Exeter Airport (EXT) serves the city of Exeter and the wider county of Devon in England's South West, and a rental car is the most practical way to reach the region's varied landscape, from wild moorland to a long, scenic coastline. The airport sits a short distance east of Exeter city center, with rental counters operated by international and local companies inside the terminal, and pickup is generally straightforward given the airport's manageable regional scale.
From EXT, Dartmoor National Park's open moorland and granite tors lie roughly thirty to forty-five minutes to the west, a landscape of narrow lanes, grazing ponies and sweeping views that rewards slow, careful driving rather than a quick pass-through. Along the coast, the South West Coast Path towns and beaches, including the Jurassic Coast heading east and the fishing villages of South Devon heading south, are generally within thirty minutes to an hour of the airport depending on the exact destination.
Driving is on the left throughout Great Britain, and Devon's main roads, including the A38 and A30, are generally well maintained dual carriageways, while the smaller lanes into Dartmoor and along the coast narrow considerably, often down to single-track roads with passing places in the more rural stretches. These narrow lanes demand a slower pace and a willingness to reverse to a passing point when meeting oncoming traffic, something worth expecting rather than being surprised by on a first visit.
Fuel stations are frequent around Exeter and along the main routes but thin out on Dartmoor itself and in the smaller coastal villages, so it is worth topping up before heading into the moor or along quieter coastal roads. Summer months bring considerably heavier traffic to Devon's coastal towns and Dartmoor's popular viewpoints, so allowing extra time and expecting fuller car parks is a sensible precaution for any warm-weather visit to this well-loved corner of South West England.