Motorhome life in Ireland might just be the best way to discover this country!
When you think of going on vacation to the small European country of Ireland, what comes to mind? Most people imagine the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, the bustling pubs of Dublin or the rolling green hills dotted with sheep and stone walls.
We experienced all of this and more during our 10-day road trip in Ireland.
Our 10-day campervan trip to Ireland
While we were in Canada visiting family, I saw a van that looked like the Perfect size for a trip somewhere in Europe. It was from Independent campers – the company we used in 2020 for our motorhome trip to Portugal.
I said to Nick, “This campervan would be the perfect size for us in Europe! We haven’t done a campervan trip in a while, it would be great to work with Indie Campers again.”
THE the following day this company contacted us to share our experience with the van in a country of our choice.
It was the sign we needed! It was time to plan a digital nomad campervan trip around Ireland – somewhere we’ve wanted to visit since 2020.
In this article, I’ll detail our 10-day campervan itinerary in Ireland, as well as some things you’ll want to know before renting your own van.
Here’s our trip report from 10 days traveling from Dublin to Connemara, the Wild Atlantic Way and more… all in our campervan.
Why Ireland by motorhome?
Since living in Bulgaria, we have traveled a lot in Europe. So when it came to choosing which country to visit with Indie Campers, we opted for Ireland – a country we had never been to! It turned out to be a great decision.
Ireland is a great choice for a campervan for 2 main reasons.
- The cost of accommodation in the country is quite high (sleeping in your campervan saves this cost).
- You are able to get away and see parts of the country that you probably wouldn’t see otherwise.
The motorhome (model, specifications and cost)
Getting the van back was a simple process. We took a taxi from central Dublin to the rental area (north of the city) and from there the team gave us a complete overview.
They answered all our questions, gave us a full explanation and verified that all the “extras” we requested were there.
There is also a box containing items that previous travelers left behind at the end of their journey. This is perfect if you don’t want to buy a lot of salt and pepper, hand soap, paper towels, etc. Then, at the end of your roadtrip, leave behind the items you’re done with.
The model
We went with the Long active model with Indie Campers and it was a great choice for our 10 day trip.
We really liked that everything was “fixed” rather than portable – something we experienced with our previous campervan rental in Portugal. With the Active Long there was a fixed bed, a gas stove, a refrigerator and a toilet.
There was a large seating area with a table and the two front seats swiveled to give us more space inside. There was also a ton of storage space, which was really nice to have.
But my favorite aspect was definitely the heating! We rented at the end of September and beginning of October, so we spent cool nights. Turning on the built-in gas heater got the van warm in no time.
The compact kitchen had everything we needed for cooking on the go, including a gas stove, sink, and refrigerator. We loved waking up and making coffee and matcha! We cooked a few meals, but found ourselves enjoying the pubs in the evening. 😉
There’s also a retractable awning, so you can enjoy the van in comfort, whether it’s rain or shine outside.
Every rental comes with roadside assistance, 24/7 assistance, and kitchen and cleaning starter kits, so you can pick up the keys and hit the road straight away.
Specifications
We were initially a little hesitant about driving a campervan in Ireland. Everyone warned us that “the roads are SO narrow, having a van is hard”. And they drive on the left side of the road (we lived in Granada, so it was easy for Nick).
But actually, the driving was easy! The roads were really wide enough, we had no problems.
The dimensions of the van were excellent:
Length 6.2 m (20′4″)
Width 2m (6′7″)
Height 2.7 m (8′10″)
We were also hoping for a newer van and ended up with an automatic, 2025 Diesel Pilotwhich worked very well.
The motorhome had a 120 L (32 gal) tank for fresh waterand a 90 L (24 gal) tank for gray waterwhich was enough for us. Also included was a 220V cable for plugging in and charging the backup battery.
Add-ons
Indie Campers offers some items you can add to your rental, such as gas bottles, bikes, bedding kit, etc. We opted for a small charcoal BBQ, an outdoor table and chairs, the bedding kit, chemical tablets (for the toilets) and gas cylinders.
We forgot to ask for the towel kit, but luckily we had our own bath towels with us.
We only used one gas cylinder during our 10 day trip. This consisted of heating the van every night (all night), brewing coffee every day on the stove, frying 2 meals, and only taking 2 showers.
As we were in Ireland in cooler weather we only used the outdoor table and chairs a few times. But I highly recommend adding it, as it gives you more outdoor living space.
The cost
The rental cost varies depending on the time of year you rent (high season or low season), the length of your rental, and the model of campervan you rent.
The Active Long model we rented with Indie Campers costs around $180 per day in September (if you rent for 10 days). Add-ons (like table and chairs) are charged extra.
For campsites, if you go wild camping then it’s free. We didn’t find that there were as many wild camping options in Ireland as in other destinations. The cost of a campsite with electricity, showers, toilets, gray water disposal and chemical toilets was between €35 and €46 per night.
Our 10-day campervan itinerary in Ireland
We developed the road trip itinerary as we went along. This was literally one of the only trips where we simply rented the campervan, had a few places in mind, but decided where to go each day!
We wanted to avoid cities with the campervan and spend the night in places close to cities – so we could just take a taxi in the evening for dinner and mad.
If you don’t mind being close to towns and villages, there are plenty of places to stay. For us, we loved music and nightlife, so we wanted to be close enough that we could just take a taxi.
Here is our complete 10-day itinerary around Ireland by campervan.
1. Dublin to Kilkenny (1 night)
It only took about an hour to get comfortable with the length and width of the van (and with driving on the left side of the road!). From Dublin we headed south to Kilkenny, a city I highly recommend adding to your Ireland itinerary.
With a beautiful castle, a lovely canal walk, great pubs and restaurants, it was a great first stop from Dublin.
- Distance: Indie Campers Pickup Point (Dublin) to Kilkenny = 2.5 hours
- Where to stay: Tree Grove Campsite. It’s a lovely 30 minute walk to Kilkenny Castle from here along the canal. Facilities: Showers, toilets, basic kitchen, electrical connection
- Where to eat: If you want to eat in town rather than cook yourself in the campervan, I recommend Butchery-Restaurant for an incredible steak, The pumping station for Guinness and music, and Matt The Millers Bar (unfortunately it was closed when we were there)
- Things to do: Visit Kilkenny Castle, Smithwick’s experimenttake a walk in the Castle Park, join a walking tour
During our stay, there were only a handful of RVs and RVs in Tree Grove. It was quiet and comfortable.
2. Kilkenny to Lorraine via Nenagh (1 night)
You might not want to come to North Tipperary on your Ireland campervan trip, but we had friends to visit in Nenagh, so we spent the day there with them, before then finding accommodation… in Lorrha.
Nenagh turned out to be a picturesque town, with a castle, pretty shopping streets and nearby hills for hiking. Lough Derg is also close by.
I also ended up having the best fish n’ chips of the entire trip here! If you find yourself in Nenagh, stop at Hibernian Inn for fish n’ chips and full Irish breakfast.
It was one of those days where we literally found the campsite hours before. After spending time with our friend in Nenagh, we headed north to Lorrha. This campsite was super interesting – it was just a field behind a pub!
The field offered beautiful views of farmland and the sunset, and there was also a fire pit. We parked the van, cooked a meal and enjoyed some wine by the fire… before heading to the pub.
The owner behind the bar was super friendly (like all Irish people) and one by one the locals came over for a pint of Guinness (or 2, or 3).
There were about ten of us all sitting at the bar chatting about all things Ireland, Canada, politics, archaeology, Europe, travel, beer… you name it. This ended up being one of our favorite evenings in Ireland. But the best? We could literally walk to our bed which was waiting for us behind the pub!
- Distance: Kilkenny to Nenagh = 1h30. Nenagh to Lorra = 30 minutes
- Where to stay: Your campsite. There are no designated spots here, it’s just a field and you find a spot. However, it was flat and very quiet during our stay.
- Facilities: There is a very basic kitchen here with a sink and microwave, a toilet (shared with the pub) and a shower. It was 10 euros per person per night. There is also the adjoining pub which has a pool table.
- Where to eat: The pub didn’t serve food when we were there. It was a great opportunity to cook steak and salad in our camper!
- Things to do: There are many castles and ruins nearby. We hiked in Portumna Forest Park, you can visit Derg Lake for kayaking, walking, cycling or swimming.
3. Lorrha to Galway via Burren and Kinvarra (1 night)
After all those hours in the van and at the pub, we decided to take a hike in Portumna Forest Park, near Lorrha, before hitting the road.
Galway was one of the places we were most excited to visit on our trip. But one of the best perks of having your own wheel in Ireland (and not having a strict plan) is being able to follow the advice of the locals.
Many people had recommended the village of Kinvara and the Burren for us – in particular, Linnane lobster bar.
So we did what the locals recommended and rather than heading straight to Galway, we stopped along the way.
Kinvarra was so cute with its colorful harborside buildings and the imposing Dunguaire Castle as soon as you arrived in the village. From there we headed towards Galway.
As soon as we parked the van we headed to Galway to experience some traditional music!
The city is known for its music scene and we were very excited to discover it. The second we got out of the taxi we heard music coming from a pub…so we went inside. There were around 20 people playing in this “trad session”! It was incredible.
A local started chatting with us and told us about a bunch of great restaurants and places to hear more music that evening. We took her advice and had a fabulous night out on the town filled with dancing, new friends and good times.
We only spent one night in Galway (and experienced CRAZY wind that night in the van!) because we knew we would be back in a few days to explore more with friends.
Practical information:
- Distance: Lorrha to Kinvarra = 71 km (1 hour 10 minutes). Kinvarra to Galway (Salthill) = 30 km (1 hour)
- Where to stay: O’Hallorans Caravan Park in Salthill, just outside Galway. Use the FreeNow app to easily take a taxi.
- Facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers, electrical connection, emptying of gray water and chemical toilets, trash cans. No kitchen, but there is a sink for washing dishes.
- Where to eat: There are so many restaurants in Galway. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any good dining experiences! The ones we wanted to eat at were reserved or closed. Kai Restaurant is recommended, as are Oscars Seafood Bistro and Ard Bia at Nimmos.
- Where to drink: Come on Coli (small place with good traditional music), Taaffes Bar (a place open late in the evening with live music), Nectaine House (unique and local place with artwork adorning the walls), The Salt House (great place for craft beer) & Monroe’s Tavern (the first pub we went to in Galway with 20 people doing the trad session!)
- Things to do: enjoy the music, explore the Latin Quarter, do a little shopping, visit the small market near the Long Walk, explore the SaltHill promenade, relax at Eyre Square, stroll along the River Corrib, join a walking tourvisit the University grounds, watch traditional Irish dancing.
4. Galway to Connemara National Park (1 night)
This day was the most spontaneous of our trip to Ireland. We woke up in Galway and planned to head to the Cliffs of Moher. After driving for about 15 minutes, I asked Nick to stop.
We stopped and I opened Google Maps and decided we needed to change our plan!
The route we chose made no sense and would have made us second guess ourselves. After some discussion, a new plan was hatched: we would head north towards Connemara National Park – visiting a few sights along the way – and spend the night there.
Or? We weren’t sure yet…
I am such happy to have made the decision to add Connemara National Park to our list! It covers over 7,000 acres including bogs, heaths and mountains. If you look at the map, Connemara County is completely covered in land and water – a very “swampy” look.
The scenery on this route was stunning and we were happy to find ourselves in a wilder part of Ireland. We stopped in the town of Clifden, at a few scenic spots, and headed to the Kylemore Abbey and Gardens – which is absolutely breathtaking.
When it came time to figure out where to stay, we found the most perfect place simply by searching on Google Maps – Clifden Eco Beach Camping. The view of the water and the beautiful private beach and cove were breathtaking.
This place was so picturesque. Our van faced the water and had a perfect view of the sunset. After setting up the camper, Nick went swimming in the ocean, we lit a bonfire in the evening and cooked a meal. A perfect end to the day.
Practical information:
- Distance: Galway to Clifden: 78 km (1 hour 25 minutes). Clifden to Kylemore Abbey: 18 km (25 minutes). Kylemore Abbey to Clifden Eco Beach Camping: 22 km (30 minutes)
- Where to stay: Eco campsite on Clifden beach. The views here are stunning, as is the sandy beach. It’s pristine and quiet – come here for a peaceful stay.
- Facilities: Showers (paid 1 euro for 10 minutes), toilets, kitchen with sink and refrigerator, bicycle rental, free spring water for drinking, gray water emptying, barbecue.
- Where to eat: In Clifden, don’t miss Guy’s Seafood Bar (the soup is to die for). Evening is another time when it is the perfect opportunity to cook for yourself in the campervan and enjoy a sunset meal outside with a table and chairs. Stock up at Lidl in Clifden.
- Things to do: Visit the town of Clifden, explore the Kylemore Abbey and Gardensvisit Roundstone village, scenic drives, hiking in Connemara National Park, fishing, swimming and beaches in summer.
5. Connemara to Oughterard (1 night)
Remember when I said we were going back to Galway? Well we still had a few friends to meet up in Ireland and they were staying in Oughterard.
As you can probably tell, we visited some “random” places during this itinerary.
For us, while we love popular places (they’re popular for a reason), we also love discovering smaller villages and towns and exploring lesser known destinations.
So we went there first and all returned to Galway for the afternoon/evening for dinner, drinks and music before heading back to Oughterard for the night.
Practical information:
- Distance: Clifden Eco Camping in Oughterard = 61 km (1 hour). From Oughterard to Galway = 27 km (35 minutes).
- Where to stay: We only found 1 place near Oughterard that accepted campervans… and it was a café parking lot! Thanks to Camp Street Cafe for hosting us.
- Facilities: None in the evening. Toilets during cafe opening hours. The owner doesn’t charge, but asks you to buy something from the cafe. The town is super quiet and the night was peaceful.
- Where to eat: You can grab a quick bite at Camp Street Café. We enjoyed coffee and matcha at My little flower café. Powers is a very popular restaurant in the city.
- Things to do: Go fishing, visit the Glengowla Mines, head to Connemara National Park for the day, go hiking, visit Aughnanure Castle, relax in Oughterard Shrubbery Park.
6. Oughterard to Doolin + Cliffs Of Moher (1 night)
The Cliffs of Moher are some of those iconic sites that we’ve seen online and on TV for many years now. Today was the day we finally got to see them in real life!
We arrived at the village of Doolin which was the starting point for the northern part of the cliffs. We chose to base here as the main viewing area of the Cliffs of Moher and South is usually much busier.
The hike was magnificent! We walked along a narrow path along the cliff with a steep slope towards the ocean on one side and farmland with cows on the other. Dress appropriately with hiking shoes and expect rain and wind. Note: Be careful when visiting the Cliffs of Moher as accidents can (and do) happen.
We lucked out and had a perfect day – a mix of sun and clouds and No wind! Which is rather unheard of. We walked for a few hours and returned to Doolin the same way.
Practical information:
- Distance: From Oughterard to Doolin = 96 km (2 hours). Galway to Doolin = 70 km (1h30)
- Where to stay: Nagles Camping & Caravan Park. This is a great location just a short walk from the Cliffs of Moher trailhead and the pubs/restaurants of Doolin. Friendly workers, clean facilities and right next to the pier if you want to go to the Aran Islands or see the Cliffs of Moher by boat.
- Facilities: 1 Euro paid showers, toilets, kitchen with paid stove (1 Euro), paid washer and dryer, small store, gray water drainage, chemical toilet emptying, electrical connection, wifi.
- Where to eat: In Doolin, we had a meal at the Gus O’Connor’s Pubopened in 1832!
- Things to do: Hike the Cliffs of Moher (or boat tour), take a boat to the Aran Islands, wander around Doolin, see Doolin Cave.
7. Doolin to Dingle via Adare (1 night)
Like every day of our RV road trip, we weren’t just going from point a to point b. We would stop along the way to not only break up the journey, but also to visit interesting sites and towns.
Today we decided to e stop at the beautiful heritage town of Adare. We wandered the streets and stopped for a Guinness and shepherd’s pie for lunch.
From there we continued towards Dingle. We arrived and as soon as we arrived the rain began to fall.
We’ve actually been very lucky with the weather so far: we’ve had sun and clouds all the time! So we figured the best thing to do would be to get some work done before calling a taxi to take us into town for dinner, drinks and music.
We went on a pub crawl in Dingle listening to traditional music in some interesting places – one was a hardware store by day… and a bar by night!
Again, this is why we like to stay a short taxi ride from cities. We want to meet people, listen to amazing music and eat and drink in cool pubs.
Unfortunately, due to the pouring rain, the fact that we arrived late in the afternoon and we had work… we only saw the pubs and streets at night in Dingle!
Practical information:
- Distance: Doolin to Adare = 95 km (1h30). Adare to Dingle = 130 km (2 hours)
- Where to stay: Rainbow youth hostel. Just a 10-minute taxi ride from Dingle, this hostel offers campervan parking in its two car parks.
- Facilities: Access to the full kitchen, toilets and showers. Laundry facilities are also available. There is no electrical connection or place to deposit gray or black waste.
- Where to eat and drink: Foxy John’s (a hardware store/pub!), and The Dingle pub
8. Dingle to Killarney via the Ring of Kerry (2 nights)
This was our biggest day of driving yet. We checked the weather and there was a named storm heading to Ireland…with nothing but rain for the next 2 days while we were in Killarney and on the Ring of Kerry!
So we decided to do a long day of driving to avoid the rain. And it turned out to be a good decision.
I’m sure the Ring of Kerry is stunning on a sunny day, but we had lots of low cloud so the views weren’t amazing.
We enjoyed the town of Kenmare, Torc Waterfall and Fort Staigue, before parking at our campsite in Killarney. The next day we enjoyed our first afternoon tea at Muckross, as well as visiting Killarney Abbey and National Park.
If you have time, Killarney is an incredible place to spend a few nights, with plenty to see and do in and around the town. The music and ads are particularly fun here. Click here for our complete guide to travel the Ring of Kerry.
Practical information:
- Distance: Dingle to Killarney = 96 km (2 hours).
- Where to stay: Fleming’s White Bridge. We had this place to ourselves! The owner is lovely and the location is great, w with just a quick taxi ride into Killarney.
- Facilities: 1 Euro paying showers, toilets, kitchen with stove, washer and dryer paying, gray water evacuation, chemical toilet emptying, electricity connection, wifi.
- Where to eat and drink: Restaurant Les Cronins (try the salmon and roast dinner), at Murphy’s for roast dinner and Irish stew, Greater Killarney (we saw an incredible group here), O’Conner Pub for incredible music too.
- Things to do: Walk the Ring of Kerry, have afternoon tea at Monk’s Lounge at the Muckross Hotel, hike around Killarney National Park, visit Kenmare, enjoy live music everywhere!
9. Killarney to Cobh (1 night)
As soon as we arrived in Cobh, the storm had also arrived. We spent many hours inside the van, which rocked back and forth and the water from the harbor shook all the sailboats violently. The wind was howling!
Luckily, we were comfortable and safe in our campervan – so grateful it was heated.
Around 4 p.m., the clouds part and we are left with blue skies! The plan was to visit Cork, but due to the storm we stayed in Cobh.
The pretty little town has great pubs, restaurants and beautiful sights. Cobh is a great place to visit on your own or with a trip to Cork.
Practical information:
- Distance: Killarney to Cobh = 1 hour and 20 minutes (108 kilometers)
- Where to stay: Five-foot RV parking. This was the only place we could find to park for the night, but it did the trick! It’s a quick, pedestrian-only walk to the center of Cobh and close to the train which also takes you directly to Cork.
- Facilities: pay toilets at 1 euro, evacuation of gray water, emptying of chemical toilets
- Cost: 10 euros per day
- Where to eat and drink: Kelly’s Bar, Ryan’s Bar, the roaring donkey. When we were there, most places were closed – not sure if it was because of the storm or the time of year. We ate at Azure and while there are plenty of reviews, we found the food mediocre – maybe it was a day off? THE Arche wine bar it looks good.
- Things to see and do: Cobh was the Titanic’s last stop before heading to New York. There is a lot of history here. Also visit the Cathedral and the Card Game Houses – and this point of view.
9. Cobh to Dublin via Blarney Castle
The last day of the road trip! Today we returned to Dublin, stopped to visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous Blarney Stone.
We were pleasantly surprised! It wasn’t just about the castle, but also the well-kept gardens and pretty walking trails which were beautiful. As a bonus, there was plenty of parking for campervans at Blarney Castle.
We stocked up on diesel and blue additive and headed back to Dublin. The drop off experience with Indie Campers was as easy as when we picked up the camper.
And there it was, our 10-day roadtrip in Ireland was coming to an end!
Practical information:
- Distance: Cobh to Blarney Castle = 32km (45 mins). From Blarney Castle to Dublin = 284 km (3 hours)
- Where to stay: Installation for five-legged motorhomes. It’s basically a parking lot at the water’s edge. There is no one to manage it, you pay as you enter. It’s right next to the train station to take you into Cork as well.
- Facilities: Paid toilets at 1 euro, gray water evacuation, emptying of chemical toilets, garbage discharge.
- Cost: €10 for 24 hours
- Where to eat: We didn’t find many good restaurants here. Azure Harbor Bistro was pretty good.
- Where to drink: Kelly’s Bar, Ryan’s Bar, the roaring donkey
- Things to do: Discover the Cathedral, the “Card Game” houses, visit the Titanic Museum
Tips for traveling in Ireland by campervan
After experiencing the journey. Here are some tips:
1. Stock up on supplies
Before you leave, make sure you have everything you need: chemicals for the toilets, propane for the gas stove, charcoal for the BBQ, toilet paper, etc.
We asked Indie Campers to give us extra propane for the stove and heater in case we needed it – and if we didn’t use it, we would just return it. We didn’t end up needing it, but it was nice to know we had a much-needed extra for those chilly nights. We also received additional chemical toilet tablets.
The refrigerator on the Active Long model was a good size, so we stocked up on food in advance. Going to the supermarket (trying to find a parking space) is not the best way to spend your vacation. Get everything at once and you’re set!
2. Download the Park4Night app
Park4Nuit is a very good application.
If you’re staying somewhere awesome (either a real campsite or a wild camping spot), you can add it to the app. Include some photos, coordinates of where it is located, amenities offered, and pros and cons.
When looking for accommodation, you search around your current location to find nearby places that are suitable for you.
The difference between using it in Ireland and other countries is that there aren’t a ton of “wild” places on the app, there are plenty of regular campsites as well.
As long as you respect the surroundings, are calm and don’t leave any waste, wild camping is generally not a problem. Of course, if you are asked to leave or told that you cannot stay the night, then you will have to obey.
3. Have data on your phone
If you’re a digital nomad like us, you’ll probably need to work online during your roadtrip in Ireland. Even if you don’t want (or need) to work, having service on your phone is essential for navigation and security reasons.
You’ll definitely want to use Google Maps for your trip (or whatever mapping program you’re using), so having data on your phone is a must. We used our eSIMs with Revolut, but if you don’t have an account with them you can go with your current SIM or try an eSIM company like HolaFly.
Some of the campsites we were at also offered wifi, but that doesn’t help when you’re on the road.
4. Familiarize yourself with the van’s features
When we rented the campervan with Indie Campers, we received a YouTube video in advance explaining how everything works on the model we were renting.
Upon arrival we were also given a tour of the van and had all our questions answered.
You’ll want to know how to charge the van, how to fill and empty the gray water tank, how the heater works, and how the toilet works (and how to flush the black water).
Enjoy exploring Ireland by campervan
Ireland has so much to offer, and traveling by campervan is a great way to discover beaches, mountains and places off the beaten track.
Park on a cliff overlooking the ocean, near cultural towns or in a grassy field behind a pub! With a campervan, the choice is yours. 10 days is a good time to get a taste of what Ireland is. Our roadtrip with Indie Campers is one we won’t forget.
To find out more about renting a campervan in Ireland, Click here. And feel free to email us if you have any questions.
A special thanks to Indie Campers for making this trip possible. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain our own.n
