Driving in Ireland: How long does it take?
 

I'm planning a driving trip to Ireland this summer. I know it takes longer because of the roads there. What is a reasonable distance to drive in a day? For example, we need to get from Coleraine in NI to Galway. Is that a reasonable distance to go in a day? Thanks.

Figure about 30 mph as a reasonable rate/distance for regular roads (not the few highways). You need to know that many are narrow, have limited shoulders, and sheep tend to wander everywhere (yes, even onto the roads).

Coleraine to Galway is quite a long distance -- w/o any stops plan on a minimum of 5 hours and likely longer.

Ireland has a much bigger network of six lane motorways than many posters here realise.

But time estimates from sources like Google or Michelin can be iffy. On most motorways, 80 mph is easy to sustain over long distances: on many other inter-city major routes in the Republic (like Rosslare to Cork) you'll average probably about 40-50 mph.

Last time I drove from Galway to Coleraine, though, it took me about 8 hours. This included a modest amount of getting out and pottering. It most certainly is doable in a day, though it'd be tough to do any serious sightseeing in that time. There are no dual-carriageway fast roads on this route at all.

Till recently, roads in the North were better than in the Republic. This generalisation no longer applies.

Takes me 5 and a bit hours to Portrush from just east of Galway just over 200 miles (not many pass me)if we go up for the weekend, make that 6 hours in the truck.

You will though miss some of the best of Ireland by not taking a couple or three days going round the north west coastal route.

Thank you all. I was thinking that this might be pushing it to do in a day. If we wanted to stop overnight, any suggestions as to a town that we might enjoy?

On the Google Maps recommended route via Derry, and Donegal, Sligo is a little more than 1/2 in between.

If you instead opt to travel inland via Omagh, Enniskillen and Athlone (205 miles), Enniskillen is about 81 miles and Strokestown is about 134.

LOTS more to see than time will allow along EITHER route, but they afford a myriad of choices, depending upon what interests you.

might get some pointers from http://goo.gl/maps/gl8uv

I am saving that map Tony. I have never been north of Howth so trying to decide on how long far we should push it for one day has been my big problem. That helps a lot.

Wow Tony - that is a great resource! Did you ever put together a map like that for a southern route?

I don't want to hijack this thread so I'll be starting my own for our trip in 2 (!) weeks

2 weeks is short notice unless you a planning to start planing in 2 weeks? start a thread and go from there.

I've been told to add 20-25% to either the Google or AA driving directions.

>>I've been told to add 20-25% to either the Google or AA driving directions.<<

That would be a good rule of thumb on major roads/motorways/etc. But on small/narrow/rural roads and routes that go through many villages one should usually add significantly more.

Distances will be given with a lot of accuracy,, Work on that mileage but 35 mph average and you won't be far wrong,, anything better is a bonus..

True about the short notice...we leave in just under 2 weeks, but we don't mind winging it a bit.

We just got back from 12 days in ireland and drove from Ennis to Killarney. It took just about 2 and 1/2 hours and was a pretty easy drive. We opted not to drive the Dingle peninsula that day and just get to Killarney and glad we did. We loved having the afternoon to see Ross Castle, Muckross House and Abbey, and the National Park. We did the Dingle Peninsula the next day.

Tony2phones said: Distances will be given with a lot of accuracy,, Work on that mileage but 35 mph average and you won't be far wrong,, anything better is a bonus..

Yes, but the distances are given in kilometers aarrggh I hate math...:-)

If you use aaroadwatch.ie you have the option of showing distances in miles. Unfortunately you have to change every time; no option to see miles as default.

Google Maps ALSO has the option to list distances in miles. The added 'advantage of Google maps is that you can 'Drag and Drop' the route, in order to include any nearby sites.

mile is 2/3 of a Km ish.. so 30km = 20 miles 48/50km = 30miles 60km=40 miles etc.. divide by 3 then multiply by 2

speed limits here are 80km(Rural routes) 100km(National routes) 120km(Motorway routes) our lane is 80kph but even I don't do that speed along it.. 79perhaps MrGarda? Of cours local speeds will be lower and built up can be down to 25kph 16/17mph 35mph=about52kph so use 50 kph to be easy