July reservations for County Kerry?
 

I have two days to explore County Kerry (I know it's not enough time, but it's all I have available on this trip). I'm hoping to do the Dingle Peninsula drive one day and perhaps the Ring of Kerry or Gap of Dunloe excursion the second day. My question: do I need pre-paid reservations for mid-July? I know that's a busy season, but I always like to keep my options open whenever practical. Any advice would be appreciated, as this is my first trip to the area. Thanks!

Take a look at the Ring of Barrea as an alternative to ROK if you're really short on time.

These two days in Kerry are between where and where...?

You can from a Killarney base take a tour of Dingle one day and Invaragh the next just using tour bus's so of course you can do them your self. You could also do Beara yourself but not by tour bus which is why Beara remains for now at least the only peninsula without Kerryitis tourism. Despite the border running through the peninsula I personally consider it a Cork peninsula which along with Mizen and the Sheeps Head are Ireland as Ireland was decades ago.

If you aren't too fussy about where you stay or how much you pay, you might find something. Personally, for a busy time of year and a popular area, I would book ahead. At the very least scope out ahead of time the choices in the area where you think you will likely be.

I'm leaning that way, Allison. Spontaneity is nice, but I don't want to pay too big a price for it. Tony, thanks for your thoughts as well. I hadn't thought about going that far south, but I'll do some additional reading on Beara.

The question of between where and where was aimed at the Dingle option. Thing is that if you only want to see the peninsula then you can drive the Connor and Slea Head options on a drive between Killarney and anywhere south of and including Ennis or Quilty. It would be too much for the drive from above Doolin or Gort.

We land at Kerry Airport, and we will catch a train for Dublin from Farranfore after turning in the rental car. So I was planning to stay in the area from perhaps Tralee on the north to sections of the ROK (Kenmare?) on the south.

Killarney is the best single base for County Kerry so save moving under an hour north or south and stick where you are.