Galway to Dingle Drive: Wild Atlantic Way, 340 km, 4 Days

This stretch of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way — from Galway down to the Dingle Peninsula — packs limestone moonscapes, sea cliffs and tiny harbour villages into about 340 km. You drive on the left, the roads are often narrow and winding, and the coastal route is signed with the blue Wild Atlantic Way markers. Take it slow and pull into the passing places.

Day 1 — Galway to Doolin (75 km)

Leave Galway and cross the Burren, a vast karst landscape of bare grey limestone. Stop at Aillwee or the coast road, then settle in the trad-music village of Doolin for the night.

Day 2 — Cliffs of Moher to Loop Head (90 km)

The Cliffs of Moher rise over 200 m straight from the Atlantic — go early to beat the crowds. Follow the coast south; if you have time, the quieter Loop Head peninsula is a lovely detour with a lighthouse. Sleep in Kilkee, at the start of the Loop Head peninsula.

Day 3 — Across the Shannon to Tralee (110 km)

Take the Killimer–Tarbert ferry across the Shannon Estuary (a short crossing that saves a long inland drive), then continue through Tralee towards the Dingle Peninsula.

Day 4 — Slea Head Drive and Dingle (65 km)

Drive the Slea Head Drive, a stunning loop around the tip of the peninsula past beehive huts and Blasket Island views. Finish in colourful Dingle town. The high Conor Pass is a spectacular but very narrow alternative route in — skip it in a large vehicle or bad weather.

Costs

Use the cost calculator to price fuel and nights for your exact dates. As a rough guide, budget for the short Shannon ferry fare and fuel for ~340 km; there are no motorway tolls on this coastal route (the tolled roads are around Dublin and Limerick). Book Dingle and Doolin beds early in summer, when the coast is busy.

This trip is also in the free Roadcut trip planner: change the number of days and where you sleep each night, pick your vehicle to see the fuel cost, check the weather on the road, and open each day in Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.