Traveling full-time isn’t always feasible, but a full-time career—especially an expat assignment—can unlock incredible travel opportunities.
We made the most of a long holiday weekend while living in Dublin, embarking on a four-day road trip from the capital to Dingle over the Paddy’s Day holiday.
This itinerary maximized our limited time, including this easy, self-drive day trip from Dingle Town to Tralee in North County Kerry.
At just about an hour from point to point with no stops, the drive to Tralee is an ideal day trip distance. Read on to find out more about the sights and scenery between Dingle and Tralee, and how you can fit eight incredible stops into a single day.
1. Dingle to Tralee: Get Fogged in Over Conor Pass
There are two roads into Dingle Town, the N86 and Conor Pass. We were warned not to tackle the Conor Pass on our way into Dingle after driving for nearly five hours from Dublin (granted, there were a few pit stops on the way…)
However, Conor Pass is known as one of the most scenic drives in Ireland so we used our day trip from Dingle to Tralee as an excuse to check it out.
The weather was beautiful at sea level when we set out from Dingle Town after breakfast. I did notice a cloud layer looming near the peak of the surrounding mountains but thought nothing of it until we continued to climb the narrow winding road and soon found ourselves surrounded by fog on Conor Pass.
The drive was harrowing for about 5-10 minutes since I really couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of me. We emerged briefly from the fog near the peak and looked down into the valley. We couldn’t see much but the lingering fog added a peaceful atmosphere to the place that we appreciated.
2. Beachcombing near Castlegregory En Route to Tralee
Driving on, we emerged from Conor Pass and coasted downhill toward Castlegregory. We pulled over to the side of the road and did a bit of beachcombing as we stretched our legs. We had the beach entirely to ourselves and spotted all sorts of cool shells washed up out of the sea.
3. Spot a Rose or Two in Tralee
Tralee is famous for the Rose of Tralee festival in which women from across the counties of Ireland (and those with Irish heritage from around the world) compete in a “beauty” pageant.
The whole affair is quite non-traditional compared to what you see in the US and on the global stage: there is no swimsuit competition (thank goodness…) The winner is the person judged to best represent the attributes “lovely and fair”.
The competition is judged based on personality and the winner should be a good role model for the festival and for Ireland.
We spent some time walking around the park that hosts a list of winners and a statue of a dashing young man delivering a rose to a lovely and fair young lady.
4. Relive Life in Medieval Times at the County Kerry Museum
Tralee is also home to the County Kerry Museum and covers a great deal of regional history. There is even a complete reproduction of a medieval street in the basement to give a sense of what life was like in Tralee hundreds of years ago.
5. Tralee Bay Wetlands
Just outside of town, the Tralee Bay Wetlands offers a unique habitat for birding. The price of admission includes a short boat tour and afterwards guests can walk around and enjoy the hides dotting the property.
We even spotted a few stonechats (they are super popular among birders). The reserve also looks after various injured birds. We got to see a Eurasian crane and whooper swan.
6. Blennerville Windmill
Just outside Tralee, Blennerville Windmill sits at the mouth of the River Lee where it meets Tralee Bay. The windmill dates back over 200 years and is the largest of its kind in Europe. There are walking trails along the river and bay making for a peaceful stroll.
7. The South Pole Inn
On our return drive from Tralee to Dingle Town, we made a pit stop in Anascaul at the South Pole Inn. Tom Crean, the famous Irish Antarctic explorer lived out his days here.
The pub features a variety of photos and artifacts from Tom Crean’s three Antarctic expeditions. It’s a fascinating stop to stretch your legs on the return journey from Tralee, and a great reminder of those who pursued epic travel as a ‘guiding star’ throughout their lives.
8. Inch Beach
The West of Ireland is all about scenery. We wound our way down and away from the hills toward water’s edge and stopped again to stretch our legs at Inch Beach.
I was so impressed by both the moody colors and textures on the beach. I think we would have had an entirely different experience and vibe if the sun had been shining that day. The muted earth tones just felt right.
Map of the Dingle to Tralee Drive
There is so much to see and do on the Dingle Peninsula and a day trip between Dingle Town and Tralee makes for an ideal drive. Even so, the road trip was still manageable in the limited early Spring daylight hours that we had. This required careful planning, but it’s a perfect example of how part-time travelers like us can achieve a satisfying road trip over a long weekend.
Click on the image of the map below to open up an interactive version in Google Maps to explore the route and things to do between Dingle and Tralee in detail.
Is Tralee Worth Visiting From Dingle?
The drive between Dingle and Tralee showcases the spectacular scenery of the Dingle Peninsula, from the harrowing fog of Conor Pass to the moody colors of Inch Beach, and offers a variety of fascinating historical and natural stops.
We found that there was lots to see and do that could easily fill a Spring day out. This trip is proof that by committing to careful planning, you can fully explore a region like County Kerry in a condensed amount of time.
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