10 Day Road Trip in Ireland Itinerary: Best of the Emerald Isle
This 10 day road trip in Ireland will show you top sights and provide exciting adventures in the Emerald Isle.
You'll be able to experience lively Dublin, the craggy coastline, famous Irish filming locations, isolated island communities, neolithic burial sites, and medieval ruins.
Along the way, you'll sample some whiskey and a Guinness or two as well as a big Irish breakfast.
This itinerary has been designed for travelers who want the best of Ireland in a compact driving tour.
The timing here is great for those with full time jobs (like us!), as you could leave on a Wednesday night and return 10 days later to have to take only 7 days vacation total.
Ireland is a small country, so you'll be able to dive into the culture, Gaelic language, and history in no time.
Book your rental car, and let's start planning a trip to Ireland in 2022!
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Updated 5/2022 | Written 2/2017
Why You Should Take an Irish Road Trip
Connemara National Park, one of the best scenic drives in Ireland
When I'm planning an itinerary for a new trip, I try to include a driving portion whenever possible.
Not only is a road trip often more time-effective than relying on transportation, it can also be cost-effective since you have more flexibility in where you're staying.
Taking a road trip in Ireland allows you to get into the culture and history of this amazing country.
Unlike a bus tour or guided tour, driving around Ireland on your own is highly flexible and can be tailored to your exact interests.
Plus, you will be able to cover more ground on your own than if you were dependent on a bus full of other travelers.
We found Ireland and its people to be welcoming, friendly, and helpful, and taking a road trip allows you more to experience that and less time worrying about when your tour will be leaving at a particular site.
Roads were well signposted and generally well kept up, and we found that driving in Ireland was easy, overall.
Concerns of Americans Driving in Ireland: A Pep Talk
PIN ME!
Many U.S. travelers are worried about the prospect of renting a car in the UK since they drive on the left hand side of the road (the opposite of travel in the U.S.).
Don’t let this concern keep you from driving around Ireland!
We’ve rented multiple cars on our different UK road trips, and the left hand driving feels weird for about an hour, and then you’ll get into the groove.
Driving in Ireland Tips
Go slow until you’re feeling more comfortable, and you’ll be fine.
Driving in Ireland with an American license is all you need to be road ready.
Smaller rental cars are easier to drive.
Left turns are the weirdest: you’ll turn into the lane closest to you.
In roundabouts, stay in the middle lane until you’re confident in your exit. Don’t be afraid to go around a few times if needed!
Have someone else navigate so you can keep focused on the road. Get a GPS with your rental car to make this process even easier.
Many country roads are smaller than even our standard 2 lane roads in the U.S. You probably won’t see another car, but if you do, creep slowly forward if they’re allowing you to pass. Otherwise, pull slightly off the road to allow the other car to pass.
>> Read about our first time driving in the UK and Ireland in our 7-day Scotland road trip. <<
Road Trip in Ireland Itinerary
On this driving tour of Ireland, you'll fly into Dublin International Airport (DUB), pick up your rental car, and then make a large counterclockwise circle around the country.
You'll end with a few days back in Dublin to experience the capital and contrast your experience there with your time in the countryside.
I've included everything that I think would be helpful for others planning an Ireland road trip including must-see sights, where to stay overnight, and driving times.
10 Day Driving Tour of Ireland Quick Facts
Total drive time of entire Irish road trip itinerary: 13 hours and 15 minutes
Total distance covered: 1015 km/ 630 miles
Day 1: Depart home airport.
We found an excellent deal on a JetBlue flight from Charleston to New York and then an Aer Lingus flight from New York to Dublin.
>> Join WayAway Plus and get cash back on your airfare! Use promo code TP-358114 for 10% off membership. <<
I don't know how we managed to get to Dublin as quickly as we did, but that pilot had us on the ground a full hour and a half before our scheduled arrival time.
We were so early that we had to wait until the car rental place opened at 5:15 in the morning!
Too early for me to take good pictures, but just the right time to get our rental car
Overnight: on the plane
Day 2: Dublin to County Tipperary
Must see sights: Rock of Cashel, Midleton Distillery
Drive time: 3 hours
Mileage: 250 km/159 miles
We really hit the ground running on our first day in Ireland.
Because we'd gotten there so far ahead of schedule, we figured that we might as well go until we couldn't go anymore.
With the dark winter sky hanging above us, we pointed our little rental car towards Tipperary and the famed Rock of Cashel.
Rock of Cashel at sunrise
On the way, we listened to the radio and were lulled by their beautiful accents.
I actually love listening to the radio when we're on road trips abroad--it's one more way I can immerse myself in whatever place we're visiting!
Even after picking up our rental car and driving from Dublin to Tipperary, we were still too early to go into the Rock of Cashel.
So, in an incredible start to our Ireland road trip, we hiked around the Rock of Cashel and watched the sunrise from the base of this 1,000 year old site.
Then, at the stroke of 9 AM, we became the first visitors of the day on that windy, chilly January morning.
Our next stop was in Midleton, a small town about 30 minutes from Cork.
It's known for its massive distillery, where visitors can learn how Jameson and Midleton whiskeys are distilled.
There's also a tasting at the end that's included in your ticket price.
My husband outside of Midleton Distillery
My husband, whose favorite drink is whiskey, really enjoyed the tour.
I can take or leave most whiskeys, but even I found the tour compelling, well paced, and informative.
By the time our tour was over, we were exhausted and were so happy to find the first of our AirBnB properties waiting for us.
>> We stayed in some amazing AirBnBs in Ireland during our road trip! Click through to read about your experiences in these recommended properties. <<
Overnight: County Cork
Expand your trip
If you wanted to spend time in Cork as well (and not just Kinsale as I've suggested), you could add a day here to explore Cork and the surrounding area.
You might want to add the Blarney Castle, Blackrock Castle, Cork City Gaol, or the Titanic Experience Cobh in here.
Day 3: County Tipperary to County Cork
Must see sights: Kinsale, Fort James, Fort Charles
Drive time: 2 hours
Distance: 144 km/ 90 miles
Instead of heading into Cork, we made the decision to wander around Kinsale for the day we were in County Cork.
Not only is it smaller (and incredibly adorable), it's much easier to see in just one day.
It's one of the most colorful places I've visited, so we spent plenty of time just wandering the small streets.
We took a peek at the 13th century St. Multose Church, then marveled at the tiny lanes leading down to the water which were originally just wide enough to roll barrels to ships.
For brunch, we popped into Mother Hubbards in the heart of the historic town; it was cozy, small, and we were the only non-Irish people in there.
This is another reason why I love traveling in the off-season!
After our bellies were full of French toast and tea, we headed to the other side of the River Bandon, and parked our car in the Castlepark Marina lot.
Ruins of James Fort outside of Kinsale, Ireland
From there, we made the quick hike up to the ruins of James Fort.
It, along with Charles Fort across the harbor, served to protect the riches of this shipping town in the 17th century.
Although Charles Fort is bigger and in better condition, I much preferred the ruins of James Fort.
Not only was it free, but there wasn't anyone else around, so we could slowly explore at our leisure.
Overnight: County Clare
Expand Your Trip
If you wanted to add the Ring of Kerry to your touring itinerary, I'd suggest visiting Kinsale during the 3rd day, driving to Killarney for an overnight stay, then doing the Ring of Kerry on the 4th day with another overnight in Killarney.
From there, you could make your way to the Aran Islands and continue on with our itinerary.
If you wanted to go from Killarney to Galway in one fell swoop, you're looking at 4 hours of driving; you could drive in the morning and catch the afternoon ferry to Inishmore.
If you prefer a more leisurely approach, add 2 days onto this itinerary: on the first, drive to Limerick and stay the night there, then continue on to the Galway ferry station the next day.
Day 4: County Cork to Aran Islands
Must see sights: Inishmore, Dun Aengus, Seven Sisters
Drive time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Distance: 131 km/ 82 miles
After a lovely night at our County Clare AirBnB, we packed up very early and headed to Galway. We couldn't be late because a very special boat was waiting on us!
This was the day that we were going to the Aran Islands, a collection of three small islands off of Ireland's western coast.
They are only accessible by a twice daily ferry (and that's only if the weather's good), and I did not want to miss that boat.
On the way, we marveled at the stark beauty of the Burren, which literally means "rocky place" in Gaelic.
There's very little top soil here, so you see miles of these worn rocks everywhere. It's not traditionally pretty, but it's alien and captivating.
The ferry ride was stomach-churning, even for this travel blogger who never gets seasick.
Small ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands
After 45 minutes of watching the horizon bob back and forth a little too much, we arrived in Kilronan, the largest village on Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands.
At the cliffs near Dun Aengus on Inishmore
I really can't say enough amazing things about our time on Inishmore!
From our innkeeper to our tour guide to the couple we met for an unforgettable night out at the pub, everyone we met was welcoming and helpful.
>> Read more about our time on Inishmore, Aran Islands. <<
High points on Inishmore include:
Dun Aengus, an Iron Age fort on the edge of 300-foot cliffs,
the Man of Aran Cottage, which featured in a movie filmed on the island in the 1930s, and
the Seven Sisters, the ruins of a large monastic site.
If you're brave, you can take a dip in the water on Kilmurvey Beach, but the water is very chilly!
You can do any one of the Aran Islands as a day trip, but to get the real flavor of the islands, I recommend an overnight stay.
We loved our experience at Tigh Fitz Guesthouses, which was an easy walk to Kilronan.
The vast majority of the tourists leave on the afternoon ferry, so you'll practically be one of the locals...especially if you're there in the winter like we were.
*Note: I didn't include the Cliffs of Moher on this itinerary since the cliffs near Dun Aengus are just as impressive without all of the crowds.
Instead of devoting another day on Ireland's mainland for the Cliffs of Moher, we decided that our time was better spent on the Aran Islands.
We got the beauty of the cliffs with Iron Age ruins and a complete immersion in the Gaelic culture that is still alive and well on the islands.
Leaving the Cliffs of Moher behind was a tough decision, but, ultimately, one we were glad we made.
Overnight: Kilronan, Inishmore
Day 5: Aran Islands to Galway
Must see sights:
Quay Street, Front Street, and High Street in Galway City Center
Galway Cathedral
Drive time: 43 minutes
Distance: 37 km/ 23 miles
So, don't do what my husband and I did.
After a super fun night out at Kilronan's only open pub, we had to get up incredibly early (again) to get on the ferry.
I don't think we were quite fully sober yet, but we couldn't miss the morning ferry since we had plans in Galway and beyond.
I'm normally not a big drinker, so that night out had me hurting (and, at one point, questioning my life choices as I clung to the walls of the ferry's tiny bathroom).
The horrible weather that morning made a rough ferry ride even worse, and, as a result, we were moving very, very slowly when we got back to the mainland.
By the time we arrived in Galway, we were feeling a bit better, and decided to walk around the town for a bit.
Galway is small, but that's fantastic for those (like me!) who prefer to explore a place on foot.
Shop Street in Galway City Center
Quay Street, Front Street, and High Street and their shops and restaurants are a must-visit, and, if you like awe-inspiring structures, the Galway Cathedral is beautiful.
After getting to know Galway a little, we headed just outside of the city for our rendevouz with a castle where we would be spending the next two nights.
>> Read more about our time at our fantastic AirBnBs in Ireland here. <<
Overnight: Galway
Day 6: Connemara Scenic Driving Tour
Must see sights: Connemara horses, Ashford Castle, the Quiet Man Cottage
Drive time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Distance: 60 miles
We'd left our second day in the Galway area open, so we decided to follow our AirBnB host's suggestion of Connemara National Park.
Even if I'd planned the day to the minute, I couldn't have had a better time.
On the way to Connemara, we did a quick The Quiet Man location tour since my husband is a huge fan of both the movie and John Wayne.
Hanging out with Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne in Cong, Ireland
Head into the small village of Cong, where you can see the cottage from the movie, take a photo with a bronze statue of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, and have a pint in Pat Cohan's bar.
>> Read about the full experience of visiting The Quiet Man film locations here. <<
Nearby Ashford Castle has picture perfect grounds, where you can have afternoon tea and plan out the rest of your day.
We were able to see working peat fields (a traditional source of fuel for the Irish), Kylemore Abbey, and the wild, stark beauty of the Connemara region.
Kylemore Abbey in the Connemara region of Ireland
Since we were traveling in the deep off-season, we had another day where we went miles before passing another car.
On a warmer day, you could do a picnic inside the national park grounds, or see if you could find the Connemara horses that roam these hills.
If you can't find those, you're sure to come across plenty of sheep in their stead--even in the middle of the road!
Even on a cold day like the one we visited, the drive is breathtaking and well worth a day of your Ireland road trip.
>> Read more about our time in Connemara, Ireland here. <<
Overnight: Galway
Day 7: County Galway to County Meath
Must see sights:
Newgrange,
Knowth,
Slane Castle
Drive time: 2 hours and 35 minutes
Distance: 202 km/ 129 miles
For our last day before we hit Dublin, we ventured back towards the eastern coast of Ireland. I'd read about
Newgrange, a historic site that's older than both the pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge.
The site and the visitors center are on opposite sides of the river, which led to some confusion, but once we figured that out, our tour at Newgrange was one of the highlights of our Ireland experience.
>> Read more about our time at Newgrange in Ireland. <<
Newgrange (Bru Na Boinne) near Slane, County Meath, Ireland
I would devote several hours to the visitors center and the tour at Newgrange; plan on spending a full day here if you're visiting when nearby Knowth is open as well.
After you're done learning about this fascinating time in Ireland's history, wander through the small downtown of Slane and pop into Slane Castle (only open during the summer).
Overnight: Slane
Day 8: County Meath to Dublin
Must see sights:
Mellifont Abbey
Monasterboice
Ha’penny Bridge
Dublin Castle
Guinness Storehouse
Drive time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Distance: 80 km/ 50 miles
On our County Meath to Dublin city center road trip leg, we broke up the last few miles of driving by visiting two historic places within a few miles of our Slane AirBnB: Mellifont Abbey and Monasterboice.
Mellifont was built in the mid-12th century for an order of Cistercian monks, while 5th century Monasterboice was the area's religious center before Mellifont was built.
We were the only people at Monasterboice, which made this quiet site even more intimate. You’re able to freely walk around the site, which is free to visitors.
At the heart of Monasterboice is a large Celtic cross and a cylindrical tower, which is left over from the original buildings.
At Monasterboice, a 5th century religious community
Cemetery at Monasterboice
From there, we drove a few more minutes down the road to visit Mellifont Abbey, which is relatively newer, but still in ruins.
Mellifont Abbey was more structured in its approach to visitors. There is a small visitors center on site where you can get a brochure of the major sites and history.
Walking the grounds is free but you can upgrade to a guided tour of only €5 per person.
Mellifont Abbey
>> Read more about our visit to Melrose Abbey, a Scottish Cistercian abbey on our UK road trip! <<
After that leisurely morning exploring religious ruins, we spent most of the early afternoon returning our rental car at the airport and heading back into town via the inexpensive and punctual Airlink Express.
We enjoyed using the Airlink Express as it was convenient to the rental car area of the airport, and it was much cheaper than an Uber or taxi back into the city.
For each of us and our bags, it was €6. The trip took about 25 minutes from the airport to the middle of the Dublin city center.
At Ha’penny Bridge on the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland
One of the Airlink Express stops was near the O'Connell Street Bridge, which was perfect since our VRBO apartment was just a quick walk down the street near Ha'penny Bridge.
After getting the key from our VRBO contact, we put our suitcases in our apartment and headed out into the city.
Our first stop was to Trinity College since I love visiting colleges and universities when I travel (I'm special like that).
The Book of Kells exhibit was temporarily closed, so we made a note to come back the next day.
With our newfound time, we went to Dublin Castle to sign up for a tour there; luck was on our side, and it was free admission day!
We had to wait a little while for a later tour, but it was worth it to save a few euro.
*Note: we skipped one of Dublin's most famous stops, the Guinness Storehouse, since we'd already done a distillery tour earlier in the road trip.
Overnight: Dublin
Day 9: Dublin
River Liffey in Dublin at night
Must see sites:
Trinity College
Book of Kells
National Museum of Ireland: Archeology
Natural History Museum
Temple Bar
For our last full day of sightseeing, we needed to accomplish a lot. We were first in line for the Book of Kells and the Long Room Library at Trinity College.
As an English major, seeing both had been on my bucket list for a long, long time. I'm happy to say that both lived up to the hype and were well worth the entrance fee.
Next up, we headed to the National Museum of Ireland: Archeology, where we were both captivated by the Bog People exhibit and the impressive carved longboat (which dates to 2500 BC).
After learning so much, we decided not to stop there and made a quick stop at the Natural History Museum to see giant moose skeletons and a massive variety of taxidermied creatures.
Weird, but fun (and free)!
Natural History Museum in Dublin
We did a little shopping, grabbed dinner and then spent several rollicking hours out in Temple Bar, singing along with the live bands and sampling a few brews.
We also wanted to go to the Kilmainham Gaol, the Dublin Writers Museum, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, but we ran out of time.
I'd suggest adding on another full day in Dublin if you want to ensure you see those as well.
Overnight: Dublin
>> Read more about our favorite historic sites in Dublin! <<
Day 10: Departure
With a sad heart, we packed up our new souvenirs and made our way to the Airlink Express pickup spot very early that morning.
Even though there weren't many people stirring at 5:30 in the morning on O'Connell Street, I'm happy to say that we felt quite safe waiting for the bus, which isn't always the case when you're holding suitcases and clearly look like an out-of-towner.
If you’re taking the Airlink Express to Dublin International Airport, check for your pickup location and time, and be early!
All in all, I think we managed to hit the best of the Emerald Isle on our Ireland road trip itinerary, and the only thing I would do differently would be to stay even longer!
Have you visited Ireland? Share your favorite moments with me in the comments!
