Cliffs of Moher & the Burren Day Trip from Dublin
The Atlantic wall of Clare and the limestone desert behind it — a long day
A one-day drive from Dublin to Cliffs of Moher & the Burren — 559 km round trip, about 6h 21m driving, with stops and timings worked out.
The Atlantic wall of Clare and the limestone desert behind it: a long day. It's a day out of Dublin: 559 km of driving in total, about 6h 21m behind the wheel, and the rest of the day on your feet.
The plan below is paced so the driving doesn't eat the day: leave after breakfast, be back for the evening. Every stop can be swapped for one of three alternatives if it isn't your kind of thing.
Your days
You drive west to Ireland's most famous cliffs by late morning, walk their edge from the visitor centre, then turn for home.
A gentle stroll north along the paved cliff path from the visitor centre to the tower.
Overnight in Dublin
- View
Staycity Aparthotels, Dublin, City Centre
hotel · 0.6 km from the centre★ 4.7 · Little, Mary St, Dublin - View
O'Donoghues Bar
guesthouse · 1.3 km from the centre★ 4.6 · 15 Merrion Row, Dublin - View
The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection
hotel · 1.2 km from the centre★ 4.6 · Scottish Provident House, 27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin - View
Browse places to stay
Dublin
Booking happens on the partner's site.
Nothing stops you at the road, so this is on you to settle. The M50 around Dublin has no barriers — pay online by 8pm the next day or it becomes a penalty.
Buy at www.eflow.iePrice checked 2026-07-30. Confirm on the official site.
- This is a long single-day round trip — expect roughly 6-7 hours total driving, budget fuel and rest stops.
- Book Cliffs of Moher car park tickets online in advance to avoid queues at the gate.
- Fill up on fuel before leaving Dublin or in a larger town — rural Clare stations can be sparse.
- Leave Dublin early (by 7-8am) to have real daylight time at the cliffs before the drive home.
- Poulnabrone Dolmen+25 km
A striking 5,000-year-old portal tomb set in the stark limestone of the Burren, a short detour off the Doolin road.
- Aillwee Cave+30 km
A show cave in the heart of the Burren with underground waterfalls, an easy detour if time allows.
- Kilmacduagh Monastery+20 km
An atmospheric ruined monastic site with Ireland's tallest round tower, quiet and rarely crowded.
This route was drafted with AI. Please double-check roads, opening hours and local conditions before you go.
Questions, answered
- Are the Cliffs of Moher really doable in a day from Dublin?
- Yes, but it is a long one: roughly three hours each way, so plan on ten to eleven hours door to door. It works best if you make the drive part of the point and add the Burren on the way back, rather than treating it as a single stop.
- Do I need to pre-book Newgrange?
- Yes. The passage tomb can only be visited on a guided tour from the Brú na Bóinne visitor centre, tours sell out in summer, and you cannot drive to the monument itself: the shuttle from the centre is the only access. Book before you drive.
- What about the M50 toll?
- The eastbound and westbound toll at Junction 6–7 is barrier-free: cameras read your plate and you pay by 8pm the next day online. Hire companies charge an administration fee on top if they pay it for you, so do it yourself the evening you drive.
- Which day works best in bad weather?
- Kilkenny: the castle, the medieval mile and the brewery are all indoors or short hops. Glendalough is fine in drizzle and better without crowds, but the upper lake walk turns to mud.
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