Mountain pass · 11 mi off the route
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Road trip route · Ireland
Cork to Killarney drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 12 min
- Distance
- 54 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £9
- Tolls (est.)
- £1
The Cork to Killarney drive
The drive from Cork to Killarney covers 54 miles (87 km) and takes about 1 hr 12 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Most of it is one road: the N22 carries 81% of the distance.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 289 m near Killarney. The Moll's Gap is 11 mi off the route if you have time for a detour.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £9 one-way plus roughly £1 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 54 miles this is longer than 5% of the 144 routes covered here, short enough to fold into a bigger itinerary without losing a day.
Famous roads on or near the drive
From the 500-plus passes and driving roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app. None are on the fastest route, but these are close enough for a detour.
Mountain pass · 16 mi off the route
Ballaghbeama Gap
Best stops between Cork and Killarney
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Gougane Barra
A tranquil mountain lake with a tiny island chapel, source of the River Lee in the heart of West Cork.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Ireland
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Barrier tolls and the M50 eFlow barrier-free toll
- Drives on
- the left
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in Ireland
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Cork to Killarney FAQs
How long is the drive from Cork to Killarney?
Driving from Cork to Killarney takes about 1 hr 12 min nonstop, covering 54 miles (87 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Cork to Killarney?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £9 one-way. Expect around £1 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Cork to Killarney in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 12 min of driving, Cork to Killarney is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Cork to Killarney?
The fastest route uses the N22 (about 44 mi), the N40 (about 7 mi).
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 6 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
More drives from Cork & Killarney
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Ireland road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Ireland guide.