How to Plan the Ultimate Ireland Road Trip

Emily Zemler | September 12, 2022

The charming, historic nooks and crannies of Ireland are best explored by car, a method of travel that allows for a customized itinerary and spur-of-the-moment detours. Whether you’re looking to uncover the neighborhoods of cities like Dublin and Cork — or planning to head off the beaten path — road-tripping around Ireland is a great way to discover the European country’s most scenic destinations.

While a majority of travelers kick things off in Dublin thanks to the international airport and plethora of rental cars, smaller cities like Cork, Killarney, and Galway can make great starting points, too. (Killarney, in particular, is a popular first stop for those heading to destinations like the Dingle Peninsula or the famed Ring of Kerry.

Planning a road trip to Ireland, which boasts many natural and historic landmarks — often in remote locales — can be daunting. If a jaunt around Ireland is on your bucket list, here are a few things to consider when planning and embarking on the journey.

Create an itinerary — but be flexible

Having a plan is essential for a road trip in Ireland because you need to know where you’ll begin and end the drive, as well as how long you’ll have in between. As such, pick your starting point based on where you want to go. For instance, if Skellig Michael is a must-do, begin in Killarney or Cork and expand your stops from there.

Additionally, although Ireland is not a massive country, there are a lot of winding roads, especially once you head out of the city centers. Plan accordingly by giving yourself more time to drive between stops. Five to seven days is a good amount of time for an Ireland road trip, though you can also opt for longer, especially if you're planning to stay in certain destinations for several days. Once on the road, though, don’t get too attached to the initial itinerary: You never know what you might come across while driving.