5 Best Motorhome Campsites in Connemara National Park

March 7, 2023 in Destinations, Campsites & Ireland

Ireland is a country blessed with many unspoiled landscapes. For many visitors, Connemara is where you experience the real beauty of this welcoming and wonderful part of the world. 

Fans of hillwalking, watersports, cycling and horse riding will have their pick of places to explore and history buffs will love stepping back in time at the atmospheric abbeys, castles and gardens in the area. Then there’s the culture. Connemara has a very strong association with traditional Irish music, arts, food and language. In fact, the region contains much of the Connacht Irish-speaking Gaeltacht and is home to the annual Clifden Arts Festival.  

A visit to Connemara is one to savour and to take at your leisure if you can. Of course, you’ll need to choose the right accommodation to ensure you get the most out of your trip. We’ve put together a guide to some of the best places to pitch up including a few that are perfect for families and small groups. So, grab yourself an energising beverage and prepare to discover the 5 Best Motorhome Campsites in Connemara National Park. 

Goboony Connemara National Park Motorhome Sites H2 Ireland Camping Campsites

  1. Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravanning Park

Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravanning Park is a Connemara motorhome campsite genuinely committed to sustainable travel. The site has won a plethora of eco-related awards, the water is chlorine and THM-free and there is a strong focus on turning that phone off, unplugging yourself from modern distractions and getting down to some serious star gazing. 

Campfires are welcome and the facilities are good including hot showers, toilets, laundry, and conditional WiFi (depending on the weather) and charging points. There’s a local pub and shop a couple of miles away and a private secluded beach.

The site is perfectly situated for experiencing some of the wilder areas of the Connemara National Park. Visitors can explore any or all of the nearby beaches or take a short drive to Cleggan Head which, at any time of year is a wonderfully elemental experience. Please note that this is a privately owned sheep farm so dogs are strictly not allowed. If you get your timings right head over to Omey Island just 600 metres off the mainland and walkable at low tide. 

Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravanning Park, Claddaghduff Road, Wild Atlantic Way, Grallagh, Clifden, Co. Galway, H71 W024, Ireland

53.52332435369752, -10.13446761485925

  1. Clifden Camping and Caravan Park

If you are looking for a Connemara campsite with great facilities and easy access to Clifden town, Clifden Camping and Caravan Park is an excellent choice. The website promises ‘genuinely hot showers’, a good kitchen and covered dining area, a pool and TV room, laundry service, and BBQ - just about every other amenity you would want on a motorhome camping trip to Connemara. 

A stroll to Clifden will lead you to a variety of friendly local pubs where you just might be treated to an impromptu Irish dancing performance. Lowry’s is the perfect choice for this, having been voted the best traditional Irish pub on numerous occasions. It also has Connemara’s largest selection of whiskey and gin and a traditional pub menu. If your hangover doesn’t get the better of you, a trip to the Gothic Clifden Castle is a must.

Clifden Camping and Caravan Park, Westport Rd, Shanakeever, Clifden, Co. Galway, H71 TPO8, Ireland

53.50202613501761, -10.018659628352045

Goboony Connemara National Park Motorhome Sites H2 Ireland Camping Campsites

  1. Renvyle Beach Caravan and Camping Park

Fancy parking up right on the shore of a glorious white sandy beach where dolphins are spotted on a regular basis? Put the Renvyle Beach Caravan and Camping Park on your list of considerations. Spread over 4.5 acres this family-run Connemara motorhome campsite presents the perfect opportunity to get away from it all and breathe in that Atlantic air. This is as close to wild camping as you’ll get while still having plenty of good facilities to hand. The only conditions on this relaxed campsite are no dogs, except service dogs and no open fires. 

Alongside the many other wonderful nearby beaches, we’d also recommend taking the 20-minute drive to Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden. Both history and nature enthusiasts can easily pass a day here, exploring the abbey and strolling around the gorgeous lake and woodland.

Renvyle Beach Caravan and Camping Park, Renvyle Peninsula, Tullybeg, Renvyle, Co. Galway, Ireland

53.607233652063165, -9.985659800299569

  1. Connemara Caravan and Camping Park

Yet another campsite near Connemara that is blessed with awe-inspiring views! Connemara Caravan and Camping Park is a splendid site for enjoying the local beaches of Lettergesh and Glassilaun as well as the surrounding area. Guests can choose from grass and hardstanding pitches, all with incredible views. Facilities are good and include an indoor games room for when the weather doesn’t cooperate. 

If you fancy a spot of hillwalking with the added bonus of a breathtaking outlook across the Connemara, try the Benchoona Loop. This 9.8km circular route will take you around 4 hours but leave if you can to marvel at your surroundings and, as this is the less-visited part of The Twelve Bens range, you are likely to have the views to yourself. Bear in mind that the route has some challenging parts so always wear appropriate clothing, pack emergency provisions and tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return. The weather in Ireland can change very quickly and what starts as a fair day can swiftly become a squall at short notice. 

Connemara Caravan and Camping Park, Lettergesh Beach, Renvyle, Gowlaun, Co. Galway, H91 NR13, Ireland

53.60608164301398, -9.89977655723911

  1. Gurteen Bay Camping and Caravan Park 

At the Southern end of the Connemara National Park, the Gurteen Bay Camping and Caravan Park is a great spot for exploring picturesque Roundstone village, the sweeping sands of Dog’s Bay and other attractions in the area. The site itself is worth a few days just relaxing and soaking up that delightful edge-of-land feeling you get at Connemara National Park. The facilities tick all the boxes and include a communal kitchen and dining area. 

When visiting Roundstone (unmissable, in our opinion) be sure to take a look at some of the excellent arts and crafts shops including Roundstone Musical Instruments where you might catch a glimpse of Malachy Kearns, Ireland’s master Bodhrán maker at work. When you have finished marvelling at Malachy’s incredible designs and workmanship head over to O’Dowd’s Seafood Bar and Restaurant. Here you can sample local delicacies such as Connemara salmon, homemade lamb stew and some seriously tasty local craft beers and ciders. 

Gurteen Bay Camping and Caravan Park, Gurteen Bay, Ervallagh, Roundstone, Co. Galway, H91 DTW8, Ireland

53.38279461016697, -9.953299705525612

Goboony Connemara National Park Motorhome Sites H2 Ireland Camping Campsites

As you can see, there are so many reasons to visit this exquisite part of Ireland, not least to enjoy one or two of the above Connemara campsites. The west coast of Ireland is truly one of the best places in Northern Europe to get away from it all, whether the sun shines or not. 

As we mentioned, the weather is always a factor in an Irish holiday, whether that is having to slather on factor 50 after a morning of rain or packing a bag for an afternoon at the beach with all your waterproofs and your sunglasses. Always be prepared, is our advice, and keep a close eye on weather forecasts, especially if you are going hiking, kayaking or another outdoor pursuit. 

Be aware too, that the campsites above may only open during the summer months, so check the website ahead of time. If you can travel outside the summer holidays you will avoid the crowds and have more chance to keep costs down. 

Whenever and wherever you go, one thing’s for sure, you’ll get a great welcome from the locals and you’ll have plenty of adventures. If you want to travel in style and have extra space to pack the aforementioned weather-resistant clothing as well as some well-deserved creature comforts, why not hire a motorhome in Ireland? When you open that door in the morning to feel the fresh Atlantic breeze on your face, safe in the knowledge you have your coffee and breakfast-making facilities close to hand, we guarantee you won’t regret it. 

Looking to extend your trip? Check out the best campsites in Burren and our favourite motorhome sites in Killarney.