Route · Galway to Killarney
Galway to Killarney
2 h 45 min and 216 km south from Galway to Kerry, one of the city-to-city journeys our clients book most often.
2 h 45 min
Typical time
216 km
Distance
M18 · N21
Main roads
2 to 70
Passengers
EUR 650
From, one way
Other ways to go
Bus, train or a private driver
| How | Time | Changes | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Éireann 51, then 14 | 2 h 15 to 2 h 20, then 2 h 05 min | 1, in Limerick | Route 14 runs from Limerick to Killarney 4 times a day on the Monday to Friday timetable (buseireann.ie, read 26.10.2026) |
| Private transfer | 2 h 45 min | None | From your door in Galway to your door in Killarney, at the time you choose |
The route
Two ways south
Inland on the M18 past Ennis and Limerick, then the N21 into Kerry. Or west through Clare and across the Shannon estuary on the car ferry.
Galway
Pickup · any address
Collected from your hotel or house in Galway at the time you choose.
Adare
Optional · on the N21
A village of thatched cottages on the River Maigue, right on the inland route and a good place for lunch.
Killimer to Tarbert ferry
Alternative route · across the estuary
The car ferry crosses the Shannon from Clare into Kerry. It swaps the motorway for the coast and suits travellers who would rather see the estuary than Limerick’s ring road.
Killarney
Drop-off · any address
Hotel door in town or a lodge by the lakes.
Vehicle
Which car for this run
Luggage decides more often than passenger count. Two people with four large cases travel better in an Executive MPV.
Executive Sedan
2 pax · 2 cases
Two travellers with hand luggage and a case each.
Executive MPV
7-8 pax · up to 10 cases
The default for families and any party with golf clubs. Every seat taken leaves less room for cases.
Minibus
16 pax
Tour groups and corporate parties travelling together.
Included
What the price covers
A fixed price for this route is confirmed in writing with your quote. Nothing is added at the end of the journey.
- Professional licensed chauffeur
- Meet and greet with a name sign
- Real-time flight monitoring
- Complimentary WiFi and still water
- Tolls and parking
- 30 minutes of complimentary waiting time
Questions
About this route
How long is the drive from Galway to Killarney?
About 2 h 45 min for 216 km on the inland route. Stops and the ferry route add to that, and we quote whichever you choose.
Can we take the Shannon ferry from Galway to Killarney?
Yes. The route through Clare to Killimer crosses the estuary to Tarbert by car ferry and continues into Kerry. Tell us you prefer it and we plan the timing around the sailings.
Is there a bus or train from Galway to Killarney?
The connection we found on the operator’s timetable changes buses in Limerick, and the onward route 14 runs only a few times a day. The comparison above gives the times. A private car is one vehicle from door to door.
Can we stop in Adare on the way to Killarney?
Yes. Adare is on the inland route, so a stop for lunch or a walk through the village adds little more than the time you spend there.
Arriving
Where we drop in Killarney
Any address in the town or county. These come up most.
- Hotels in Killarney townAny street
- Lakeside lodges and hotelsOutside town
- Kenmare and the Ring of KerryFurther on
- DingleFurther west
Options
One way, return, or keep the car
One way
A city-to-city transfer, quoted as one journey with tolls and parking inside the price.
Most travellers
Ferry route
West through Clare and across the estuary, for travellers who want the coast instead of the motorway.
Touring parties
Turn the drive into a day
The Cliffs of Moher or Adare on the way, with the same chauffeur, quoted as a touring day.
Families and first-time visitors
Reviews
What our guests say
Next step
From Galway Bay to the Kerry lakes, in one car.
Tell us the date, the addresses and whether you want the ferry. The price comes back fixed, for the whole vehicle.