Causeway Coastal Route fuel cost.
Budget the 120-mile drive from Belfast to Derry along the A2 Antrim coast. See live Northern Ireland petrol and diesel prices on the map, compare the scenic route against the faster inland M2, and find the best towns to fill up before the remote coastal stretches.
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Quick answer: Driving the full 120-mile Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast to Derry costs roughly £17 in fuel for a 45 MPG car (about £15–£25 depending on pump prices and traffic). Taking the inland M2/A26 instead cuts the trip to about 70 miles, halving driving time and saving around £8 in fuel. Fill up in Belfast, Larne, Ballycastle or Coleraine — remote coastal stations charge a premium. Fuel in Northern Ireland is priced in pounds sterling (£), not euros. Use the live map above for today's cheapest station.
How much does it cost to drive the Causeway Coastal Route?
Driving the full 120-mile Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast to Derry costs approximately £15 to £25 in fuel — around £17 for an average 45 MPG car at typical Northern Ireland pump prices. Stop-start traffic near the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede in summer pushes it toward the top of that range.
The A2 Coast Road hugs the cliffs through the Glens of Antrim, so it's slower and thirstier than a motorway of the same length. Add the steep Torr Head scenic detour and you'll burn noticeably more. Enter your own MPG in the calculator below and use today's live price from the map for an exact figure.
Should you take the A2 Coast Road or the inland M2?
The A2 Coast Road takes 3 to 4 hours of nonstop driving and maximises the scenery, but the inland M2 and A26 route covers only about 70 miles, takes roughly 90 minutes, and cuts fuel consumption and cost by nearly half — a saving of around £8.
This is the trade-off no tour operator spells out clearly: the coast for the views, the motorway for the wallet and the clock. Many visitors drive the A2 outbound for the sights and return inland on the M2 to save time and fuel. To model each option, change the distance in the calculator to 120 miles (coastal) or 70 miles (inland) and compare the fuel cost.
Where are the best petrol stops on the Antrim coast?
Refuel in the larger towns — Belfast, Larne, Ballycastle and Coleraine — where supermarket forecourts are cheapest. Avoid buying fuel in the small coastal villages, where isolated stations command tourist-premium prices.
One point that trips up visitors from the Republic of Ireland and further afield: in Northern Ireland fuel is priced in pounds sterling (£) and sold in litres, the same as the rest of the UK — not in euros. There are also no toll roads anywhere in Northern Ireland, so fuel and parking are your only direct driving costs. Search a town or postcode (try BT54 for Ballycastle or BT52 for Coleraine) on the map above and sort by cheapest.
Calculate your Causeway Coastal Route fuel cost
Enter your car's MPG, the distance (120 miles for the scenic A2, or 70 for the inland M2/A26) and the live price per litre from the map. Tick the box to add a penalty for the Torr Head detour and summer coastal congestion.
Formula: (miles ÷ MPG) × 4.546 × (price ÷ 100) — 4.546 is litres per imperial gallon.
Self-employed in Northern Ireland? The same UK-wide HMRC Approved Mileage Allowance Payment applies — 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles in your own car, 25p thereafter. See GOV.UK simplified expenses.
Which fuel does your vehicle need? A plain-English guide
The live map above covers all six fuel grades tracked under the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Here's what each one means — and how to choose at the pump before you set off.
The default pump for most petrol cars. Contains up to 10% ethanol. A small number of older or classic cars require E5 — check your handbook before filling.
Higher octane (97–99 RON) and cleaner-burning. Typically 10–20p/litre more expensive. The protected grade for older engines not approved for E10 — and popular with performance cars.
The default diesel pump. Contains up to 7% biodiesel. Suitable for all diesel passenger cars, vans and most HGVs. Generally 2–8p/litre cheaper than premium diesel at the same station.
Includes detergent and cetane-boosting additives. Sold as BP Ultimate Diesel, Shell V-Power Diesel and similar. Use the Premium Diesel toggle to compare the price gap near you.
Contains up to 10% FAME biodiesel — higher renewable content than B7. Only suitable for vehicles whose manufacturer explicitly approves B10. Always check your handbook first.
Drop-in renewable diesel with up to 90% lower lifecycle carbon than fossil diesel. Compatible with most modern diesels — check your handbook. Use the HVO filter above to find nearby stations.
Fuel for the Antrim coast's landmarks
Most Causeway Coast attractions have little or no fuel nearby, so fill up in the closest town first. Here's where to refuel for the big draws.
Widest choice and cheapest supermarket forecourts. Fill up before you set off north along the A2.
The reliable refuel points on the coastal leg — top up here rather than at premium village pumps.
Nearest fuel to the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede. Expect summer queues that burn fuel while idling.
Competitive supermarket pricing at the western end of the route and into Derry/Londonderry.
Two facts most guides miss, both answered here: the inland M2/A26 route cuts driving time by over half and saves roughly £8 in fuel versus the 120-mile A2, and Northern Ireland fuel is priced in sterling and sold in litres, with no toll roads. For live prices anywhere on the route, this page shares the same GOV.UK dataset as our UK-wide fuel map.
Causeway Coast fuel questions
Related tools & routes
Planning fuel for another scenic drive, or the wider cost of your trip? These help.
Data & estimate disclaimer: Live fuel prices are sourced from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder API under the Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025. While every forecourt is legally required to report price changes within 30 minutes, CalculatorDashboard.com does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of third-party data — always verify the displayed price at the pump before fuelling. Journey fuel-cost figures are estimates only: real-world consumption varies with driving style, load, weather and traffic, and quoted route distances and MPG penalties are approximate. HMRC advisory rates are shown for guidance and change quarterly — check the official rate before submitting a claim. Not financial or tax advice. CalculatorDashboard.com is not affiliated with any fuel retailer, supplier or government body.