Exeter Airport is a small, single-terminal airport five miles from Exeter city centre and five minutes from the M5. Two things are worth knowing in advance: you cannot stop on the roads outside the terminal, so drop-off means a car park, and security still uses the clear liquids bag. This guide covers what is worth knowing before you fly from Exeter.
Getting there by car
The airport is five minutes from the M5 and five miles from the city centre, and is signposted as you approach. The postcode is EX5 2BD. If you have booked parking, use the postcode in your parking confirmation instead.
Drop-off: use a car park, not the road
Stopping is not permitted on the terminal approach roads at Exeter, so there are two places to drop off:
- Car Park P1, opposite the main terminal: £8 for up to 15 minutes, then £15 up to an hour and £20 up to four hours.
- The free option is Car Park P4, where you can stay up to 30 minutes for free. After that, it is £2 up to an hour and £5 up to four hours.
- Paying: cameras read your number plate at the entry barrier, and you pay by card at the exit barrier or at the pay stations.
- Blue Badge holders can use P1, or P2 for Arrivals 2, at a reduced rate. Validate it at the exit intercom, using the help button, or at the P2 parking office.
P4's free 30 minutes is the cheapest way to collect someone: wait there until they have their bags. If you are parking rather than being dropped off, none of this applies. Our drop-off charges guide compares Exeter with every other UK airport.
Security: the 100ml rule and the clear bag
At Exeter, liquids must still be in containers of 100ml or less, packed in one clear, resealable bag of up to a litre. Take the bag and any large electrical items, such as laptops, out of your hand luggage for screening. Exeter says the rules will change once its new screening equipment is in place, so check the airport's website before you pack.
Other airports have moved on: some now let you keep liquids up to 2 litres in your bag. Pack the bag for home for the rules at the airport you fly back from.
How early to arrive
Exeter does not publish a single arrival time, so go by your airline's check-in and bag-drop times, on your booking. The car parks are close to the terminal, so the walk adds only a few minutes.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists the Exeter parking we sell, along with hotels that include parking. When we compared prices for an eight-day trip booked about three months ahead, Flyparks Park and Fly, a short walk from the terminal, was around £109.
Prices move with the dates, so compare them for your trip. Book the flexible rate if your dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounge and hotels
Exeter's Executive Lounge can be pre-booked, with entry up to three hours before your flight. Children under 12 are not admitted, so it is one for adults travelling on their own. Compare it on our Exeter lounges page.
For a very early flight, there are several hotels nearby, including the Holiday Inn Express Exeter East and the Premier Inn Exeter M5 J29. Search Exeter hotels.
Getting there by bus and train
- Bus: Stagecoach runs the 4A between the airport and Exeter St Davids station, and the 43 between the airport and Pinhoe station. Services are limited on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
- Train: there is no station at the airport. Exeter St Davids, about seven miles away, connects to Great Western Railway services; take the 4A or a taxi from there.
- Taxi: only the airport's official taxi company can use the Arrivals taxi stand, and journeys with it are booked by phone or at the taxi desk. Other firms can drop off and pick up pre-booked passengers in Car Park 1.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drop someone off outside Exeter Airport?
No. Stopping is not permitted on the terminal approach roads. Use Car Park P1, opposite the terminal, from £8 for up to 15 minutes, or Car Park P4, which is free for up to 30 minutes.
Is there free drop-off at Exeter Airport?
Yes, in Car Park P4, free for up to 30 minutes. After that, it is £2 up to an hour.
Do I need a clear bag for liquids at Exeter?
Yes. Liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less, in one clear, resealable bag of up to a litre, taken out of your hand luggage for screening along with laptops and other large electrical items.
Is there a bus to Exeter Airport?
Yes. Stagecoach's 4A runs to Exeter St Davids station and the 43 to Pinhoe station, with a limited service at weekends and on bank holidays.
Sorted before you fly.
