Dawlish is situated on the South East coast of Devon 10 miles (half way) between Exeter and Torquay. The town has good transport links whether by air, rail or road.

By Car
The M5 connects Devon with the rest of the country starting at Birmingham, meeting the M4 at Bristol for routes from London and Wales and then carries on to Exeter. Leave the motorway at junction 30 and follow the signs for Dawlish along A379 (10 miles).

We have a large Park and Ride facility for the event. It costs only £7 that covers the car parking AS WELL AS unlimited use of the Park and Ride shuttle to the central display area for up to 8 people all day from 9am to 10.30pm. Mini buses up to 17 people can park for £15 and coaches also for £15 once they have offloaded their passengers in the town centre.

By Train
If you are visiting or know people visiting from outside the town the easiest way for them into Dawlish is by public transport. Virgin Trains and First Great Western provides regular services in and out of the town until 1130pm. 

If travelling by train PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY. It will take you only 20 minutes to get to Dawlish from Exeter or Newton Abbot and the station is just 25 yards from the display line. In fact the railway runs the length of the display line.

By Air
Exeter International Airport is situated just 12 miles North of the resort has regular flight from most UK airports as well as Western Europe. The main operator is Flybe. you can get more information on Exeter International here. 

You can also get flights to Exeter from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

By Bus
National Express run regular services through Exeter with buses stopping in Dawlish daily from a number of locations. Stagecoach Devon's route numbers 85A and 85 both run through Dawlish and Dawlish Warren every 15 minutes during peak times (1000 to 1800) otherwise half hourly.

There are also various tour operators running coaches to the event. Passengers can be dropped in the town centre. Coaches can Park at the event Park and Ride for £15.

Road Closures

• The procession route (covering all town centre street parking, including Barton Villas) will be coned on early Thursday
  morning. 

• There will be no street parking and ALL town centre car parks will be full by 9am. 

• Please do not invade residential areas, use the carnival park and ride facility, sponsored by Dawlish Coaches. 

• Located on Warren Road and well signed the facility has lots of room and we have 5 buses on shuttle service. 

• With thanks to Richard Weeks the facility also has access to the coast path with a perfect viewpoint of the airshow
  display line. 

• It is well signposted and is open from 0830 until 2300.

• Buses at the Car Park will run from 9.30am through to 10.30pm (except during the procession- 7pm - 9pm) on shuttle basis.

Important Information
With thousands of people visiting the town for carnival week the road network in and around Dawlish will obviously be affected. The worst day traffic-wise is the pinnacle of the event: Carnival Day. There is an estimated 55,000 people spread across Dawlish and Dawlish Warren watching the day’s events with many more passing through the town. We have produced some guidelines below to help ease the traffic problem and create a safer and more enjoyable event. 

If you are driving through the town on carnival day please drive slowly as the volume of people on the sea front will result in people over spilling into the road at times.

The Sea Front will be closed temporarily for 20 mins following the airshow while people leave. From 6.30pm on Thursday all town centre roads will be closed as the procession makes its way along the route. Traffic Marshals will control the route, please follow all instructions given otherwise the procession may be delayed, spoiling the fun for all.

If you are entering the procession the line up area is manned from 5pm but floats can be left there earlier if you plan to watch the airshow.