Ennis to Galway by Coach or Minibus
Ennis to Galway is a motorway run of about 70 km, north on the M18 past Crusheen and Gort to meet the M6 east of the city. The part that needs planning is the final stretch into Galway, where traffic and the set-down point decide your timing.
Journey
- Ennis to Galway
- Approximately 1h
- Serving Ennis
Airports at Galway
- Ireland West (Knock) (NOC)
- Shannon Airport (SNN)
Why groups travel to Galway
- Cliffs of Moher
- Connemara
- Aran Islands
Motorway from end to end
The M18 runs from Shannon past Ennis to junction 18, where it meets the M6 and the M17. Your coach turns west onto the M6 there and follows it into Galway. Bypasses take the road clear of Crusheen and Gort, so there are no town streets on the way. Neither motorway is tolled on this journey: the only M6 toll plaza is at Cappataggle, east of Loughrea, well beyond the point where the coach joins.
Getting into the city
The slow part is the approach from the M6 past Oranmore, where commuter traffic builds on weekday mornings and evenings. The old centre around Shop Street is closed to traffic, so a coach cannot reach the door of most venues there. Galway City Council has been reviewing where tour coaches set down, so the driver confirms the current stopping point nearest your hotel or venue.
Who makes the trip
Ennis and Galway are both touring bases, and groups often switch between them mid-tour. Clubs and supporters travel this road for fixtures at Pearse Stadium in Salthill and for Connacht games at Dexcom Stadium, the old Sportsground. Pearse Stadium is out in Salthill, on the far side of the city from the M6, so on match days the coach has to cross the centre; allow for that when you set the kick-off margin.
Vehicle and luggage
For a hotel move, a 49-seater coach carries a full touring group with its cases in the underfloor bays. A 16 to 19-seat minibus suits smaller parties and copes better with tight hotel entrances in the old town. If your Galway hotel has no room for a coach, ask for a set-down close by and plan a short walk with the bags.
Is there a scenic alternative to the motorway?
Yes. The N67 runs from Ennistymon through Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan and Kinvara along the edge of the Burren and Galway Bay. It is slower and narrower, so treat it as a sightseeing day rather than a transfer.
How long does it really take?
Allow about an hour from Ennis to the edge of Galway. Add time for the city approach at rush hour, and more on race days or when there is a big game in Salthill.
Popular Transfers from Ennis
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