At which time I had to stop the car, dig out the Ireland road map in the glove box, and get myself turned around and on the correct road to Doolin. As we were on a schedule, it was not my best morning. Our Ireland road trip was an incredible experience, and we really fell in love with the country after our 2 weeks driving around. If you are looking for a more local and affordable experience, the Maranatha Country House is just the place to stay for you. It is a little outside of Blarney but it isn’t that far at all! It is cute and affordable and traditionally Irish. Ross Castle. Ross Castle is the perfect stop on your Ireland road trip itinerary because it is beautiful and easy to get to. It is located in the heart of Killarney on a lake and it is completely free to visit the castle and view it from the outside. There is a fee if you want to go inside, but we think you get the best views from the outside near the lake! If you visit Parknasilla Resort, make sure to spend time in their pool and spa. The pool and spa both offer panorama views of the mountains and water outdoors with floor-to-ceiling windows.

It’s another long drive today, which could also be broken up if you had the time, because the Donegal area has a lot of epic scenery and activities to enjoy. The entire length of ocean roads in Donegal is great, but make a special detour to Malin Head, the northernmost point in the Republic of Ireland (even further north than Northern Ireland). As technology improves, we are able to produce more detailed maps than was previously possible. Such is the case with Ireland, a part of the world consisting of two countries divided by religion and history. Preparing a map of Ireland as a double sided map means cutting the island into two geographic portions. In June 2007, it was announced that around 800 kilometres of 'new' highway would be created; however, much of this resulted from the re-classification of most of the country high-quality dual carriageways to motorway regulations rather than the construction of purpose-built motorways as its shown in Ireland highway map. This has affected most of the major inter-urban routes between Dublin and various towns and cities and some of the Atlantic Corridor along the Western seaboard. In December 2007, it was announced that a planned high quality dual carriageway scheme between Galway and Tuam would be built as a motorway, the first such new motorway project to be announced since the early 2000s. Which actually turned out to be fine as there was a map of Ireland in my rental car. Though it was unwieldy and I could never get the silly thing to fold correctly again, it guided me through my first Ireland vacation.

Other Roads

Dublin is experiencing a shortage of hotel rooms and as a result, prices are sky-high! As a result, we recommend spending a shorter amount of time in Dublin to leave time for the rest of your Ireland road trip itinerary. We have an entire post about Where To Stay In Dublin if you are looking for more information. This post breaks down our favorite areas in Dublin and helps you plan and choose which area is best for you! Connor’s Pass. Connor’s Pass is the highest pass in Ireland and a wonderful addition to your Ireland itinerary. If you make this drive part of your Ireland road trip, be prepared for slow driving and very narrow roads. Conner’s Pass is beautiful but the roads are quite thin so be sure to pull over well in advance for any oncoming traffic. Walking around the Giant’s Causeway can easily take a few hours, with plenty of great photo opportunities and even some hiking trails around to occupy your time.

We love getting off the beaten path and there is no better place to do that than Westport and the nearby Achill Island. Westport is an adorable town located in Co. Mayo has so much to offer. As mentioned above, Newgrange is one of the real highlights of any Ireland road trip, and learning all about the massive passage tomb is splendid, especially when you consider it’s older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids! If you are planning a trip to Ireland and only have 5 days for your itinerary, then modify this Ireland road trip route to fit that length of time. Although the Giant’s Causeway is actually in Northern Ireland, it is still one of the best places on the Emerald Isle and should not be missed during your road trip itinerary. Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operational lighthouse in the world, and if you’re looking for an iconic photo you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place than here.Every time you see a photo opportunity make sure you grab it! The landscape is out of this world, and ranges from sprawling farmland to lush forest, with jagged mountain peaks and a dramatic coastline topping it off.