Ancient Ruins
Rock of Cashel
Spectacular group of medieval buildings perched on a limestone outcrop in Tipperary, including a round tower, Romanesque chapel and Gothic cathedral.
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Road trip route · Ireland
Dublin to Cork drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 3 hr 2 min
- Distance
- 157 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £27
- Tolls (est.)
- £3
The Dublin to Cork drive
The drive from Dublin to Cork covers 157 miles (252 km) and takes about 3 hr 2 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 £27 one-way plus roughly £3 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between Dublin and Cork
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Racetracks
Mondello Park
Ireland's only permanent motorsport circuit, located in County Kildare and the home of Irish national racing since 1968.
Mountain Passes
Wicklow Gap
High mountain pass on the R756 across the Wicklow Mountains between Hollywood and Glendalough, following the medieval pilgrims' route of St Kevin's Road through wild granite moorland.
Mountain Passes
The Vee
V-shaped hairpin pass on the R668 climbing to 610m through the Knockmealdown Gap between Clogheen and Lismore, ablaze with rhododendron in late May. Overlooks Bay Lough and the Golden Vale patchwork below.
Dublin to Cork FAQs
How long is the drive from Dublin to Cork?
Driving from Dublin to Cork takes about 3 hr 2 min nonstop, covering 157 miles (252 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Dublin to Cork?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £27 one-way. Expect around £3 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Dublin to Cork in one day?
Yes, at about 3 hr 2 min of driving, Dublin to Cork is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between Dublin and Cork?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Rock of Cashel, Mondello Park, Wicklow Gap: see the full list of 4 stops on this page.
More drives from Dublin & Cork
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Ireland road trip planner, or read the driving in Ireland guide.