Our beloved Cornish harbour town has narrow medieval streets, limited parking and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year. The good news? There are genuinely excellent alternatives to driving in — and if you use them, your visit will be far more enjoyable.
Park at St Erth Station (TR27 6JW) — over 500 spaces, open 24 hours, EV charging available — and ride the spectacular St Ives Bay Line. The 10–15 minute train journey hugs the coast past Carbis Bay and Porthminster Beach. It’s one of the most scenic rail routes in England, and it costs just £4 for an adult day return. Your blood pressure will thank you!
The star of the show. Park at St Erth Station and take the famous St Ives Bay Line — a breathtaking coastal journey stopping at Carbis Bay, Lelant and Porthminster before arriving in St Ives. Trains run roughly every 30 minutes all year round, seven days a week.
St Ives’ largest car park sits at the top of the hill above town. A shuttle bus links it to Royal Square in the town centre, running until around 11pm in summer — so you can stay for the evening too.
Drive here first — don’t try town centre
Park at Porthrepta in Carbis Bay and either take the short train from Carbis Bay station into St Ives, or enjoy the scenic 15-minute coastal walk along the South West Coast Path.
Great for coastal walkers
A brilliant community option — all proceeds support the local rugby club. The site is about a mile from town with a seasonal shuttle bus running every 10–15 minutes during peak months, dropping off outside the Tate Gallery at Porthmeor Beach.
Best budget option in town
If you do drive into St Ives, here are all the key car parks. Most are run by Cornwall Council and use the JustPark app. A weekly Rover ticket (£60) covers most long-stay sites — ideal for a full holiday week.
Overlooks gorgeous Porthminster Beach. Open 24 hours all year. A flat 5–10 minute stroll takes you into the centre of town — one of the most convenient options for able-bodied visitors.
Sits right next to Tate St Ives — perfect if a gallery visit is on the agenda. Has steep steps leading down to the gallery. Slightly pricier than other options but you can’t beat the location for art lovers.
A 10-minute walk from the harbour. Note: the direction of travel on Park Avenue has been reversed as part of the new traffic trial — access is now from Albert Road, not from The Stennack.
One of the most scenic car parks anywhere — overlooking Porthmeor Beach. Only 30 spaces and a 3-hour limit, so arrival time matters. Worth trying early on a summer morning for the views alone.
About a mile out of town on Penbeagle Industrial Estate. CCTV and keypad access. Must be reserved in advance. A good option for those on longer stays who want peace of mind.
From 17 November 2025, St Ives began a major 12-month traffic trial funded by the £5.5m St Ives Town Deal Low Carbon Transport Strategy. If you’re driving, the routes you may have used before have changed significantly.
Tregenna Hill — CLOSED inbound: General vehicles can no longer drive northbound down Tregenna Hill from The Terrace or Malakoff to enter town. Only buses, cyclists and emergency services (including RNLI on active call) are permitted inbound on this route. You can still drive up Tregenna Hill to leave town.
Albert Road — now one-way inbound: If arriving from the Carbis Bay / Trelyon Avenue direction, when you reach the junction by the Harbour Hotel you must turn left onto Albert Road (now one-way). This takes you past Trenwith Car Park and up towards Higher Stennack.
Park Avenue — direction reversed: The one-way direction on Park Avenue has been flipped. You can no longer enter Park Avenue car park from The Stennack. Access is now from Albert Road only, heading towards Bullans Lane and the surgery.
Dove Street — entry restriction at western end: A new entry restriction has been introduced at the Western Hotel end of Dove Street. You must now use Gabriel Street, turn onto Tregenna Hill and immediately right to access Dove Street. No right turn permitted onto Tregenna Place from Bedford Road.
Leaving St Ives: You have two exit options — right at Market Place via St Andrews Street and Skidden Hill towards Carbis Bay/Lelant; or down Lifeboat Hill and along The Wharf following the one-way system out to rejoin The Stennack and leave via the B3311.
Holiday accommodation access: If you have booked a rental property in the town centre, you are permitted to drive through any pedestrian and cycle zones to access, pick up or drop off — but please be considerate of pedestrians at busy times.
This is an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) — a legal trial that can be modified during the 12-month period based on community feedback. New signs are installed at all key junctions. If in doubt, follow signs on the ground. For the latest updates visit stivestowncouncil-cornwall.gov.uk
