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.
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Road trip route · Ireland · United Kingdom
Dublin to Belfast drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 58 min
- Distance
- 103 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £17
- Tolls (est.)
- £1
The Dublin to Belfast drive
The drive from Dublin to Belfast covers 103 miles (166 km) and takes about 1 hr 58 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 £17 one-way plus roughly £1 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between Dublin and Belfast
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
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.
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.
Dublin to Belfast FAQs
How long is the drive from Dublin to Belfast?
Driving from Dublin to Belfast takes about 1 hr 58 min nonstop, covering 103 miles (166 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Dublin to Belfast?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £17 one-way. Expect around £1 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Dublin to Belfast in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 58 min of driving, Dublin to Belfast is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between Dublin and Belfast?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Tollymore Forest Park, Mourne Mountains, Newgrange: see the full list of 3 stops on this page.
More drives from Dublin & Belfast
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Ireland road trip planner or the United Kingdom planner, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.