Tralee to Ring of Kerry (via Killarney) by Coach or Minibus
A Ring of Kerry day from Tralee is the 179 km loop plus the run to it and home again. Coaches drive the Ring anticlockwise, which ends the loop in Killarney, so a Tralee group usually comes home through Killarney on the N22. Start early, because this is a longer day than the Ring from Killarney.
Journey
- Tralee to Ring of Kerry (via Killarney)
- Approximately Full day
- Serving Tralee
About Ring of Kerry
- A famous 179 km scenic loop around the Iveragh Peninsula taking in coastal villages, mountain passes and the wild Atlantic edge.
- Nearest base: Killarney
Getting onto the loop
The anticlockwise direction means joining the Ring at Killorglin. From Tralee the coach can go south-east on the N22 to Killarney and then west on the N72, or take the N70 through Castlemaine and Milltown straight to Killorglin. The N70 is shorter, though its Castlemaine-to-Tralee stretch is narrow and winding. The driver chooses on the day. Either way, the group then follows the N70 through Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville and Sneem to Kenmare.
Home through Killarney
From Kenmare the coach climbs the N71 to Moll's Gap, passes Ladies View and runs down through the national park into Killarney. That brings the group to Killarney in the late afternoon, which suits an evening meal in the town before the 35-minute run back to Tralee. Muckross House, on the N71 just before the town, has coach parking, but groups must reserve, so book it ahead if you want to stop.
Fitting the day into drivers' hours
A driver's daily limit is nine hours of driving, and no more than 4.5 hours may pass at the wheel before a 45-minute pause. The Ring alone takes most of a day with stops, and the Tralee legs add more than an hour. Tell the operator your start time, stops and any evening plans, so the day can be checked against those limits before it is confirmed. An early start leaves room for stops without pressing on those limits.
Why not drive the Ring clockwise from Tralee via Kenmare?
Tour coaches all run anticlockwise, since two coaches meeting on the tight stretches cannot easily get by, so your coach does the same. Starting at Killorglin is the natural fit for a group leaving Tralee.
How long is the day from Tralee?
Plan for more than the eight to nine hours a Killarney group spends, because of the extra legs at each end. The operator confirms the timings when you send the itinerary.
Can we stay overnight in Killarney instead?
Yes, and it shortens the first day. Some groups run the Ring from Killarney and return to Tralee the next morning.
Popular Transfers from Tralee
Plan the Trip
Get a quote
Send the date, the passenger count and any timed entries you already hold. We come back with a fixed price for Tralee to Ring of Kerry (via Killarney).