Ireland in Camping-Car: rental, advice, areas, routes

Would you like to visit Ireland by camping-car or van? Find all our practical tips in this article!

Ireland makes many travellers dream and everyone has its image of the country. For some, it's pubs Dublin . For others, it is the festive atmosphere and music! But for all, Ireland is a magnificent country with breathtaking landscapes and unique cliffs.

For adventurers and camper lovers, Ireland is the ideal place to barbed in peace and enjoy the kindness of the premises. This article lists all the practical information to allow you to prepare your visit to Ireland on a camper. You will find itineraries ideas, traffic rules to know, the most important camping areas and the best time to visit.

In the preamble, note that we are talking here only about the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland, which is a nation of the United Kingdom .

Ideas of itineraries in Ireland by motorhome

Three route ideas are proposed: one week, two weeks and one month. Wanderlix recommends a duration of 2 weeks to explore most of the country. As indicated in the introduction, these routes do not pass through Northern Ireland. But, of course, nothing forbids you to do a trick!

Leave a week

For those who have little vacation or do not necessarily have the means to stay more. One can easily see the main attractions in a week, with relatively short travel times.

• Day 1: Dublin – Glendalough – Wexford (160 km, 2h20 ride)
• Day 2: Wexford – Waterford – Dungarvan – Cork (179 km, 2h35 ride)
• Day 3: Cork – Killarney (85 km, 1h20 ride)
• Day 4: Killarney – Dingle – Tralee (112 km, 1h50 route)
• Day 5: Tralee – Loop Head – Cliffs of Moher – Lahinch (187 km, 4 hours)
• Day 6: Lahinch – Doolin – Galway (83 km, 1h40 route)
• Day 7: Galway – Dublin (208 km, 2h20 ride)

Leave for two weeks

This is the ideal time to discover Ireland. It allows to take time, spend a few days without driving or almost and go to less frequented places.

• Day 1: Day in Dublin
• Day 2: Dublin – Glendalough – Wexford (160 km, 2h20 ride)
• Day 3: Wexford – Waterford – Dungarvan – Cork (179 km, 2h35 ride)
• Day 4: Cork – Beara Peninsula – Kenmare (150 km, 2h30 ride)
• Day 5: Kenmare – Ring of Kerry – Waterville – Killarney (123 km, 2h20 ride)
• Day 6: Day at Killarney National Park
• Day 7: Killarney – Dingle – Tralee (112 km, 1h50 route)
• Day 8: Tralee – Loop Head – Lahinch (166 km, 3h35 route)
• Day 9: Day around Lahinch with the Cliffs of Moher
• Day 10: Lahinch – Doolin – Galway (83 km, 1h40 route)
• Day 11: Galway – Kylemore Abbey – Connemara – Achill Island (175 km, 3 hours)
• Day 12: Achill Island – Ballina – Donegal (207 km, 3 hours)
• Day 13: Donegal – Athlone (175 km, 2h25 ride)
• Day 14: Athlone – Dublin (124 km, 1h20 road)

Leave for a month

Only for those who have a lot of time and the means to do so, this idea of itineraries explores the country from bottom to bottom! We take you close to many points of view, in villages in the middle of nowhere where you will be alone or almost.

• Day 1: Day in Dublin
• Day 2: Dublin – Glendalough – Kilkenny (174 km, 2h30 ride)
• Day 3: Kilkenny – Wexford (75 km, 1h10 road)
• Day 4: Wexford – Waterford – Dungarvan – Cork (179 km, 2h35 ride)
• Day 5: Day in Cork
• Day 6: Cork – Beara Peninsula – Kenmare (150 km, 2h30 ride)
• Day 7: Kenmare – Ring of Kerry – Waterville – Killarney (123 km, 2h20 ride)
• Day 8: Day at Killarney National Park
• Day 9: Killarney – Dingle – Tralee (112 km, 1h50 route)
• Day 10: Tralee – Limerick (100 km, 1h30 road)
• Day 11: Day in Limerick
• Day 12: Limerick – Loop Head – Cliffs of Moher – Lahinch (205 km, 3h20 route)
• Day 13: Lahinch – Doolin – Galway (83 km, 1h40 route)
• Day 14: Day in Galway
• Day 15: Galway – Kylemore Abbey – Connemara – Gowlaun (88 km, 1h35 ride)
• Day 16: Gowlaun – Westport (49 km, 50 minutes)
• Day 17: Westport – Achill Island (51 km, 54 minutes)
• Day 18: Day around Ballycroy National Park nearby
• Day 19: Achill Island – Downpatrick Head (101 km, 1h30 ride)
• Day 20: Downpatrick Head – Ballina – Sligo (92 km, 1h30 ride)
• Day 21: Sligo – Donegal (64 km, 50 minutes)
• Day 22: Donegal – Dungloe (56 km, 55 minutes)
• Day 23: Dungloe – Dunfanaghy (44 km, 40 minutes)
• Day 24: Day around Dunfanaghy with Glenveagh National Park
• Day 25: Dunfanaghy – Malin Head (115 km, 1h45 ride)
• Day 26: Malin Head – Bundoran (150 km, 2h10 ride)
• Day 27: Bundoran – Athlone (148 km, 2h05 ride)
• Day 28: Athlone – Mullingar – Dundalk (155 km, 2h10 route)
• Day 29: Day in Dundalk
• Day 30: Dundalk – Dublin (84 km, 1 hour drive).

What budget to travel by motorhome in Ireland?

Ireland is a country rather friendly for motorhomes. So you will not have difficulty finding it, but it is nevertheless advisable to take it in advance .

First possibility, you can book online on Yescapa or Outdoorsy , sites specialized in camping-car and van rentals. For 100€ per day , to which about 245€ of various costs including insurance , we find high-quality motorhomes. The rental can be carried out online and you can request delivery at the airport, for an additional charge. Another possibility, you can also book with local agencies on site when you arrive.

Free parking is numerous and you will find it easily. Individuals even offer their land if needed. But they are not always suitable for motorhomes. So you will probably need to stay in paid camping areas from time to time. On the other hand, be warned, it is quite expensive, about 70/80€ per night . As such, 250€ parking per week are added.

With regard to gasoline, it is only an estimate since it depends on many factors. Even for tolls because it is possible not to borrow the highways. Attention nevertheless to the detours that are sometimes long.

The budget mentioned is therefore a high average and may appear fairly high. You can lower it by avoiding paid camping areas, highways and quietly rolling.

Average budget for 1 week:

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 945€
• Essence + toll : 160€
• Parking : 250€
• Total: 1 355€

Average budget for 2 weeks:

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 1 890€
• Essence + toll : 320€
• Parking : 500€
• Total: 2 710€

Average budget for 1 month:

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 3 750€
• Essence + toll : 640€
• Parking : 1 000€
• Total: 5 420€

Driving in Ireland by motorhome : traffic rules to know

What documents do you have on board?

As Ireland is a member of the European Union, some of your French documents will be valid on Irish roads. First of all, your adequate driver ' s license , if possible new version, vehicle registration certificate and proof of up-to-date technical control .

For other documents, of course, it is essential that your insurance covers your trips to Ireland. For this, have an international insurance card and a European accident finding. You can purchase this green card directly from your French insurer or directly to Ireland, from an agency or individual.

What are the speed limits?

In theory, speed limits are as follows:

• 50 km/h in the city and agglomeration outside zone 30;

• 80 km/h on regional roads;

• 100 km/h on national roads;

• 120 km/h On the highways.

In practice, motorhomes have a reduced limitation. If the vehicle weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, the limit is 80km/h on regional roads and highways .

Fuel

It is very easy to find petrol stations in Ireland, regardless of the road. The price in the liter varies regularly. In general, it’s around 10 cents cheaper per litre than in France .

Alcohol flying

Irish regulations are identical to French: limit allowed is 0.5g/litre of blood . Young drivers have an authorized limit of 0.2g/litre of blood.

Motorway to Ireland: what fare for your motorhome category?

Despite the small area of the country, the highways are numerous and each has its toll at the fixed rate. We will therefore give three examples for highways that you will take with quasi-certitude. The first rate corresponds to motorhomes of less than 3.5 tonnes, the second to heavy vehicles.

• M4 : 4.40 €/5.80 €;
• M6 : 3.40 €/4.80 €;
• M11 : free.

There are therefore pay highways and other free ones. Among the latter, M2, M9, M11 or M17.

Book your motorhome for Ireland

Other information on driving in Ireland by camping-car

The first rule is a habit to (vite) take: in Ireland we drive left ! Careful especially the first hours and roundabouts. Read the ground markings that are indicators of a future danger. The other rules are identical to the French road code.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Would you like to visit Ireland on a motorhome, but you don’t have a vehicle? Now it is very simple to rent these vehicles between individuals, especially in France. Many platforms allow this type of rental, online, as Yescapa For example.

How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
• Be careful choose unlimited mileage, to check the number of beds available and if travel abroad is possible.
• Do your work online rental request and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) to the owner.
• If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner's contact information to organize a First meeting.
• Day J, present your driver's license and pour bail.
• One. status of premises is executed and a lease is signed between the two parties. You will have to sign it when you return from Ireland, and once done, the tour is played!

Camping-car areas in Ireland: where to park?

A country very courtesy of van travel enthusiasts, there are many motorhomes in Ireland. So you have the embarrassment of choice.

Among the most well-known, without the need to go absolutely, are Cara Motorhomes near Limerick and Cosy Campers near Dublin. All must-see sites have a camping-car area or at least a parking nearby. Do not hesitate to consult a website or an application like Caramaps to find local areas.

Here are some rules of good conduct to be followed:

• The wild campsite is allowed, but make sure it is not a private property before you install;
• When you leave the field, it must be as you found so take your waste away.

What is the best time to travel by motorhome in Ireland?

The legend tells us that one day, it was beautiful three days in Ireland. Regardless of the season of your trip, the legend may remain what it is: a legend! The most of Ireland? You can sometimes meet the four seasons during the same day!

In Ireland, we are talking about acceptable travel times rather than "best." As such, June to August are the mildest About 20°C in the day. Nevertheless, the Irish climate avoids the great winter cold and the temperature rarely falls below 5°C. In any case, you have the quasi-certitude to have days of rain and to suffer gusts of wind.

In summary, summer is the best time because it is up to date and soft. Also some camping areas are closed in winter, so there is more choice in summer.

With all this information, you only need to know when to go to visit Ireland by camping-car!