I might be an expert at traveling, but when I was figuring out how to plan an Ireland road trip, I became a complete newbie. Which was actually quite exciting!

My Mom had retired earlier in the year, and we planned a three-week trip in Europe, including Ireland, Spain, and Italy.

And since the best way to see Ireland is by car, what other choice did we have?!

Have either of us ever driven on the left side of the road? No. But that wasn’t going to stop us. 

I researched the best Ireland road trip itineraries, planned the logistics, booked the accommodations, and all my Mom had to do was show up. 

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So, How to plan an Ireland Road Trip?

I had a lot of questions when it came to planning our Ireland road trip, and not just wondering where to go, but how to even make it happen!

Car rentals, driving etiquette, and having GPS were all things that, if they went wrong, could really ruin the trip.

And be sure you have travel emergency health insurance! For a trip with set dates, I recommend SafetyWing so you can be insured for the exact number of days you need + have luggage coverage.

But what if it all went right? With the right research on how to plan an Ireland road trip, and studying TikToks on driving in Ireland, it’s become a piece of cake. Or a piece of potato, I should say? Okay, weird pun, but you get my point.

So let’s get into this first-timer’s guide on how to plan an Ireland road trip, and you can learn from everything that went right (and wrong) for us on our trip.

Our Ireland Roadtrip Itinerary:

I’m gonna keep this brief as this article is more about how to plan an Ireland road trip. But you still might find some inspiration in our itinerary. 

Looking back, I think it was perfect in terms of the destinations and the pacing. 

The night before we started the trip we stayed in a private room at the Generator Hostel.

Day 1: Dublin to Killarney ➡ With stop at Rock of Cashel

Day 2: Ring of Kerry 

Day 3: Killarney to Ennis ➡ With stop at Bunratty Castle

Day 4: Ennis to Doolin ➡ Cliffs of Moher after check-in

Day 5: Doolin to Galway ➡ Spend rest of day in Galway

Day 6: Back to Dublin

If you want a full breakdown of the itinerary with suggested times, you can grab a copy of the exact one we used here from my Notion! 

Where and How to Rent a Car in Ireland:

I’ll admit, I’m not the most experienced when it comes to renting cars. This was probably the most difficult part for me when it came down to how to plan an Ireland road trip.

In fact, this was my first time ever renting one, and, being paranoid about insurance coverage with brands like Hertz or Enterprise, I didn’t go with either.

In the end, we rented a car from NewWay Car Rental, an Irish brand that offers full coverage insurance, roadside assistance, and cross-border fees. It completely took the guesswork out of who to rent a car from in Ireland. 

With that said, NewWay rentals offer limited pick-up and drop-off locations: Dublin City Center, Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport, and Cork. For my Mom and me, it worked out perfectly as we picked up the car in Dublin City Center and returned it there. 

To reserve, we booked our dates online, selecting the “Compact Auto” option on the rental page, which turned out to be a Toyota Yaris when we picked up our car at the location. The lil’ hatchback was a perfect fit for the two of us with our large suitcases. 

The cost of the 5-day rental with an additional driver was about €671, or $777.

In checking NewWay’s recent costs (in 2026), they seem even lower, but it may depend on when you’re booking. Regardless, they are worth taking a look at before you decide to book with others. 

Requirements to Rent a Car in Ireland:

Another important consideration in how to plan an Ireland road trip is making sure you have the right credentials to even operate the vehicle!

With a US driver’s license, the only thing you legally need to rent a car in Ireland is your license. An IDP (International Driver’s Permit) is not required, although some car rental agencies may request one. 

Be sure to ask before you decide on your rental, just in case, but with NewWay, they only asked for my US license and passport. 

Tips for Driving in Ireland:

I’ve driven on the right side of the road my whole life, so no doubt I was intimidated by the idea of having to drive on the left. 

And not just that, Ireland has some small roads, many of which have a whole wall of rocks along the side, so you really have to fit snuggly into the lane. 

These are the top tips I learned while driving in Ireland:

Roundabouts:

You can read all about the roundabouts, but unless you’ve driven them before, you only really get it when you’re driving in them. 

We encountered 2 and 3 lane roundabouts and while they do get less intimidating over time, there’s a learning curve for sure!

I actually watched TikTok videos, some from the American POV with tips and others official Irish driving schools video clips. 

Whatever you do, before you start your Ireland roadtrip, read up on them and watch videos on the rules, such as when to switch lanes, and how to safely get out on your exit. 

And whenever I was in doubt on how to drive the roundabouts, I took it slow and stayed aware of other cars.

“Keep the Bitch in the Ditch”:

“Keep the Bitch in the Ditch” refers to the fact the driver should always be driving next to the ditch (on the left side of the road). 

As many of the roads are small, it also serves as a reminder to stay close to the “ditch” to make space for upcoming traffic. 

Don’t get TOO close though, because some of the “ditches” are actually walls of rocks that could be within an inch or two of taking out your side-view mirror.

Get a Smaller Car:

This is number one in my book. If you have a large SUV type car, you’re setting yourself up for fitting in all sort of tight spaces, such as parking and driving on tiny roads. We had to squeeze past other cars, especially on the Ring of Kerry as it was such a relief to be able to do so with (more) ease. 

My Mom was funny, as she wanted a larger car in case she had to drive, since she has a medium-sized SUV in the US. I insisted on something smaller, so we went with the Toyota Yaris. Not too big, and not too small. 

Using GPS vs Data for Getting Around:

All car rental services in Ireland offer an additional GPS add-on with their rentals. But when it comes to how to plan an Ireland road trip, it might not actually be necessary.

I can’t speak for other car rental providers in Ireland, but with NewWay, the man helping us get set up told us that the GPS had a pre-downloaded map that worked on satellite. Meaning not all the roads may be updated or accurate.

We ended up using data from a $40 SIM card we bought at Dublin Airport. Technically, a rip-off cause it was the airport, but the unlimited local data worked perfectly.

I don’t recommend using eSIM data. At the time, I was using PangiaPass (get 10% off), which is wonderful for multi-country use at an unbeatable price, but as we drove around Ireland, I noticed the connection wasn’t as strong as my mother’s local SIM card. 

Building Your Ireland Road Trip Itinerary:

When I built our Ireland road trip itinerary, it was tough to decide what to do. 

Keep it to the basics? Like driving the Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher.

Or go on the Ireland road trip expert path and head up North instead. 

With only a week in Ireland and it being our first time, we decided to stick with driving the South of Ireland.

The Irish Road Trip and Dangerous Business offered some useful Ireland road trip itinerary ideas. 

For a day-by-day, hour-by-hour itinerary, this is the exact Ireland road trip itinerary for first-timers we did.

You’re All Set To Road Trip Ireland

I hope you found this guide to planning an Ireland road trip useful! As a first-timer, I know it can be intimidating, and this is everything I learned in the process to make it easier for you.

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