Driving from Galway to Dingle via Cliffs of Moher

We drove the opposite direction, from Dingle to Galway, also stopping at the Cliffs of Moher. I would recommend taking the ferry (Killimer to Tarbert) - it saves a bit of a time, it's a neat experience, and you get to take your eyes off the road for a little while. Also, I think it's a much more scenic drive than sticking to the highways the whole trip. I do not recall any tunnel (maybe I am forgetting). If you stick to the highways, you have to go around Limerick, which is a bit out of the way. We were originally going to do the highways, but our B&B hosts in Dingle strongly encouraged us to do the ferry, and we were glad we did.

I also did it in the other direction two years ago. We left Dingle around 9 AM, stopped at the Cliffs and took a leisurely route threough the Burren and arrived in Galway late afternoon. We did not take the ferry, that might save a bit of time.

Thank you both, Steve and Archimedes, for you insightful responses. Have a great summer!

Google or look for a smartphone app for the "Wild Atlantic Way." This is a signposted route that runs along the entire western coast of Ireland and around the south end as far as Kinsale. The route signage is very easy to follow but having the map (either on the phone or on paper) will help you see where the road doubles back from dead ends on peninsulas if you're running a little late.

On this route there's a ferry across the Shannon river between Killimer and Tarbert. I'm pretty sure there's no car ferry that bypasses Tralee.

On your approach to Dingle you have a choice of routes between N86 or R586. R586 is the more interesting route unless it's raining.

Thank you Peter!