A practical 5-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 five 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, Carrick-a-Rede 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.
Five days is the right balance: long enough to settle in near Bushmills for an extra night (the base for Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Old Bushmills Distillery), with a single night bookending the drive in Belfast and in Derry. The two coastal driving days are short enough to fold in the Glens of Antrim and Carrick-a-Rede without feeling rushed.
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 into the Nine Glens of Antrim. Cushendall, the Capital of the Glens, is the gateway to Glenariff Forest Park, whose waymarked waterfall trail takes 1.5 to 2 hours through forest past a series of cascades (wear waterproof boots; the paths can be muddy after rain).
From the Glens, carry on north to Ballycastle, with a stop at Torr Head for views toward Scotland on a clear day. Just west of town, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge connects a rocky outcrop used by salmon fishermen since the 1700s (pre-book online with the National Trust; it sells out in summer). Bushmills, tonight's base, is a 20-minute drive on.
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Use Bushmills as a base for the Giant's Causeway (5 minutes away), Dunluce Castle (10 minutes east) and Portrush's Whiterocks Beach (15 minutes further). The National Trust car park at the Giant's Causeway charges a fee; park in Bushmills village and walk the coastal trail instead (about 35 minutes each way). 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. Arrive in Derry in time to walk the complete circuit of the 17th-century city walls (about one hour) and pause at the Bogside murals, which tell the civil rights story in vivid colour.
On your final morning, cross the Peace Bridge over the River Foyle and take a last look at the walled city before catching the Translink train back to Belfast (about 2.5 hours).
May to September offers the best weather and the longest daylight hours. 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.
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The full route — stops, maps, and driving times — is on Routebook by Kington.
A 5-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.
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