Train and bus, driving and parking, a lift from a friend or a taxi to the door: how each way from Barnstaple to Exeter Airport works, what catches people out, and which suits an early flight.
Exeter is North Devon's nearest airport, and there are four realistic ways to get there from Barnstaple: train and bus, driving and parking, a lift from someone, or a taxi to the terminal door. All of them work. They just suit different flights, and the early-morning departures are where the differences really show.
The short answer
| Option | Barnstaple to the terminal | Early flights? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train and bus | Often 2½ hours or more, with a change in Exeter | Rarely | Midday flights, light luggage, travelling alone |
| Drive and park | About an hour, plus parking | Yes | Short trips, while the parking bill stays small |
| Lift from a friend | About an hour each way, twice | Yes, if they are willing | Anyone with a very generous friend |
| Taxi | About an hour, door to door | Yes | Early departures, families, groups and heavy luggage |
By train and bus
The Tarka Line runs from Barnstaple to Exeter, roughly hourly for most of the day, and takes a little over an hour. There is no railway to the airport itself, so the last part of the trip is a bus from Exeter city centre out to the terminal. Check the current train and bus timetables before you rely on the connection.
It is the cheapest way to go if you are on your own, and it is perfectly comfortable for a lunchtime flight with a small case. Where it struggles:
- Early flights. The first trains of the day leave Barnstaple too late for most early-morning departures, and Sunday services start later still.
- Luggage. A change from train to bus with two big cases and children in tow is hard work.
- Coming home. A delayed evening flight can easily mean missing the last train back to North Devon.
Driving and parking
The drive takes about an hour via the North Devon Link Road (A361) and the M5. Exeter Airport sits just off the M5 to the east of the city, so you do not have to go through Exeter itself.
The airport has its own car parks, and booking a space online in advance is usually cheaper than turning up on the day. For a long weekend that can be good value. For a fortnight away the parking bill adds up quickly, so it is worth comparing against a return taxi before you book. The other cost is the drive home on the Link Road, tired, at the end of a late flight.
A lift from friends or family
No fare to pay, but it is a big favour. A drop-off and a collection is two return trips, around four hours of someone else's driving, and for a 6am flight they are setting an alarm for 3am. The airport also charges for using its drop-off area, and collecting usually means paying for the short-stay car park. Check the current charges on the airport's website.
A taxi to the terminal
A taxi takes about an hour, door to door, with no change of transport and nothing to park. With us, the fare is agreed when you book and stays the same however the traffic turns out. For your return we watch the flight, so a delayed landing does not leave you stranded or cost you more.
It is also the option that gets better value the more of you there are. One fixed fare covers the whole car, and our 8 seater vehicles take a family or group with all their luggage, so it is worth comparing against four or five sets of train and bus tickets.
Booking an early flight? Book a few days ahead. Pickups between 3am and 5am are the slots that fill first, especially during school holidays.
When to leave Barnstaple
Most airlines ask you to be at the airport about two hours before an international departure. Check yours, as it varies. Allow about an hour for the drive and a little margin on top, and you get roughly three and a quarter hours before take-off:
- 7:00am flight: leave Barnstaple at about 3:45am
- 10:30am flight: leave at about 7:15am
- 2:00pm flight: leave at about 10:45am
On summer Saturdays, add more. The M5 carries a lot of holiday traffic on changeover days.
Booking your airport taxi
To give you a firm quote and the right car, we need:
- Your flight number and departure time
- Your pickup address
- How many passengers, and how many bags (mention golf clubs, ski bags or pushchairs)
- Whether you are travelling with young children
- Your return flight, if you would like us to collect you
You can book online in about a minute, or call us. There is more detail on our Exeter Airport transfers page, and we cover Bristol, Heathrow and Gatwick too. If you are wondering how the price is worked out, see how our fares work.
