Causeway Coastal Route · Northern Ireland · Live GOV.UK data

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.

⏱ 6-min read Updated 2026-07-20 🇬🇧 Northern Ireland · priced in £ GBP, sold in litres
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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.

120 mi
Scenic A2 route, Belfast to Derry
~£17
Fuel for a 45 MPG car (A2 route)
~70 mi
Faster inland M2/A26 alternative
£ GBP
Sold in litres, not euros

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.

Real-world miles per gallon
Coastal A2 = 120 mi · Inland M2/A26 = 70 mi
Enter the live price from the map above
HMRC rate — changes quarterly
Journey fuel cost—
Cost per mile—
Litres needed—
HMRC claim value—
Claim vs fuel spend—

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.

E10 · Standard Unleaded
Unleaded Petrol

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.

E5 · Premium Unleaded
Super / Premium Petrol

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.

B7 · Standard Diesel
Diesel

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.

B7 · Premium Diesel
Premium Diesel

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.

B10 Diesel
B10 Diesel

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.

HVO · Renewable Diesel
HVO100 / Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil

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.

Start
Belfast

Widest choice and cheapest supermarket forecourts. Fill up before you set off north along the A2.

Mid-route
Larne & Ballycastle

The reliable refuel points on the coastal leg — top up here rather than at premium village pumps.

Giant's Causeway
Bushmills

Nearest fuel to the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede. Expect summer queues that burn fuel while idling.

Finish
Coleraine & Derry

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.

Fuel & driving

The Causeway Coastal Route: the Antrim coast road, the inland shortcut and border fuel

By CalculatorDashboard Editorial Team·Updated ·Reviewed ·3 min read

The Causeway Coastal Route follows the Antrim coast for about 120 miles from Belfast to Derry~Londonderry, taking in the Glens of Antrim, Carrick-a-Rede and the Giant's Causeway. The heart of it is the A2 coast road, built in the 1830s and squeezed between cliffs and sea for much of its length.

Coast road or inland

The scenic A2 is slower and longer than the inland alternative. Driving directly from Belfast to Derry via the M2 and A26 is roughly 70 miles, against about 120 on the coast. For a car averaging 45 mpg, at an illustrative 140p a litre, the coast route costs about £17 in fuel and the inland route about £9.90. Most visitors choose the coast for at least one direction, then return inland, which balances views against time and fuel.

Driving the coast road

The A2 is well surfaced but narrow in places, with tight bends around headlands and frequent stops at viewpoints. Tour coaches and campervans are common in summer, and car parks at the most popular sites, including the Giant's Causeway visitor centre and Carrick-a-Rede, fill early. Arriving early in the day saves both waiting and the fuel spent circling for a space.

Fuel near the border

Northern Ireland uses pounds and sells fuel by the litre, just like the rest of the UK. The route ends close to the border with County Donegal, where fuel is priced in euros and taxed differently. Prices on each side move around, so whether it's cheaper to fill up across the border depends on the day and the exchange rate. If you're continuing into Donegal, check prices on both sides before deciding where to fill up.

Refuelling and charging

There's plenty of fuel around Belfast and Larne at the start, in Ballycastle and Bushmills mid-route, and in Coleraine and Derry at the end. The Glens section has fewer forecourts. Electric car drivers should plan charging in the larger towns and confirm availability in advance on busy summer days.

Stops that shape the day

The landmarks on this route are spread out, and each stop involves parking, walking and returning to the car. The Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges each need at least an hour or two. Trying to fit them all into one day means rushing, and lots of short hops between car parks. Splitting the route over two or three days, with a base around Ballycastle or Portrush, cuts repeated driving and gives time to enjoy the walks.

Weather on the Antrim coast

The coast road is exposed to the North Channel, and strong winds and spray can make the cliff sections hard work for high-sided vehicles. Some viewpoints and the rope bridge close in high winds. Check the forecast and, for Carrick-a-Rede, the operator's opening status before driving out of your way.

Hire cars and visitors

Many visitors to the route arrive by air and hire a car in Belfast. If you've hired a car from the Republic of Ireland, check whether it can be taken into Northern Ireland and what insurance applies. Remember that speed limits in Northern Ireland are in miles per hour, while those across the border in the Republic are in kilometres per hour.

A second example: a day from Belfast

A day trip from Belfast to the Giant's Causeway along the coast, returning inland, covers roughly 140 miles. In a car averaging 45 mpg at an illustrative 140p a litre, that costs about £20 in fuel. It's a long day, and many visitors find an overnight stop on the north coast more relaxing.

Causeway Coast fuel questions

From Belfast, the roughly 60-mile drive to the Giant's Causeway costs about £8–£10 in fuel for an average car via the coast road, or a little less inland. The full 120-mile Belfast-to-Derry coastal route costs around £15–£25. Use the calculator above with today's live pump price for your own car.
The A2 Coast Road (120 miles, 3–4 hours) is far more scenic; the inland M2/A26 (about 70 miles, 90 minutes) is quicker and cuts fuel cost by nearly half — roughly £8 cheaper. Many visitors take the coast one way and the motorway back.
No. There are no toll roads anywhere in Northern Ireland, so fuel and parking are your only direct driving costs on the Causeway Coastal Route.
In Northern Ireland fuel is priced in pounds sterling (£) and sold in litres, exactly like the rest of the UK — not in euros. Don't confuse it with the Republic of Ireland just across the border, which uses euros.
The classic route runs about 120 miles from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry along the A2, though many people drive a 120–130 mile version taking in detours like Torr Head. Allow 3–4 hours of driving without stops, and a full day with the main attractions.
Supermarket forecourts in Belfast, Larne, Ballycastle and Coleraine are consistently cheapest. Remote coastal village stations charge a premium. Search a postcode on the live map, pick your fuel, and sort by cheapest to see today's best price.
Yes, for genuine business travel. Northern Ireland uses the same HMRC rules as the rest of the UK: 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles in your own car and 25p thereafter, or the quarterly Advisory Fuel Rates for company cars. The calculator shows an indicative claim value.

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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.