecourse site for a year, if you're lucky you'll be there on a race day, a great spectacle. You do get used to the traffic noise it's more of a drone in the background until 5.30 am when you hear the wagons slugging up the hill. I found the cure for sleepless nights comes in the form of Courvoisier! We loved the city, so much to see and do.
Carnon Downs is alright, nice big pitches, an enormous dog field and the owners are friendly folk. It's easy to get the bus into Truro from site and there are some decent eateries and pubs there.
JK
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Again - thank you all, for your helpful and kind comments - looking forward to the holiday and I am reassured that Carnon Downs seems to be OK. We were ' bitten' a few years ago when we booked a commercial site near Dartmouth and when we got there it was terrible - despite AA 5* rating etc so we left and went to our usual C&CC site. Fortunately the owners were decent about it and refunded all of our two week's site fees.
Carnon Downs won mainly because of easy access since our new van is 8.1m long and 8' wide and doesn't lend itself to negotiating country lanes!
Having read the comments about the site, we have booked a pitch in the Paddock area which is as far away from the road as you can get, so that should be OK and the extensive dog-walking area was another plus.
Just need to organise the weather
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Hi, I live in SE Cornwall so the A38 is our most used route but if doing your journey it would be A30 every time.
An option may be to stay at a CL near Exeter as there are several to choose from, as well as small private sites, and this would make picking up the A30 a bit easier.
There is a CL at Rockbeare with facilities, it is 4 miles from Junction 29 and on a bus route with stop nearby.
Edit-just seen your comments re size of your van and maybe the racecourse will be preferable due to the easier access for you?
Getting back down to the A30 to head West is straightforward.
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Just one further question for those of you in the know. Brue (I think) suggested following the A30 to Three Burrows and then taking the south westerly route around Truro - but with the possibility of congestion around Treliske Hospital.
Google Maps is showing an alternative - seems to be more direct route - turning off the A30 at Carland Cross and taking the easterly route around Truro.
Which is the best?
Thanks
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As others say there are quite a few variables but I would take the A39 from Carland if heading for Carnon Downs.
The A390 will be busy through Truro but it’s a lot shorter coming from Carland than Chivvy/Three Burrows and the A30 can get hold ups after Carland where it becomes single carriageway.
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Thanks alanandjean. We do use CLs and CS's quite regularly but I'm just a bit careful which ones! I think, on balance, the Racecourse site will suit our needs just as a stop-over for a couple of nights.
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We use either route but Carland is fine, there can be congestion in Truro so at least you cut out the Treliske route (depends on the time of day.) Good to hear you'll be on a pitch away from the road at Carnon Downs, the site is excellent, nice facilities and the dog walk, even without a dog gives a nice perimeter walks around the site. There's a good bus service nearby, plus the pub at the Premier Inn over the road and a shop in the village and at the petrol station. Also a nice old pub down at Devoran. which is a nice short waterside drive. You're only minutes away from NT Trelissick House and Gardens, which is a lovely place to visit. Hope you have a good time, lots to do locally!
Enjoy Exeter too, the park and ride is good and a lot of people head for the water front area which has been greatly improved over the years.
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R&R, I use the roads under discussion regularly, hence the detail in my earlier post. Three Burrows/Chiverton Cross (known and signed as Chiverton) would be my choice. The Carland Cross junction is not such a direct route and you will meet the other congestion I referred to earlier around the east and south of Truro. Chiverton is at least a straight road and at worst you will simply follow the queue to the turn off for Carnon Downs/Falmouth
I hadn’t realised the size of your van so, definitely, the A30 rather than the A38.
Edit: Cross posted with Brue. Flip a coin R&R.
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Absolutely 👍🏻
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Roadford Lake at Broadwoodwidger just outside Okehampton makes a useful stop on a journey. There is also a small campsite there.
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I’d not take an 8’ wide van there, CY. 😱
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Thanks for the suggestion CY, but I think I will give that one a miss
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Stay on the main roads round here - some folk trust their sat navs - not wise .
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Unless I am missing something, which is very possible, the OP will be travelling from the East and at Carland Cross can follow the route mentioned, via the A39 and A390, to Carnon which is app 10 miles.
Continuing on the A30 to Chiverton will add app 6 miles on roads at least as busy if not worse.
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