The most-driven van route in Ireland, and for good reason. Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Beara — Kerry has more overnight spots per kilometre than anywhere else in the country. It also has more crowds. Here's how to do it right.
Kerry's spots are excellent but well-known — which means Garda tolerance shifts seasonally. The county below-the-radar standard: arrive after 8pm, leave by 9am, leave no trace. Filter the full spots list by Kerry →
Iveragh Peninsula's quiet side. Community relaxed, year-round, no drama.
Top of the Healy Pass. Remote, dramatic, Beara at its best. Apr–Oct.
Working harbour in the best town in Ireland. Best Sep–May.
North Kerry Blue Flag. Quiet Mon–Thu, rowdier at summer weekends.
Kerry sits across three major van routes. Here's how to stage them without doing everything at once.
Anti-clockwise from Killarney. Best staging: Killarney → Cahersiveen (overnight) → Waterville → Kenmare → back. Three nights minimum to not feel rushed. Avoid R-roads on the peninsula with anything over 6.5m.
One of the great half-days in Ireland done as a day trip — but stay overnight in Dingle and you'll have the Slea Head road to yourself at 7am. Clockwise from Dingle town. Weight limit on the Connor Pass (check your van).
Shared with Cork. Cross via the Healy Pass for the dramatic approach. Castletownbere is the main hub. Quieter than Kerry's tourist circuit — more rewards per kilometre of effort.
Supervalu and Centra throughout Kerry stock Campingaz and Kosangas. Killarney, Tralee, Kenmare, Dingle all have good options. Stock up in Killarney before heading to the peninsulas — smaller villages are hit-and-miss.
Leisure centres in Killarney and Tralee allow day passes (showers + water top-up). Dingle has a tap at the leisure centre. Ask at garages on the peninsulas — most will fill a tank for nothing.
Cahersiveen has a bring centre. Kenmare tip is accessible. Chemical toilet disposal is the trickier one — certified campsites at Glenross (near Glenbeigh) and Fossa (near Killarney) will let you use their disposal points for a small fee even if you're not staying.
Lidl in Killarney and Tralee have car park EV chargers — useful for solar-battery top-ups. ESB eCars network covers Killarney, Tralee, Kenmare. Thinner on the peninsulas.
Cold and quiet. Roads are yours. Some passes close in hard frost. Magical light but short days. Green tolerance everywhere.
Best two months in Kerry. Good weather chance, low crowds, everything open. The sweet spot.
Busy. Very busy. Amber spots become Red. Worth it if you're flexible — but avoid Ring of Kerry on bank holiday weekends.
The second sweet spot. Crowds drop sharply after school goes back. Autumn colours in Killarney National Park. Excellent.
Kerry is the classic — but some of the best van life in Ireland is in counties that don't make the cover of the tourist brochure.