A practical 7-day Causeway Coastal Route road trip itinerary from Belfast to Derry, covering Giant's Causeway, the Glens of Antrim, Carrick-a-Rede and Dunluce Castle.
Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route is one of Europe's most celebrated road journeys: a 185 km / 115-mile drive from Belfast to Derry that threads through the Glens of Antrim, along clifftop coastline, and past the UNESCO-listed Giant's Causeway. This Causeway Coastal Route road trip itinerary breaks the drive into a relaxed seven days, with short driving legs and time to explore properly at every stop.
The Causeway Coastal Route runs northeast from Belfast through the Nine Glens of Antrim, then turns west along the Causeway Coast through Ballycastle and Bushmills before ending in Derry. It is a point-to-point route: travellers can return to Belfast by Translink train from Derry in about 2.5 hours. No single driving leg exceeds 90 minutes, which keeps the pace relaxed throughout.
This is a route for travellers who enjoy a mix of coastal scenery, history and local food. The Giant's Causeway is the headline attraction, but the Glens of Antrim, Rathlin Island and Derry's walled city give the route variety and depth. Roads are well-maintained A-roads and B-roads; no specialist driving skills are needed. Families will find plenty of accessible walking and wildlife stops along the way.
Seven days is the right balance: long enough to spend two nights in Ballycastle (for Carrick-a-Rede and the Rathlin Island ferry) and two nights near Bushmills (for Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle) without feeling rushed. A shorter version is possible: drop the Rathlin Island day and combine the Glens stop with Ballycastle for a four-day route.
Arrive in Belfast and spend the afternoon in the Titanic Quarter. The Titanic Belfast museum covers the ship's construction and the city's maritime history in compelling detail. The Cathedral Quarter, a short walk away, has the best concentration of restaurants and bars for a first evening.
Head northeast on the A2 coast road. Carrickfergus Castle, about 20 minutes from the city centre, is a well-preserved 12th-century Norman fortress on the shore of Belfast Lough and makes a worthwhile 45-minute stop. Continue north along the coast to Cushendall, the Capital of the Glens.
Spend the day in Glenariff Forest Park, the largest of the Nine Glens. The waymarked waterfall trail takes 1.5 to 2 hours through forest past a series of cascades. Leave time in the afternoon to drive the coast through Cushendun, a quiet National Trust village at the mouth of the River Dun with a small beach.
Drive north to Ballycastle, with a stop at Torr Head for views toward Scotland on a clear day. On the first afternoon, visit Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (pre-book online; it sells out in summer). On the second day, take the 45-minute ferry to Rathlin Island. The RSPB West Light Seabird Centre at the island's western tip has hundreds of puffins from May to mid-July.
Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles is one of the world's most celebrated drives. Here is a 10-day itinerary covering Big Sur's sea-cliff roads, the Monterey Peninsula, Hearst Castle, and Santa Barbara.
The drive from Ballycastle to Bushmills takes under an hour. Use the village as a base for the Giant's Causeway (5 minutes away), Dunluce Castle (10 minutes east) and Portrush's Whiterocks Beach (15 minutes further). A guided tour of Old Bushmills Distillery takes about an hour and ends with a tasting.
Drive the coast road west from Bushmills to Derry, stopping at Mussenden Temple at Downhill Demesne for one of the best views on the entire route. In Derry, walk the complete circuit of the 17th-century city walls (about one hour) and pause at the Bogside murals. The Peace Bridge across the River Foyle makes a fine final stop before catching the train back to Belfast.
May to September offers the best weather and the longest daylight hours. Puffins are on Rathlin Island from May to mid-July, and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is open from April to October. The first two weeks of August are the busiest: Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's most-visited attraction, and peak-season queues can be long.
The Causeway Coastal Route is straightforward in any hire car. The A2 coast road is the main through route, with short B-road diversions to clifftop attractions. Parking at the Giant's Causeway National Trust car park charges a fee; parking in Bushmills village and walking the coastal trail is free (35 minutes each way). Hire cars are available at both Belfast airports. Return from Derry to Belfast by Translink train takes about 2.5 hours.
Ready to plan it in detail? Use the interactive map below to see every stop, driving leg and overnight on the map.
A practical 7-day Lake District road trip itinerary around England's most celebrated national park: where to base yourself, what to do and how long each driving leg takes.
The full route — stops, maps, and driving times — is on Routebook by Kington.
A 7-day point-to-point drive along Northern Ireland's dramatic north coast, from Belfast to Derry via the Giant's Causeway, the Nine Glens of Antrim and the iconic Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
Routebookby Routebook
