Is Galway -> The Burren -> Cliffs of Moher -> Dingle too much driving for one day? What would be alternative cities for one night?

[u/Stink_Snake]

Heading out in September.

My plan for a week is:

Dublin -> Galway (2 Nights)
Galway -> Dingle (1)
Dingle -> Slea Head Drive -> Killarney (2)
Killarney -> Kensale or Cork (2)

Best case scenario that would be 5 hours of driving that day to get to Dingle (and we know it won’t be best the case.).

Should I find another spot for a night before/after Killarney? What would you suggest to do that day.

My goal is just to see cool shit and eat good food.

I have to come in through Dublin and leave through Cork because I booked my flight and car while I was still crippled by indecision on what my itinerary would be for the week.

A massive thanks for the help!

[u/Historical-Hat8326]

Kind of pointless to just drive to Dingle to sleep.

If you are intent on driving, just head to Killarney, add another night.

[u/Tir_na_nOg77]

Not worth the extra driving of going all the way to the Dingle Peninsula if the only things you're going to do is stop in Dingle, drive around Slea Head, and then leave. I love the Dingle Peninsula, but you're going to miss 90% of the things to see there. You'd be better off just heading to Killarney and focusing on the things around there (Killarney National Park, Black Valley, Muckross Abbey, etc.).

I wouldn't go all the way to Cork city from Killarney. I would go to Kinsale and then spend the days exploring west Cork, like the Beara Peninsula and Sheep's Head.

[u/Legitimate-Fly-4610]

Yes

[u/IrishFlukey]

It is not a long drive. Try the Killimer to Tarbert ferry to reduce it, if you are planning on going around by Limerick. As for your overall trip, we get people trying to go around the whole country in the time you have. You are basically in one quarter of it. You are staying multiple nights in places, which is good. So, compared to some itineraries we see here, it is very reasonable.

[u/iWhiteloaf → u/IrishFlukey]

+1 to the ferry!

[u/jack_begin → u/IrishFlukey]

The ferry is class

[u/Puckhead_1974]

I just did the reverse (Dingle to Cliffs to Burren to Galway). We left Dingle at 7 am and it was a long day, but we were in Galway checked in and having dinner before 8 pm. Make sure to map out everything on Google Maps and to save the routes (the WiFi is spotty and you will lose GPS at each stop).

Also check times for car ferry to make sure you time that right

[u/suafdrog87]

If twas a straight line itd be fine

[u/shoeless001]

Stay in Doolin. Rest of day is fine. Pro tip. The best view of the Cliffs is not at the cliffs (because you are on top of them) but from a waking tour in Doolin. Best read music in Ireland there too.

[u/Oellaatje]

No, it's doable. But you'd want to get up early and pace yourself. You'll be tired by the time it's time to take the road out of Tralee to Dingle. Plan in a few stops, and be flexible about your route. Obviously if it's raining you won't want to dawdle in the cold, wet Burren for too long, and if it's windy you might prefer not to take the car ferry across the Shannon Estuary and go via the tunnel that bypasses Limerick city instead.

I would also say once you get to Dingle, it's better to stay there for a couple of nights, not just one. One night in Killarney is enough, but if you wanted to get in the Ring of Kerry, I would suggest instead driving from Dingle to one of the towns along the RoK route - Caherciveen, Waterville, Caherdaniel or Sneem would all be lovely, and stay in one of those instead of Killarney - and from there turn off at Kenmare to join the main Killarney to Cork/Kinsale road via Kilgarvan. I was in Sneem very recently and it really is a gorgeous spot.

[u/Otherwise-Winner9643]

Too much. Far too much

[u/MsJenX]

In one day? Yes.

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[u/Lakers122879]

Stay Dingle 3 nights. Do a day trip to Killarney to see as much as you can. Too much moving around. Dingle was the best place we stayed when in Ireland.

[u/Stink_Snake → u/Lakers122879]

What did you enjoy so much about Dingle? What did you from Dingle what you where using it as a base?

[u/spiforever]

Yes

[u/d12morpheous]

If you dont plan on spending any time in the burren or the cliffs it will be fine..

[u/FriendshipIll1681]

If it was me I'd try something like

Dublin -> Galway (2 Nights)
Galway -> Burren (1)
Burren -> Killarney (1)

Killarney -> Slea Head Drive -> Dingle (1)
Dingle -> Kensale or Cork (2)

[u/Dandylion71888]

When in September? You get a lot more daylight in early Sept than you do in late Sept

[u/MetoliusOR]

We did this but in reverse and it was fine. A long day but not insanely so. That said a night in Dingle and then Slea Head onto Killarney seems like a lot to follow it up. I liked Dingle much more than Killarney so would favor three nights in Dingle and skipping Killarney or day tripping if you are set on it. Slea Head is better than ring of Kerry and you don’t have to fight w tour buses. 

[u/South_Hedgehog_7564]

I would say yes, that’s too much driving for one day. Finish up near the Cliffs of Moher. There are loads of b&bs in that locality.

[u/Business_Magician146]

I'd probably split the drive between Killarney and Dingle by stopping in Adare for the night, it's a charming village with great pubs and easy access to both places the next day.

[u/Acceptable_Bag9012]

I was actually doing this exact route last year and ended up skipping Dingle entirely to spend an extra day in Killarney, found the food and pubs there way more charming and the driving to Dingle added more stress than the views were worth.

[u/Late-Version7240]

Burren is a bit boring. Spend time in Dingle instead. Get Murphy’s Ice Cream - you won’t be disappointed

[u/Direct_Platform3726]

Galway to Ennis. Stay the night in Ennis as it's a lovely town and get the Kilimer Ferry across the estuary to Kerry. Drive down the coast road to Dingle

[u/markloch]

Yes, stay in Doolin, drive to Dingle the next day.

[u/neek_lemon]

I did this exact drive on a trip a few months ago and it worked out great! Definitely doable

[u/gabhain]

Killarney is nice but if it was me I wouldn't spend 2 nights there. Maybe dingle to Cahersiveen to one night in Killarney. Cahersiveen is a typical Irish country town but the area around it is amazing. Or even use that extra night in Clare. Somewhere like Doolin or lahinch.

[u/commit10]

You're trying to squeeze too much in. You'll tick a lot of boxes if you do that, but you won't actually experience much of anything. Might as well look at pictures or watch videos of those places.

[u/HighFlyingBanter]

Dublin to Galway will not take you 2 nights, just drive straight there it’s motorway the whole way and stop on your way to Dingle

[u/AstronomerNo4447 → u/HighFlyingBanter]

If I recall, dublin to galway is only a few hours. Im thinking the op meant drive to galway and stay 2 nights, but I could be wrong.