There is a particular kind of weekend that starts on Friday evening, involves a short drive out of the city, waking up somewhere completely different on Saturday morning, and arriving home relaxed on Sunday. A campervan makes that possible in a way that hotels and Airbnbs do not. You decide when to stop. You stay somewhere you could not book.Our Greystones depot is 45 minutes from Dublin City on the M11, which means you can collect a van on a Friday afternoon and be genuinely away before the evening is over. These five routes are all under three hours from Greystones, and all are done regularly by customers who pick up from us and come back with stories.Campervan hire near Dublin AirportRoute 1: The Wicklow Mountains and Valley (45 minutes)This is the route for anyone who wants to be somewhere beautiful with almost no driving. Head inland from Greystones on the R755 through Newtownmountkennedy and into the Vale of Avoca. The Military Road over the mountains from Kilmacanogue is one of the most dramatic short drives in the country. You pass Powerscourt Waterfall, cross open bog at Glencree, and drop down into the Wicklow Gap.Camping options: Glendalough Valley is the natural anchor. The campsite at Glendalough is well-suited to campervans and the monastic site at dawn, before the tour groups arrive, is one of those sights that stays with you. Alternatively, park up in the Vale of Avoca and walk the Meetings of the Waters.Journey time from Greystones: 45 minutes to Glendalough.Route 2: The Wexford Coast (1 hour 45 minutes)Take the N11 south, past Gorey and Enniscorthy, and follow the signs for Courtown or Rosslare. The south Wexford coast is underrated: sandy beaches, quiet roads, and campsites that work well for a two-night stop. Curracloe Beach, which stretches for 15 kilometres of unbroken sand, comes up in customer reviews from people who made the trip.Camping options: Curracloe Beach area has good campsite options for campervans. Rosslare has facilities and is a natural base for exploring the Hook Peninsula.Journey time from Greystones: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.For a full guide to the southeast Ireland campervan routes in this region, see our southeast Ireland by campervan guide.Route 3: Kilkenny and the River Barrow (2 hours)Drive south-west via the M9 and you reach Kilkenny in under two hours. This is a different kind of break: medieval city, real pubs, a castle worth walking around. The River Barrow south of Kilkenny has quiet camping spots and the towpath is a good walk or cycle.Camping options: Nore Valley Park near Bennettsbridge is a popular base for a Kilkenny visit and has good motorhome facilities. The area around Graiguenamanagh along the Barrow is quieter and beautiful.Journey time from Greystones: just under 2 hours.Route 4: Waterford and the Copper Coast (2 hours 30 minutes)Continue south past Kilkenny on the M9 and you reach Waterford in two and a half hours. The Copper Coast, the stretch of coastline between Tramore and Dungarvan, is a UNESCO Geopark and one of the genuinely undervisited stretches of Irish coastline. The cliffs, coves and copper-era mining landscape are unlike anywhere else in the country.Camping options: Dunmore East has a campsite with views over the harbour. Tramore is a larger base with good facilities. For smaller, wilder spots, the Copper Coast road itself has several layby areas where you can stop overnight.Journey time from Greystones: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.Route 5: The Wicklow Way South to Arklow (1 hour 30 minutes)Hug the coast from Greystones south through Brittas Bay, one of the finest beaches in Leinster, and continue to Arklow and beyond. Brittas Bay is popular in summer but the campsite there is well-managed and works well for campervans. From Arklow you can continue south or double back through the inland Wicklow landscape.Camping options: Brittas Bay area has the main Leinster coastal campsite. Arklow itself has additional options.Journey time from Greystones: 1 hour 30 minutes to Brittas Bay.A note on what to bring for a 48-hour breakYou do not need to pack much differently from a longer trip. The van has everything you need for cooking and sleeping: hob, oven, fridge, crockery, bedding if you add it as an extra. For a weekend break, most customers bring a bag of fresh food for Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast, and eat out one meal. Dogs are welcome on our pet-friendly hire. See our pet-friendly campervan hire page for details.The online check-in arrives two days before your pickup, so by the time you collect on Friday, most of the admin is already done. You can be on the road within 30 minutes of arriving at the depot.Booking a weekend breakWeekend hire is available throughout the year. Shoulder season (April, May, September and October) gives you quieter roads, better prices, and the best of Irish weather without the August crowds. Among campervan regulars, September in Connemara or Kerry is consistently rated better than August in almost every way.Check our current offers and available dates on the booking page, or view our full fleet to choose the right van for your trip.Campervan holiday offersThe post Weekend Campervan Breaks from Dublin: 5 Routes Under 3 Hours appeared first on Craic N Campers.