Routes
Satellite view of the best driving roads in Ireland

Country guide

The best driving roads in Ireland

12 hand-picked driving roads in Ireland, every one mapped from real geometry and fact-checked, including 3 world icons.

Roads123 world icons
Combined195 mi314 km of driving
High point522 m1,713 ft

The five to build a trip around

Our ranking, icons first, with the reasoning on the table. All 12 roads follow below.

  1. 1

    Conor Pass

    R560Ireland · World Icon

    The R560 crosses from Dingle to Cloghane in 7.3 miles, a narrow mountain road that tops out at 456 m with passing places for oncoming cars.

    7 mi17 min
  2. 2

    Ring of Kerry

    N70Ireland · World Icon

    The N70 does the heavy lifting on the Ring of Kerry, threading between mountain and Atlantic around the Iveragh peninsula through Cahersiveen, Waterville and Sneem.

    72 mi2 h 25 min
  3. 3

    Slea Head Drive

    R559Ireland · World Icon

    The R559 loops the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula past beehive huts and golden strands, narrow enough that meeting a tour coach is the day’s main event.

    13 mi27 min
  4. 4

    Mamore Gap

    L1191Ireland

    A steep hairpin notch through the Urris Hills on Donegal’s Inishowen peninsula.

    4 mi10 min
  5. 5

    Wicklow Gap

    R756Ireland

    The R756 over one of the two highest road passes in the Wicklow Mountains, into Glendalough.

    16 mi30 min
Satellite map of Mamore Gap Mamore Gap4 mi · 10 min · 10 cornersView the roadbook ›
Satellite map of Conor Pass, Ireland

Conor Pass

R560Ireland

7 mi · 17 min · 30 corners
Satellite map of Ring of Kerry, Ireland

Ring of Kerry

N70Ireland

72 mi · 2 h 25 min · 120 corners
Satellite map of Slea Head Drive, Ireland

Slea Head Drive

R559Ireland

13 mi · 27 min · 36 corners
Satellite map of Wicklow Gap, Ireland

Wicklow Gap

R756Ireland

16 mi · 30 min · 18 corners
Satellite map of Glengesh Pass, Ireland

Glengesh Pass

R230Ireland

7 mi · 14 min · 30 corners
Satellite map of The Vee Pass, Ireland

The Vee Pass

R668Ireland

8 mi · 17 min · 20 corners
Satellite map of Sky Road, Ireland

Sky Road

Ireland

8 mi · 17 min · 35 corners
Satellite map of Healy Pass, Ireland

Healy Pass

R574Ireland

7 mi · 15 min · 34 corners
Satellite map of Molls Gap, Ireland

Molls Gap

N71Ireland

20 mi · 40 min · 30 corners
Satellite map of Sally Gap, Ireland

Sally Gap

R115Ireland

16 mi · 32 min · 522.2 m summit
Satellite map of Caha Pass, Ireland

Caha Pass

N71Ireland

17 mi · 34 min · 30 corners

Collections featuring Ireland

World Icons

The world’s most iconic roads, hand-picked.

101 roads · 3,441 mi

Ireland’s Passes

Atlantic peninsulas and the wild passes of Kerry and Wicklow

14 roads · 214 mi

Nearby countries

Satellite view of Isle of Man Isle of Man1 road · 10 mi Satellite view of United Kingdom United Kingdom127 roads · 1,706 mi Satellite view of Faroe Islands Faroe Islands3 roads · 25 mi

Driving in Ireland: common questions

What is the best driving road in Ireland?
Mamore Gap is the place to start. A steep hairpin notch through the Urris Hills on Donegal’s Inishowen peninsula.
How many great driving roads does Ireland have?
12 hand-picked and fact-checked roads, including 3 world icons, 195 miles of driving in all, every one mapped from real road geometry.
When is the best time to drive in Ireland?
Most of the roads here are at their best in spring and summer. Several of the higher routes close over winter, so check the season before a cold-weather trip.