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Your Final Night in Ireland: How Close to the Airport Should You Stay?
Manage episode 463630340 series 2386509
This article focuses on departures from Dublin and Shannon airports for North American visitors to Ireland. At this time no other Ireland airports offer direct flights to North America.
How far can you stay from the airport the night before you leave Ireland and still have a relaxed morning and a (mostly) stress-free departure?
A few factors go into this answer:
- Which airport are you departing from?
- Do you need to return a rental car?
- How many people are traveling?
- What time does your flight depart?

How Close Should You Stay to Dublin Airport the Night Before You Leave Ireland?
I'm going to begin with Dublin Airport as that is the airport most visitors to Ireland use.
Returning to the US from Dublin Airport
Understanding what time you need to arrive at the airport is the most important factor to determining how close you should stay to the airport the night before your departure.
If you've even gently perused my Dublin Airport tips article you know that airlines recommend that you allow yourself a minimum of 3 hours to check in for your flight, clear security, return your VAT (and possibly do a bit of shopping), and pass through US Preclearance and US Customs.
And though you probably don't have to give yourself that much time, I think it is still a very good guideline.
If you plan to return your rental car that morning, I would add an additional 30 minutes to your airport arrival time to allow for the rental car check-in and shuttle back to the terminal.
Tip: If you will be returning your car off site, I recommend dropping off travel companions and luggage at the airport before returning the car.

If you are traveling with children or a large group, you may want to add an additional 30 minutes as more people can often equal more time to get through each checkpoint.
Once you have a good idea of how much time you may need at the airport, subtract those hours from your flight departure time.
Ireland Family Vacations is committed to remaining an ad-free resource and is supported through partnerships with trusted travel brands. We may earn income from purchases made via affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See why this is important.
I recommend:
- Departure before 11 am – stay in an airport hotel or nearby villages of Malahide or Swords
- Departure between 11 am and 2 pm – you could stay a bit further out, between 30-45 minutes from the airport. I don't recommend much further because you never know what traffic will be like.
- If your departure is later than 2pm, you could easily stay 90 minutes from the airport and enjoy a leisurely morning before traveling toward Dublin.
If returning to Canada from Dublin Airport the same timings still apply, even though you won't pass through US Customs. Flights directly to Canada depart via Terminal 1 which can take a bit longer for non-EU passport holders.
Traveling Elsewhere from Dublin
If traveling on to Europe or the UK from Dublin Airport I recommend arriving 2.5 hours prior to departure if you are traveling in the morning, but you can shave that down a bit (but I still recommend at least 2 hours) if traveling in the afternoon or evening.

How Close Should You Stay to Shannon Airport the Night Before You Leave Ireland?
Shannon Airport, being a much smaller airport with fewer flights, is easier to depart from.
Your car drop off will take little to no extra time, you won't have far to trek with your luggage, and you just won't have to deal with the crowds like you do in Dublin.
At Shannon Airport I still recommend arriving 2.5 hours prior to departure if traveling with families or groups, but if you are solo or traveling as a couple, 2 hours should be plenty to get your through all security, US Preclearance and Customs, and to your gate.
For Shannon Airport I recommend:
- Departure 10:30am or earlier – stay no further than 30 minutes away.
- Departure between 11 am and 2pm – Stay up to an hour away
- Departure after 2pm – stay up to 90 minutes away
- Doolin/ Lahinch
- Killarney (if your airport arrival is 1pm or later)
Note: There are currently no flights direct between Canada and Shannon Airport.
Traveling Elsewhere from Shannon Airport
If traveling on to Europe or the UK from Shannon Airport I recommend arriving 2 hours prior to departure if you are traveling in the morning, but you can shave that down a bit (but I still recommend at least 1.5 hours) if traveling in the afternoon or evening.
Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 246
The post Your Final Night in Ireland: How Close to the Airport Should You Stay? appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.
16 episodes
Manage episode 463630340 series 2386509
This article focuses on departures from Dublin and Shannon airports for North American visitors to Ireland. At this time no other Ireland airports offer direct flights to North America.
How far can you stay from the airport the night before you leave Ireland and still have a relaxed morning and a (mostly) stress-free departure?
A few factors go into this answer:
- Which airport are you departing from?
- Do you need to return a rental car?
- How many people are traveling?
- What time does your flight depart?

How Close Should You Stay to Dublin Airport the Night Before You Leave Ireland?
I'm going to begin with Dublin Airport as that is the airport most visitors to Ireland use.
Returning to the US from Dublin Airport
Understanding what time you need to arrive at the airport is the most important factor to determining how close you should stay to the airport the night before your departure.
If you've even gently perused my Dublin Airport tips article you know that airlines recommend that you allow yourself a minimum of 3 hours to check in for your flight, clear security, return your VAT (and possibly do a bit of shopping), and pass through US Preclearance and US Customs.
And though you probably don't have to give yourself that much time, I think it is still a very good guideline.
If you plan to return your rental car that morning, I would add an additional 30 minutes to your airport arrival time to allow for the rental car check-in and shuttle back to the terminal.
Tip: If you will be returning your car off site, I recommend dropping off travel companions and luggage at the airport before returning the car.

If you are traveling with children or a large group, you may want to add an additional 30 minutes as more people can often equal more time to get through each checkpoint.
Once you have a good idea of how much time you may need at the airport, subtract those hours from your flight departure time.
Ireland Family Vacations is committed to remaining an ad-free resource and is supported through partnerships with trusted travel brands. We may earn income from purchases made via affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See why this is important.
I recommend:
- Departure before 11 am – stay in an airport hotel or nearby villages of Malahide or Swords
- Departure between 11 am and 2 pm – you could stay a bit further out, between 30-45 minutes from the airport. I don't recommend much further because you never know what traffic will be like.
- If your departure is later than 2pm, you could easily stay 90 minutes from the airport and enjoy a leisurely morning before traveling toward Dublin.
If returning to Canada from Dublin Airport the same timings still apply, even though you won't pass through US Customs. Flights directly to Canada depart via Terminal 1 which can take a bit longer for non-EU passport holders.
Traveling Elsewhere from Dublin
If traveling on to Europe or the UK from Dublin Airport I recommend arriving 2.5 hours prior to departure if you are traveling in the morning, but you can shave that down a bit (but I still recommend at least 2 hours) if traveling in the afternoon or evening.

How Close Should You Stay to Shannon Airport the Night Before You Leave Ireland?
Shannon Airport, being a much smaller airport with fewer flights, is easier to depart from.
Your car drop off will take little to no extra time, you won't have far to trek with your luggage, and you just won't have to deal with the crowds like you do in Dublin.
At Shannon Airport I still recommend arriving 2.5 hours prior to departure if traveling with families or groups, but if you are solo or traveling as a couple, 2 hours should be plenty to get your through all security, US Preclearance and Customs, and to your gate.
For Shannon Airport I recommend:
- Departure 10:30am or earlier – stay no further than 30 minutes away.
- Departure between 11 am and 2pm – Stay up to an hour away
- Departure after 2pm – stay up to 90 minutes away
- Doolin/ Lahinch
- Killarney (if your airport arrival is 1pm or later)
Note: There are currently no flights direct between Canada and Shannon Airport.
Traveling Elsewhere from Shannon Airport
If traveling on to Europe or the UK from Shannon Airport I recommend arriving 2 hours prior to departure if you are traveling in the morning, but you can shave that down a bit (but I still recommend at least 1.5 hours) if traveling in the afternoon or evening.
Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 246
The post Your Final Night in Ireland: How Close to the Airport Should You Stay? appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.
16 episodes
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