Fastest route from Derry to Cork

DrPhilG

Mapquest and AA.com are both suggesting that although going via Dublin is 30 miles longer, it's also slightly quicker in the long run.

Any thoughts? Have the arrival of more bypasses down the west changed things? I used to drive this route a lot 10 years ago and the west was a pain, stopping for ages in Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Ballyshannon etc.

I'll be going down Friday, leaving about 5pm.

Route 1, 2 or 3? If it's close, the presence of a few tolls on the Dublin route might swing it.

DrPhilG

PS, anyone know the totals for the tolls? Am I right in thinking there's the M1 toll, M50 and 2 on the M8?

I'm driving a small van too, so more expensive than a car. :mad:

Colm R

I think going to Dublin is the easiest. Although its a bloody long time on the motorway, so its easy to fall asleep.

The route down the middle is the worst. I wouldn't touch it if I were you.

The West is the shortest, and is a lot better than it use to be. I'm not sure what you have to do in Galway, but you'll pass Limerick in a blink. There is a toll in the tunnel there. Large parts of the road between Cork and Limerick are really bad so you'll most likely get stuck in a few spots.


Toll prices are here

http://www.nra.ie/GeneralTollingInformation/KnowTheToll/


If you go to Dublin, you will have M1, M50 (you'll need to phone in to pay this), M7 at Portlaoise and M8 at Fermoy. With the price of fuel these days I think the motorway is possibly the most efficient way to make this journey - tolls included. But that depends on driving style and your vehicle.

The West is probably less boring though. If you are looking for a break, there is services on the M7 at Junction 14 Monestervin, and a junction near Cashel on the M8.

DrPhilG

I'm still leaning towards the west, I'm in a diesel van so won't be hoofing it but the downside is that all of the tolls are more expensive for vans. The Cork - Limerick road shouldn't be a bother as it will very about 10pm by the time I get there.

lucernarian

The N62 from Athlone to Thurles wouldn't be that bad as secondary routes go. The N61 from Sligo to Athlone is worse I think, a few twisty parts on it and more generally narrow. Otherwise, the road from Sligo to Derry is generally okay to drive and with Ballyshannon bypassed too. The M8 is also good of course but there is one toll to pay, at Fermoy.

The western route (3) has no tolls except at the limerick port tunnel and motorway from Galway to Limerick but the N17 and N20 have heavier traffic with some traffic bottlenecks and the two roads are also a bit narrow and twisty on occasion.

Route 1 would have a total of 4 tolls but is naturally the safest and most boring drive. The A5 is still generally narrow and with few overtaking opportunities though coming in and out of Ballygalwey has improved a good bit.

If you're driving in the evening then the chance of traffic jams is significantly reduced.

Overall, I'd pick the third route on what you've mentioned so far.

veryangryman

Contrary to above post, there is not a motorway from Galway to Limerick. You are on single carriageway from Collooney (Sligo) to Gort(south Galway). Even after that, Limerick to Mallow is pretty hard going.

Me id pick the Dublin route. Stop in Kells on the way - maybe a sambo and a coffee to congratulate yourself for getting that far. Then stick the boot down for rest of journey

But bring plenty of change to throw in the boxes...

€1.80 in Drogheda
€3 on the M50 (payable in any shop)
€1.80 on M7
€1.80 on M8

€8.40 one way, €16.80 return. Perhaps a tad more expensive, but if you value your time spent working rather than looking at rednecks in each bottleneck town, id advise Dublin.

Safe journey mate

sparks24

go down the west coast its way faster than any other route

you'll hit limerick in about 4 1/2 hours

limerick to cork city depending on traffic about an hour and a half roughly maybe less

no tolls the whole way unless you want to use the limerick tunnel but unless its rush hour its not worth it. you'll fly through limerick otherwise

lucernarian

The motorway does cover the majority of the distance from Galway to Limerick, about two-thirds of it. But no, the M18 only reaches as far as just beyond Gort. I stand corrected on that.

Why would he drive through Kells if travelling from Derry to Cork?! And what sort of comment is that to make about "rednecks"?!:rolleyes:

If it takes 4 1/2 hours to hit Limerick alone though, going by the motorways would be quicker. About 3 hours from Derry to Dublin, probably less if traffic from Derry to Strabane's not an issue. Then about 2 1/2 hours from Dublin to Cork. Half an hour quicker by route 1. I would have thought that going from Derry to Limerick would be 4 hours though if driving outside peak traffic?

Victor

DrPhilG wrote: »

I'm still leaning towards the west, I'm in a diesel van so won't be hoofing it but the downside is that all of the tolls are more expensive for vans. The Cork - Limerick road shouldn't be a bother as it will very about 10pm by the time I get there.

Some of the road is not nice at any time of day or night: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,554269,607496,4,10

DrPhilG

veryangryman wrote: »

€1.80 in Drogheda
€3 on the M50 (payable in any shop)
€1.80 on M7
€1.80 on M8

€8.40 one way, €16.80 return.

Not in a van it ain't!

Went down the west, took me about 7 and a half hours, with a stop in Gort. Gonna go back up the east and see how I get on, at least I saved on tolls once...

Where To

You forgot route 4, via belfast.

A bit longer distance wise but the shortest by far time wise

Once you get to randalstown is motorway all the way down:)

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd definitely go for option 1, motorway most of the way, and you'll reach Cork in 2 hours 20 once you get off the M50 and onto the N7 if you do 120 where legally possible.

I think you'd do it in about 5 hours depending on the time of day and assuming you drive at the speed limits all the way, that said I went on the M50 during rush hour and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Sligo is a good 4 hours 30 from Cork, and there's another two hours from there to Derry.

Yes it's undoubtedly cheaper, not only because of the shorter distance, but also because there is only one toll and of course the lower speeds, but according to the AA's routeplanner, it will take nearly seven hours, even with Gort and Limerick being bypassed!

I'd definitely go via Dublin - it's nearly two hours shorter, and you're on much better and safer roads. Even if you only did 100 kph you'd still be faster, because that's the great thing about motorways - you can do a constant speed 99% of the time.

DrPhilG

Well the route down took 7 and a half hours, with 2 short stops. That was on a Friday afternoon.

Trip back up via Dublin took 5 and a half with 1 stop.

lucernarian

DrPhilG wrote: »

Well the route down took 7 and a half hours, with 2 short stops. That was on a Friday afternoon.

Trip back up via Dublin took 5 and a half with 1 stop.

Which route did you take on the way down? Route 1 I'd guess. Was peak time traffic an issue? That's quite a difference in times.

DrPhilG

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Which route did you take on the way down? Route 1 I'd guess. Was peak time traffic an issue? That's quite a difference in times.

West coast going down, Sligo-Galway-Limerick etc. Left at 4pm Friday, arrived 11:30pm.

Came back via Dublin-Omagh-Strabane. Left 5:30pm Sunday, arrived 11pm.

flazio

Bit late now but wouldn't Derry-Enniskillen-Cavan-Athlone-Birr-Roscrea-Templemore-Thurles-Cork not have been straighter with semi decent to decent roads?

munchkin_utd

flazio wrote: »

Bit late now but wouldn't Derry-Enniskillen-Cavan-Athlone-Birr-Roscrea-Templemore-Thurles-Cork not have been straighter with semi decent to decent roads?

The best way from Cavan to Cork is via N55/N4 to Mullingar(bypass) then Tullamore(bypass)-Portlaoise and down the motorway from there with 2 tolls. A lot of that road has been upgraded so is an easy enough drive. The N4 bit is a national primary route so a horse of a road. And the N55 from Cavan - N4 is also immensley improved since the mid 90s when it was scarier than a hitchcock movie!

From north of Cavan to Ballincollig the far side of Cork was 3 1/2 hours the last time I did it and that with busy enough roads from Tullamore to Portlaoise.
From Cavan town to say Dunkettle Roundabout you'd be looking at more like 3 dead for the shorter distance.

Derry - Cavan is doable in 2.15 according to Google maps, so you'd be looking at a total of 5h 15min give or take for the full Derry-cork route with 2 tolls less than via Dublin.

Victor

flazio wrote: »

Bit late now but wouldn't Derry-Enniskillen-Cavan-Athlone-Birr-Roscrea-Templemore-Thurles-Cork not have been straighter with semi decent to decent roads?

But look at the number of towns you have to go through. Road quality on Cavan-Thurles can't compare with the main routes and adds an hour on rougher roads.