Planning your drive from Dublin to Galway and wondering how long it takes and which stops to consider making along the way? You’re not alone.
This journey is one of the most popular road trips in Ireland for those arriving in Dublin and heading to the West of Ireland. How long it takes and what potential stops to make along the way can be quite perplexing if you’re not familiar with the lay of the land.
As locals who have made this journey countless times, we are here to help you unlock the best route, estimate your travel time, and uncover Ireland’s hidden gems along the way that might turn it from a day trip into a two or even three day journey!
This blog post is your trusty roadmap, tailored to all our lovely cousins’ journeying from Dublin to Galway by car. Let’s embark on this Irish adventure together, creating not only a route but a lifetime of memories! Buckle up and let’s hit the road.
Drive from Dublin to Galway – The Details
Many people heading to the West of Ireland will travel from Dublin to Galway by car. If visitors are arriving at Dublin Airport and they are starting their exploration in that part of the Emerald Isle, the easiest and most logical thing for them to do is drive from Dublin to Galway direct.
In this section, we are discussing traveling from Dublin to Galway by car, the distance between these two great cities in Ireland, and some ideas on the best route to take.
Distance from Dublin to Galway and how to get there
How far is Galway from Dublin?
One of the first things we are often asked by our Irish Cousins is “what is the distance between Dublin and Galway?”. We have outlined the distance between Galway and Dublin below via the most direct route from the centre of Dublin to the centre of Galway:
- Distance from Dublin to Galway in miles = 137
- Distance from Dublin to Galway in kilometres = 221
Note that Ireland uses kilometres for distance and driving speeds.
We have a great guide for the most important Irish rules of the road visitors to the Emerald Isle need to know before they arrive.
How to get from Dublin to Galway, Ireland
The best way to get to Galway from Dublin is by using the M4 and M6 motorways which run from the M50 all the way to Galway (junction 19). The M6 motorway becomes the N6 national road which will lead you to city roads into the centre of Galway.
When looking for directions from Dublin to Galway, insert your starting point and destination into your navigation app (Google Maps/Apple Maps/Waze), and then follow it for the most direct route if you want to get to Galway via the fastest route.
How long is the drive from Dublin to Galway?
The next question we are often asked is “how long does it take to drive from Dublin to Galway?”.
Well, the driving time from Dublin to Galway depends on the route you take, when you leave Dublin, and whether you make any stops along the way.
The most direct route from Dublin City Centre to the centre of Galway City takes an average of two and a half hours, without traffic and without any stops, along the M4 and M6 motorways.
Factoring in stops and breaks, or taking a more scenic drive from Dublin to Galway will add to your journey time.
Best way to get to Galway from Dublin
The best way to get from Dublin to Galway depends on a few things.
- How fast you want to reach Galway.
- Whether you want to avoid toll roads or not.
- Whether you want to take a more scenic route.
There is no right or wrong route for getting to Galway if you don’t mind tolls, speed or scenery. Let’s look at the most direct route and an option for a more scenic drive.
The Dublin to Galway motorway
The best way to travel from Dublin to Galway if you want to get there quickly is to travel along the M4 and M6.
The M4/M6 motorway roads from Dublin to Galway are the quickest way to Galway.
Leaving from the centre of Dublin, you will travel towards the M50, typically via the M50/Dublin Port Tunnel, or along the quays on the R148. At the M50, you will pass through the Palmerstown/Lucan Junction 7 and onto the M4 until Kinnegad where you will join the M6 towards Galway.
Are there tolls from Dublin to Galway
You should be aware that taking the M4/M6 route, you will encounter two tolls between Dublin and Galway.
The first toll is between Kinnegad/Enfield and Kilcock on the M4, while the second is on the M6 between Ballinasloe and Loughrea.
The M4 toll operates via a toll plaza that accepts electronic toll tags, cash, and cards (Visa Debit and Mastercard), while the M6 also operates via a toll plaza, accepting the same forms of payment as the M4 toll.
There is a way to avoid the tolls on this motorway route by doing the following:
- Exit the M4 at junction 8 for Clane/Kilcock and driving along the R148/R446/R400.
- Rejoin the M6 at junction 3 for Galway/Athlone.
- Exit the M6 at junction 15 towards Ballinasloe (West)/Portumna and drive along the R446/N65.
- Rejoin the M6 at junction 16 for Galway.
Scenic drive from Dublin to Galway
You can avoid the motorway and tolls by taking the scenic route from Dublin to Galway. This will be a longer journey, averaging 4 hours but will travel through far nicer scenery and landscapes, and gives visitors the opportunity to make interesting stops along the way.
There are 3 options for this:
- Via R402 – Travel along the N4 until junction 5 and take the exit for Celbridge/Leixlip and turn left. You will continue towards Barberstown, then Timahoe, Edenderry, Daingean, Tullamore, Cloghan, Banagher, Killimor, Loughrea, and Galway.
- Via R446 – Travel along the R810 and past the Red Cow roundabout onto the N7. Continue along the N7 until Nass, where you will turn off to avoid joining the M7. You will join the R409 and continue towards Rathangan, Tullamore, and Cloghan, before following the rest of Route 1 towards Galway.
- Via R148 and R446 – Travel along the N4 until junction 5 and take the exit for Celbridge/Leixlip and turn right. You will continue towards Maynooth, then Kilcock, Enfield, Kinnegad, Rochfortbridge, Kilbeggan, and Cloghan before following the rest of Route 1 towards Galway. This route follows what was the old Galway Road prior to the construction of the M4 and M6 motorways.
You could make a full day of your trip, or stop overnight, by taking one of the following options which have interesting stops along the way:
- Visit the Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre, travel on to see the Curragh Racecourse. Drop into the Irish National Stud before heading for the Tullamore DEW whiskey distillery (make sure you have a designated driver or plan to stay in Tullamore overnight if everyone is sampling the whiskey). From Tullamore you could travel to Birr to visit Birr Castle, stop in Portumna to see the castle and the Forest Park. Lough Derg Blueway and Coole Park Nature Reserve are also stops to consider once you leave Portumna. Estimated driving time = 4-5 hours.
- Visit Emerald Park (formerly Tayto Park) before visiting the historic Hill of Tara and Trim Castle. From Trim Castle, head to the Clara Bog Nature Reserve, Clonmacnoise, Carrownagappul Bog and then on to Galway. Estimated driving time = 4.5-5.5 hours.
These two options for a more scenic route from Dublin to Galway mostly avoids motorways and do not pass through any toll plazas.
Best time to go on a road trip from Dublin to Galway
The best time to travel between Dublin and Galway by car is during the summer when the weather will be more pleasant. That said, summer is Ireland’s peak tourist season, so you might find the volume of traffic on motorways a little heavier and more visitors at tourist attractions.
Summer sees average temperatures between lows of 10˚C and highs of 20˚C (50-68F), and a high chance of rain in Galway since it is in one of the wettest parts of the country. There is plenty to see and do in Galway in summer.
Winter is the quietest time of the year for tourists, but average temperature is between 3˚C and 9˚C (37-48F). Wind and rain are frequent but if you visit in December, you can enjoy the Galway Christmas markets.
Spring and Autumn are great ‘shoulder’ seasons to travel between Dublin and Galway. Average temperatures lie between 5˚C and 17˚C (41-62F). These seasons are cheaper times of the year to visit with cheaper accommodation available. Consider doing this trip in September when the Galway International Oyster Festival takes place.
Driving from Dublin to Galway – The best stops to make along the way
So, now that you know how to get to Galway from Dublin, the routes you can take, and the best time to go, you are probably wondering are there any stops worth considering along the Dublin to Galway drive.
Well, there are plenty of thing to see between Dublin and Galway.
There are a few castles between Dublin and Galway you could visit, there are some towns along the route from Dublin to Galway that you could stop at overnight to enjoy some real Irish cuisine, and there are other sights between Dublin and Galway you should consider including in your itinerary.
While we’ve shared some of these in the two scenic routes above, in this section we are sharing with you some ideas for stops while driving from Dublin to Galway.
Travelling from Dublin to Galway – Stop 1: Tullamore
A great option for a half-way point stop along the Dublin to Galway road is Tullamore. Located in County Offaly, it lies along the Grand Canal (which runs all the way to Dublin), and as a result is great for enjoying the Grand Canal Greenway.
This midlands town is also home to the Tullamore DEW whiskey distillery, a great one to visit while travelling between Dublin and Galway. The distillery offers tours and tasting, and experiences. Just make sure that you either stay overnight if you are all going to partake in the tasting or have a designated driver if it is a short pit stop enroute to Galway.
On the edge of town, you will find the Charleville Estate with its castle and large parklands, perfect for stretching your legs.
There are also several churches to visit in the town and boglands to see just outside of the town.
Getting from Dublin to Galway – Stop 2: Clonmacnoise
Another place to visit while travelling to Galway from Dublin is the ruined monastic site of Clonmacnoise.
Founded by Saint Ciaran in the 6th century, the site was world-famous for learning and scholastic teachings, particularly between the 8th and 12th centuries. It was attacked many times over the centuries by Vikings and Normans alike and rebuilt each time.
It began to decline towards the end of the 12th century and finally fell into ruin after a final looting by British forces in the mid-16th century.
Clonmacnoise is a historically important site and a must-visit for anyone looking to stop somewhere between Dublin and Galway as they make their way westwards.
The site is home to many chapels, two round towers, a ruined cathedral, and three important High Crosses which are housed in the Visitor Centre to protect them from both the weather and humans. Where they once stood in the grounds you will find replicas.
If you are interested in Irish history and are looking to stop along your Dublin to Galway drive, we highly recommend Clonmacnoise.
What to see between Dublin and Galway – Stop 3: Athlone
Another popular place to stop while driving from Dublin to Galway is the town of Athlone.
This border town sits on the River Shannon between Westmeath and Roscommon and offers visitors plenty of things to do as well as a good choice of accommodation.
As it is located on the River Shannon, visitors who chose to spend a few days in Athlone can enjoy river cruises along the Shannon.
Other things to do include visiting Athlone Castle, visiting the church of Saints Peter and Paul, enjoying a pint in Sean’s Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland, or immersing yourself in rural midlands life at the Derryglad Heritage and Visitor Centre.
If you want a great town to spend a night or two while heading to Galway from Dublin, choose to stay in Athlone. You can also visit Clonmacnoise (mentioned above) from the town.
Conclusion
The drive from Dublin to Galway is a relatively easy one, whether you choose to drive it in one go, or choose to stop along the way for a few hours or even a few days.
While the motorway is the quickest and easiest route, it comes with two tolls to pay. There are ways to avoid the tolls while using the motorway for most of the journey, or visitors can choose a more scenic route to Galway from Dublin.
No matter your route, there are plenty of stops you can make along the way to break up the drive and allow you to enjoy more of Ireland as you make your way West.
Frequently Asked Questions about the drive from Dublin to Galway
If you are wondering how far is it from Dublin to Galway, Galway lies 137 miles or 221 kilometres west of Dublin.
The mileage from Dublin to Galway is 137 miles along the quickest route while entails taking the M4 and M6 motorways.
Taking the quickest route to Galway from Dublin along the M4 and M6 motorways, it is 221 kilometres from Dublin to Galway.
Yes, absolutely. Having a rental car in Ireland is always worth it and it gives you the freedom to make stops along the way that trains and buses do not. As mentioned in this article, there are lots of places to stop along the way, whether it is for a few hours or a few days.
Travelling along the M4 and M6 motorways, which is the most direct and quickest route to Galway from Dublin, the journey will take an average of two and a half hours without stops or heavy traffic.
