Belfast to Galway - Best Route on Friday Afternoon?

fargo1968

Driving from Belfast to Galway this Friday, leaving about 12:00. Any suggestions on quickest route? thanks

No Pants

M1 out of Belfast to Dungannon, then the A4 to Enniskillen, Sligo and Galway.

fargo1968

Thanks No Pants, how are those roads for speed cams?

stooge

Travel to belfast quite a bit from the west and would never go through sligo.

From belfast take the motroway towards Dublin and come off at the turn off for Slane. Then go:

-> Slane -> Navan -> Trim -> Longwood -> Kinnegad -> Motorway to galway.

doing this you will only need to go through one toll. Estimated time if you are sticking to speed limits all the way should be about 4hrs.
Roads near longwood are a bit slow due to bends but apart from that its fine all the way.

kazoo106

A1/N1/M1 to Dublin and M4/M6 to Galway - at least an hour quicker than the above route

No Pants

fargo1968 wrote: »

Thanks No Pants, how are those roads for speed cams?

I haven't come across any, but I do tend to stick to the limits using cruise control for long drives.

Or you could get off the M1 at Craigavon, head to Monaghan and then across from there, but there aren't any big roads. Or down to Dublin, M50 across to Lucan and then M4 & M6 to Galway. Longer and with tolls, but bigger roads and a greater average speed.

fargo1968

Was thinking Friday lunchtime getting busy around Dublin - maybe go Belfast, Dundalk, Ardee, Kells, Mullingar, Athlone, Galway?

stooge

kazoo106 wrote: »

A1/N1/M1 to Dublin and M4/M6 to Galway - at least an hour quicker than the above route

You'd think that, but I've tried all routes and believe me, there is no difference in time. The route you mention is longer in terms of distnace travelled and also involves more tolls (M1/M50/M4/M6). You may do it quicker if you are breaking speed limits on the motorway though!

Anyway, just giving my 2c.

stooge

fargo1968 wrote: »

Was thinking Friday lunchtime getting busy around Dublin - maybe go Belfast, Dundalk, Ardee, Kells, Mullingar, Athlone, Galway?

similar kind of route to the one I mentioned however, Mullingar to delvin and on to kells is a bugger of a road!

ValerieR

If you leave Belfast at noon, I'd say you'd be safe enough as far as traffic in Dublin is concerned.
As another user recommends above, I'd go Belfast, Dublin, Galway on the motorway .. I have done it in 3 hours and 45 min, respecting the speed limits

No Pants

ValerieR wrote: »

If you leave Belfast at noon, I'd say you'd be safe enough as far as traffic in Dublin is concerned.

Dublin in less than 2 hours. If coming that way, make sure you don't miss the turn off at Lisburn for the A1.

fargo1968

Many thanks

Altreab

Without a doubt motorway to Dublin and M6 west to Galway. I have done both the motorway version and via Kells/ Devlin and the motorway is by far the easier drive. You will get to Galway a lot fresher. If you leave Belfast at noon the first heavy traffic you will hit will be Galway City :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Supergurrier

M1 >>> M50 >>> M6

less than 3 hours

R.O.R

Did Drogheda to the roundabout coming in to Galway in about 1hr 45 mins a couple of years ago. M1, M50, M6, and stuck more or less to the speed limit.

Belfast is only around an hour from Drogheda so you should do it that way in around 3 hours.

I tried cross country before that, and it's not a great journey - more involving if you fancy a drive, but if time is a factor, stick to the motorway.

challengemaster

fargo1968 wrote: »

Thanks No Pants, how are those roads for speed cams?

There's usually a van the mayo side of tuam, long straight just over the brow of a hill.

It's definitely the long way 'round going that route, though. M1->m50->m6/m4 should be faster, even if there was M50 congestion. The only thing is you've about €10+ in tolls by the time you hit galway