Ireland
The best road trips in Ireland: routes, days and tips
Pick one coast, not the whole island. First trip: the Wild Atlantic Way from Galway through Clare to Kerry, 7–10 days, car from Galway. Choose the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula if you have only 3–4 days in the south-west. Skip the full coastal loop in under a week.
- Source checked
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- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideIreland
Key facts
- Best first road trip
- Galway → Clare → Kerry, 7–10 days, car picked up in Galway
- Shortest worthwhile drive
- Ring of Kerry or Slea Head (Dingle), 1 full day each
- Best months
- May–Jun and Sep: long light, fewer crowds than Jul–Aug
- Drive side
- Left; distances look short but roads are slow
- Realistic pace
- 150–200 km per driving day on the west coast
- Car pickup
- Dublin or Shannon; one-way drop usually costs extra
- Tolls
- M50 near Dublin and a few motorway barriers; most take card or coins
- Ferry shortcut
- Tarbert–Killimer across the Shannon saves about an hour Clare to Kerry
Our top picks
Ranked for a first or second trip to Ireland. Each entry gives the route, the days it needs and who it suits. Where a route has its own page on this site, the link is in the table; the rest are covered by the county and town guides below.
If you have a week or less, do one of the first three. The longer routes only make sense with 10 days or more, because Irish roads are slower than the map suggests.
- Best for a first trip: Wild Atlantic Way, Galway to Kerry.
- Best if you have one free day: Ring of Kerry or Slea Head.
- Best for quiet roads: Donegal.
- Best from Dublin without a long transfer: Wicklow Mountains.
| Route | Days | Why it earns a place | Best time | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Atlantic Way: Galway → Clare → Kerry | 7–10 | The core west-coast drive: Connemara, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle and the Ring of Kerry in one line | May–Jun, Sep | Wild Atlantic Way |
| Ring of Kerry (Iveragh Peninsula) | 1–2 | The classic loop from Killarney; mountains, coast and villages | May–Jun, Sep | Ring of Kerry |
| Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head | 1–2 | Tighter, steeper and less bus-heavy than the Ring; Slea Head drive and Gaeltacht villages | May–Sep | Dingle |
| Connemara loop from Galway | 1–2 | Bog, mountains, Kylemore Abbey and quiet roads west of Galway | May–Sep | Galway guide |
| Donegal: Sliabh Liag and the north-west | 2–3 | Sea cliffs, empty beaches and the far north-west, far from the Dublin crowds | May–Sep | County Donegal |
| Causeway Coast and Donegal (cross-border) | 4–6 | Belfast, the Giant's Causeway, then west into Donegal; needs a UK ETA or visa for some travellers | May–Sep | Northwest Ireland and Lakelands |
| Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough from Dublin | 1 | The easiest day drive out of Dublin: mountain road, lakes and a monastic site | Apr–Oct | Glendalough |
| Cork and West Cork: Kinsale to Bantry | 2–3 | Harbour towns, food and the south coast; pairs with Kerry or stands alone | Apr–Oct | Cork guide |
| Southeast: Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny | 2–3 | Beaches, a Viking city and a medieval town, with the shortest drives of any route here | Apr–Oct | things to do in Kilkenny |
Days are the minimum that does the route justice; treat them as planning figures (check). Fuel, toll and ferry costs are not included here — prices change, so budget from current pump and toll rates (check).
How we chose
We ranked routes on four things: how much of the drive is the point (coast, mountains, cliffs rather than motorway), how well the route works as a line rather than an out-and-back, how many nights the stops deserve, and whether the roads are manageable for a driver new to the left-hand side.
We left out routes that only work as a loop of the whole island. Driving Dublin → Belfast → Donegal → Galway → Kerry → Cork → Dublin is a 14-day trip at minimum, and most visitors who try it in a week spend their holiday in the car. We also left out drives that are really a single stop with a car park, such as Newgrange or the Cliffs of Moher on their own; those belong in a day-trip plan, not a road trip.
Distances and drive times are estimates from road maps and should be treated as planning figures. Petrol and diesel prices, tolls and ferry fares change; check current rates before you book.
When to go
May, June and September are the sweet spot: daylight runs late into the evening and the roads are quieter than in July and August. July and August bring the most traffic, especially on the Ring of Kerry and around Killarney, and the highest accommodation prices (check).
Winter driving on the west coast means short days and wind and rain; some small attractions and ferries close for the season, so check opening dates before you commit to a winter route (check). St Patrick's Day and the August bank holiday weekend fill towns; book ahead for those dates.
| Period | Traffic | Daylight | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr–Jun | Moderate (check) | Long | Best all-round window |
| Jul–Aug | Heaviest (check) | Longest | Book everything ahead; start drives early |
| Sep–Oct | Moderate (check) | Shorter but still good | Strong second choice |
| Nov–Mar | Light (check) | Short | Short hops only; check seasonal closures |
Getting there
Most trips start at Dublin Airport (DUB) or Shannon. Dublin has the widest choice of flights (check) and the easiest car rental, but it is a 2.5–3.5 hour drive to Galway (check). Shannon puts you closer to Clare, Galway and Kerry, which is why the parent country plan suggests flying into Dublin and out of Shannon to avoid doubling back.
Trains and buses cover Dublin–Galway, Dublin–Cork and Dublin–Kilkenny (check), so you can travel car-free for the first days and pick up a rental in Galway or Cork. If you rent in Dublin and drop in Shannon or Cork, expect a one-way fee. Tell the rental company if you plan to cross into Northern Ireland; not every policy allows it.
- Fly into Dublin (DUB) for the widest flight choice (check); out of Shannon or Cork to avoid backtracking.
- Pick up the car in Galway or Cork if you want car-free city days first.
- One-way rentals usually carry an extra fee.
- Northern Ireland crossings need to be declared to the rental company; some travellers also need a UK ETA or visa.
Map
Approximate start and end points for the main routes. Coordinates are approximate and mark the town, not a car park.
| Place | Route | Coordinates (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Galway | Start of the west-coast drive | 53.2707, -9.0568 |
| Doolin | Clare coast, Cliffs of Moher | 53.0140, -9.3860 |
| Dingle | Slea Head drive | 52.1409, -10.2683 |
| Killarney | Ring of Kerry start | 52.0599, -9.5044 |
| Kenmare | Ring of Kerry south side | 51.8800, -9.5830 |
| Cork | South coast end | 51.8985, -8.4756 |
| Donegal Town | North-west base | 54.6540, -8.1100 |
| Glendalough | Wicklow day drive | 53.0110, -6.3270 |
Questions people ask
What are the best road trips in Ireland?
The Wild Atlantic Way from Galway through Clare to Kerry is the best first road trip, 7–10 days. With less time, drive the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula. Donegal suits travellers who want quiet roads, and the Wicklow Mountains are the easiest day drive from Dublin.
When is the best time to go in Ireland?
May, June and September: long daylight, moderate traffic and the best chance of dry weather (check). July and August are busiest and priciest, especially around Killarney. November to March means short days and some seasonal closures, so keep drives short.
How many days do I need in Ireland?
Seven days covers Dublin plus one coast, for example Galway, Clare and Kerry. Ten days adds Dingle and Cork without rushing. Two weeks allows Donegal or Northern Ireland as well. Under a week, pick one region and stay two nights in each place.
Do I need a car in Ireland?
A car is useful for the west and south-west coastal routes, where stops are spread out and buses are thin (check). Trains and buses link Dublin, Galway, Cork and Kilkenny well, so you can start car-free and rent in Galway or Cork. Cities are easier on foot.
Is driving in Ireland difficult?
You drive on the left, and many west-coast roads are narrow and slow. Distances look short on the map but take longer than expected. Allow 150–200 km per driving day (check) and avoid night driving on rural roads.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTourism Ireland
- officialWild Atlantic Way
- officialTransport Infrastructure Ireland – tolls
- secondaryWikivoyage – Ireland