🇬🇧 Same-country drive · United Kingdom
Driving from Plymouth to Kingston upon Hull
A practical driving guide for the long-haul transit from Plymouth in the South West to Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, covering main motorway connections.
- Drive time
- 6h 14m
- Distance
- 548 km
- Same day?
- Yes, doable
- under 8 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €69
- petrol · diesel ≈ €57
- Tolls
- Toll-free
- no charges en route
- EV charging
- Unknown
- not yet surveyed
On this page
Route map
Route options
Other paths OSRM found between the two cities — handy when traffic, tolls, or scenery matter more than raw speed.
Avoids motorways
+1h 17m- Distance:
- 541 km (−8 km)
- Duration:
- 7h 31m
Via: A46 · A429 · A38 · A30
How else can you make this trip?
Driving is the focus of this guide; here's how cycling, coach, and (soon) train and plane stack up for the same pair.
6h 14m
548 km · €69 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
548 km is far beyond a typical multi-day cycle tour. Try a shorter pair like a day or weekend stage.
No direct service
Our coach data (FlixBus + BlaBlaCar) doesn't list a direct service for this pair. National operators (e.g., National Express in the UK, Eurolines feeders) may still cover it — check their site directly.
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on May 1, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You start by feeding onto the A38 from Plymouth, navigating the rolling terrain of Devon before the road widens into the M5 near Exeter. This first stretch demands vigilance; the transition from narrow, hedge-lined A-roads to the high-speed motorway can be jarring, especially when the coastal winds buffet your vehicle as you climb toward the Mendip Hills. Once you pass Bristol, the traffic density increases significantly, so expect the flow to become much more stop-start as you approach the M42 interchange near Birmingham.
The drive pivots at the M42, which acts as a busy orbital bypass through the industrial heart of the Midlands. You will need to keep a keen eye on the overhead gantries for variable speed limits, which are strictly enforced and frequently active during peak hours. By the time you switch onto the M1 heading north, the landscape begins to flatten into the agricultural plains of the East Midlands, providing a consistent, albeit monotonous, stretch of dual-carriageway that runs all the way toward the Sheffield turn-offs.
The final leg involves exiting the M1 for the M18, which carries you east toward the Humber Estuary. This segment feels markedly different as you approach Yorkshire; the urban congestion of the south dissipates, replaced by the expansive, open skies of the Humber basin. Watch for the sudden shift in wind resistance as you approach the flatlands surrounding the river, particularly if you are towing or driving a high-sided vehicle. By the time you reach the final approach into Hull, the route is straightforward, leading you directly into the historic port city.
Route highlights
- The transition from the hilly A38 to the fast-paced M5
- The M42 motorway corridor through the West Midlands
- The flat, expansive scenery of the Humber Estuary on the final approach
- The historic port architecture and Old Town area upon arriving in Hull
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Long day — start early
Doable in one day but it is a full day behind the wheel. Start before 9am, plan one proper lunch stop, keep the driver rested.
- Distance:
- 548 km
- Duration:
- 6h 14m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Taunton 🇬🇧 gb
≈110 km≈ 12.5 km detour from the main route
-
Dursley 🇬🇧 gb
≈219 km≈ 4.3 km detour from the main route
-
Knowle 🇬🇧 gb
≈329 km≈ 2.9 km detour from the main route
-
Staveley 🇬🇧 gb
≈439 km≈ 4.2 km detour from the main route
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
Borders & documents
EU drivers don't need an International Driving Permit
TipA common piece of post-Brexit confusion: EU and UK driving licences are still mutually recognised for short visits. You don't need an IDP for a holiday or business trip. You also no longer need a Green Card — the UK rejoined the unified motor-insurance system in 2021. Bring your registration document and insurance certificate.
What your car must carry
Headlight deflectors required for continental cars
Must knowContinental left-hand-drive headlight beams cut up-and-right — point them straight at oncoming British traffic at night. €15 stick-on deflectors in the right pattern fix this. Many newer cars have a software "tourist mode" in the headlight menu instead. Without one, you'll dazzle every car you pass after dark and risk an MOT-style stop.
Driving rules & habits
Drive on the left — give yourself a buffer day
Must knowSwitching sides isn't the danger people imagine for the first hour — it's the moment you're tired in week 2 and pull into a quiet petrol station. Park, then think. Roundabouts go clockwise; entering one feels backwards. The first 30 minutes after the ferry/Eurotunnel are the highest-risk: take a coffee at a service area before joining the M20.
Fuel stations
Contactless cards work at virtually every motorway pump
TipMajor brand stations (Shell, Total, BP, Repsol, Cepsa, OMV, Eni, Esso) take Visa and Mastercard contactless without an issue. American Express and Diners are spotty south of the Alps. A €100 pre-authorisation hold is normal — it releases within 5 days. Carry €50 cash for the rare independent station.
Money & connectivity
Fuel sold in litres but priced in pence
UsefulPumps quote pence per litre (e.g., 145.9p). Multiply by 100 then divide by 100 to get £/L. Card payments at the pump are universal. Most stations are pay-after-fill — you fuel first, then walk inside. Contactless on a foreign card works almost everywhere; American Express is sometimes refused at smaller stations.
Emergency & breakdown
112 works everywhere in the EU and continental neighbours
TipSingle number for police, ambulance, fire — works from any phone, any network, any country. On motorways, the orange SOS pillars every 2km connect direct to the regional traffic control centre and pinpoint your location. Use them over your phone if you can — it speeds the response.
Rules, fees, and thresholds change. Always verify against the official source the day before you drive — this page is a checklist, not a legal reference.
Main roads
The highways this route spends the most kilometres on.
-
M5 —234 km
-
M1 —68 km
-
M42 —64 km
-
A38 Devon Expressway57 km
-
M18 —45 km
-
M62 —36 km
-
A42 —22 km
-
A63 Clive Sullivan Way7 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 99%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 1%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Moderate
Manageable but pay attention — long enough that a second driver or a planned lunch break is smart.
- Long drive: 6h 14m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €69
41.1 L × €1.68 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €57
32.9 L × €1.72 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €82
96 kWh × €0.85 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Prices last refreshed 2026-04-01.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇬🇧 Plymouth
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9°
4°
|
10°
6°
|
11°
6°
|
13°
8°
|
17°
10°
|
19°
13°
|
19°
14°
|
20°
14°
|
18°
13°
|
15°
11°
|
12°
8°
|
11°
7°
|
| 162mm | 129mm | 160mm | 106mm | 75mm | 63mm | 117mm | 106mm | 132mm | 165mm | 170mm | 179mm |
hot mild cold
🇬🇧 Kingston upon Hull
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7°
2°
|
9°
4°
|
11°
4°
|
13°
5°
|
17°
9°
|
20°
12°
|
21°
13°
|
21°
13°
|
19°
11°
|
15°
8°
|
10°
5°
|
9°
5°
|
| 67mm | 50mm | 58mm | 65mm | 54mm | 52mm | 96mm | 55mm | 77mm | 99mm | 84mm | 88mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Kingston upon Hull
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
🌧️
12° / 7°
18.7mm
-
Wed 13
🌧️
10° / 5°
55.3mm
-
Thu 14
🌧️
11° / 4°
50.2mm
-
Fri 15
🌧️
11° / 6°
2.1mm
-
Sat 16
🌧️
11° / 4°
3mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 26 manoeuvres
- —
- Royal Parade
- Exeter Street
- Exeter Street (A374) 0.1 km
- Gdynia Way (A374) 0.1 km
- (A38) 0.2 km
- (A38)
- Devon Expressway (A38) 54 km
- Devon Expressway (A38) 3 km
- (M5) 121 km
- (M5) 113 km
- (M42) 19 km
- (M42) 1 km
- (M42) 22 km
- (M42) 23 km
- (A42) 22 km
- (M1) 68 km
- (M18) 43 km
- (M18) 2 km
- (M62) 36 km
- Clive Sullivan Way (A63) 7 km
- Clive Sullivan Way
- Clive Sullivan Way (A63) 2 km
- — 0.8 km
- Castle Street (A63) 0.2 km
- Guildhall Road
Frequently asked
Is this a toll route?
No, there are no tolls on the motorway network between Plymouth and Hull.
What is the standard speed limit for cars on this route?
The national speed limit on motorways is 70 mph, though you must adhere to any reduced limits posted on electronic gantries during heavy traffic.
Are there frequent places to stop for fuel and food?
The M5 and M1 are well-served by large motorway service areas every 20 to 30 miles, making it easy to refuel without leaving the main route.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, Open-Meteo for monthly climate normals, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.