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The Wild Atlantic Way by car: the driving itinerary, stop by stop

The waymarked coastal route of the west of Ireland, followed from north to south along most of its 2,500 km, from Malin Head on the Inishowen Peninsula to Kinsale. It takes in the Slieve League cliffs, Achill, Connemara, the Burren, Loop Head, Dingle, the Skellig Ring, Beara and Mizen Head, on roads that are often narrow, where you drive on the left.

1,688 kmin total about 30 hoursof driving 12 stops15 nights 12 to 16 daysrecommended
PierrickBy PierrickGoogle Local Guide ★8Updated 1 October 2026
LicenceEU licence
Side of the roadLeft
Speed limits120 (M), 100 (N), 80 (R) km/h
Alcohol0.5 g/l
Fuel (September 2026)≈ €1.87 per litre of petrol, €1.94 for diesel

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The map and the route plan

DaysStopDrive
Day 1BuncranaStart
Day 2Dunfanaghy179 km · 3h10
Day 3Kilcar142 km · 2h40
Day 4Sligo111 km · 1h40
Days 5 to 6Westport204 km · 3h25
Day 7Clifden88 km · 1h25
Day 8Galway124 km · 2h25
Day 9Kilkee139 km · 2h20
Days 10 to 11Dingle231 km · 4h30
Days 12 to 13Portmagee109 km · 1h45
Day 14Castletownbere151 km · 2h40
Day 15Kinsale210 km · 3h40

Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.

The itinerary, stop by stop

May to September: landings on Skellig Michael only take place from 9 May to 30 September 2026, and the Killimer ferry doubles its sailings until 30 September. In winter, short days and Atlantic storms; Mizen Head then opens only at weekends.

  1. 1
    Buncrana
    Ardfern / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 1 · 1 night

    Buncrana

    What to see

    • Grianán of Aileach Circular stone fort on top of a 244 m hill, rebuilt in the 19th century.
    • Fort Dunree Coastal defence fort on the west shore of Inishowen, above Lough Swilly.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Buncrana

    The Harbour InnInishowen Gateway Hotel All places to stay →
  2. 2
    Dunfanaghy
    dconvertini / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 2 · 1 night

    Dunfanaghy

    🚗 179 km · 3h10 of driving from Buncrana

    Inishowen 100 loop via Dunree, the Mamore Gap and Malin Head, then Letterkenny and the N56. The Mamore Gap is very steep.

    What to see

    • Mamore Gap Narrow, very steep pass between Dunree and Clonmany, with views over Lough Swilly.
    • Malin Head The island's northernmost point and the start of the route; tower from 1805.
    • Doe Castle 15th-century stronghold of the MacSweeneys, surrounded by water on three sides.
    • Horn Head Clifftop peninsula just north of Dunfanaghy, with a loop road high above the sea.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Dunfanaghy

    Shandon Hotel & SpaArnolds Hotel All places to stay →
  3. 3
    Kilcar
    Thomas Fuhrmann / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 3 · 1 night

    Kilcar

    🚗 142 km · 2h40 of driving from Dunfanaghy

    R251 via Glenveagh and Dunlewey, the N56 to Ardara, then the tight hairpins of the Glengesh Pass towards Glencolumbkille and Carrick.

    What to see

    • Glenveagh National Park Castle and gardens on the shore of Lough Veagh; park free, shuttle €5, castle €10.
    • Errigal and the Poisoned Glen Errigal (751 m), Donegal's highest peak, towers over the valley of the Poisoned Glen.
    • Glengesh Pass Road of tight hairpins between Ardara and Glencolumbkille, with a viewpoint at the top.
    • Slieve League 601 m mountain dropping into the sea; parking €10 per car.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Kilcar

    John Eoinìn's Bar and accommodationCarrick Gate All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Boat trip beneath the Slieve League cliffs →
  4. 4
    Sligo
    SatishKutty / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 4 · 1 night

    Sligo

    🚗 111 km · 1h40 of driving from Kilcar

    N56 via Killybegs, the N15 via Donegal and Bundoran, with a coastal detour via Mullaghmore. An easy road, the easiest of the trip.

    What to see

    • Mullaghmore Fishing village on its peninsula, facing Benbulben.
    • Drumcliff Grave of the poet W. B. Yeats, beside the N15, at the foot of Benbulben.
    • Benbulben 526 m flat-topped mountain carved by glaciers, visible from all around the bay.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Sligo

    Markree CastleStrandhill Boutique Hotel Lodge and Suites All places to stay →
  5. 5
    Westport
    Colin Park / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Days 5 to 6 · 2 nights

    Westport

    🚗 204 km · 3h25 of driving from Sligo

    Via Ballina and Killala, coastal roads to Downpatrick Head and the Céide Fields, then Bangor Erris and the N59 via Mulranny. Long and remote.

    What to see

    • Downpatrick Head Headland facing Dún Briste, a sea stack broken away from the cliff.
    • Céide Fields Neolithic fields enclosed by stone walls, preserved under the bog, with a visitor centre.
    • Keem Bay Sheltered beach at the end of the road on Achill, linked by a bridge (day 2).
    • Croagh Patrick 764 m pilgrimage mountain above Clew Bay, climbed from Murrisk.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Westport

    The Grace Westport EstateCastlecourt Hotel, Spa & Leisure All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Cycling the Great Western Greenway, 42 km from Westport to Achill →
  6. 6
    Clifden
    Berthold Werner / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 7 · 1 night

    Clifden

    🚗 88 km · 1h25 of driving from Westport

    R335 via Louisburgh and the Doo Lough valley, Leenane at the head of Killary fjord, then the N59 via Kylemore. Narrow after Louisburgh.

    What to see

    • Doo Lough Dark lake framed by mountains, on a narrow and almost deserted road.
    • Killary Harbour Fjord between Mayo and Galway, overlooked to the north by Mweelrea.
    • Kylemore Abbey Neo-Gothic castle on the edge of a lake, a Benedictine monastery open to visitors.
    • Sky Road Clifftop loop west of Clifden, high above the Atlantic.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Clifden

    Ardagh Hotel & RestaurantAbbeyglen Castle Hotel All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Killary Fjord cruise →
  7. 7
    Galway
    JoachimKohler-HB / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 8 · 1 night

    Galway

    🚗 124 km · 2h25 of driving from Clifden

    Connemara coast via Roundstone, Carna and Spiddal (R341, R340, R336). Slow and winding; the N59 is more direct.

    What to see

    • Roundstone Fishing village on the Connemara coast, near the beaches of Dog's Bay.
    • Galway Latin Quarter Pedestrian streets of Shop Street and Quay Street, down to the Spanish Arch.
    • Salthill Promenade Seafront stretching several kilometres along Galway Bay.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Galway

    The House HotelBoutique hotel · €170 a nightSnoozles GalwayHostel · €42 a night All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Day trip to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands →
  8. 8
    Kilkee
    Michael Candelori / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 9 · 1 night

    Kilkee

    🚗 139 km · 2h20 of driving from Galway

    N67 via Kinvara, the Burren's coastal R477 via Fanore, Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher and Lahinch. Stone walls right at the edge of the tarmac.

    What to see

    • Dunguaire Castle 16th-century tower house on Kinvara Bay, closed to visitors since 2023.
    • Burren coast road The R477 hugs the sea below hills of bare limestone, as far as Fanore.
    • Cliffs of Moher Cliffs rising to 214 m; €15 per adult at the ticket office, parking included.
    • Kilkee Horseshoe bay sheltered by a reef, with a path along the nearby cliffs.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Kilkee

    Bay View Hotel All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Dolphin watching in the Shannon Estuary →
  9. 9
    Dingle
    Joseph Mischyshyn / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Days 10 to 11 · 2 nights

    Dingle

    🚗 231 km · 4h30 of driving from Kilkee

    Return trip to Loop Head, the N67 to the Killimer-Tarbert ferry (20 min), Tralee, then Conor Pass (R560): single track in places, 2 tonnes max.

    What to see

    • Loop Head Headland north of the Shannon Estuary, with a lighthouse and cliffs at the tip of the peninsula.
    • Bridges of Ross Natural sea arch at the water's edge, on the north coast of the peninsula.
    • Conor Pass Pass at 456 m above Dingle, between lakes and cliffs.
    • Slea Head Drive Loop of the R559 via Ventry and Dunquin, facing the Blasket Islands (day 2).

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Dingle

    Dingle Benners HotelBase Dingle All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Boat trip to the Blasket Islands →
  10. 10
    Portmagee
    NoNameIsLeft / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Days 12 to 13 · 2 nights

    Portmagee

    🚗 109 km · 1h45 of driving from Dingle

    Via Inch and Castlemaine, the N70 via Killorglin, Glenbeigh and Cahersiveen, then the R565 to Portmagee. Winding above Dingle Bay.

    What to see

    • Rossbeigh Spit of sand and dunes near Glenbeigh, with beaches on both sides.
    • Ballycarbery Castle Ruin on a hill facing the sea, 3 km from Cahersiveen.
    • Valentia Island Linked by the Portmagee bridge; seasonal ferry from Reenard Point, April to October.
    • Skellig Michael Monastic island 11.6 km offshore, landings from 9 May to 30 September.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Portmagee

    Quinlan & Cooke Boutique Townhouse and QCs Seafood RestaurantKerry Coast Hotel All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Landing on Skellig Michael from Portmagee →
  11. 11
    Castletownbere
    Colin Park / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 14 · 1 night

    Castletownbere

    🚗 151 km · 2h40 of driving from Portmagee

    The very narrow Skellig Ring, the N70 via Waterville, Caherdaniel, Sneem and Kenmare, then the north coast of Beara via Ardgroom, Eyeries and Allihies.

    What to see

    • Skellig Ring Small road from Portmagee to Ballinskelligs, with viewpoints facing the Skellig Islands.
    • Derrynane House Home of Daniel O'Connell, in a historic park near Caherdaniel.
    • Allihies Village of colourful houses at the tip of the Beara Peninsula, with old copper mines.
    • Dursey Cable Car Ireland's only cable car, €10 return, no booking, islanders have priority.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Castletownbere

    All places to stay →
  12. 12
    Kinsale
    Zairon / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 15 · 1 night

    Kinsale

    🚗 210 km · 3h40 of driving from Castletownbere

    R572 to Glengarriff, the N71 via Bantry, the small roads of the Mizen Peninsula, then the N71 via Skibbereen and Clonakilty. A long day.

    What to see

    • Mizen Head Signal station reached by a bridge over the void; €7.50, tickets on site.
    • Crookhaven Small harbour at the south-western tip of the island, on the Mizen Peninsula.
    • Drombeg Stone Circle Megalithic circle 2.4 km east of Glandore, a short detour from the N71.
    • Charles Fort Star fort completed in 1682, at the entrance to Kinsale harbour.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Kinsale

    Actons Hotel KinsaleTrident Hotel Kinsale All places to stay →

Less time? The 9-day version

Keep the southern half, from Galway to Kinsale: Galway (1 night), Kilkee (1), Dingle (2), Portmagee (2), Castletownbere (1) and Kinsale (1). Arrive in Dublin or Shannon, leave from Cork, without going through Northern Ireland.

Hiring the car

Price per day

Car hire only, August≈ €49 a day
Car hire only, February≈ €15 a day
Car hire only, annual average≈ €36 a day (Kayak, Sept. 2026)
Super CDW, extra€12 to €35 a day
One-way within the Republic (Dublin to Cork or Shannon)€30 to €80
One-way between the North and the Republic€150 to €200

Good to know

VehicleA city car or compact, manual gearbox; automatics cost more and should be booked early. Nothing over 2 tonnes (Conor Pass).
Where to pick it upDublin or Knock Airport, returned in Cork or Shannon. Derry is in the UK: an expensive one-way rental.
Northern IrelandHave the crossing added to the contract: free at Enterprise, Hertz and Dan Dooley; €20 to €35 elsewhere.
InsuranceCDW excess of €1,500 to €2,500 (compact); super CDW (€12 to €35 a day) removes it.
Age21 minimum (22 at Dan Dooley); under 25, €22 to €50 in fees a day.
Licence and cardLicence held for 2 years, a credit card (not debit) in the driver's name.

⚠️ Without an endorsement added to the contract, entering Northern Ireland (the road from Dublin via the A5, Derry airport) voids all the rental insurance.

Compare car hire companies →

Driving rules and tips

LicenceEU licence

Any valid EU licence is enough, in the Republic and in Northern Ireland alike. Rental companies require a licence held for 2 years. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.

Side of the roadLeft

Right-hand drive. Roundabouts go clockwise; give way to vehicles already on them, coming from the right.

Speed limits120 (M), 100 (N), 80 (R) km/h

60 on local roads since February 2025, 50 in town. The planned 80 limit on secondary N roads is not applied.

Alcohol0.5 g/l

0.2 g/l for novice drivers (licence held under 2 years) and professional drivers; 0.8 g/l in Northern Ireland.

Northern IrelandLimits in mph

On the road from Dublin via the A5: signs in mph, 60 on single carriageways, 70 on dual carriageways, 30 in town.

UK ETA£20 since 8 April 2026

Required of Europeans not resident in Ireland, even via the land border, with no check on the spot.

Conor Pass2 tonnes max

Single track in places: whoever is nearest a passing place reverses. In fog, take the N86 via Annascaul.

Narrow roads and wallsNo verges

Walls and hedges right at the edge of the tarmac. Keep to the left, slow down on bends, and watch out for tractors and sheep.

Seatbelt and phoneSeatbelts everywhere

In the front and the back. Holding a phone while driving is banned.

Fuel, tolls and parking

Fuel

≈ €1.87 per litre of petrol, €1.94 for diesel

Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.

⛽ 1,688 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €220 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.

AA Ireland survey, September 2026. Fill up in the towns before the Inishowen, Erris, Beara and Mizen peninsulas.

Tolls and parking

Wild Atlantic WayNo road tolls
M1 at Drogheda, from Dublin€2.30 (car, 2026)
Back to Dublin Airport: M8 (Fermoy, Portlaoise) and M50€2.30 + €2.30 + €3.80
Killimer-Tarbert ferry€25 per car and passengers, €22.50 online
Slieve LeagueParking €10 per car
GlenveaghPark and car park free; shuttle €5 return, castle €10
Cliffs of Moher€15 per adult at the ticket office, parking included
Mizen Head€7.50 per adult, tickets on site only
Dursey Cable Car€10 return, no booking

Seasonal road closures

Landings on Skellig MichaelFrom 9 May to 30 September 2026, cancelled in rough seas
Glenveagh CastleClosed Monday and Friday, except bank holiday Mondays
Mizen HeadFrom 1 November to 16 March, weekends only
Killimer-Tarbert ferryEvery day except 25 December; second boat until 30 September
Dursey Cable CarClosed 25 and 26 December and 1 January; break at 13:00
Valentia ferry (Reenard Point)April to October only; the Portmagee bridge is open all year
Conor Pass (R560)Open all year; in fog or storms, take the N86 via Annascaul

Plan the rest of the trip

🗺️ Things to do, stop by stop →📖 The printable travel guide →🛏️ More hotels, by budget →📅 Best time to visit, month by month →🌍 The destination guide →

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for the Wild Atlantic Way?

Allow 12 to 16 days to follow it from north to south by car: this itinerary has 12 stages and 15 nights, from Buncrana to Kinsale, for about 2,000 km including the drive from Dublin. Following every one of the 2,500 waymarked km takes longer. In 9 days, stick to the southern half, from Galway to Kinsale.

How much does a road trip on the Wild Atlantic Way cost?

The car alone in August: about €735 of hire over 15 days (€49 a day, Kayak average), €30 to €80 for a one-way rental, €180 to €525 of super CDW, €22.50 for the ferry and about €220 of petrol at September 2026 prices for about 1,700 km at €1.87 a litre. In February, hire drops to around €15 a day.

Which direction should you drive the Wild Atlantic Way?

Both directions work equally well. From north to south, you start with the wilder Donegal and finish in Kinsale, 20 minutes from Cork Airport. From south to north, plan a return from Malin Head to Dublin (about 4 hours through Northern Ireland) or a flight from Derry or Knock.

Do you need an ETA to cross into Northern Ireland?

Yes, in principle: since 2 April 2025, Europeans not resident in Ireland need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom, land border included. It has cost £20 since 8 April 2026. The fast road from Dublin to Donegal crosses the North via the A5; the route via Sligo avoids it, taking about 1 hour 30 minutes longer.

Do you need to book Skellig Michael in advance?

Yes: only a few licensed boats land on the island, once a day, from 9 May to 30 September 2026, departing from Portmagee. Allow €145 per adult with Casey's, about 5 hours including 2 hours 30 minutes on the island. Rough seas often cancel trips: keep two nights in Portmagee so you have a spare day.

Is it difficult to drive the Wild Atlantic Way?

You drive on the left on narrow roads with no verges, with walls and hedges right at the edge of the tarmac. Conor Pass, single track in places, is closed to vehicles over 2 tonnes; the Skellig Ring and the Mamore Gap are very narrow. A small car and days of 2 to 4 hours' driving make it much easier.

Sources

Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.

Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/wild-atlantic-way · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026