In this post I’m going to outline the perfect 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary that will hit all the biggest attractions while completing a near perfect circle around the entire island.
While Dublin is good fun, the best that Ireland has to offer resides outside of the capital city. In my opinion the Emerald Isle is meant to be explored via road trip, with lots of stops along the bountiful Wild Atlantic Way coastal route.
After planning and completing this epic road trip itinerary for myself, I can personally attest to this being a bucket list worthy adventure.
Disclaimer: this website uses affiliate links which may allow me to earn a commission when used at no additional cost to you.
If you follow this itinerary to the dot, you’ll be in for a busy 10 days of adventure. If you have the time and vacation days, I’d suggest tacking on a few days to either slow it down bit, or to add on a few stops not covered in this guide.
Ireland is extremely dense with beautiful coastal towns, epic ocean cliffs, ancient castles and vibrant cities just waiting to be explored. You can’t see it all in 10 days but this route will get you pretty darn close!
Jump into the day by day itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Dublin, hit the Giant's Causeway
Day 2: Visit Carrick-a-Rede, Slieve League, finish in Donegal
Day 3: Hike Benbulben, Streedagh Beach, onward to Westport
Day 4: Conquering Croagh Patrick, Bartraw Beach, relax in Westport
Day 5: Views at Doo Lough, lunch in Clifden, Dog's Bay Beach & Cliffs of Moher
Day 6: Exploring the Dingle Peninsula
Day 7: The peculiar island of Skellig Michael
Day 8: Back to Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Temple Bar & more
Day 9: George's Street Arcade, Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse & more
Day 10: Depart Ireland
Watch the Ireland Road Trip video guide on YouTube
Browse for more activities to do while visiting Ireland
Check out these great activities to round out your trip to Ireland.
Additional Travel Planning Resources
Subscribe to my newsletter
Stay up to date with my latest travels, group trips and trip planning guides. Use the form below to subscribe. Be sure to accept the confirmation email after submitting!
My Favorite Cheap Flight Hacks
Hire Wes to Plan Your Next Trip
Explore Group Travel Opportunities
Learn More About Travel With Wes
Tips for Planning a Trip Abroad
Check out my YouTube Channel
Connect with me on Social Media
Is visiting Ireland worth it?
When people ask me about my favorite places to travel, Ireland frequently enters the conversation. And the best way to experience Ireland, is by taking an epic road trip around the coast.
The Emerald Isle offers an incredible mix of natural beauty, charming coastal towns and friendly locals that you’ll meet along the way.
If you’ve never traveled internationally from the United States, Ireland is a great place to start. They speak English and every where you go is extremely safe.
Not only that but the country is extremely dense with things to do. While we covered a ton of ground in this guide, we only scratched the surface in terms of what Ireland has to offer.
Let me know if you have any questions about this 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary and drop a comment below!
Inquiry About Your 10-Day Ireland Road Trip
Hi, Wes,
I hope this comment finds you well. I came across your 10-day Ireland road trip itinerary and it sounds like an incredible experience! My mom and I are considering taking a similar trip shaped around your itinerary, and I was hoping you might be able to provide a bit more information about your journey.
Specifically, I was wondering:
1. Around how much did you spend of petrol/gas for the entire trip?
2. Any specific dangers/cautious things in Ireland to avoid for our first road trip in another country?
3. Did the driving ever feel dull or stressful at sometimes? My mom is the only one who can drive since rental cars will not let me drive, and she is just a little 50/50 on the fact we will have to drive a lot. I am trying to convincer her to not stress because she can drive manual and is an incredible driver.
4. Any other general tips, recs, and small sound bits would be greatly appreciated.
We’re so excited about the idea of exploring Ireland! Thank you for this amazing travel guide!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
Jameson Ridings
Hey Jameson!
1) I don’t recall offhand – but it wasn’t too bad. Fuel is a bit more expensive in Ireland, and the rental car agency we used (Europcar) offered us an upgrade to a hybrid vehicle for an extra $10 per day. Given the amount of driving we did, I think this ended up saving us on fuel. Something to think about if the hybrid rental cost is similar.
2) Ireland is super safe, and the drivers tend to be much better than back home in the USA.. just be extra mindful of the fact that they drive on the opposite side of the road! You won’t find as many gas stations as you will in the USA, but there should be plenty. Some of the roads are tighter than what you’re accustomed to, so pay attention.
3) The driving (outside of Dublin) was never congested or stressful for us. Really beautiful scenery along the way. If you follow my route you should never have more than about 3-4 hours of driving on any given day, and that’s on the long end.
4) Make sure you grab dinner early, in a lot of small towns restaurants shut their kitchens down by 8pm. We learned this the hard way and one time couldn’t find anywhere to grab dinner! If you’re visiting during the summer, days will be long but do your best to catch views around sunset. They’re the best! Ireland is really safe and easy to navigate otherwise, they all speak English, and should make for a great first international road trip.
Cheers and good luck planning!
Hey, Wes,
Thanks again for your detailed response—it’s been a huge help as we plan our trip!
I have a couple more questions if you don’t mind:
My mom tends to get sea sick, and we’re considering the Skellig Islands excursion. Based on your experience, do you think this trip would be okay for someone prone to sea sickness, or would it be better to find something else to do that day? We’re trying to gauge if the ride might be too rough for her.
I’m curious about how you planned your itinerary, especially how you accounted for timing—like when to leave for specific activities or how long to spend at each spot. Also, how did you physically map things out? Did you use Google Maps, a physical map, or something like push pins to organize everything beforehand? We’re looking to tweak our schedule, so any tips would be super helpful.
Thanks again for all your advice—it’s been invaluable!
Cheers,
Jameson Ridingss
Hey Jameson –
For Skellig, it’s difficult to say how rough the seas will be. Just depends on the weather. You will be on the open ocean in a smaller boat for over an hour total (out and back). The day we went, the seas were relatively calm, but I know it can be worse and I don’t get any motion sickness. Well worth it if she can stick it out with some dramamine, but that’ll be up to you guys.
To your second question, if you visit during the summer (I like late May into early June the best) you’ll have really long hours of daylight which will make exploring easier. I believe the sunset was after 10pm during my visit.
If you follow the route in the video that’s linked in this post, it will get you around the island super efficiently, and you should have time to do all of the activities that I covered.
I’d use a combination of Google Maps (bookmark everything you plan to hit) along with a note page on your phone where you can write down a detailed itinerary. Be sure to Google Maps the directions in between each spot so you know the driving time.
No matter how you cut it, planning a road trip around an entire country is going to require a lot of planning. But it will pay off if you take the time!
Cheers,
Wes