Family Road Trips: Keeping Kids Entertained in Ireland

A family road trip through Ireland can create memories that last a lifetime—or it can be a stressful ordeal of "are we there yet?" complaints. This guide helps you achieve the former.

Planning for Success

Route Planning

Key principles:

Don't overplan: 2-3 hours of driving per day is plenty with kids
Build in stops: Plan interesting breaks every 60-90 minutes
Stay flexible: The best discoveries are unplanned

Distance guidelines by age:

Age Group	Max Daily Driving	Break Frequency
Under 2	2 hours	Every 45 mins
2-5 years	3 hours	Every hour
6-10 years	4 hours	Every 90 mins
11+ years	5 hours	Every 2 hours

Best Family Routes

Boyne Valley

Short drives between stops
Interactive history (Newgrange, Brú na Bóinne)
Open spaces for running around
Close to Dublin

Dublin Bay & Howth

Beaches for playing
Seal watching at Howth
Ice cream stops
Minimal driving

Wicklow Mountains

Nature trails and walks
Lakes for paddling
Powerscourt playground
Varied activities

Packing Smart

Essential Kids' Car Kit

Must-haves:

Favourite comfort toy/blanket
Refillable water bottles
Healthy snacks (plus treats)
Wet wipes (lots)
Change of clothes (per child)
Plastic bags (for rubbish/car sickness)
First aid kit with children's medicine
Sunshade for windows

Entertainment:

Activity books
Crayons (not markers—they stain)
Audiobooks/podcasts
Small toys (not ones with lots of pieces)
Tablet with downloaded content (backup option)

Snack Strategy

Good car snacks:

Cut fruit in containers
Breadsticks
Cheese strings
Rice cakes
Raisins
Dry cereal

Avoid:

Chocolate (melts, mess)
Crumbly biscuits
Sticky sweets
Anything that stains

Car Games

Games that actually work (road-tested by Irish families):

The Alphabet Game

Spot letters in order on signs, number plates, and shop names. First to Z wins.

Variations:

Irish Alphabet (fewer letters!)
Animal alphabet
Food alphabet

I Spy

Classic for good reason. Works well with younger kids.

Tips:

Choose things that last (not "I spy a bird" that flies away)
Simplify for little ones ("I spy something green")

20 Questions

One person thinks of something, others ask yes/no questions to guess.

Best for: Ages 5+, works well with mixed ages

The Story Game

Start a story, each person adds a sentence. Gets silly—that's the point.

Example: "Once upon a time, there was a sheep..." "Who could drive a tractor..." "But only in reverse..."

Spot the Sheep

Ireland has 3.5 million sheep. Count them! (Competition or collaboration)

Variations:

White sheep vs black sheep
Spot the lamb (spring)
Spot the cow for variety

Licence Plate Cricket

Points for numbers on licence plates:

Add up the digits
If they equal 10 exactly, bonus points
If they equal 11, you're out!

Rest Stops

What to Look For

Best family stops have:

Clean toilets with changing facilities
Space to run around
Food options
Something interesting nearby

Recommended Stops by Route

M1 (Dublin-Belfast):

Applegreen Castlebellingham (playground)
Newry Gateway (good facilities)

M4/M6 (Dublin-Galway):

Enfield services
Athlone (town centre break)

N7/M7 (Dublin-Limerick):

Kildare Village (shopping/playground)
Barack Obama Plaza, Moneygall (yes, really!)

Ring of Kerry:

Killarney (multiple parks)
Waterville (beach break)

Activity Stops

Plan breaks around activities, not just toilets:

Ideas:

Beach breaks (20 minutes to paddle)
Playground visits (most towns have one)
Short walks (burn off energy)
Ice cream stops (bribery works)
Pet farms (Dublin, Galway, Cork all have options)

Managing Challenges

Car Sickness

Prevention:

Sit in middle seat (less motion)
Look at horizon, not screens
Fresh air (windows cracked)
Avoid reading
Light snacks, not heavy meals
Ginger biscuits can help

Preparation:

Plastic bags accessible
Spare clothes
Wet wipes ready
Know where to pull over

Sibling Squabbles

Prevention:

Personal space (if possible)
Individual entertainment options
Separate snack bags
Clear rules before journey

Resolution:

Pull over if needed
Short walk break
Change seating arrangement
Distraction with new game/activity

"Are We There Yet?"

Strategies:

Visual countdown (move a marker on printed map)
Time broken into chunks ("two Peppa Pig episodes")
Arrival treats/activities to anticipate
Honest communication about journey length

Technology (Used Wisely)

Screen Time Guidelines

Tablets and phones are useful tools, not the enemy:

Good use:

Downloaded films for longer stretches
Educational apps
Audio content (podcasts, audiobooks)
Emergency entertainment

Avoid:

Screens for entire journey
Content that causes motion sickness
Battery running out at crucial moment

Our approach: "Real" activities first, screens as backup for difficult stretches

Recommended Apps

CBeebies Playtime - Pre-school activities
Toca Boca games - Creative play
Audible/Spotify Kids - Stories and music
Irish mythology podcasts - Educational and atmospheric

Accommodation Tips

Family-Friendly Features

Look for:

Family rooms or connecting rooms
Swimming pool
Play areas
Early dinner options
Cots/highchairs available

Self-Catering Advantages

Kitchen for snacks/meals
More space for toys/games
Flexibility with routine
Often more economical

Best Family Attractions

Animals

Fota Wildlife Park (Cork) - Walk-through zoo
Dublin Zoo - Classic, well-designed
Tayto Park (Meath) - Theme park + zoo
Pet farms - Found near most cities

Interactive History

Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange) - Ancient tombs
Kilmainham Gaol - Older kids, powerful
Dunbrody Famine Ship (Wexford)
Titanic Belfast - All ages

Outdoors

Center Parcs (Longford)
Zip-line adventures (various)
Beaches (too many to list)
Playgrounds (every town)

Weather Planning

Rainy Day Options

Ireland. Rain. Inevitable. Plan for it:

Indoor attractions:

Aquariums (Galway, Dingle)
Interactive museums
Indoor play centres
Swimming pools

Car activities:

Download extra content
Pack more games
Have a "rainy day" snack bag

See our Rainy Day Guide for more ideas.

Creating Memories

Beyond Photos

Travel journal: Each child writes/draws
Collection: Shells, leaves, ticket stubs
Postcards: Send to themselves at home
Voice recordings: Capture their reactions

Involve Kids in Planning

Let them choose one stop
Research together before trip
Give small responsibilities
Ask what they want to remember