Best route from Cork to Roscommon

segaBOY

I'm wondering does anyone know what is the best route to travel from Cork city to Roscommon town on Sunday evenings and coming back on Friday evenings?

Google maps gives three routes:


Option 1: Cork - Portlaoise (via M8/M7), Portlaoise - Kilbeggan (via N80/N52 Tullamore Bypass), Kilbeggan - Athlone (via M6) and Athlone - Roscommon town (via N61).

Option 2: Cork - Limerick (via N20), Limerick - Loughrea (via Ennis bypass M18), Loughrea to Athlone (via M6) and Athlone - Roscommon town (via N61).

Option 3. Cork - Thurles (via M8), Thurles - Athlone (N82), Athlone - Roscommon town (via N61).


Option 1 seems to have the best roads but is a good 30km longer than the other two options. I would plan on making a stop somewhere along the way too!

Many thanks for everyone's help!

Fizman

Option 1 for me, every day of the week. Yes, the route is a little longer, but it won't be as much of a strain on you and could in fact 'feel' shorter. I avoid the N20 at all costs nowadays. Horrible drive. Tomorrow for instance, I'm driving Limerick - Ballineen for a job. I intend on going the Mitchelstown/Fermoy route instead of the N20.

gyppo

I've done Athlone - Cork return on both routes 1 and 2 (except in my case I did Cork-Limerick, Limerick - Roscrea, and Roscrea - Athlone).

Take Option 1 and arrive far less weary!

Solair

I used to do Cork to Sligo a lot and to be honest, you're far better off going up the M7 and through Portlaoise and on to Tullamore etc..

Although, the West Coast route is much prettier with nice places to stop off if you're not in a rush.

mooonpie

If it's a once off trip I'd go Option 1, but you get hit with a toll in Portlaoise.

If it's going to be a regular enough trip I'd suggest Option 3.

I travel Athlone to Cork once or twice a month and I find it (Option 3) a bit quicker than Option 1 (assuming no speeding on either route) and better on fuel.
The roads from Thurles to Templemore and Birr to Cloghan are fairly twisty though.

Going Option 1, there's only 1 spot to watch out for - between Mountmellick and Tullamore.

Edit: Just re-read OP and saw it's a weekly journey. I'd suggest Option 3

puppetmaster

for simple ease of getting there option 1 is the only real one worth considering there. Much easier on you, and you'll make up most that 30km time wise no probs.

-Corkie-

I do that trip regular and the fastest route is Limerick-Nenagh-Borrisakane-Athlone and Roscommon. It takes me 3 Hours.

coylemj

April & May is peak First Communion/Confirmation season so you need to avoid going through towns of any size on Sunday afternoons if you can avoid it, especialy Tullamore where there's a major bottleneck at the Bridge House with families out for Sunday lunch so take the bypass and join the M6 at Kilbeggan, don't be tempted with the shortcut to Clara. I'd take option 1 every time.

coylemj

segaBOY wrote: »

I
Option 2: Cork - Limerick (via N20), Limerick - Loughrea (via Ennis bypass M18), Loughrea to Athlone (via M6) and Athlone - Roscommon town (via N61).

Don't even consider this route - Gort to Loughrea may be an 'N' road but it is probably the worst 'N' road in the country, just one bend after another.

-Corkie-

coylemj wrote: »

Don't even consider this route - Gort to Loughrea may be an 'N' road but it is probably the worst 'N' road in the country, just one bend after another.

And if you get stuck behind someone forget it as their is zero overtaking places if the road is busy...

patrickc

I do it a good few times per year and it's route 3 for me every time,

m8, horse and jockey, thurles, templemore, birr. athlone and roscommon.

sean1141

thee road from portlaoise to tullamore is nothing great either

S28382

Option 1 is a good one iv done it many a time

Kevwoody

I would avoid the N20 - gort road at all costs, I drive cork to letterkenny twice a week and I go via Dublin because the west coast is just town after town

roosterman71

Stay away from option 3 anyway. The road from Thurles to Nenagh is pretty rubbish, but its like a motorway compared to the cow track that is the Nenagh-Borrisokane-Ferbane-Athlone road

gyppo

roosterman71 wrote: »

Stay away from option 3 anyway. The road from Thurles to Nenagh is pretty rubbish, but its like a motorway compared to the cow track that is the Nenagh-Borrisokane-Ferbane-Athlone road

+1000. The most godforsaken dreary road in the country.

Ms. Chanandler Bong

I go by most of Option 3 route whenever I'm travelling between bases in Sligo & Clonmel. M8 to Thurles then Templemore - Birr - Athlone - Roscommon. Cheap fuel in Birr on the south approach also, 2 stations nearly directly opposite each other (don't wait any further north, it can jump quite a bit after that!:D)

+1 for avoiding any detour that takes you by Nenagh/Borrisokane if you don't like being stuck behind traffic with no hope of over-taking...

biko

Whatever has best roads/motorways.

nice_guy80

gyppo wrote: »

+1000. The most godforsaken dreary road in the country.

you've never driven from Mullingar to Kells and onto Kingscourt so???
the bendiest road in Ireland

at least the road through Offaly is straight in places!

gyppo

nice_guy80 wrote: »

you've never driven from Mullingar to Kells and onto Kingscourt so???
the bendiest road in Ireland

at least the road through Offaly is straight in places!

Yes, I've driven on that too!
On reflection, I'd put them on a par with each other!!

Tea 1000

Option 3 is my favourite. The N20 is the crappiest, most annoying road in the country. Most of the midlands routes to Athlone have enough straights on them to get by slow coaches.

segaBOY

Thanks for everyone's comments-much appreciated!

Marlow

Option 1 is the only sensible option these days. There's a way around Mountmellick, too, which i'd advise to do.

/M

For Forks Sake

Marlow wrote: »

There's a way around Mountmellick, too, which i'd advise to do.

/M

Ssshhhhh, don't be telling people about that, they'll only busy up the road for those of us that know already :cool:

Marlow

catreyn wrote: »

Cheap fuel in Birr on the south approach also, 2 stations nearly directly opposite each other (don't wait any further north, it can jump quite a bit after that!:D)

Cheapest fuel anywhere, and I travel a lot anywhere in Clare, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Westmeath and then towards Dublin, is usually the Hodson Bay fuel station before you come into Hodson Bay from the south (Has Supermacs etc.) And then then the fuel station in Knockcroghery.

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Ssshhhhh, don't be telling people about that, they'll only busy up the road for those of us that know already :cool:

Hehehe Very few people actually will find that road. My sat-nav recognizes it though, once I deviate from the main road.

/M

nice_guy80

diesel 153.9 in Ballyleague, Roscommon