Natural Wonders
The Burren
Unique lunar-like karst landscape of 250 square kilometres where Mediterranean and Arctic-Alpine flowers grow side by side in limestone pavements.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom · Ireland
Belfast to Galway drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr 3 min
- Distance
- 203 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £34
- Tolls (est.)
- £2
The Belfast to Galway drive
The drive from Belfast to Galway covers 203 miles (326 km) and takes about 4 hr 3 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £34 one-way plus roughly £2 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between Belfast and Galway
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
National Parks
Tollymore Forest Park
Northern Ireland's first state forest park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with Gothic arches, ancient trees and Game of Thrones filming locations.
Scenic Viewpoints
Mourne Mountains
Granite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.
Castles & Palaces
Trim Castle
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle, used as a Braveheart filming location, with a massive 20-sided keep dominating the Boyne Valley.
Ancient Ruins
Newgrange
A 5,200-year-old passage tomb in Ireland's Boyne Valley, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, famous for its winter solstice illumination of the inner chamber.
Legendary Restaurants
Sean's Bar
Pub on the west bank of the Shannon in Athlone trading since around 900 AD: Guinness World Records lists it as Ireland's oldest. Excavated wattle-and-daub walls and centuries of coins are displayed inside; sawdust still on the floor.
Ancient Ruins
Clonmacnoise
Monastic city founded by St Ciarán in 544 on an esker above a bend of the Shannon: two round towers, a cathedral, high crosses and hundreds of early Christian grave slabs. Once one of Europe's great centres of learning.
Ancient Ruins
Poulnabrone Dolmen
A striking 5,000-year-old portal tomb standing stark against the limestone pavement of the Burren.
Belfast to Galway FAQs
How long is the drive from Belfast to Galway?
Driving from Belfast to Galway takes about 4 hr 3 min nonstop, covering 203 miles (326 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Belfast to Galway?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £34 one-way. Expect around £2 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Belfast to Galway in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr 3 min of driving, Belfast to Galway is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between Belfast and Galway?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include The Burren, Tollymore Forest Park, Mourne Mountains: see the full list of 8 stops on this page.
More drives from Belfast & Galway
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner or the Ireland planner, or read the driving in Ireland guide.