Best Road Trip Routes in Ireland

While America is traditionally seen as the ultimate location for a road trip, there are other parts of the world that can be well explored and discovered by car. Ireland is a land full of natural beauty, a lovely little island packed full of hidden gems and secret wonders that go unnoticed by visitors that come to Ireland every year and never leave Dublin.

Taking a road trip through Ireland can be an excellent way to see the Emerald Isle in all its glory. Depending how long the trip is, you can hypothetically see all of Ireland in a single vacation. Compared to the vastness of America, Ireland is considerably smaller but has so much to offer anyone visiting, especially when it comes to the coastlines and diverse scenery. Here are the best ways to explore Ireland on a road trip and the best things to see along the way.

Renting a car in Ireland for your epic road trip adventure? Click to read our Short Guide to Renting A Car in Ireland.

Ready to plan your own road trip through Ireland? Check Auto Europe for competitive rates.

Republic of Ireland – Dublin to Portlaoise via the Wicklow Mountains

This route offers a mix of rustic delights and modern comforts. Starting in Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland renowned for its Guinness, you can spend a few days in one of Ireland’s most famous cities. Once you’re done there, you travel through the wilderness of the Wicklow Mountains, which will take you past villages and towns that you can stop off at whenever you like. Then, you arrive at Portlaoise, also known as Port Laoise, which is located in Ireland’s midlands. It’s a vibrant and delightful town that makes for an excellent final destination.

The journey is filled with incredible natural sights, along with many medieval buildings that are still standing. When you are not driving, be sure to plan a full day to hike in the natural beauty of the Wicklow Mountains. The trails are groomed, well marked and will take you straight through the most beautiful parts of the park. With all of that, there is now wonder why this is one of the best road trip routes in Ireland.

Read about us Finding Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland.

Driving distance from Dublin to Portlaoise via the Wicklow Mountains is 93 miles. From Dublin to the Sally Gap Ireland to Wicklow Mountains National Park to Portlaoise. The roads are typical roads in Ireland, two-lane roads that are slow moving.

Recommended Hotels or B&B’s in Portlaoise, Ireland:

• Tall Trees B&B *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Maher’s B&B *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• The Gandon Inn ****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

Read reviews and check prices for all hotels in Portlaoise, Ireland at TripAdvisor or AirBnB.

Recommended Hotels or BnB’s in Dublin, Ireland:

• The Merrion Hotel *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• The Marker Hotel *****Excellent Traveler Rating by Tripadvisor

• Ariel House *****Excellent Traveler Rating by Tripadvisor

   

   Read reviews and check prices for all hotels in Dublin, Ireland at TripAdvisor or AirBnB.

Northern Ireland – Belfast to Donegal via the Giant’s Causeway

The capital of Northern Ireland is worth seeing and gives you the chance to experience the North of Ireland. Belfast has an interesting history as the city where the Titanic was built during the golden age of ship building, and there are great opportunities for shopping, dining and culture. Plus, Belfast is a beautiful city that is worth just a day spent wandering around.

The Giant’s Causeway is a truly spectacular sight and a must-see for anyone visiting Ireland. Located in Antrim, it’s the result of a volcanic eruption over 60 million years ago, the Causeway is famous for the polygonal columns of layered basalt and is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Donegal borders the Atlantic Ocean and has a largely Irish-speaking population. The country is well known for its incredible beauty, from the majestic cliffs to coastal roads. Going from the urban attractions of Belfast to the rustic charms.

Read about our adventure in Ireland’s Causeway Coast- Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges & Belfast.

Driving distance from Belfast to Donegal via the Giant’s Causeway is 146 miles. From Belfast to 44 Causeway Rd to Londonderry to Donegal. The roads are typical roads in Ireland, two-lane roads that are slow moving.

Recommended Hotels or B&B’s in Belfast, Ireland:

•  Tara Lodge *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Benedicts of Belfast *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Merchant Hotel *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

Read reviews and check prices for all hotels in Belfast, Ireland at TripAdvisor or AirBnB.

Recommended Hotels or BnB’s in Donegal, Ireland:

• Harvey’s Point *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Caisleain Oir Hotel *****Excellent Traveler Rating by Tripadvisor

• Villa Rose Hotel *****Excellent Traveler Rating by Tripadvisor

  Read reviews and check prices for all hotels in Donegal, Ireland at TripAdvisor or AirBnB.

Wild Atlantic Way – Ireland’s Great Adventure

Last but not least, is the visually stunning Wild Atlantic Way. This route is Ireland’s greatest adventure and one that you shouldn’t miss if time permits. The Wild Atlantic Way is the top or the list for the best road trip routes in Ireland. The drive starts in Kinsale, in the southeastern part of the country and follows the coast all the way to the town on Londonderry, in the northwest.

It’s not a direct route to just drive either, there are plenty of side options including the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, the Connemara Peninsula and the Cliffs of Moher, to name a few. You need a solid 2 weeks to drive this route and see the highlights. 3 weeks will give you time to start and end in Dublin while driving the entire coastline of Ireland.

See our 33 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Ireland.

Driving distance of the Wild Atlantic Way is 1,600 miles. The roads are typical roads in Ireland, two-lane roads that are slow moving. We have found the best Wild Atlantic Way road map that you will need to take on The Wild Atlantic Way Route Atlas: Ireland’s Journey West 1:126,720

Recommended Hotels or B&B’s on the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland. The hotels are in order per stop, so you can take this list and know where to stay along the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland.

• Stanley House Bed and Breakfast (Located in Schull, West Cork) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• The Moorings (Located in County Kerry) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Dingle Benners Hotel *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Broigin Farmhouse (Located in County Clare) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Dolphin Beach House (Located near the town of Clifden) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• G Hotel & Spa Galway (Located in the city of Galway) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

• Pier House Guest House (Located on the Aran Islands) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

   
• Westport Plaza Hotel (Located in the town of Westport in County Mayo) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor
   
• Lough Eske Castle, a Solis Hotel & Spa *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor
   
•  Arnolds Hotel (Located in the town of Dunfanaghy) *****Excellent Traveler Rating by TripAdvisor

Read reviews and check prices for all hotels in Ireland at TripAdvisor or AirBnB.

Planning Your Ireland Road Trip

No matter where you decide to go and what you decide to see, it’s important that you make sure everything is prepared before embarking on your road trip.

Make sure that you’ve planned your routes out carefully and that you know how long it will take you to get to each destination. Make arrangements for fuel and anything else to make sure that your days run smoothly

For example, are you going to take your car on the journey or will you rent one when you arrive? Often times people prefer to take their own car for the sake of convenience and comfort. In this case, it’s also important to ensure that you are covered in the event of an accident or breakdown.

Are you thinking of exploreing Ireland with kids? ===> Family Breaks in Ireland: Ireland with Kids Travel Guide

No matter how good a shape your car is in, there’s any number of things that could happen that could have an impact on your journey; flat tires, problems on the road, breakdowns, all of these are possibilities. Making sure that you have excellent breakdown coverage is the best way to ensure that you and your family are secure on your journey.

Ireland is a treat for the eyes and has so much to see and do, and taking a road trip is easily one of the best ways to see the country at its finest.

	Recommended Tours
Highlights of Ireland 9 Days Dublin to Belfast Small Group 10-12 People	Ireland Explorer 13 Days Belfast to Dublin Small Group 10-12 People	Discover Northern Ireland 5 Days Belfast to Dublin Small Group 10-12 People
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Resources for Planning Your Trip to Ireland

Recommended Guide Books For Ireland: Lonely Planet Ireland (Travel Guide)

• Lonely Planet Ireland’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)
• Back Roads Ireland (Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

The best road trip Map for Ireland: Ireland (National Geographic Adventure Map)

• The Wild Atlantic Way Route Atlas: Ireland’s Journey West 1:126,720

Book a Room: Read reviews and check prices for all hotels in Ireland at TripAdvisor or AirBnB.

Search for Flights: Priceline or Skyscanner offers great deals to Ireland.

Travel Insurance: We use for Allianz for travel insurance and have since our first trip to Mexico in 2003. They’ve been there for us on our adventures – and many friends and readers – multiple times over! If you want to book with Allianz Travel Insurance, simply use this link to get their travel insurance!

Car Rental: Check Auto Europe for competitive rates. We got a killer deal on our car rental through them.

Top Tours in Ireland that you need to check out: Viator’s top 10 tours in Ireland.

Gadventures Ireland Explorer 13 days, Belfast to Dublin

• Visit the Giant’s Causeway
• Guided tour of Old Bushmills Distillery
• Guided historical walking tour of Derry
• Cliffs of Moher visit
• Walk along the Wild Atlantic Way
• Ring of Kerry excursion
• Cork orientation walk
• All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Gadventures Highlights of Ireland 9 days, Dublin to Dublin

• Cliffs of Moher visit
• Walk along the Wild Atlantic Way
• Ring of Kerry excursion
• Cork orientation walk
• All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  

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