How long to Galway - Belfast?

JohnCleary

Folks, has anyone any idea how long it would take me to get from Galway to Belfast?

Planned route is Galway - Dublin (M4) and then Dublin - Belfast port (Getting a Stenaline out of here for a week!)

Considering the ferry departs at 7.30am, so I want to be there around 6.45am, there will be almost zero traffic on the road at the time i'll be driving.

Just don't have a clue how long to allow since it's a lot of motorway.

Cheers

Thomas828

I'm not sure if this is any good to you, but back in 1986 I went on a coach from Belfast to Shannon Airport. It took roughly six hours. Of course the only motorways in those days were in the north.

Midnight_EG

www.aaroadwatch.ie

Use it to estimate the travel time.

Berty

Oranmore to Dublins M50 should be 1 hour 50 minutes at 120kph the whole way(within reason).

M50 to Belfast outskirts is going to be around the same amount of time ALTHOUGH you have to account for Newry traffic.

Depends on what time the ferry is really.

Big Nasty

According to Google Maps there are two possible (main) routes, one via Dublin and one cross country. Depending on the times you are travelling (i.e. if there's little traffic) both routes will take you approximately the same time but the Dublin route is going to be a longer yet easier journey.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Galway,+Co.+Galway,+Ireland&daddr=Belfast+-+Stranraer&hl=en&geocode=FcXkLAMdfOF1_ykVSUdw8ZZbSDFQczGXqccACg%3BFQihRAMdRres_ylbDHSZ-oVhSDEB1HvzsvibGw&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=54.186963,-7.018329&sspn=3.28506,9.876709&ie=UTF8&z=8

JHMEG

Google maps doesn't have the new stretch of the M6 yet.

Galway to Dublin is 2 hours, and Dublin to Belfast port is about 2.5.

If I were you I would overnight it in Belfast or somewhere nearby. Travelodge Belfast are doing rooms from £39 at moment.

Cionád

At a speed of 130km/h you can get from Galway to the M50/N4 jnct in 1hr 40m, from the Lucan exit to Newry outskirts takes about an hour if the traffic is good, and from Newry to Belfast city centre it usually takes me around 45 mins, so total travel time around 3hrs30 if your lucky with traffic.

Worst case scenario would be 2 hours Galway to Dublin, and 2hrs 30 from Dublin to Belfast, but the Newry traffic is generally much better than it was last year (and the new Newry bypass is partially open now)

JohnCleary

Thanks for the advise, i'm going to play it safe and say 4h 30min so.

People mention traffic - I'll be travelling at around 2am so traffic will be almost non existant!

I know that Galway - Dublin is about 2hours playing it safe on the motorway, just wasn't sure about times from Dublin - Belfast. It's gonna cost a few euro on tolls (i've 3 to pass!) but has to be done I guess

For Forks Sake

JohnCleary wrote: »

Thanks for the advise, i'm going to play it safe and say 4h 30min so.

People mention traffic - I'll be travelling at around 2am so traffic will be almost non existant!

I know that Galway - Dublin is about 2hours playing it safe on the motorway, just wasn't sure about times from Dublin - Belfast. It's gonna cost a few euro on tolls (i've 3 to pass!) but has to be done I guess

4 actually.

1.90 at Loughrea
2.90 at Enfield
2.00 on M50
1.90 at Drogheda

JHMEG

You've 4 tolls to pass: M6, M4, M50 and M1.

Alternatively spend your money on a nice hotel and do a leisurely trip the evening before via Roscommon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Enniskillen and on to Belfast (via the north's M1),

Cionád

JohnCleary wrote: »

Thanks for the advise, i'm going to play it safe and say 4h 30min so.

People mention traffic - I'll be travelling at around 2am so traffic will be almost non existant!

I know that Galway - Dublin is about 2hours playing it safe on the motorway, just wasn't sure about times from Dublin - Belfast. It's gonna cost a few euro on tolls (i've 3 to pass!) but has to be done I guess

You'll be laughing at 2am!, 3hrs is possible!

Imagine how long it would take even 10 years ago!

JohnCleary

For Forks Sake wrote: »

4 actually.

1.90 at Loughrea
2.90 at Enfield
2.00 on M50
1.90 at Drogheda

Sheet, didn't know there was one at Drogheda. Thanks for the prices will make sure to have change handy. Will get the GF to pay the M50 one for me online

For Forks Sake

JHMEG wrote: »

You've 4 tolls to pass: M6, M4, M50 and M1.

Alternatively spend your money on a nice hotel and do a leisurely trip the evening before via Roscommon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Enniskillen and on to Belfast (via the north's M1),

Those roads are far from leisurely in parts

JHMEG

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Those roads are far from leisurely in parts

I know them well. Elphin to Carrick-on-Shannon isn't great, and Ballinamore to the border is a bit rural, but otherwise they're grand. Parts are very scenic. Google maps puts it at about 4.5 hours.

Fey!

That's a regular run for us.

I've done it in 4 hours even from Turloughmore to the Stena terminal in Belfast in a Transit without speeding. We go Roscommon, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh, Belfast.

The bosses did it via the motorways 2 weeks ago; didn't save any time, cost a fortune, and oddly were more tired than going the other way! Cost the guts of €10 each way on tolls.

Berty

I was only planning my time for a 9am sailing out of Dublin Port and thought long about our holidays in the 1980's to the South of France. We used to drive from Ireland through the Uk and onwards into France.

Arriving in the UK was like arriving in a far away land with their fancy roads and stuff.

It took a long time to get from Limerick to Dublin back then to catch the Ferry. Oddly enough the Limerick to Rosslare road has not changed too much other than around Waterford.

For Forks Sake

Berty wrote: »

It took a long time to get from Limerick to Dublin back then to catch the Ferry. Oddly enough the Limerick to Rosslare road has not changed too much other than around Waterford.

There's the Cahir- Clonmel stretch is a lot better as well

trad

OP, have you ever done night time motorway driving, would bore the pants off you and especially here on that route wirh little or no traffic.

Your biggest problem is staying awake. If memory serves me right the first place you can stop for a nap if you have to is Newry.

biko

Galway – Belfast via Dublin 4.20
Galway – Belfast via Enniskillen 4.40

galwaytt

Fey! wrote: »

That's a regular run for us.

I've done it in 4 hours even from Turloughmore to the Stena terminal in Belfast in a Transit without speeding. We go Roscommon, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh, Belfast.

The bosses did it via the motorways 2 weeks ago; didn't save any time, cost a fortune, and oddly were more tired than going the other way! Cost the guts of €10 each way on tolls.

Same here, allow 4 - 4.5 hrs

JohnCleary

Have done plenty of night time motorway driving in the UK. I plan on sleeping until around midnight on Sunday and then wake up, get ready and leave around 2am to be safe.

Thanks for all the tips, I do like 'backroad' driving sometimes but think i'll just take the motorway this time