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 · Ireland
Dublin to Galway drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 2 hr 30 min
- Distance
- 130 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £22
- Tolls (est.)
- £2
The Dublin to Galway drive
The drive from Dublin to Galway covers 130 miles (209 km) and takes about 2 hr 30 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 £22 one-way plus roughly £2 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between Dublin and Galway
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
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.
Racetracks
Mondello Park
Ireland's only permanent motorsport circuit, located in County Kildare and the home of Irish national racing since 1968.
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.
Dublin to Galway FAQs
How long is the drive from Dublin to Galway?
Driving from Dublin to Galway takes about 2 hr 30 min nonstop, covering 130 miles (209 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Dublin to Galway?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £22 one-way. Expect around £2 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Dublin to Galway in one day?
Yes, at about 2 hr 30 min of driving, Dublin to Galway is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between Dublin and Galway?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include The Burren, Trim Castle, Mondello Park: see the full list of 6 stops on this page.
More drives from Dublin & Galway
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Ireland road trip planner, or read the driving in Ireland guide.