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Are Google maps driving times close to realistic?

Presuming no livestock or stopped vehicles anyway? I know we'll stop along the way, but I'm just trying to plan generic driving times...

Posted by
32521 posts

Just like at home they always indicate best possible results, and driving at the speed limit at all times, neither exceeding nor any periods of slowness. In Ireland you will almost never ever achieve that.

Try viaMichelin, add 25% and round up, way up.

Posted by
1446 posts

As Nigel said : use Viamichelin, instead of Google.

Having driven all over Ireland last year, for over 3 weeks, I'd say even double the estimate given on the smaller roads. You will end up with far more slowdowns than you expect.

Posted by
124 posts

Lisa,
Google Maps is the best thing. It never gave me one bad direction and it found the things I wanted to see that I couldn't find on the map. I'd say I was often right on time and other times I could be off by 20 minutes due to road contentions. I only came across livestock once and I think max it took up 5 minutes.
Keep in mind I'm talking about my whole trip, I drove will over 7,161 miles between the UK and Ireland.

Posted by
9110 posts

Holy cow!

Seven thousand miles is something like five rounds trips between Land's End and John O'Groats. That'd wear the skin off your tail.

Posted by
9363 posts

I'm with Nigel. Use ViaMichelin instead and add 25%, then add time for any stops you make (including time to see the things you are there for).