By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 13th August 2021 | Updated: 29th November 2024
823 square miles of dramatic slate landscape, incredible walks, and beautiful lakes, that’s what awaits you on a Snowdonia road trip. Precisely why we ventured there having only really explored the southern half of Wales over the years.
Wales’s first National Park created in 1951, with the famous Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) at the heart of it, is one of the most spectacular places to spend a few days exploring and hiking. From the mountains to the coast, there really is something for everyone in Snowdonia National Park.
📍 Day 1 – Cwm Idwal, Y Garn & Devil’s Kitchen walk
📍 Day 2 – Llanberis & North Wales Slate Country
📍 Day 3 – Mount Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa
📍 Day 4 – Beddgelert & Portmeirion
📍 Day 5 – The Mach Loop & Aberdyfi
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Travel Insurance: We recommend World Nomads
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide
Snowdonia Road Trip Map
5 Day Snowdonia Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Cwm Idwal, Y Garn & Devil’s Kitchen walk
For the first day of the Snowdonia road trip, we’re heading to the wonderful area around Cwm Idwal. With beautiful lakes, mountain trails, and numerous walks throughout the area this is the perfect place to start your 5 days on a North Wales trip. As this is only a short day excursion, it’s perfect to arrive from elsewhere in Wales or the United Kingdom and get a feel for North Wales from the get-go.
The walk around Llyn Idwal through Cwm Idwal to Devils Kitchen and back again is roughly 3 miles long and one of the most stunning yet quiet walks you will find in the area. The mountains of Tryfan and Glyder Fawr can also be walked from here, so lots of the hikers you will see will be heading for them.
As well as stopping to take in the view throughout the walk, you could always stop for a dip in the refreshing waters or even get climbing up the Idwal Slabs, (this should only be done if you are a competent climber!).
🚐 Park at Ogwen Car Park, LL57 3LZ, it is £6 all day and has a lovely little café perfect for a pre-walk fuel up, before hitting the hiking routes. If you fancy a bit more of an adventure in this area the walks around Llyn Ogwen are equally lovely, if not a little busier, or head up the slopes to climb the craggy peaks in the Glyderau range.
Day 2 – Llanberis & North Wales Slate Country
The slate landscape of northwest Wales is not only a great place to spend a day exploring but is now Wales’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site as of July 2021, so it is full of history to discover too.
Start the day off at the southern end of Llyn Padarn exploring the small village of Llanberis, taking in the tiny High Street, Snowdon Honey Farm and Winery shop, and stopping for a brew in the locally loved Coffee Pot Crefftau before getting ready to explore the lake and country park this area is so well known for.
Follow the lake edge around to the south where you will meet the bridge used as a crossing for the local Llanberis Lake Railway steam trains into Parc Gwledig Padarn, also known as the Padarn Country Park. This park is perfect for whiling away a few hours exploring the Snowdonia Slate Trails that criss-cross the area, hopping in a kayak out on the lake, or learning more about the slate mining history of the area.
Be sure to visit the Llanberis National Slate Museum, if the steam trains running to and from it don’t draw you in, the incredible stories of the slate landscape most certainly will.
One such story is that of the V2 incline. Now the only working slate incline in the UK, this series of tracks runs from Llyn Padarn all the way up to the Vivian Quarry. Now home to a diving school, Vivian Quarry was once a slate quarry at the heart of the mining in this region. For the last stop of the day head to Dolbadarn Castle for views over this beautiful slate landscape, across Llyn Padarn, Llyn Peris, and even up to Snowdon if the clouds aren’t hiding it!
🚐 Park at Padarn Country Park Car Park, LL55 4TY for the day, it’s £5 all day and with the number of things you can do in and around the area is in a great central location.
Planning your own trip to Snowdonia? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)
Day 3 – Mount Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa
Day 3 of the Snowdonia road trip and it’s time to tackle the beast itself! The highest mountain in Wales, at 1,085 meters, Snowdon, or in Welsh Yr Wyddfa is a sight to behold from the start to the summit. Before even reaching the base of the main peak, the mountainous terrain is incredible in every direction you look. With the lakes of Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn treating you to views so beautiful you won’t want to leave.
We would highly recommend walking the Miners Track up and the Pyg Track down. Not only are they some of the easier trails to follow, but they have some of the most beautiful views over the surrounding landscape. Along the Miners Track you will find old abandoned mines left to ruin and now taken over by the landscape and local sheep, whilst on the Pyg Track, you get some of the best views of Crib Goch and down over the lakes.
🚐 The best place to park when walking the Miners or Pyg track is at Pen Y Pass Car Park, LL55 4NU, which is £18 for 1 – 8 hours, (it may seem expensive but it is worth it!). You will however need to pre-book this parking and well in advance if you want a morning slot or specific day; this not only helps reduce the number of visitors to the mountain but helps with the upkeep of the area too.
When we visited Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa, we set off in the afternoon in early summer, (which was the only time left to book the car park on a few days’ notice), and not only was it a little quieter than we expected it to be but as we were descending the sun was beginning to set casting some of the most wonderful colours and shadows throughout the area.
Whatever time of day you set off, make sure you are well prepared, don’t feel rushed by people faster than you, (there will always be someone who is), and most importantly enjoy the experience of climbing the highest mountain in Wales!
Day 4 – Beddgelert & Portmeirion
After all the hiking of day 3, today is a little more relaxed and all about exploring the beautiful villages that Snowdonia has to offer, starting off with Beddgelert. This small but picturesque village in Gwynedd is located in some of Snowdonia’s most beautiful landscapes, with flower-adorned buildings overlooking the river running through the heart of the village. Not is all as it seems, however… Beddgelert is named after the Welsh legend of the faithful hound Gelert, a story full of love and betrayal.
The story of the dog and his master is well known in this area, but for those who haven’t heard of it before it is told that Prince Llywelyn the Great had been out hunting, leaving his hound Gelert at home to look after his baby following the death of his wife. Upon his return he found Gelert covered in blood and his baby’s cradle overturned, thinking the worst he kills Gelert. He later finds his baby safe and well, with the body of a wolf nearby, obviously killed by Gelert in protecting the baby.
🚐 To explore the village fully, and find Gelert’s resting place, park at Colwyn Banc Car Park, LL55 4UY. It is £3.30 for 6 hours or free if you are visiting in winter.
For the afternoon, it’s time to head to Portmeirion, the colourful tourist location, designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis as an Italian village. Yes, you read that right, an Italian village in the middle of Snowdonia!
Located on the banks of the Afon Dwyry, Portmeirion is a place like no other in Wales. Colourful buildings fill the landscape, with giant chess games, lavish statues, and somewhat random pieces of sculpture dotted throughout the area. The village leads down to the estuary where walks along the riverside lead you to hidden gems not many tourists venture to. Plus, there are some lovely quiet walks through the woodland above the village which also have some of the best views going.
🚐 Parking here is free, (located at LL48 6ET), but the ticket prices are £15 per adult, £12 for concessions, which is a little steep. But for the chance to step into Italy in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, it’s worth it.
If Portmeirion is really not your thing, then only a short drive away is Zip World Slate Caverns, home to Titan 2, the massive four-person zip wire, Bounce Below, a series of insane but so much fun trampolines all hidden in the slate caverns and a hire wire experience in the caves a bit like Go Ape but one hell of a lot more scary!
Fancy getting away from the tourists for an hour or so, then head to Talsarnau village and out for one of the walks along the estuary looking back to Portmeirion. Not only is this area of Wales really quite stunning but you are almost guaranteed to be the only ones around, bar the odd sheep or two! That being said keep an eye out on the tides along here, we visited not long after a particularly high tide and there were jellyfish washed up all along the estuary edge.
Day 5 – The Mach Loop & Aberdyfi
The last day of the Snowdonia road trip and we’re heading towards the south end of the National Park, starting off with a stop by the Mach Loop. Free to park at, (🚐 LL40 2RD), this location in Snowdonia is known as one of the best places to catch a glimpse of the RAF jets training at, let’s be honest, insane speeds through the mountain passes!
Quite often throughout other valleys they use to train at in North Wales, it’s a blink and you’ll miss them moment, or you’ll hear them and not see them, but that is what makes the Mach Loop such a great place to stop. With vast expanses of the valley to be seen, you are more than likely to get a proper glimpse of these flying machines! Of course, it is not guaranteed that you will see them flying, (we didn’t on this trip but have since!), but this is the best place in Snowdonia to try.
Now to where the mountains of Snowdonia National Park meet the sea at the beautiful coastal village of Aberdyfi. Also known as Aberdovey, this village located on the very edge of the Snowdonia National Park lies along the estuary of the River Dyfi, making it the perfect place to explore one of the nicest beaches in North Wales.
With 4.5 miles of glorious golden sands a colourful village centre and a rather nice café or two, (be sure to stop at Coast Deli for some local drinks and delicious food), Aberdyfi is the perfect place to end a Snowdonia road trip before continuing on to explore more of what wonderful Wales has to offer.
Where to stay in Snowdonia National Park
We would highly recommend staying at Bryn Gloch Caravan and Camping Park during the Snowdonia road trip. Not only is it a large spacious campsite with some great amenities and a well-stocked shop, but it is within easy reach of nearby hikes and villages. You also get some rather wonderful views of the surrounding mountains all from the comfort of your tent / campervan / caravan!
5 Day Snowdonia Road Trip Itinerary FAQs
How to get to Snowdonia National Park
Situated in the northwest of Wales, Snowdonia National Park is actually very easy to get to from throughout the UK.
From the south driving is the easiest, although not the most direct route to Snowdonia, is via the M5 to Birmingham then west following the A5. From the north driving the M6, M56 then A55. From the east driving the M6, M54 then A5.
If you fancy taking the train instead then the station at Betws-y-Coed or at Minffordd are the best served if arriving from outside of Wales.
How to get around the Snowdonia National Park
The easiest way by far to get around the Snowdonia National Park is by car. Trains and local buses are few and far between, only reaching the more well-known tourist spots like Llanberis and Aberdyfi. So if you want to get out to some of the more picturesque quieter walks and into areas that might not be so busy then it’s best to drive.
What is the best time to visit Snowdonia National Park? / What is the best month to climb Snowdon?
Throughout the year the Snowdonia landscape changes dramatically enticing travellers from all over the world, and it is easy to see why however there isn’t the best month to climb Snowdon.
Snowdonia National Park is actually known for being the wettest place in the UK, with on average nearly 4,500mm of rain a year, so you can never guarantee what the weather will be like, especially when you go to climb Snowdon. We climbed it in the summer, and it got cold, cloudy, and grey.
Obviously, avoid climbing it if there is a chance of thunderstorms or snow, not only can this be really dangerous, especially for inexperienced hikers, but it won’t be as enjoyable as it could be! The summer/autumn months are more likely to have better weather throughout the National Park, but you will also get more tourists, especially during the school holidays.
What is the most scenic route up Snowdon?
The only route up Snowdon that isn’t particularly scenic is the Llanberis Path as it follows the Snowdon Mountain Railway up to the summit, but the views are still incredible. We would recommend the Miners’ Track or the Pyg Track both of which are stunning to walk and full of surprises. They are two of the more well-known hiking tracks up Snowdon but they are some of the easiest as well.
Why is Snowdonia so special?
Snowdonia is special because of its unique landscapes. With mountain peaks, immense lakes and the UNESCO World Heritage Slate Landscape all of which are surrounded by fantastic walks.
Can I drive around Snowdonia?
You can drive around Snowdonia National Park, and we would highly recommend that you do. There is more to Snowdonia than just Mount Snowdon, there are so many beautiful towns and villages throughout the area, as well as some stunning coastline.
How many days do you need for a Snowdonia road trip?
To really get a feel for Snowdonia you want at least 3 days in the area, but the ideal is between 5 and 7 days. One day will almost certainly be taken up climbing Snowdon’s peak, which leaves you with a few more to explore the surrounding hikes, lakes, and villages.
How long does it take to drive around Snowdonia?
If you were to drive around Snowdonia with no stops at all, (which let’s be honest won’t happen, as the scenery is much too tempting to explore), then it would take roughly an hour and a half to 2 hours.
What is the most scenic road in Snowdonia?
There is no right answer to this as if you ask around the locals have very different ideas on this. One of the best we found is driving from Betws-y-Coed through the heart of the National Park and out to the coast at Aberdyfi. This route packs in quaint towns and villages, dramatic mountainous landscapes, and coastal scenes all in one.
Tips for driving in Snowdonia
Driving in Snowdonia is generally really easy and very straightforward as the roads are well maintained and most of the main tourist attractions and well-known hikes have good access to public transport as well as large car parks. If you are to visit during the peak season (summer and school holidays combined), then you may struggle a little more to find parking.
Car hire in Snowdonia
If you are looking to hire a car for your Snowdonia road trip then check out Rentalcars.com for the best deals and a wide variety of vehicle options.
Which is better Snowdonia or the Brecon Beacons?
Both Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons National Park are incredible in their own right. Snowdonia has the highest peak in Wales, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its slate landscape, and is famed for its low-flying RAF aircraft training.
The Brecon Beacons has Fforest Fawr UNESCO Global Geopark, a recognised area for its distinctive archaeology and geology, is great for paragliding, and has some of the most beautiful mountains for hiking in the UK. However, both are International Dark Sky Reserves, and both are full to the brim with amazing walks to do.
Is Snowdon difficult to climb?
This depends on your fitness, the route you choose to take up, and the weather. If you take the Miners Track or Pyg track up and or down, these are seen as some of the easiest routes so are often the busiest. They are relatively easy to do however still have scrambly parts that you will need to climb up or down.
Other routes such as Crib Goch and the Watkin Path are much tougher as they are much steeper and overall, more difficult to walk so only for seasoned hikers. The Llanberis Path is the easiest of all the trails up as it basically follows the route the train takes up, but it is also the longest.
Tours in Snowdonia
With such a vast amount to see and do within Snowdonia National Park, it could be a good idea to hop on a day tour or two with Get Your Guide. Check out these tours:
Conclusion: 5 Day Snowdonia Road Trip Itinerary
And there you have our guide on how to spend 5 days on a Snowdonia road trip. There are of course many more beautiful places to visit in Snowdonia National Park, but this is a great road trip itinerary to follow on your first visit or add to for a full round trip of Wales.
Haven’t had quite enough of Wales quite yet? Then check out our post on how to spend 9 days road-tripping through Wales from north to south. We cover not only Snowdonia but West Wales and the Brecon Beacons too!
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.
