11 Unforgettable Last-Minute Road Trips To Try Over The June Bank Holiday Weekend

What is the stoooooory! Hopefully you’re reading this in advance of a long, lovely weekend away from the office.

If you’re in last-minute-shite-I’ve-nothing-planned-and-I-don’t-want-to-be-stuck-in-the-gaff mode, then this guide’s for you.

I’ve taken some time to scribble down some of my favourite Irish road trips that we’ve published here over the last few months.

Ready to rock? Let’s get cracking

1 – 48 hours in Dublin

Our guide to 48 hours in Dublin is packed with activities both in and out of Dublin City, so you’ll get the best of both worlds.

Where you’ll visit

• Malahide Castle
• Howth
• Kilmainham Gaol
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Teeling’s Whiskey Tour
• The Ha’penny Bridge
• A historical pub tour
• Trinity College
• The National Science Gallery
• The GPO 1916 Tour
• Dublina
• The Guinness Storehouse
• Johnny Fox’s

Fancy giving it a shot?

Dive into our 48 hours in Dublin guide.

2 – 48 hours in Meath 

Where you’ll visit

• Tayto Park
• Balrath Woods
• Slane Distillery
• Trim Castle
• Loughcrew
• Hill of Tara
• Newgrange
• Knowth

Fancy giving it a shot?

Here’s a detailed guide on the best things to do in Meath in 48 hours.

3 – 48 Hours in Donegal

Where you’ll visit

• Slieve League
• Silver Strand Beach
• Glencolmcille Folk Village
• Glengesh Pass
• Assaranca Waterfall
• Caves of Maghera
• Ardara
• Glenveagh National Park
• Marble Hill Beach
• Horn Head
• Killahoey Beach
• Ards Forest Park
• Tra Na Rossan drive
• Lough Salt
• Fanad Head Lighthouse
• Ballymastocker Bay
• Grianan of Aileach
• Malin Head

Fancy giving it a shot?

Hop into our guide to 48 hours in Donegal.

4 – 48 Hours in Waterford

Where you’ll visit

• Exploring the oldest city in Ireland
• Waterford City walls
• Waterford Crystal Tour
• The Medieval Museum
• The Copper Coast
• Dunhill Castle
• Kilmurrin Beach
• Bunmahon Beach
• Coumshingaun Lake
• Magic Road
• Mahon Falls
• The Comeragh Drive
• Dungarvan

Fancy giving it a shot?

Take a look at our detailed guide to 48 hours in Waterford.

5 – 48 hours in Kerry

Where you’ll visit

• Gap of Dunloe
• Killarney Town
• Torc Waterfall
• Killarney National Park
• Ross Castle
• Ladies View
• Moll’s Gap
• Kenmare
• Sneem
• Derrynane Beach
• The Skellig Ring
• The Kerry Cliffs
• Portmagee
• Valentia Island
• Rossbeigh Beach
• Inch Beach
• The Slea Head Drive

Fancy giving it a shot?

Check our detailed guide to 48 hours in Kerry.

5 – 48 hours in Antrim

Where you’ll visit

• The entire Causeway Coastal Route
• Dunluce Castle
• The Giants Causeway
• The Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge
• Torr Head
• The Dark Hedges
• Bushmills Distillery
• The Gobbins
• Cushendun Caves
• Ballintoy Harbour
• Murlough Bay

Fancy giving it a shot?

Check our detailed guide to 48 hours in Antrim.

6 – 48 hours in Galway

Where you’ll visit

• Galway City
• Connemara
• Kylemore Abbey
• The Sky Road
• Clifden
• Diamond Hill
• The Leenaun to Louisburgh Drive
• The Quiet Man Bridge
• Zip-Lining at the Delphi Resort

Fancy giving it a shot?

Check our detailed guide to the best things to do in Galway with family.

7 – 48 hours in Clare

Where you’ll visit

• Loop Head
• Lahinch for surfing
• Doonagore Castle
• The Cliffs of Moher (via the Doolin Cliff walk)
• The Doolin Cave
• Inis Oirr
• Kinvarra

Fancy giving it a shot?

Check our detailed guide to 48 hours in Clare.

8 – 48 hours in Sligo

Where you’ll visit

• Strandhill for surfing
• Knocknarea Mountain for the Queen Maeve Trail
• Glencar waterfall (it’s actually in Leitrim)
• The highest waterfall in Ireland
• The Gleniff Horseshoe Drive
• Mullaghmore Head
• Benbulben

Fancy giving it a shot?

Check our detailed guide to 48 hours in Sligo.

9 – The one day Kilkenny road trip

Where you’ll visit

• Dunmore Cave
• Kilkenny Castle
• The Smithwick’s Tour

Fancy giving it a shot?

Check our the guide here.

10 – The one day in Wicklow road trip

Where you’ll visit

• Glendalough for the Spinc Loop walk
• Lough Tay
• Sally Gap
• The Wicklow Gaol
• The Wicklow Brewery

Fancy giving it a shot?

Check our the guide here.

11 – Conquering Cuilcagh

The last one for this weekend is, to be fair, not really a road trip.

Unless you live as far away from it as I do and need to take the spin up to Fermanagh to get there.

The climb up Cuilcagh Mountain isn’t overly strenuous, the views are excellent and it’s well worth doing.

Have another road trip that you’d recommend people do this weekend? Let me know in the comments section below!