Easy First Timer 1-Day Ring of Kerry Driving Route + Tips
When my Mom flew across the pond for the very first time, I knew I had to create the perfect 1-day Ring of Kerry driving route for us.
We went on a six-day road trip across Ireland, and as it was our very first time, the Ring of Kerry was on the list.
And after a long day exploring the sights, I wouldn’t have changed a thing on our 1-day Ring of Kerry driving itinerary.
I’m laying out this Ring of Kerry 1-day driving itinerary hour by hour so you can follow our path (or just take some inspiration from it)!
Disclosure: Some links to products and recommendations are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you).
Where to Rent a Car in Ireland?
Renting a car is the first thing you need to do before taking off on a road trip, right? Well, unless you live in Ireland or somehow got your own car there.
We rented from NewWay Car Rental, picked up the car in Dublin, and returned it there after the 6-day Ireland road trip.
They are upfront about pricing and include all insurance, so you don’t have to worry.
I have a full guide on how to plan an Ireland road trip, including car rental tips, so be sure to take a look.
Top Planning Tips for a 1-day Ring of Kerry Driving Route
Before I get into the 1-day Ring of Kerry driving itinerary, there are a few things to know to make the most of it.
How long do you need for the Ring of Kerry? Give yourself a FULL day for the Ring of Kerry. We booked two nights in Killarney (just 30-40 minutes away).
Which direction to drive? After reading multiple guides advising to drive clockwise (against the tour buses), the night before, we met a local woman who adamantly recommended driving counterclockwise (with the tour buses).
We followed her advice, headed to the Ring of Kerry earlier than most tours begin, spent a lot of time on smaller roads, and somehow didn’t see a tour bus on the road at all that day
Bring snacks. While there are many places to eat, in one town we first stopped at, all the cafes were closed except for one. While we stopped at other places to eat later on, our snack stash helped us get through a lot of the day.
Follow Our 1-Day Ring of Kerry Driving Route
Now that we’ve covered the technical details and tips, let’s get into our 1-Day Ring of Kerry driving route.
I’ve broken it down hour by hour, but you can just use that as a guide to get an idea of how long it can take to explore the entire Ring of Kerry.
6:00 – 7:00: Set Off Early
Depending on where you’re staying, you’ll want to set off for the Ring of Kerry early.
Killarney to the start of the Ring of Kerry (in the clockwise direction) takes about an hour, and you might want to stop for a coffee and fill up on gas.
8:00 am: Rossbeigh Strand
We arrived at the Rossbeigh Strand at about 8:00 AM and soaked up a peaceful morning. There’s plenty of parking, and you can take a lil along the beach, or even prop up on the rocks to finish your morning coffee.
It definitely sets the tone for the day and is a bit of peace before going all in on this 1-day Ring of Kerry driving itinerary.
Stop along the scenic route: After we left Rossbeigh Strand, we continued along R564, which leads up to a stunning viewpoint over the bay. As we continued to the next destination, we made stops to adore the sheep, and I even picked some wild blackberries!
9:30 am: Cahergal Stone Fort
Drive time (no stops) from Ross Beigh Strand to Cahergal Stone Fort: ~40 minutes
The Cahergal Stone Fort takes us all the way back to the A.D. timeline. It’s one of over 60,000 forts that were used by wealthy farmers to protect their homesteads. Actually crazy to imagine what it was like.
You can walk around and even climb up onto them, but do be careful, as it is all rocks and can be unsteady. You would not want to take a spill here!
As we were walking back to the car to continue our Ireland road trip, there was a man outside with the cutest lamb. Not gonna lie, I was running to him cause what a moment.
Get scammed: If you fall for any scam in your life, just hold the lamb, and when he asks for money, just give it to him. He took a couple of pictures for us, and we gave him €5. Best money ever spent.
10:00 am: Light Bite & coffee break in Cahersiveen
Drive time (no stops) from Cahergal Stone Fort to Cahersiveen: ~5 minutes
Since we hadn’t had breakfast and I was getting particularly hungry, we decided to pass through the nearest town to see what was open. The Lazy Cat Cafe was the busiest (and the only open) place in town. Perhaps because it was a Sunday.
I’m glad we chose to stop because we had so much more ahead of us that day, and getting hungry wasn’t going to distract us.
12:00 pm: Fogher Cliffs & Geokaun Mountain
Drive time (no stops) from Cahersiveen to Geokaun Mountain and Cliffs: ~30 minutes
The Fogher Cliffs & Geokaun Mountain offer some of the best views over the Atlantic and Valencia Harbor.
This stop requires a bit of walking to reach both main points.
The Fogher Cliffs stand over 600 feet above the Atlantic, stretching long across the coast.
Then you can loop back around to the discovery point, which is a nice (windy) hike with vast views over the land.
1:30 pm: Telegraph Field (First Atlantic Undersea Communication Cable)
Drive time (no stops) from Geokaun Mountain and Cliffs to the Telegraph Field: ~5 minutes
On the way to the Kerry Cliffs in this 1-day Ring of Kerry driving route, one nerdy lil’ stop is at the site of the first transatlantic undersea telecommunications cable.
In 1866, it connected North America to Europe with its first message. Message transmission time was cut down to just minutes.
1:30 pm: KerrY Cliffs
Drive time (no stops) from the Telegraph Field to Kerry Cliffs: ~10 minutes
The Kerry Cliffs were one of the most memorable things about our whole Ireland trip. More so than the Cliffs of Moher.
They formed over 400 million years ago and tower over 1,000 feet above the Atlantic. They have this wild and powerful energy that can’t be described. It was just a feeling I had, standing in the strong winds, taking in as many details of them as I could.
Have a snack break: At the Kerry Cliffs, there was a little food cart with coffee and desserts. If you catch them serving their cozy apple pie, you can’t go wrong.
3:00-5:00 PM: Skellig Ring, Chocolate Stop, & Ballinskelligs Castle
At this point, we were a bit tired and had seen most of the main attractions.
So from the Kerry Cliffs to the planned dinner stop, we decided to take the journey slowly. We did a straight drive along the Skellig Ring, just taking in the views and scooching into tight roadsides to share the tiny “two-way” roads.
As my Mom loves chocolate, we also pulled over to see what the Skelligs Chocolate Factory had to offer. They have free samples, so it’s worth a stop even if you just want to try.
We also made a brief stop at the Ballinskelligs Castle, but decided to peer at what remained from a distance. The lack of enthusiasm was giving away that hunger was setting in for real along our 1-day Ring of Kerry driving route.
5:00 PM: Blind Piper
I forgot where I saw the Blind Piper Pub recommended, but I was convinced enough to add it to our 1-day Ring of Kerry driving route. It’s everything you’re looking for in a quant Irish pub, with stellar food. Would go again.
6:30 PM: Staigue Stone Fort
Drive time (no stops) from the Blind Piper to Staigue Stone Fort: ~15 minutes
Yes, another fort. The Staigue Stone Fort is really tucked up on some whimsical backroads, you’d think you’re going the wrong way.
Getting there in our Ring of Kerry road trip was a part of the adventure.
Unlike the Cahergal Stone Fort, the Staigue Stone Fort has a curvy platform. If you’re craving another stone fort, this one was well worth it.
As it’s located on private property, there is a donation box, and the owners appreciate donations for upkeep and to support free access to their property.
One day Ring of Kerry Driving Itinerary Complete
And that’s how our 1-Day Ring of Kerry Driving Route & Itinerary is done. Trust me, it is a LONG day, so start off early and pace yourself.
To fully enjoy it, savor each present moment and view along the way. Don’t rush it.
