St Ives Park and Ride: St Erth Prices, Trains, Worth It?

Short answer: Yes, in summer it usually is. Park at St Erth station, not Lelant Saltings, for £5.80 a day from April to September and take the branch-line train into St Ives; the fare is extra. In winter parking is £5.50 on weekdays and £3 at weekends, and the town's own car parks are often cheaper.

If you've read an older guide telling you to use the park and ride at Lelant Saltings, it's out of date. The park and ride moved to St Erth station in 2019, when the new car parks and transport hub opened there. Lelant Saltings still has a station, but with only a limited train service, and its car park is now an ordinary council pay-and-display. St Erth is the one to use.

How the St Ives park and ride works

Drive to St Erth station (TR27 6JW), just off the A30 by Hayle, park, and catch the branch-line train along the edge of St Ives Bay into St Ives station, a few minutes' walk from the harbour and Porthminster Beach. The line runs past Carbis Bay and Lelant with views most people would happily pay for. There's no bus transfer: it's the train all the way.

How much is parking at St Erth?

• Summer (1 April to 30 September): £5.80 a day.
• Winter (1 October to 31 March): £5.50 a day Monday to Friday, £3.00 at weekends.
• Two car parks: North (98 spaces) and South (422 spaces), both run by APCOA. Pay with the APCOA Connect app (location 2161 for North, 3160 for South) or ScanPay; the South car park is cashless.

The train fare is on top. Check the day's last train back before you settle into a long dinner, especially out of season.

Is it worth it, or should you drive into St Ives?

In summer, yes, almost always. St Ives' streets were built long before cars, the central car parks are small, and the drive in on a busy day is stressful for anyone who doesn't know the town. Parking at St Erth also means you arrive by the prettiest short train ride in Cornwall.

Out of season the maths is closer. On a quiet winter weekday, the council car parks in town are cheaper and easier:

• Island car park (for Porthgwidden and the Island, 129 spaces): summer £2.50 for 1 hour up to £11.50 for 24 hours; winter £1.30 to £7.00. Card or app.
• Station car park (for Porthminster, 106 spaces): same charges as the Island.
• Porthmeor car park (30 spaces, 3 hours maximum): summer £2.50 an hour; winter £1.30.

Most Cornwall Council car parks stopped taking cash on 1 August 2026, so bring a card or have the JustPark app ready.

Who it doesn't suit

If you're carrying a lot of beach kit, travelling with someone who struggles with steps, or arriving late in the evening when trains are sparse, driving in and using the Station car park can be simpler. For step-free options, see our flat-access guide to St Ives.

St Ives park and ride at a glance

• Park at St Erth station, not Lelant Saltings
• £5.80 a day in summer; £5.50 weekdays and £3 weekends in winter
• Branch-line train into St Ives; check the last train back
• In winter, the town's own car parks are often the cheaper choice

More: St Ives parking guide · first time in St Ives.

Car park charges from APCOA (June 2026) and Cornwall Council (August 2026). They change, so check the machine or app on the day.