A weekend in Cornwall: a 2 to 3 day itinerary
Cornwall is too long to see in a weekend, so do not try. Pick one end and stay put. This guide gives you two ready-made itineraries: option A is a far-west, St Ives and Land's End weekend, and option B is a north-coast weekend around Padstow, Newquay and the Eden Project. Base yourself in one spot, keep the driving short, and you come home rested rather than frazzled.
Both plans work as a two-night, three-day trip. If you only have two days, drop day three and you still get a proper weekend. For the wider picture, see our guide to things to do in Cornwall, and when you are ready to book a pitch, browse the Cornwall campsites on Camping Sites in Britain.
One hard truth first: Cornwall is slow in summer. The A30 is the county's spine and it clogs on Saturdays, especially past Bodmin and around Hayle. Assume any drive takes longer than the map says from late July to the end of August, and book your campsite early, because the good sites near St Ives and Padstow sell out weeks ahead.
Before you go: bases, driving and booking
Choose your base by which coast you want, then barely move the car. The far west clusters around Penzance and St Ives; the north coast around Padstow and Newquay. The two are only about 40 miles apart on paper but well over an hour in traffic, which is why we split them.
| Weekend | Best base | Good for | Rough driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Far west | St Ives, Penzance or Sennen | Beaches, art, Land's End, the Minack | Short hops, 15 to 40 minutes |
| B: North coast | Padstow, Wadebridge or Newquay | Surf, the Camel Trail, Eden Project | Short hops, 15 to 40 minutes |
Book campsites as early as you can for July and August; the popular coastal ones fill fast and beach pitches are gold. Our pick of the best campsites in Cornwall covers both coasts, and you can filter the full list of Cornwall campsites by area. For the drive down, aim to pass Bodmin before 9am or after 6pm on a Saturday.
Option A: a far-west and St Ives weekend
This is the classic Cornwall weekend: whitewashed St Ives, the wild granite of Land's End, and an evening at the Minack Theatre perched over the sea. Base yourself in or near St Ives or Penzance so nothing is more than about 30 minutes away.
Day 1: St Ives, the Tate and Porthmeor
Spend the whole first day in St Ives on foot, because parking is a nightmare and the town is tiny. Leave the car at the campsite or use the park-and-ride, then wander the harbour, the cobbled lanes and the galleries. Tate St Ives sits right above Porthmeor Beach and pairs with the nearby Barbara Hepworth Museum on a joint ticket, both run by Tate.
Give the afternoon to Porthmeor Beach itself, one of the best town beaches in the country, with lifeguards in season and a surf school if the kids fancy a lesson. Eat fish and chips on the harbour wall (mind the gulls, they are bold), then watch the light go. For where else to eat locally, see our best pubs and restaurants in Cornwall.
Day 2: the Minack, Porthcurno, Land's End and Sennen
Head to the very tip of Cornwall, roughly 30 to 40 minutes from St Ives. Start at the Minack Theatre, the open-air theatre carved into the cliff at Porthcurno. You can book a daytime visit to the theatre and gardens (around £7 for adults, booked online), or an evening performance if there is one on. Book ahead either way, as it sells out and parking is limited.
Below it lies Porthcurno, a stunning white-sand cove. From there it is a short hop to Land's End, the mainland's most westerly point. The clifftop walk is free and spectacular; you only pay to park and for the visitor attractions, so keep it simple and walk the coast path.
Finish at Sennen Cove and Whitesand Bay, a mile of surf beach with a good pub and lifeguard cover, the pick of the far-west beaches for a late swim. If you would rather walk it off, the South West Coast Path between Sennen and Land's End is short and dramatic, and there is more in our best walks in Cornwall guide.
Day 3: St Michael's Mount and Penzance
Save the tidal island of St Michael's Mount for your last morning, near Marazion, about 20 minutes from St Ives. At low tide you walk across the stone causeway; at high tide a small boat ferries you over, so check the crossing times before you set off. The castle and gardens are run partly by the National Trust, with the castle costing around £16 for adults, so members should bring their cards.
Spend what is left of the day in Penzance, with its harbour, the art-deco Jubilee Pool (a heated seawater lido) and cafes for a slow lunch before the drive home. If the Lizard tempts you instead, Kynance Cove is one of the most beautiful beaches in Britain, though it adds an hour of driving each way, so only swap it in with the full three days.
Option B: a north-coast weekend
The north coast is the surf-and-family end of Cornwall: big Atlantic beaches, the Camel Trail cycle route, and the Eden Project inland. Base yourself around Padstow, Wadebridge or Newquay and, again, keep the hops short.
Day 1: Padstow and the Camel Trail by bike
Start in Padstow, the pretty harbour town on the Camel Estuary, then ride the Camel Trail. This is a flat, traffic-free cycle path along a former railway line, running about 18 miles from Padstow through Wadebridge to Bodmin and beyond. The Padstow to Wadebridge stretch is roughly five to six miles, mostly level, and perfect with children.
Hire bikes from one of the shops by the harbour (book ahead in summer), ride to Wadebridge for lunch, then turn back. Back in Padstow, the harbour is lined with places to eat, including several run by Rick Stein. Fresh crab, a pasty and an ice cream cover most family needs. For more options, see our best pubs and restaurants in Cornwall.
Day 2: Bedruthan Steps, Newquay and Fistral
Give day two to the beaches. Start at Bedruthan Steps, a dramatic run of coast where sea stacks rise off a wide sandy beach, managed by the National Trust with a clifftop cafe. The beach steps are steep and the beach floods at high tide, so check tides and take care with little ones. The clifftop walk alone is worth the trip.
Then head into Newquay, Cornwall's surf capital, about 20 minutes south. Fistral Beach is the headline: a proper Atlantic surf beach with lifeguards, board hire and surf schools for all ages. If the surf is too wild for small children, Newquay's Towan and Great Western beaches are more sheltered.
Day 3: the Eden Project on the way home
Break up the drive home with the Eden Project, near St Austell, which sits handily close to the A30 and A390 as you head east. The giant biomes house a rainforest and a Mediterranean garden under two huge domes, and it easily fills half a day. Adult tickets are around £40 on the gate and cheaper booked online in advance, with under-fives free and family tickets available; buy ahead to save and to guarantee entry on a busy day.
Arrive when it opens, do the biomes and gardens over three or four hours, grab lunch there, and you will be on the road home by mid-afternoon. It is a brilliant last stop that turns a dull drive into part of the trip.
How much driving is realistic?
Not much, if you plan it right, which is the point of picking one coast. Here are honest summer estimates for the short hops in each option.
| Route | Distance | Summer drive time |
|---|---|---|
| St Ives to Land's End | About 12 miles | 30 to 40 minutes |
| St Ives to Marazion (St Michael's Mount) | About 9 miles | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Padstow to Newquay | About 15 miles | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Newquay to Eden Project | About 20 miles | 35 to 50 minutes |
| Exeter to Penzance (getting there) | About 110 miles | 2.5 to 4 hours |
The long drive is always getting in and out of the county. Budget extra time on the A30 on changeover Saturdays, and never plan a tight ferry or theatre slot around a Saturday drive.
Frequently asked questions
Is two days enough for Cornwall?
Two days is enough for one small area, not the county. Pick either the far west or the north coast, base yourself in one town, and see it properly. Trying to cross Cornwall and back in a weekend just means sitting in traffic on the A30.
Where should I base myself for a Cornwall weekend?
For beaches, art and Land's End, base near St Ives or Penzance. For surf, the Camel Trail and the Eden Project, base near Padstow, Wadebridge or Newquay. Keeping every drive under about 40 minutes makes a short trip relaxing.
How bad is the traffic in Cornwall in summer?
The A30 is genuinely slow on July and August Saturdays, particularly around Bodmin and Hayle. Travel early morning or evening, avoid changeover-day afternoons, and pad every drive time you see on a map by 20 to 50 per cent in peak season.
Do I need to book campsites in advance for Cornwall?
Yes, for summer weekends. The popular coastal sites near St Ives and Padstow sell out weeks ahead, and the best pitches go first. Book early through the Cornwall campsites listings and you will have the pick of them.
Is the Eden Project worth it with kids?
Yes, and it works brilliantly as a stop on the drive home. The biomes fill three to four hours, there is plenty for children, and booking online in advance saves money over the gate price. Arrive at opening to beat the crowds.
Can you visit St Michael's Mount at any time?
No, it depends on the tide. At low tide you walk the causeway; at high tide a small boat runs across. Check the crossing times before you set off, and note the castle and gardens have their own opening days, so plan around both.
The short version
Pick one end of Cornwall, base yourself in a single town, and keep the driving short. Option A gives you St Ives, the Minack and Land's End; option B gives you Padstow, Fistral and the Eden Project on the way home. Book your pitch early, dodge the A30 at peak times, and you have a proper weekend.
Browse the Cornwall campsites or start with our guide to things to do in Cornwall.
