Galway to Dingle, stopping at Cliffs of Moher?

Without knowing your exact preferences, it's hard to give much advice. Western Ireland is the prettiest part of the country, so being focused on a long drive may distract you from why you're there. If you enjoy pubs and music, I'd suggest a stopover in Doolin or Ennis although you'll find it everywhere in Dingle. I've always skipped the Cliffs of Moher for being over hyped (think Blarney Stone) and you might find the Cliffs of Kerry as pretty without all the tour buses. You could head there on he way to/from Cork/Cohb). You might want to consider the Killimer Ferry as a alternate route to Dingle. Shortens the drive at the expense of an equal amount of ferry ride/wait time. Or you could include Bunratty Castle/Folkpark if you go the Limerick route ( a little touristy as well). We spent one night in Limerick in 2016 without regrets.

Is it reasonable to drive from Galway to Dingle, with driving through the Burren and stopping at the Cliffs of Moher along the way, in a day, or is that trying to do too much?

Yes.

I did exactly that. We picked up our car in Galway first thing in the morning, and drove to Dingle the same day, with multiple (brief) stops along the way (an occasional castle, ruined abbey, the Burren, dolmen, Cliffs of Moher, etc.). It was a long day, a bit stressful with all the hours driving "wrongside" on narrow roads, but it's do-able. I recall peeling myself off the drivers' seat, stepping outside in Dingle, and feeling like I should kiss the ground. I was more than ready to be out of the car for a while.

So, definitely physically possible, but do not discount that it may take a lot out of you. I find driving at high speed on the wrongside, through roads that appear to be just wide enough for one car but actually have two-way traffic including tour buses and farm trucks, all that requires pretty intense concentration, and after many hours behind the wheel like that, I was pretty squeezed out. You need a copilot/navigator/helper who takes their job seriously and who remains mentally "with you" the whole time to do it safely. Or at least I did.

I'll leave whether or not this is "reasonable" to others (you did ask...).

Thanks for these comments! I think that JJGurley calling it "a long drive", along with David's characterization of the drive has probably answered my question. I realize that driving ### miles in western Ireland is a lot different (harder) than driving the same miles down the PA Turnpike, and anyway, we aren't going to Ireland to experience a long, gruelling drive. I think I'll look to spend a night in either Doolin or Ennis. I do like the idea of using the Killimer/Tarbert ferry link also. That sounds like fun and good sense. Thanks again.

Probably a wise choice.

My only counterpoint (an unwise choice?) is that I decided to do the all-day drive because our time was limited, and we were prioritizing other things/destinations. I'm happy with the choices we made and the results we enjoyed - it's the typical tradeoffs and choices one has to make then traveling. We moved pretty fast between some of our locations, but also slowed down and spent more extended time in some of them. No wrong answers, just choices and options to weigh. I completely agree with jjgurley that western Ireland is the prettiest, and for us, the most enjoyable part of the country.

It is a long way and you are going to need to allow 6 hours plus stops for the drive. (Don’t underestimate driving times in Ireland - distances may not look that far on a map but will take a lot longer to cover than you might expect. Ireland is a place to slow down and enjoy rather than try and cram too much travelling into a day.

The best views of the Cliffs are actually from the sea (you can do boat trips from Doolin). The top of the cliffs is always busy with visitors.

The Burren is scenically very good and completely different from elsewhere in Ireland with its bare limestone pavements. The bit along the coast from Ballyvaughan to Doolin is some of the best coastal scenery. If you have chance to break the journey then do so!

I agree that is a grueling day. How much time to you have for Ireland all together?

After landing in Dublin, why don't you power through to Galway? Pick up your car the next day and return it before you stay in Dublin. Then, your Dublin time would be in one block, 3 nights would be plenty.

Once again, thank you for all your replies and good information. To Sunny22 - I've been narrowing things down with a few questions here, and will soon post my suggested itinerary so people can comment or point out issues. We're probably talking about 11 or 12 nights in Ireland, with a focus on Dublin and the south west coast. Your suggestion to get right on a bus or train over to Galway after arrival in Dublin is a good one, and we will consider that. That does seem like a strategic way to use our time while getting our tired bodies over to the west before we crash. On the other had, that could be pushing ourselves after that flight, and the idea of right into a Dublin hotel or guesthouse sounds pretty good! We will have to think about that. I know that many people can sleep on a plane, which affects their decisions about the first day, but my wife and I are not those people. It would be great to get in a little dozing, but we aren't expecting any meaningful sleep. More soon.

@Miles - FWIW we took the good advice of many here and did exactly what Sunny22 is suggesting above: arrive at the airport in Dublin, step outside the airport terminal, buy a bus ticket to Galway, step on the bus, settle in and relax in comfort as they do the driving. They dropped us in Galway, we dragged our bags a few blocks to a lovely little B&B recommended in the Rick Steves guidebook. We checked in, went out and walked around Galway for a few hours, grabbed some fish and chips, headed back to the B&B, then crashed and got a good, long night's sleep.

Next morning we headed out to Inis Mor in the Aran Islands, and we spent 2 nights there (again, based on excellent advice offered right here by others who had been there); upon returning back to Galway, only then did we pick up our rental car, and move on (that day we drove to Dingle). This works great because you are not wasting money by paying for your rental car while you're out on the island. If you're not going to the Aran Islands, then you get your rental car in Galway, the morning you are ready to drive away (after at least one night of good sleep).

Make all your time in Dublin as one block, rather than some days at the beginning of your trip and some days at the end - it's more efficient that way. You have to spend your last night there anyway (so you don't risk missing your flight).

I agree with David and Sunny, you might as well take that bus straight from DUB to Galway on your jetlag day, which is pretty shot anyway. Pretty scenery and the motion of the bus will rock you to sleep. Then you're in a smaller city for your first night and whatever else you have planned, and you can save Dublin for the block of time it deserves at the end.

I took the RS Ireland tour last spring and we went from Dingle to Galway in one day, stopping at the Cliffs and (too briefly) the Burren. It was a fine day, easy enough for us who weren't driving the bus. But if you can build another night into that part of your plan, you'd doubtless enjoy it more.

If you can check into your accommodations right after landing in Dublin, that would be one thing to consider. If your flight arrives in the morning, chances are you can't. We have learned the hard way that it is a long, painful day of plodding around trying to stay awake until your room is ready. If that is the case, you might as well be on a bus, with your eyes closed letting someone else getting a lot of your driving out of the way!

Thanks to all of you for these great comments. I am liking more and more the idea of getting on a bus to Galway after arrival in Dublin. The wife and I have experienced the situation in the past, where you arrive all zombiefied after an overnight flight, and then either have to kill time or to find your way to your hotel through a combo of train/subway/taxi, etc., before you can relax. I will need to sell the idea to my wife. Any comment as to any particular bus options are "nicer" or more comfortable? Also, I'll look at Youtube videos on the process. Thanks again!

We just returned from Ireland in December. November and December were great times to go. Not many tourists and the weather was sunny every day but cool. Definitely needed a really warm coat and hat. We flew into Dublin and it was a morning arrival. We stayed a few nights in Dublin to get over jet lag before attempting to drive. I highly recommend the Trinity Townhouse hotel. Great area near St Stephens green and walkable to Grafton etc. Small boutique hotel that was fabulous. We drove south to Kilkenny (fabulous boutique hotel and outstanding restaurant Zuni!) Then onto Kinsale. We stopped for lunch in Youghal which is where Moby Duck was filmed. What a fabulous medieval town this was. We spent a few hours walking the stone walls and visiting probably the best preserved medieval church. Kinsale was great without tourists. Stayed at wonderful B&B Desmond House. Grainie and Paddy were wonderful hosts! Then off to Ennis for a few days. This is a great place to stay to explore Cliffs of Moher and Burren. Easy driving loop to both and circle back to Ennis. Ennis was great for music at night in the pubs. No tourists either at this time of year just locals who were so much fun. Then off to Nenagh for 4 nights to explore Louth Derg and explore my husband’s ancestral home. We actually met some cousins. Then to Galway for a few more nights. Recommend The Hardiman Hotel. Perfect location in Galway right on the square which the Christmas market was set up in. The best restaurant we ate in was Oscar’s Seafood Bistro. Incredible food and service. If you do go to the Lough Derg area we stayed at a wonderful B&B outside of Nenagh, Willowbrook B&B. Tricia is a great host and very helpful resource for the area. There is great pike fishing on Lough Derg. We are contemplating buying a home on this lake to move to as my husband has his Irish citizenship.

Forgot to mention that we were there in October too which was a great time to go. Hardly any tourists. Some sights might be closed but Cliffs, etc were open and nice with hardly any tourists. Weather was sunny but cool. Bring a down long coat. Even though the temp was 50ish it was cold because of the dampness. If it did rain it was over in 10 minutes. Weather blows through quickly.