global road trip

Our Bucket List Of 100 Ultimate Road Trips Around The World

01 apr 2024 04 oct 2020 | danielle.

Last updated 26 January 2024 by John and Dan

So many roads, so many adventures! So where to start? In this EPIC post, we’ve compiled our bucket list of 100 ultimate road trips around the world. It’s a road trip list for a lifetime of unforgettable journeys and experiences, spanning every continent (but one). Mission accepted.

We’re happiest when we’re on the road. There’s nothing quite like the freedom and anticipation of setting out on a driving adventure of your own making. Where you call the shots: you decide where to go, what to see, how long you want to stay. Where you can enjoy the best of the roads well travelled, and then leave them behind in search of the low-key and the off-beat; the hidden gems of a destination.

Road tripping is our favourite style of travel, and over the years it’s become a key element of just about every trip we make, whether it’s in our own car, a hire car, or with a local driver/guide and their car.

Years ago, we started compiling random ideas for the world’s best road trips. Our objective? The ultimate road trip bucket list to hang on our virtual travel planning wall and set the agenda for a lifetime of adventures to come. Over time, we’ve embarked on some these grail journeys too. Until 2020 anyway when, like everyone around the world, circumstances outside our control meant we had to shift down a gear.

Perfect opportunity to take our random list and make it properly epic, we thought, and plan our road tripping future for decades to come.

So we started researching. We trawled maps, websites, guidebooks, newsletters, social media and friends’ brains, to pinpoint the best drives in the world and build our own ultimate road trips list across the globe. Then we plotted out a rough route for every single one, with approximate distances and minimum timeframes. The clusters of starred places on our Google world map resembles the Milky Way.

This post is the result: 100 amazing, multi-day (in many cases multi-week) bucket list road trip adventures on every continent, except  Antarctica ( though we have set foot on the icy landmass and that trip has the number one spot on our list of 21 Epic Adventures Around the World ).

For every epic drive that’s made pole position on our road trip list though, there are another handful of road trips waiting at the back of the pack.

We’ve started with 100 but the world’s the limit, and our world is a very big place. We’re also keen to hear your tips on the best road trips in the world:  let us know in the comments at the end of the post . Let’s hit the road!

100 Ultimate Road Trips Around The World

1. Road Trips in Africa 2. Asian Road Trips 3. Road Trips in Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific 4. Road Trips in Central & South America 5. European Road Trips 6. Road Trips in the Middle East 7. Road Trips in North America

Our road trip bucket list has been years in the making and some we’ve happily warmed the tyres on already. Road trips we’ve done have their titles highlighted in orange and include links to posts where we’ve written up the itineraries. Plenty more write-ups and road trips still to come!

Road Trips in Africa

It’s the continent we’ve travelled the least and there are still vast swathes of Africa we’re keen to explore. There’s also an enormous diversity of experiences to be found between the desert dunes of the north and the wild and beautiful coastline of the south. So where to even start?

For our top 100, we’ve opted for seven mighty African road trip adventures taking in some of the continent’s most epic scenery, wildlife and history, from the top to the bottom, and off the mainland to an island on the Indian Ocean.

1. Baobabs, Wildlife and Pinnacles ~ Madagascar

Appx. 1,000+ km (620+ miles) | 10-14 days

Antananarivo to Morondava  | In an ideal world, we’d road trip all of Madagascar, but as the fourth largest island in the world, perspective is essential. So our starting point is a central island journey offering a taster of the unique wildlife, nature and landscapes the island is famous for, including the famous  Avenue of Baobabs  and the World Heritage  Tsingy pinnacles .

2. Across the High Atlas ~ Morocco

560 km (348 miles) | Up to 1 week

Marrakech to Merzouga  |  From a World Heritage walled city, we journey across the high Atlas Mountains, through canyons and gorges, past oases and ancient mud-brick kasbahs to the edge of the vast, burnt-orange Sahara Desert. We’ve travelled to Morocco twice and we loved this Moroccan road trip so much, we decided to carry on north with our driver guide through the ancient city of Fez and the blue city of Chefchaouen to Tangier. It’s a trip we hope to repeat one day. Itineraries to come .

3. The Namib Desert ~ Namibia

Appx. 2,500 km (1,550 miles) | 10-14 days

Windhoek to Windhoek Loop  | Soaring red sand dunes in the world’s oldest desert; grasslands and salt pans where wildlife roam; remarkable granite landscapes and ancient, World Heritage rock art; great gatherings of fur seals; Africa’s largest canyon; and the Skeleton Coast, a notorious stretch of coastline with the name to match. It all serves to make this one of the most exciting and anticipated adventure road trips on our list. In late 2023, we explored this fantastic country on an overland truck tour and now all we want is to go back and do it all again independently. Stay tuned for the write-up .

4. The Garden Route ~ South Africa

Appx. 1,850 km (1,150 miles) | 1-2 weeks

Cape Town to Cape Town Loop  | The Garden Route, South Africa – a 200 km (124 mile) stretch of road from Mossel Bay to Storms River – is said to be one of the most spectacular coastal road trips in the world. That in itself would be enough for us. So the fact it also offers amazing wildlife watching (on land and sea) and awesome adventure activities has cemented this on our road trip bucket list. We’ll extend the journey beyond the Garden Route itself by looping to and from Cape Town, and adding more wildlife reserves plus the wineries of Stellenbosch and Francshhoek.

5. Durban to Drakensberg Mountains ~ South Africa & Lesotho

Appx. 900 km (560 miles+) | Up to 2 weeks

Durban to Durban Loop  | This is a BIG drive: big beaches, big mountains, big waterfalls, big five wildlife encounters. Looping from Durban in South Africa along the coast, then inland through national parks and up into the World Heritage Drakensberg Mountains and the famous  Sani Pass  to Lesotho, this road trip is just one more reason we need to get driving in South Africa sooner rather than later.

6. Panorama Route ~ South Africa

Appx. 2,000 km (1,240 miles) | 1 week

Johannesburg to Johannesburg Loop  | A safari in Kruger National Park is a bucket list goal. A safari in Kruger at the end of one of the most beautiful road trips in Africa, which also happens to take in one of the world’s largest canyons, must be a bucket list road trip trifecta! In addition to the showcase Blyde River Canyon, the Panorama Route packs in forests, waterfalls, rockpools, gorges, a National Monument town and, of course, epic panoramas across the lowlands to Kruger.

7. Sea, Sand and Ancient Ruins ~ Tunisia

Appx 1,600 km (995 miles) | 2 weeks

Tunis to Tunis Loop  | If you know us, you know we’re mad for ruins, all ruins, but especially ruins of the Ancient Roman era. Tunisia, a wedge of land in Africa’s north, has some of the best ancient sites still standing, including the ruins of the famous Punic city of Carthage. By all accounts, road tripping through this under-the-radar country’s shifting landscapes – from the Mediterranean coast to the sands of the Sahara – is outstanding.

Asian Road Trips

From the ancient Silk Road through the mountains and high plains of Central Asia, to the cultural highlights of the Far East and tropical island jungles of the Indonesian archipelago, Asia is a treasure chest of road tripping adventures.

Drive journeys in Asia offer the chance to get off the more typical tourist trails and into villages, local hideaways and harder-to-reach destinations for unforgettable experiences in culture, adventure and history; and the nine epic Asian road trips on our top 100 road trip list do just that.

8. The Remote Himalayas ~ Bhutan

Distance varies | 10 days

Paro to Paro Loop  | The Himalayas remain seriously high on our bucket list (no pun intended), and at the peak is enigmatic Bhutan, a mountain kingdom with a unique culture and spectacular, untouched nature. The country’s tourism policy means we would need to have a driver and guide for this particular Asian road trip, but when you’re surrounded by the world’s highest mountains and happiest people, we’re fine with being able to sit back and just take it all in!

9. Road Trip Flores ~ Indonesia

Appx. 750 km (465 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

Labuan Bajo to Ende  | This awesome road trip through the Indonesian island of Flores serves up soaring volcanoes, traditional villages, jungley highlands and some of the best off-the-beaten track beaches in the archipelago. Add some scuba diving or snorkelling, and close encounters with primeval dragons in speccy Komodo National Park, and this is one of the best island road trips you never heard of. We traversed the island with a hire car and driver-guide. Read  our 14-day Flores itinerary  for all the details.

10. Land of Kings, Rajasthan ~ India

Appx. 2,500 km | Up to a month

Delhi to Delhi Loop  |  India’s northern state of Rajasthan is a captivating world of epic fortresses, vibrant temples, extraordinary wildlife reserves, colourful cities, vast desert landscapes and tantalising cuisines. Our driving journey into this incredible place, via the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradhesh, is an adventure we’ll never forget. Read  our Rajasthan road trip itinerary  for the low-down on one of the best Asian road trips on the sub-continent.

11. The Golden Route ~ Japan

Appx. 550 km (340 miles) | 1-2 weeks

Tokyo to Osaka  | Where to start when it comes to exploring Japan? There’s so much we want to see on this island nation, and there are plenty of awesome-looking road trips to explore off the beaten track, like the  Scenic Byway collection on Hokkaido . For our very first trip to the country though, we’re keen to seek out the epic highlights of the famous  Golden Route , following the ancient Tokkaido Road between Tokyo and Kyoto and on to Osaka – a magic introduction of big cities, historic towns, rich culture and stunning scenery.

12. Gobi Desert ~ Mongolia

Distance varies | 1-2 weeks

Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar Loop  | Far-flung and properly off the beaten track, Mongolia makes for no ordinary road trip. Actually, it’s well and truly off-road and from the sounds of it, trips usually take place in functional old rust-bucket vans. The rough and ready nature of this trip is all part of the fun though and well worth the prizes: huge sand dunes, vast steppes, Mongol empire ruins, wild horses, endless skies, wonderful isolation…and nights under the stars in yurts!

13. Seoul to Busan Overlander ~ South Korea

Distance TBC | 2-3 weeks

Seoul to Busan  | We’re still talking about our one brilliant night in Seoul, and we didn’t even make it into the city on that stopover. So we’re eager to get back and explore the country proper. Road tripping is apparently easy and the best way to get off the beaten track to visit the country’s best World Heritage sites, traditional villages, Buddhist temples and monasteries. There’s a ton of culture, history and nature to experience here, plus Korean BBQ! If time allows, we’ll also hop across to Jeju Island to drive the renowned  Ilju Coastal Road .

14. Emerald Island Circuit ~ Sri Lanka

Appx 1,600km (995 miles) | Up to a month

Colombo to Colombo Loop  | Compact Sri Lanka is a wonderful country to explore by road, serving up beautiful coastlines, jungles and mountains, highland tea plantations, and standout World Heritage cultural and natural sites.  We’ve travelled the traditional tourist loop  from the capital to the highlands to the coast, but there’s so much more we want to see here with the freedom of a car, especially the less-visited north and east, only more recently reopened to visitors after decades of internal strife.

15. Island Loop ~ Taiwan

Appx. 1,080 km (670 miles) | 2 weeks

Taipei to Taipei Loop  | Taiwan is a magical mystery to us, but what we’ve read has put it squarely on our road trip bucket list. Apparently the roads are great and the sights are many – from the city lights and night markets of the capital Taipei, to the cultural sites, tea plantations, beautiful beaches, hiking opportunities, speccy Taroko Gorge and everything else in between. More than half of Taiwan is mountain country too and we can never get enough mountains.

16. Pamir Highway ~ Tajikistan

Appx. 700 km+ (430 miles) | 1 week

Osh, Kyrgyzstan to Khorog, Tajikistan  | The ‘stans loom large on our destination bucket list, so it goes without saying the opportunity to get out and explore by road (not just any road either but part of the ancient Silk Road!) only adds to the appeal. The Pamir Highway starts in Kyrgyzstan and winds a route through Tajikistan that by all accounts serves up some of the most majestic mountain scenery in the world. In fact, our mates Alesha and Jarryd of NOMADasaurus rate it so highly they set up group tours with a local operator, and their  road trip write-up  has us very much looking forward to one day making this journey.

Road Trips in Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific

We’ve been enjoying road trips in Australia for as long as we can remember (Dan since she was a kid on family holidays, and John since touring Oz in a Ford Econovan as a backpacker in the 90s), but we’ve still got a serious hit list of road tripping adventures we want to have across our vast island-continent home.

We’ve also been drawn time and again to that other island nation across the pond, New Zealand , as it arguably serves up some of the world’s best road tripping opportunities. Plus, after discovering the delights of Pacific Island road tripping in  Vanuatu  and  Easter Island , we’ve added Fiji as a new island addition in our top 100.

17. Great Ocean Road ~ Australia

Appx. 243 km (150 miles) | 2-4 Days

Torquay to Allansford  | This iconic coastal drive is on our southern doorstep in the state of Victoria, and while we’ve both cruised parts of it, we haven’t driven it together. While you can knock it over in around four hours, we want to take our time and explore the epic coastal scenery both in and out of the car, including the world-famous Twelve Apostles, pristine beaches, rainforest, waterfalls, bushwalks, and eats and drinks along the way.

18. Circle Tasmania ~ Australia

Appx. 1,800 km (1,120 miles) | 1 week to 1 month

Hobart to Hobart Loop  | Gorgeous Tasmania holds a real allure for us: it’s one of just a couple of places we could imagine ourselves retiring to one day. Naturally, we’re keen to road trip to all of its corners before then. This  epic Tassie circuit  by Tourism Australia looks like the perfect place to start. Add some extra km’s to include historic Port Arthur and the foodie destination, Bruny Island, plus some world-class hiking side-trips, and we’re raring to go!

19. The South-Western Corner ~ Australia

Appx. 2,000 km (1,240 miles) | 2 weeks

Perth to Perth via Albany  | Take one of the world’s great wine regions (Margaret River), add exquisite white-sand beaches, giant trees, waterfalls, sand dunes, amazing hikes, unique geological formations and ridiculously cute quokkas, and you can see why this road trip has been calling to us. We finally had the chance to drive it in 2021 and it was every bit as epic as we’d hoped. Our original claim stands – this may well be one of the best road trips in Australia. Check out our itinerary for an epic two week road trip of south west Australia .

The Ultimate Australian Road Trip It’s called ‘The Big Lap’, a classic Aussie understatement for an epic 40,000 km (25,000 mile) adventure looping right around Australia. It’s a bit of a tradition for retired older Aussies and young international backpackers to load up a 4WD or camper trailer and embark on this extraordinary journey. It skirts just about all of the Australian coastline plus a stint inland to the Red Centre. How long it takes is entirely up you. Something to look forward to when we’re old(er).

20. South to North via Explorer’s Way ~ Australia

Appx. 4,000 km+ (2,500 miles) | 2-3 weeks

Adelaide to Darwin  | We might be leaving  The Big Lap  for later (see above), but this epic Australian road trip is one we hope to make sooner. Starting in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, this incredible journey overlands through the southern outback and into the Northern Territory to visit some of the most iconic destinations on the continent – Uluru and Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Karlu Karlu-Devils Marbles, Litchfield National Park and more – before winding up in Darwin. Huge!

21. Viti Levu Island ~ Fiji

Appx. 515 km (320 miles) | 12-14 days

Nadi to Nadi Loop  | An iso binge watch of  Eco-Challenge Fiji  put the spectacular landscapes of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, firmly on our road trip list. While we’ll leave the hard core adventure racing to the pros, exploring the island by car opens up a world of possibilities for reaching its remote corners and experiencing its diverse natural beauty and outdoor adventure – on land as well as in the sea (diving!) and on the nearby islands – along with the culture and legendary warmth of the Fijian people. 

22. North Island Loop ~ New Zealand

Appx. 3,200+ km (2,000 miles) | Up to a month

Auckland to Auckland Loop  | This incredible journey around the north island of New Zealand, one of our favourite places on the planet, is at the summit of our bucket list. It takes in the north’s unsurpassed landscapes of lush forests, thermal springs, pristine beaches, iconic volcanoes and spectacular lakes. Throw in ultra-cool Wellington with its craft beer and food scene, a visit to ‘Hobbiton’, and the wineries of Hawkes Bay, and this may just be our ultimate road trip heaven.

23. South Island Loop ~ New Zealand

Distance varies | Up to a month

Christchurch to Christchurch Loop  | You can tackle New Zealand’s breathtaking South Island in a couple of different trips, or road trip the whole island. We’ve already mini-looped once via the west coast glaciers, and a second time via Central Otago and the east coast ( check out our South Island highlights ). Both times we took in the magnetic mountains-and-fjords-drive between Queenstown and Milford Sound. With loads of epic destinations like Abel Tasman National Park, the Catlins and Dunedin still to visit, a drive around the whole South Island is definitely a future New Zealand bucket list road trip goal for us.

Road Trips in Central & South America

Latin America may well be a contender for our favourite part of the world. The vast spaces and incredible, changing scenery of South America are superb for road tripping, while the countries of Central America serve up culture and history in compact abundance. While there are still so many corners of both that we want to explore, the seven journeys here are a combination of our favourites and most anticipated.

24. Ruta 40 ~ Argentina

Appx. 5,200 km (3,230 miles) | As long as it takes

La Quiaca to Punta Loyola  | South America is catnip for us, we just love it. We’ve travelled various segments of amazing National Route 40 through Argentina over the years, but we’re keen to travel the entire length, from the dramatic canyons, deserts and salt flats of the north, through the lake regions, wine regions, World Heritage, cultural heritage, historic sites and pampas grasslands, to the mind-blowing mountains and glaciers of spectacular southern Patagonia.

25. Route of the Seven Lakes ~ Argentina

Appx. 108 km (67 miles) | 1-3 days

Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes  | The more time we spend in Argentina, the more places end up on our bucket list to come back and explore by car. We knew nothing about the Ruta de los Siete Lagos – Route of the Seven Lakes – when we arrived in the town of Bariloche, and our expectations were batted completely out of the ballpark. This road trip, a tiny section of Ruta 40, can be done in a day or more slowly as you follow a winding route through the sweeping forests, soaring peaks and serene lakes of northern Patagonia. Read  our one-day itinerary .

26. Atacama to Uyuni ~ Chile & Bolivia

Appx 550 km (340 miles) | 4-5 days

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile to Uyuni, Bolivia  | Atacama, the world’s highest, driest, oldest desert is simply breathtaking – both literally and figuratively. From the volcano-dotted moonscape of the Chilean plateau, it’s just a hop across the high Andes to Bolivia and another otherworldly destination: the vast salt flats of Uyuni. We tried this journey by road once before but were thwarted by sudden snowstorms. We’re determined to go back and try again.

27. Carretera Austral ~ Chile

Appx. 1,225 km (760 miles) | 1-2 weeks

Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins  | Patagonia is addictive. The nature, the wildlife, the outdoor adventure….we could go on. Our short road trips in Chile have whetted our appetites to explore more of this gorgeous country by car and the Carretera Austral, Chile’s Route 7, which winds along parks, rivers, lakes and hot springs and offers plenty of opportunities for trekking and out-of-car nature immersion, hits all the marks.

28. Parks & Wildlife ~ Costa Rica

Appx. 1,100 km (685 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

San José to San José Loop  | This little wedge of land in Central America is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, making Costa Rica an outstanding destination for nature lovers. With a quarter of the country protected in reserves, the hardest part of a road trip is deciding what you can bear to leave out. Our loop through the parks of Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, La Fortuna and Tortuguero served up pristine rainforest, soaring volcanoes, hot springs, beautiful beaches and wildlife watching in epic abundance. Road trip itinerary to come. In the meantime, here’s our round-up of must-see parks in Costa Rica .

29. Classic West ~ Cuba

Appx. 1,150 km (715 miles) | 2 weeks

Havana to Havana Loop  | Legendary Cuba is every bit as vibrant, evocative and distinctive as we’d hoped. From the lively, crumbling capital of Havana, a journey around the western half of this island nation serves up colourful rural villages, tobacco plantations, pretty beaches and World Heritage cities. There are opportunities for horse-riding, scuba diving, cycling and, of course, vintage car rides. While we didn’t drive ourselves (it’s certainly possible), our classic car road trips between each destination took this trip to another level. Read  our 2-week Cuba itinerary .

30. Yucatan Peninsula ~ Mexico

Appx. 2,500 km (1,550 miles) | 2-3 weeks

Cancun to Cancun Loop  | The vast, jungley Yucatan peninsula is like a magnet, drawing us back time and again to explore its pearly beaches,  otherworldly cenotes , vivid historic towns,  vibrant reefs , and epic ancient Mayan ruins (all of it fuelled by delicious tacos al pastor). While it’s easy to get around the Yucatan by public transport or tour, as we have previously, hiring a car is a chance to go at your own pace and search out the many gems of this awesome, ancient place. We’ll be back.

European Road Trips

While Europe may not have the landmass of some other continents, its 44 countries and sheer diversity of people, place, history and culture have led to it accounting for almost half of our top 100 road trip bucket list!

Having spent countless hours, days and weeks meandering by car through the UK and western Europe, plus a couple of months road tripping through northwestern Europe and Scandinavia, we know the possibilities for European road trips are endless. So while we’ve managed to compile close to fifty road trips here which are an absolute must for us, there are literally hundreds more just waiting in the wings. Bring it on!

31. Across the Austrian Alps ~ Austria

Appx. 1,200 km (745 miles) | 2 weeks

Innsbruck to Vienna  | A whirlwind winter weekend in Innsbruck introduced us to the gorgeous alpine-scapes of Austria, and returning to road trip the country is a must for us. Our planned journey starts in Innsbruck, and from there winds a high-altitude path to the western mountains and back across the country’s alpine ranges, via the famed  Grossglockner High Alpine Road , to Vienna in the east. It’s not all epic mountains though – great wining, dining, amazing hiking, history, architecture and much more also await.

32. Istria & The Adriatic Highway ~ Croatia

Appx. 800 km (500 miles) | 10 days +

Rovinj to Dubrovnik  | The glimpses of Croatia we’ve had through short trips to Split and Dubrovnik – of historic cities, charming islands, turquoise waters and epic sunsets – have been more than enough to convince us that a road trip along this stunning Kings Landing coast is a must. Cue the  Adriatic Highway , which winds a magical coastal path from top to bottom. We’ll extend the journey by starting in Rovinj, on the Istrian peninsula.

33. Southern Scandinavia ~ Denmark, Norway & Sweden

Appx. 1,850 km + Car Ferry | 2+ Weeks

Copenhagen to Copenhagen Loop  | This Nordic journey takes in the cool Scandi cities, historical highlights and beautiful, changing landscapes of Denmark, southern Norway and Sweden. We travelled this route as part of a 3-month road trip through northwest Europe and Scandinavia, but as we were rained on for most of the journey, this route is one we’re keen to travel again, in better weather. It can easily be done in either direction, and extended with a  broader circuit of Norway . Itinerary write-up to come.

34. The Mysterious Faroe Islands ~ Denmark

Distance varies | 7-10 days

Tórshavn to Tórshavn Loop  | The seed for a trip to the Faroe Islands was planted as we stood looking out to sea from the port of Hirtshals in Denmark, and it’s well and truly taken root. This wild and remote cluster of islands in the northern Atlantic, a far-flung, self-governing outpost of the Danish kingdom, has an air of magic and legend about it, and the scenery to suit. While driving around an archipelago seems unlikely, the Faroes’ bridges, under-sea tunnels and ferries make road tripping here entirely possible and, by all accounts, entirely unforgettable.

35. Baltic Road Trip ~ Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Tallinn to Vilnius  | Apart from a girls’ weekend in Tallinn for Dan in the early noughties, the Baltic states remain a tantalising unknown to us. What better way to discover this under-the-radar corner of northeastern Europe than by car? Highlights include castles, national parks, cool cities with baroque and art nouveau architecture, beaches, charming villages, history in droves, and plenty of scenic driving on a weaving route between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

36. Ancient Provence ~ France

Appx. 500 km (310 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

Marseilles to Marseille Loop  | Some 2,100 years ago, the Romans turned up in south-east France, named it Provincia Romana and started building. Their legacy can still be found all over Provence, in the form of ancient theatres, temples, bridges, roads, aqueducts and monuments. We’ve driven parts of this route and mapped a bunch more for a fantastic road trip into the distant past. This is also one of the world’s great wine regions. Ancient history + wineries = our perfect European road trip.

37. The Brittany Coast ~ France

Appx. 700 km (435 miles) | 5-7 days

Saint-Malo to Saint-Malo Loop  | If the beautiful rugged coastline wasn’t enough to put this epic road trip on our list, the megalithic sites, primeval forest trails, medieval villages and towns, and renowned food scene have cemented it there. The World Heritage Mont St Michel is also just down the road from Saint-Malo.

38. Island Tripper, Corsica ~ France

Appx. 600 km (372 miles) | 7-10 days

Bastia to Bonifacio  | It took just one pic of a winding coastal road with mountains rising above a crystal clear cove to put a Corsica road trip on our bucket list. This French island, birthplace of Napoleon, packs a Mediterranean punch with wildly diverse landscapes, cute villages, outdoor adventure, beachside chill, delicious food and wineries, all in a relatively compact, very road-trippable space.

39. La Route des Grande Alpes ~ France

Appx. 675 km (420 Miles) | 3 days

Thonon-les-Bains to Menton  | Alpine road trips are probably our fave, and this amazing drive from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean through the French Alps ticks all the boxes: national parks, climbing routes, sky-high villages and lakes, around 20 mountain passes, and some of the highest roads in Europe. It’s open in Summer and early Autumn only.

40. La Route des Vins D’Alsace ~ France

170 km (106 miles) | A couple of days

Marlenheim to Thann  | How could we not include a road trip named for wine? The historic Alsace region is in France’s north-east near Germany and Switzerland, and vino is truly in its DNA – it’s been producing wine since Roman times. This isn’t a long road trip, but with dozens of picturesque villages and around 1,000 producers dedicated wholeheartedly to wine, it’s a journey we want to take slow and savour (literally).

41. French and Italian Rivieras ~ France, Monaco & Italy

Appx. 315 km (195 miles) | 7-10 days

Nice to La Spezia  | Despite taking in three countries, road tripping the Cote D’Azur from Nice to Menton via Monaco and onwards through the Italian Riviera to La Spezia will put little more than 300 km on the odometer. But this is said to be some of the most idyllic coastal driving out there: a gorgeous stretch of Mediterranean lapped by turquoise waters, with beautiful beaches and pretty villages, culminating in the renowned Cinque Terre National Park, a destination we’ve been itching to get back to and hike for 15 years.

42. Journey to the Caucasus ~ Georgia

Appx. 1,100 km (685 miles) | 2 weeks

Tbilsi to Tblisi Loop  | Europe’s far eastern country of Georgia has become a traveller hotspot in recent years and we’ve heard lots of good stuff about it. We’ve also heard road tripping is the best way to get out into the countryside and explore the myriad landscapes, cool historic sites – like the medieval Rabati fortress and Vardzia cave monastery – and the many natural highlights, from canyons, waterfalls, lakes and hot springs to the high peaks of the Caucasus Mountains.

43. The German Alpine Road ~ Germany

Appx. 450 km (280 miles) | 5-8 days

Lindau to Schönau  | People have been drawn to the Bavarian delights of the  Alpenstrasse  – scenic, traditional, cultural and culinary – for more than 160 years. More than a dozen villages and towns dot the beautiful route, which meanders via valleys and meadows, mountains and lakes, and passes dozens of castles, churches, monasteries and palaces.

44. The Castle Road ~ Germany

1,200 km (745 miles) | 1-2 weeks

Mannheim to Prague  | We love a good castle, so naturally, Europe’s greatest dedicated castle road trip is a mandatory entry on our list. Winding a route through scenic central Germany before crossing into Prague, the  Burgenstrasse  links more than seventy historic citadels, including castles, palaces and aristocratic residences.

45. The Romantic Road ~ Germany

Appx. 354 km (220 miles) | 3-4 days

Füssen to Würzburg  | More castles, yes, and dramatic ones (including the famous, Disney-esque Neuschwanstein). But tales of Germany’s Romantic Road through Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg tell a delightful road tripping story of postcard perfect scenery, colourful villages and cobblestoned medieval towns. Plus there’s Bavarian beer at one end and wine country at the other end. Perfect!

46. Highlights of the Mainland ~ Greece

Appx. 2,000 km (1,242 miles) | 2 weeks

Athens to Athens Loop  | Greece is rightly renowned for its beautiful islands, of which we’ve sampled a few. But we’ve always wanted to hit the road on the mainland and experience the culture, scenery and archaeological wonders of this very ancient place. Highlights of our planned mainland Greece road trip include epic sites like Corinth, Olympia, Delphi and Meteora.

47. Minoan Crete ~ Greece

Appx. 745 km (460 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

Heraklion to Heraklion Loop  | Crete is an island of myth and legend: home to the ancient Minoan civilisation and the mythological half-man, half-bull Minotaur. Signs of this highly advanced people remain at archaeological sites such as Knossos and Phaestos, but our own road trip through Crete surprised us with rugged mountain scenery, caves, beaches, beautiful gorges for hiking, Venetian architecture and seriously good food. Road trip highlights to come .

48. The Ring Road ~ Iceland

Appx 1,350 km (840 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

Reykjavic to Reykjavic Loop  | A mystical island of icy glaciers, brooding volcanoes and soothing hot springs; where the summer sun shines all night and strange lights dance across the sky in winter. We were captivated on  our road trip through the south of Iceland  and we’ll definitely be back to explore the rest on the famous island loop  Ring Road . This is said to be one of the best road trips in Europe.

49. The Wild Atlantic Way ~ Ireland

2,500 km (1,550 miles) | As long as it takes

Malin Head to Kinsale  | Ireland remains one of our fave destinations, ever since we first road tripped a loop around the country – and got engaged en route – in 2006. The  Wild Atlantic Way  is our next goal for the island nation. An anniversary road trip perhaps? Spanning six regions of diverse and spectacular Irish coastal terrain, this journey can be done in sections, or in one long, incomparable road trip.

50. Bay of Naples & Amalfi Coast ~ Italy

Appx: 150 km (95 miles) | 7-10 days

Miseno to Salerno  | Road tripping the  Amalfi Coast  is a renowned journey, and rightly so. The stunning SS163 coastal route itself is just 50 km and can be driven end to end in a matter of hours, but we extended our trip to start at ancient Misenum, travelling around the Bay of Naples in the shadow of Vesuvius, taking in the vibrant city of Naples, the extraordinary ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii, and charming cliff-side Sorrento, before winding through the spectacular coastal towns of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. Itinerary to come .

51. The Dolomites ~ Italy

Distance TBC | 7-10 days

Bolzano to Bolzano Loop  | There are some superb driving routes through the high altitude scenery of the Italian Dolomites and Alps, including the famed  Grande Strada delle Dolomiti  and the sky-high switchbacks of the  Stelvio Pass . We’re keen to explore them all, so we’ve mapped out a World Heritage Dolomites journey along one of the best driving roads in Europe, taking in mountain passes, mountains lakes, mountain meadows, mountain food, and lots of time out of the car on epic mountain hikes.

52. Tuscan Wineries & Hill Towns ~ Central Italy

Appx. 700 km (435 miles) | 2 weeks

Florence to Florence Loop  | Our love affair with Italy was cemented on the winding roads of Tuscany, Urbino, Perugia and Terni, as we road tripped through a gorgeous countryside of rolling hills, expansive vineyards and striking medieval hill towns. We’ve espoused the highlights of this journey over two posts, one focusing on our  Tuscan road trip through Chianti , and the other our  medieval hill-town hopper , taking in magical Urbino, Assisi, Orvieto, Siena and San Gimignano. It’s one of the Italian road trips we definitely intend to do again.

53. Puglia Discovery ~ Italy

Distance TBC | 10 – 14 days

Bari to Bari Loop  | If someone said we could only road trip in Italy for the rest of our days, well, we’d be ok with that. The region of Puglia, in the ‘heel’ of Italy’s boot, is a corner we finally reached this year: a wedge of gorgeous coastline and popular beaches, wonderful old towns for exploring on foot (including a couple of historic World Heritage sites and the nearby hill-town of Matera), sensational food and wine, and opportunities to get off the beaten path for a taste of quintessential southern Italy. Road trip itinerary to com e.

54. Sardinia Island Loop ~ Italy

Appx. 1,500 km (930 miles) | 2 weeks

Cagliari to Cagliari Loop  | Just when we think road tripping Italy can’t get any better, the island of Sardinia turns up the heat. Its spectacular white-sand beaches, lapped by turquoise waters, are said to be some of the most beautiful on the Med. More than just a pretty face though, Sardinia has charming medieval villages, mountains, caves and canyons, intriguing Bronze Age sites, and a food and wine scene all its own. Check out our two week Sardinia road trip itinerary .

55. Ancient Sicily ~ Italy

Appx. 1,000 km (620 miles) | 10-14 days

Palermo to Palermo Loop  | This wonderful island is ideal for road tripping and it’s a trek we definitely hope to make again. Spectacular World Heritage ancient sites, including some of the very best preserved temples and in-situ mosaics, beautifully evocative villages and historic cities, an active volcano to climb, and endlessly buonissimo eating experiences guarantee an unforgettable Italian drive holiday. Plan your own self-drive adventure with our two week Sicily road trip itinerary .

56. Monasteries, Fortresses and Wine ~ Moldova

Appx. 850 km (530 miles) | 7-10 days

Chișinău to Chișinău Loop  | Wedged between Romania and Ukraine, this little nation flies largely under the tourist radar. Formerly part of Romania and then the Soviet Republic, Moldova’s Orthodox Christian fabric has led to the many monasteries and fortresses which are a highlight of road tripping here. It also has one of the world’s most ancient winemaking traditions and the  world’s largest wine cellar . Say no more.

57. Mountains, Coasts and Fjords ~ Norway

Appx. 1,900 km (1,180 miles) | 3-4 weeks

Oslo to Trondheim  |  Vast, rugged and breathtakingly beautiful, Norway makes for an unparalleled road tripping adventure. We drove and camped a coast-and-fjord route from the capital to Trondheim, taking in some of the most incredible scenery we’ve yet laid eyes on. While our trip continued on into Sweden, you can return to Oslo via Oppdal over 500 km. We’ve still got the northern Svalbard region to explore, but southern Norway makes for a truly epic adventure all its own. Read  our two-week, self-drive Norway road trip itinerary .

The Most Spectacular Drive in the World? It’s a big call, and we’re ready to eat our words, but we reckon the 230km (140 mile) drive along the Fv55, Rv15 and Fv63 roads between Sogndal and Geiranger in Norway is one of the world’s most beautiful – read  why we think so.  Fv63 also continues on to the famous switchbacker, Trollstigen Road.

58. Flores Island, The Azores ~ Portugal

Up to 100 km (62 miles) | 3-4 days

Santa Cruz Das Flores Loop  | There’s a mystical quality to the lush, volcanic landscapes of Flores, one of nine islands in Portugal’s Azores archipelago. You could explore it in a busy day, and you’d be pushing to reach 100 km on the odo, even if you drive the whole thing. But with wild and windswept scenery, waterfalls in abundance, cute villages, lovely hikes and even some diving to be had, we’d look to slow the drive time and linger longer.

59. Lisbon to Porto ~ Portugal

Appx. 850 km (530 miles) | 8-10 days

Lisbon to Porto via Duoro Valley  | Our ideal Portugal road trip follows the west coast north from the capital, winding a route between coastal villages, beaches and medieval towns, and taking in nearly a dozen World Heritage sites. Of course, a couple of days exploring the Duoro Valley wine region (and its prehistoric rock art) is a must before lingering on in Porto, one of our favourite European cities.

60. Transfăgărășan & Transalpina Roads ~ Romania

Appx. 800 km (500 miles) | 1 week

Bucharest to Bucharest Loop  | We’re keen to explore all of Romania by road, starting with this multi-day drive to and from Bucharest, looping across two of the country’s epic mountain roads. The Transfăgărășan gets a tick from the Top Gear crew, weaving its way across the Fagaras Mountains to Transylvania, while the Transalpina, Romania’s highest road, offers panos over 2,000-metres above sea level. Both offer standout alpine hiking and scenery, as well as waterfalls, historic castles, even the ruins of an ancient Dacian fortress.

61. Highlights of Slovenia

Appx. 550 km (340 miles) | 10-14 days

Ljubljana to Ljubljana Loop  | A Slovenia road trip is all about the outdoors and driving through speccy scenery to reach even more speccy places that can be explored on foot. Our itinerary goals include Slovenian highlights such as Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, hiking through high mountains and deep gorges, an Adriatic coastal city with a Venetian past (Piran), World Heritage caves, a medieval castle built into a cave, and much more.

62. Slovakia Showcase

Bratislava to Bratislava Loop  | Another intriguing and beautifully scenic country, Slovakia promises outstanding cultural, historic and nature experiences on a road trip looping from the capital to the east of the country and back. Medieval towns, evocative castles and sites that tell more recent tales of the country’s struggles to come into its own, sit alongside lakes, caves and a backdrop of the stunning Tatras Mountains.

63. Andalucian Adventure ~ Spain

Appx. 1,150 km (715 miles) | 10-14 days

Málaga to Málaga Loop  | Spain is made for road tripping and the southern region of Andalucia is especially awesome. We’ve explored some of the highlights on a previous trip, including the spectacular World Heritage sites of Seville, Granada and Cordoba. There’s plenty to draw us back here though, from historic pueblos blancos (whitewashed villages) and neolithic dolmens, to ancient port cities and the iconic rock of Gibraltar, not to mention all the amazing food and wine!

64. The Basque Circuit ~ Spain

Appx. 480 km (300 miles) | 7-10 days

Bilbao to Bilbao Loop  | Tucked into a northern corner of the Iberian peninsula, the autonomous Basque region,  Euskadi , is a land unto itself, with traditions and a language all its own. The coastline is ruggedly beautiful and its beaches and resort towns renowned. Best of all, this is the unofficial foodie capital of Europe. Pintxos bars abound (the best creation ever!), as do Michelin star restaurants, and the famed Rioja wine region is right on the doorstep.

65. Canary Islands ~ Spain

Appx. 375 km (233 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

Tenerife & La Gomera  | John’s very first foray abroad was a trip with mates to Tenerife when he was 16. Classic, innit. Beyond the resorts where sun-starved Brits congregate though, a road trip of the biggest Canary Island and its smaller neighbour, La Gomera, offers magnificent coastal scenery, forest escapes, charming villages, beaches for chilling, and one epic hiking opportunity to the peak of an active volcano, the 3,718m-high Mount Teide.

66. West Coast Mallorca ~ Spain

Appx. 180 km (233 miles) | 1 week

Palma to Formentor Peninsula  | Mallorca is another sun-drenched Spanish isle beloved by Brits. Like the Canaries though, steer the car well clear of the beach resorts, and there’s a dramatically beautiful island to discover. We’ve read the west coast is particularly spectacular, trailing a route from the capital Palma through the Tramuntana Mountains to the island’s northern tip. While not a long trip by km’s, it sounds like one to enjoy slowly.

67. Across the Pyrenees ~ Spain & France

Appx. 700 km (435 miles) | 1 week

Lourdes to Lourdes Loop  | The great range of the Pyrenees mountains forms a natural boundary between France and Spain, a stunning region that can be explored by road. The must-sees of the central range span breathtaking canyons and glacier-gouged rocky amphitheatres, mountain lakes, a sky-high observatory, and San Juan de la Peña, a monastery embedded in the foot of a cliff, to name just a few.

68. Swiss Alps Explorer ~ Switzerland

Appx. 485 km (300 miles) | 7-10 days

Lausanne to Zurich  | Driving through the incredible scenery of the Swiss Alps is sky high on our road trip bucket list. Our Swiss road trip itinerary goals make the most of the picturesque lakeside cities like Lausanne and Interlaken, the medieval old towns of Bern and Lucerne, and the dramatic, snow-capped mountain panos of Lauterbrunnen and Grindlewald. We’ll also take on the switchbacks of the famous  Furka Pass .

69. Ultimate Turkish Delight ~ Turkey

Appx. 3,000+ km (1,865 miles) | 1 month

Istanbul to Istanbul Loop  | Turkey is one of our favourite countries and while we’ve driven, bussed and toured various parts of it, our goal is an ultimate road trip loop from Istanbul to Cappadocia and back along the south and west coasts. Thousands of years at the cross-roads of eastern and western civilisations have left an extraordinary legacy in the World Heritage and ancient sites that scatter the country. The landscapes are wildly diverse, the food is exceptional, the culture rich and the history astounding. We can’t wait to get back.

70. The Atlantic Highway ~ England, UK

Appx. 115 km (70 miles) | 3-5 Days

Barnstaple to Fraddon  | It’s little more than 100 km, but some say the  Atlantic Highway  is one of the top road trips in the UK. We know from our forays further south that Cornwall’s wildly beautiful coastline is one to linger over. This stretch passes pretty seaside and harbour villages like Bude, Padstow and Clovelly, and mystical sites like ancient Tintagel. There are speccy coastal rambles and delicious seafood eats, all with the wild Atlantic in view.

71. The Hidden Highway ~ England, UK

Appx. 200 km (125 miles) | 3-5 Days

Ludlow to Llangollen  | This  lovely jaunt  weaves along country roads and rolling hills through the borderlands of England and Wales. The invisible divide has changed little in 12 centuries, and the many sites along the way – iron age forts, medieval villages and market towns, ruined castles and abbeys – span as many years and more.

72. South West Explorer ~ England, UK

Appx. 1,350km (840 miles)+ | 2 weeks

South West England starting and finishing in London  | One of our fave UK road trips, this jam-packed two week journey travels from London to Cornwall and back, taking in a huge range of highlights along the way as we pass through the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire. We’re talking classic white cliffs, moody moors, crumbling castles, fossil beaches, standing stones, cosy pubs, dramatic coastal scenery (including the World Heritage Jurassic Coast), quaint countryside and fishing villages, and some incredible coastline walks. Check out our ultimate, self-drive South West England Road Trip Itinerary .

73. Yorkshire Moors and Dales ~ England, UK

Appx. 725 km (450 miles) | 5-7 days

York to York Loop  | England’s sweeping moors make for spectacular road tripping and a tranquil journey through the bucolic landscapes of Yorkshire Dales National Park and North York Moors National Park is high on our list. Starting in the fantastically historical hub of York’s old town, this trip takes in the expansive nature, old market towns, castles and abbeys, snug pubs and warm welcome of England’s north.

74. Causeway Coastal Route ~ Northern Ireland, UK

Appx. 250 km (154 miles) | 7 days

Belfast to Derry-Londonderry  |  This famous route  along the beautiful, rugged coast of Northern Ireland weaves a magical journey of spellbinding scenery, ancient castle ruins, clifftop walks, seaside villages and beaches, whiskey tasting, pretty beaches, the oldest human settlement on the island at Mount Sandel, and World Heritage highlight, the Giant’s Causeway. Best of all though, the chance to see puffins!

75. Isle of Skye ~ Scotland, UK

Appx. 850 km (530 miles) | 5 days

Inverness to Glasgow via Skye  | Beyond its legends of fairies and giants, the Isle of Skye is a tale of expansive, fantastical scenery, rolling hills dotted with sheep and the occasional shaggy, orange-coated highland ‘coo’, ancient sites, peaty whisky, brooding mountains and lounging seals. The walks are wild and wonderful, the pubs cosy and warm, and the Scottish breakfasts singularly epic. Read  our Isle of Skye road trip itinerary .

76. North Coast 500 ~ Scotland, UK

Appx. 830 km (515 miles) | 1-2 weeks

Inverness to Inverness Loop  | It is possible to walk all 500 miles of this route (cue the tune), but as it features on just about all of the world’s best road trip lists, drive it we shall!  This iconic journey  skirts the coastal fringe of the northern highlands, showcasing Scotland’s finest scenery and all the things we love best: ancient sites, standing stones, evocative castles, hidden beaches, wildlife watching and bird spotting, and the chance to get off the beaten track.

77. The Dragon’s Spine ~ Wales, UK

Appx. 285 km (180 miles) | 5-7 days

Cardiff to Conwy  | For 1,200 years, the dragon has been the Welsh sigil, so Dragon’s Spine is a fitting name for this road trip along the country’s mountain ‘backbone’ from south to north. Also known as  the Cambrian Way , the A470 travels through two spectacular national parks – the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia – and serves up outdoor adventures like hiking, caving and ziplining. Distilleries, breweries and wineries seal the deal.

Road Trips in the Middle East

The Middle East isn’t the first place that comes to mind when thinking about epic road trip destinations. And yet it’s among these timeless landscapes that we’ve had some of our greatest driving adventures. These are ancient places, and yet some of our newest too – lands where gravelly, well-worn roads intersect spanking new freeways, and historic hill-top forts stand as remote, crumbling outposts to dazzling new, modern cities.

The long and tangible history to be found in the mountains, dunes, deserts, cities and coastlines of this region is without compare, as is the warmth and welcome of the people. A road trip in the Middle East is a road trip you won’t soon forget.

78. Ancient Israel & The Palestinian Territories

Appx. 850 km (530 miles) | 2-4 weeks

Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv Loop  | This wedge of land on the eastern Mediterranean is the epicentre of the world’s three major monotheistic religions, and witness to a complex story of humanity, millennia in the making. Our brief visit to Jerusalem left an indelible mark and convinced us we need to return with time and a hire car, to get off the beaten track and beyond the turbulent narrative curated for us on the outside. A road trip offers the chance not just to seek out the many extraordinary historical and natural sites of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, but to engage first-hand with the people who live here.

79. Amman to Wadi Rum via the Kings Highway ~ Jordan

Appx. 450 km (280 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

Amman to Aqaba  | The ancient landscapes of Jordan have thousands of years of stories to tell, and the road from Amman to Aqaba along the Kings Highway touches on many of them. With neolithic standing stones, biblical mountains, Roman ruins, Byzantine mosaics, crusader castles, the extraordinary Dana Biosphere Reserve, magical side trips to the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum, plus Petra – one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, there’s a reason Jordan is calling us back for a go-slow road trip.

80. Ancient Phoenicia ~ Lebanon

Beirut to Beirut Loop  | 2020 has brought further tragedy to a nation defined by struggle for much of its long history. But Lebanon is as enduring as its legendary cedar tree. The story here spans some 6,000 years, and it can be found in the people, culture and many epic archaeological sites that dot the country. From the bustling Mediterranean cities to the snowcapped mountains and gorgeous inland gorges, the renowned cuisine and warm, vibrant locals, this is a land we can’t wait to explore by road.

81. South-East Arabia ~ Oman

Muscat to Muscat Loop  | Low-key Oman has held its secrets close for millennia. We were intrigued. Cue an amazing two week road trip through a beautiful country of dramatic landscapes: from vast, flat stony deserts to shifting dune deserts to dramatic mountains and gorges. Medieval watch towers stand sentinel over ancient towns, while off-road adventures, rich culture and Arabian hospitality await. Read our Oman road trip itinerary .

82. City to Desert ~ United Arab Emirates

Appx. 335 km (210 miles) | 2-3 days

Dubai to Liwa Oasis  | While glitzy Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been shaped out of the desert by human hand, just a couple of hours to the south-east stretches one of nature’s most wild and inhospitable places: the vast Empty Quarter. Edging this harsh landscape, among a great sea of rose-gold sand dunes – including one of the world’s largest – is the Liwa Oasis, a 100 km stretch of villages and date palm forests. The journey to the oasis, along a purpose-built highway through the desert, is itself said to be spectacular, making this a trip worth taking slow.

Road Trips in North America

It’s little surprise that North America , with its big, expansive nature, excellent roads, and well-established road tripping culture, claims the second largest collection on our top 100 road trip list.

America has dozens and dozens of outstanding dedicated byways, skyways, highways and parkways, while some of the world’s most renowned scenic routes weave a path through Canada’s breathtaking provinces. Each North American road trip we set out on in these beautiful, diverse, easy-going countries leaves us more keen for the next one.

83. Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia ~ Canada

Appx. 300 km (185 miles) | Up to a week

Baddeck to Baddeck Loop  | You can drive the Cabot Trail in a day, but we’re keen to take our time on  this loop  around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, discovering the beautiful landscapes and the island’s unique mix of Aboriginal, Acadian and Gaelic cultural influences. In addition to the panoramic scenery, the drive takes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where black bears, moose and bald eagles roam, and dozens of hiking trails offer the chance to stretch the legs.

84. Dempster Highway, Yukon ~ Canada

Appx. 730 km (450 miles)  | 2-3 Days

Dawson City to Inuvik  | This incredible journey through the Yukon wilderness has all the hallmarks of an iconic Canadian road trip. Steeped in history, and traversing an old dog sled route, the Dempster’s unpaved roads will challenge us. But it’s diverse, it’s remote, and it crosses the Arctic Circle through dense forest full of wildlife, across dramatic tundra, and past the spectacular Mackenzie and Tombstone mountain ranges. A must!

85. Icefields Parkway, Alberta ~ Canada

Appx. 230 km (140 miles) | 2-3 Days

Lake Louise to Jasper  | Based on what we’ve heard, we’ll definitely be arguing over who does the driving and who gets to sit in the passenger seat and take in the views on the Icefields Parkway. This is said to be one of the world’s most spectacular highways, and it comes up regularly when we ask people about their favourite road trip. Also known as Highway 93, the parkway links Banff and Jasper national parks, serving up hundreds of kilometres of mindblowing Canadian Rockies scenery, including over 100 glaciers, beautiful waterfalls and lakes, and river valleys blanketed in pine and larch forest. So high on the bucket list!

86. Montreal to the Gaspé Peninsula ~ Canada

Appx. 950 km (590 miles) | 7-10 days

Monteal to Gaspé  | Montreal and Quebec City have long been in our sights, and our plan for this epic road trip includes both. Then it leaves the bustling centres behind to wind a coastal route to the tip of the remote and spectacular Gaspé Peninsula, where the history is long and tangible, the birding outstanding, and the scenery superb, with forested wilderness, rugged mountains, ravines and rocky outcrops.

87. Vancouver Island, British Columbia ~ Canada

Appx. 1,500 km (930 miles) | Up to 2 weeks

Nanaimo to Nanaimo Loop  | Gorgeous Vancouver Island is an outdoor lover’s dream. While exploring by road means a bit of backtracking in places, it doesn’t matter when there are so many scenic places to stop. Our road trip served up giant trees, historic villages, totem pole walks, black bear watching, kayaking, a fossil dig, serene forest hikes, wineries and breweries, second-to-none chowder, bald eagles at every turn, a hike to a plane wreck, and so much more. Our itinerary is coming .

88. The Viking Trail, Newfoundland ~ Canada

Appx. 500 km (303 miles) | 3-5 days

Deer Lake to L’Anse aux Meadows  | Viking sagas made the leap across the Atlantic from Europe to North America here, and the landscapes – especially the dramatic mountains and fjords of Gros Morne National Park – are said to be reminiscent of the lands they left behind. There are chances en route of spotting moose, whales and, at certain times of year, icebergs! The road ends at the 1000-year-old World Heritage Viking settlement site of L’anse aux Meadows.

89. Alcan Highway ~ Canada & USA

Appx. 2,200 km (1,400 miles) | 1-2 weeks+ 

Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction, Alaska  | This is one of North America’s legendary routes, through the Canadian Rockies and Yukon. It takes in Canada’s highest peak, alpine trails, First Nations culture, stunning mountain ranges, pristine glacier lakes, and remote, untamed parks. It’s also grizzly and black bear territory, along with an abundance of other wildlife, including timber wolves, lynx, eagles, elk, moose and more. Plenty of memory cards needed for this trip!

90. Yukon Golden Circle Route ~ Canada & USA

Appx. 568 km (352 miles) + Car Ferry | 7-14 days

Whitehorse to Whitehorse Loop  | The renowned Golden Circle Route loops a truly wild adventure from Whitehorse in Canada to Skagway and Haines in Alaska, then back into Canada and the grizzly bear country of Kluane. Spectacular alpine scenery awaits, along with vast icefields, picturesque lakes, First Nations sites, Klondike gold rush history, and a ton of outdoor activities and wildlife spotting.

91. Badlands National Park Loop, South Dakota ~ USA

Appx. 62 km (39 miles) | 2-3 days

Wall to Cactus Flat  | It may be one of the shortest routes on our road trip bucket list, but we reckon this journey through the striking geology of the Badlands should be stretched out over days, with early starts and late finishes to max the photo opps. The road winds among buttes, mounds and pinnacles, while bison, prairie dogs and raptors hang out on the grasslands. With a few extra days, we’ll extend the trip into Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park.

92. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia & North Carolina ~ USA

Appx. 755 km (470 miles) | 5-7 days

Afton, Virginia to Cherokee, North Carolina  | Dan has dreamed about visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains since the early 90s, after falling in love with its scenery in  Last of the Mohicans . So it goes without saying that the opportunity to explore the beauty of the central and southern Appalachians has made it onto our road trip bucket list. The highlights are many on the road between Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks: from sampling delicious local food and wine, and learning about Cherokee tradition, to searching out waterfalls, rivers, gorges and caverns, and stretching the legs on wilderness hikes.

93. Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Colorado & Utah ~ USA

Appx. 770 km (480 miles) | 1 week

Dinosaur to Dinosaur Loop  | The fossil-nerd in us both gets really excited about  this road trip , a journey of 150-million-years to some of the best dinosaur quarries and trails, fossil displays and museums around. It even starts and finishes in a town called Dinosaur! Add stunning canyons, rock formations, high plains and petroglyph sites for one amazing themed trip.

94. Highway to Hana, Maui, Hawaii ~ USA

Appx. 72 km (45 miles) | 1-3 days

Paia to Hana  | Another short-distance contender, the Hana Highway is on our list for its sheer wild beauty as it curves no less than 600 times along the northeast coast of Maui. Many do the trip in a day, but there’s plenty to do and see en route – including bridges (59 of them!), rainforest hikes, waterfalls, black sand beaches, a lava tube, roadside stands and markets, and all the visual drama of this volcanic, Jurassic Park-like island world.

95. Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Wyoming & Montana ~ USA

Appx. 885+ km (550+ miles) | 10-14 days

Jackson, Wyoming to West Glacier, Montana  | Touring through the spectacular landscapes of Wyoming and Montana, this road trip takes in the heavy hitter national parks of Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier, and peaks with the renowned  Going-to-the-Sun Road . Mountains, lakes, canyons, geysers, waterfalls, glaciers, wildlife spotting and tonnes of hiking and outdoor pursuits await. Unsurprisingly, these are hugely popular parks, so extending a road trip out to two weeks will mean more time to visit before and after the crowds move on.

96. Pacific Coast Highway, Washington to California ~ USA

Appx. 2,655 km (1,650 miles) | 2 weeks

Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California  | The Pacific Coast Highway is often touted as the classic California road trip. We’re keen though to extend it out beyond Highway 1 to include Highway 101 and drive the length of Washington, Oregon and California, taking in landscapes as diverse as misty rainforest, tall sand dunes, giant redwood forests, the famous Big Sur coast, beautiful beaches, as well as buzzing big cities and cool coastal communities, and winding up in San Diego, where I (Dan) spent my middle and early high school years.

97. Lake Tahoe to Death Valley via Yosemite, California ~ USA

Appx. 1,285 km (800 miles) | 7-10 days

Lake Tahoe to Death Valley  | Much of this classic American road trip follows Route 395, a journey of diversions from the mountains-and-crystal-clear-waters of Lake Tahoe to the scorching desertscape of Death Valley via the world famous scenery of Yosemite National Park. While the changing scenery from the car is bound to be superb, the many outdoor opportunities are also a big appeal, as are potential side trips to wineries, hot springs, groves of ancient trees and historic sites.

98. San Juan Skyway, Colorado ~ USA

Appx. 375 km (235 miles) | 3-4 days

Durango to Durango Loop  | There are a couple of nicknames for the Skyway, including  America’s Switzerland , and a stretch called the  Million Dollar Highway . This is a high-altitude journey in the shadow of mountains soaring 4,000 metres, past waterfalls and hot springs, via the famous ski resort of Telluride, and the intriguing Native American cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park. There’s plenty of hiking, epic panos, and breweries to end each day.

The Ultimate American Road Trip? According to science, apparently so.  This 22,046 km (13,699 mile) adventure  was created by algorithm and loops through all of the 48 connected states of the USA, stopping at a major landmark in each. You could drive it in 224 hours non-stop if you were really keen (or mad), but for us, this one’s more likely to be a lifetime of mini-trips. The guy that created it has also built an itinerary visiting every national park in the linked, mainland states. Epic!

99. The Seward Highway, Alaska ~ USA

Appx. 210 km (130 miles) | 2-3 days

Anchorage to Seward  | The wonderful wilds of Alaska are squarely in our sights. There are a range of drives we hope to do here, like Denali National Park, but the Seward Highway is a stand out. The big nature alone is magnetic – snow-capped mountains, hanging glaciers, dramatic fjords and vibrant wetlands. But it’s the peak wildlife watching that gets us really jazzed about a road trip here: humpback whales, orca, belugas, sea lions, otters, black bears and more than a hundred species of bird are just the tip of the iceberg.

100. National Parks Trail, Utah ~ USA

Appx. 2,000 km (1,250 miles) | 2-3 weeks

Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City Loop  | Utah may well have one of the greatest concentrations of world-class parks and monuments on the planet. We’ve mapped a road trip loop that takes in the state’s showstoppers like Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, along with extraordinary places like San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley State Park, dinosaur trails and the petroglyphs of Newspaper Rock. We cannot wait to drive this route!

What unmissable road trips would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

4 thoughts on “Our Bucket List Of 100 Ultimate Road Trips Around The World”

“Wow, this article really got me excited to plan my next road trip! The diversity of landscapes and destinations mentioned here is truly inspiring. I’ve been to a few of these places, but there are definitely some hidden gems I can’t wait to explore. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive guide with helpful tips and recommendations. Can’t wait to hit the road and create some unforgettable memories!”

Thanks Charles, glad you found the post helpful. Happy road tripping!!

Amazing!! Congratulacions! Good and best job!! Thank you!! Brazil is not, but undestand! God bless You!!! Have a lot travels!

Hi Adalgisa! Thanks so much for your kind words. You know, Brazil was almost on the list! There are some amazing-sounding off-road adventures that we came across in our research, not to mention the famous Costa Verde, which we travelled part of in 2011. Do you have some road tripping suggestions for Brazil? We’d love to hear them – our list will definitely grow! Happy road tripping, Danielle & John

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Virtual Road Trip

by virtualvacation.us

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Virtual Road Trip lets you experience road trips through highways, interstates, and cities from around the globe.

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Let others take roadtrips from home.

Click the button below to head to the homepage. After that, you'll be prompted to view more modes of travelling. We currently support, walking, driving, flying and live video. Choose wisely! The choice is yours!

Monument Explorer lets you experience the wonders of monuments around the world. For example, take a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. Or even experience a 1,070 foot skyscraper building!

Take a stroll in over 50 cities around the worold! As you watch, admire and celebrate the differences of each culture. While taking in the sceneary, be reminded of how each nations culture and leadership affects the well being of the people.

View the city of your choice from above and enjoy a magnificent sightseeing adventure. As you watch, think of the differences in culture, wealth, and prosperity in each country you view from above.

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25 Best Road Trips in the World – That We’ve Taken

Written By: The Planet D

Updated On: February 11, 2024

We’ve taken a lot of the best road trips in the world during our travels. We’ve done everything from epic road trips lasting 6 weeks to one-day scenic drives that cover spectacular scenery. We’ve done them all and here are the best road trips Dave and I have done around the world.

Table of Contents

Best Road Trips in the World

Thanks  Johnny Jet  and  Chris McGinnis  for giving us the idea to make this list. It was during their Twitter chat about road trips that we realized, “wow, we’ve driven most of the ultimate road trip destinations on earth!” So without further adieu, let’s take a look at road trips around the world that we have done by country or continent.

Road Trips in the USA

There’s no doubt about it, the United States is one of the best road trip destinations in the world. Many of the best road trips in the world are located right in the United States. We’ve been lucky enough to drive along most of the East and West Coasts of the country and here are a few of our favorite routes.

1. Route 66 – Arizona

Route 66 is the road trip of dreams. We have all listened to that beautiful song by Nat King Cole and fantasized about driving Route 66 one day. And we had the chance. It lives up to the hype. Albeit, only portions of it are worth driving.

Much of the 3,940km route is abandoned and decrepit as it was forgotten when the highway system was put in place, but there are parts that have been turned into national scenic byways in Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona . We have driven many different portions of  Route 66 , but you can drive this entire route from Chicago to California.

For more another great US Road trip not on this list check out:  The Ulitmate 10 Day Arizona Road Trip ,

• Duration: 1 Day for portions to 2-3 weeks
• Highlights of Route 66: Best portions are in Arizona , New Mexico, Missouri and Illinois.
• Read more at:  Route 66 Road Trip – Cruising The Main Street of America

2. Pacific Coast Highway – California

It’s the most epic drive in the United States. The drive starts in Monterrey and weaves down Highway 1 to Los Angeles . Make sure to stay the night in Monterrey or Carmel by the Sea . There is great kayaking in the marine reserve of Monterrey and Surfing in Carmel. Read more: Big Sur Road Trip – The Best Viewpoints

It’s a beautiful coastal highway with long stretches of beaches, impressive sea cliffs, and legendary stops where movie stars and billionaires have hung out for decades to escape the hustle and bustle of California cities. And definitely take time to stay at one of the best places to stay in California (Mark Zuckerberg stayed here) the Ventana

• Duration: 2-4 Days
• Highlights of Pacific Coast Highway – The Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, and Pfeiffer Beach.
• Read more at  California Road Trip and Where to Camp in Big Sur

3. San Francisco to LA –  National Parks Route

This is the epic American route. Don’t just drive in a straight line from San Francisco to Los Angeles, go everywhere in between. This road trip takes you through four different states and showcases the best of America’s National Parks and cities.

It takes you through the most rugged and beautiful landscapes of America and you visit the most exciting cities in the country. Read more: Things to do in Yosemite National Park

• Duration: 2 Weeks
• Highlights of San Francisco to Los Angeles – Grand Canyon , Vegas, Antelope Canyon, Zion National Park, Yosemite National Park
• Read More:  Make the Most of Antelope Canyon Photography Tour

4. Hana Highway – Maui Hawaii

It’s just a short drive, but everyone who goes to Maui raves about the Hana Highway. This (mostly) single lane road is a day trip that spans the North Coast of the Island from Paia to Hana.

It twists and turns and you cross 59 bridges during the 2-3 hour drive (one way) there are many scenic stops along the way, but the real beauty begins after Hana when you reach  Haleakala National Park . This is one of the top things to do in Maui , so if you plan a trip, make sure to rent a car and drive the road to hana.

• Duration: 1 Day
• Highlights of the Hana Highway : Bamboo Forest, Painted Eucalyptus Trees, 7 Sacred Pools, Waterfalls, Scenic Views
• Read More: Road Trip to Hana and Beyond

5. 17 Mile Drive – California

It may be a short road trip, but it is a goodie. You can take an entire day exploring 17-Mile Drive at Carmel By the Sea. If you are looking for a different way of road tripping, try e-biking instead of going in a car. A road trip doesn’t have to be always in a car, we’ve included cycling Africa as one of our best road trips we’ve ever done! Read more: Photography Guide to Big Sur Coastal Drive, California

• Duration: a few hours to 1 day
• Highlights of 17 Mile Drive: Ghost Tree, Bird Rock,  the Lone Cypress, Spanish Bay, John Denver Memorial, Beaches, Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Cove.
• Read More : The Ultimate Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary and The Best Viewpoints
• Best California Road Trip

6. Miami to Key West

It took Dave and me a few tries to finally make it to Key West. We have driven from Canada to Central Florida many times, but only ever made it as far as Daytona and Orlando .

We had flown into Miami before but never did a road trip to the Florida Keys. When we finally rented a car and made our way to the famous ocean highway to the southern tip of the United States. We felt like we entered a different world. Key West is like being in the Caribbean without having to stamp your passport. Check out these Facts about Florida

It’s only a day trip from Miami to Key West, but we suggest taking your time to explore the Keys on the way down.

• Duration: 1-day return trip to 1 week for exploring.
• Highlights of Key West Road Trip – Marathon Key, Hemingway’s House, Key Largo , Dry Tortugas National Park, snorkeling, underwater museum, Seven Mile Bridge, Southernmost Point , Islamorada Florida Keys , & Where to Stay in The Florida Keys
• Read More: Miami to Key West Road Trip – Best Florida Keys Itinerary

7. Lake Superior Circle Tour – USA and Canada

Road trips can take many forms and we circumnavigated the world’s largest freshwater lake by motorcycle. The Lake Superior Circle Tour is one of the epic motorcycle routes in North America, but it’s also fabulous in a car and makes for an amazing road trip.

From the sandy shores of the southern shore to the rocky high sea cliffs of the wild north, this is an unexpected route through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconson, and Minnesota. Travel through small-town USA, historic treasures and the wild abandoned North of Ontario, this road trip is magnificent.

• Duration: 4 days to 2 weeks.
• Highlights of Lake Superior Circle Tour – Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Terri Fox Memorial, Beautiful coast, three different states and one province in Canada
• Read More:  The Best of the Lake Superior Circle Tour
• See all of the best places to visit in Michigan for your next road trip.

Canadian Road Trips

Canada is our favourite country for road tripping and in our humble opinion, the best road trips in the world are located in our home country. From both coasts to the far north, through high altitude of the Rocky Mountains and along the shore, you will see it all in Canada.

8. Icefields Parkway – Alberta

Alberta’s Icefields Parkway is often considered one of the top road trips in the world! And with good reason. There are so many things to see along the way. There is one spectacular scene after another.

Starting in Banff, the road trip takes you north along Highway 1 through the Rocky Mountains. It spans two of Canada’s most beautiful National Parks. Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. See our full drive here.

There are scenic lookouts galore where you can go hiking or to simply take in the view of mirror lakes reflecting jagged snow-capped mountains. A highlight is stopping at the Athabasca Glacier for a snowcat tour of this gigantic piece of ice and to take a walk on the Icefields Sky Walk. Continue on to Jasper where you can explore more of Alberta’s rugged and remote areas. Suggested hotel Fairmont Jasper and Fairmont Lake Louise

• Duration:  1-3 Days
• Highlights of the Icefields Parkway: Bow Lake, Columbia Icefields Skywalk, Athabasca Glacier, Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise
• Read more about Banff:  The Rocky Mountaineer,   Where to Stay in Banff

9. Dempster Highway – Yukon

For the ultimate road trip adventure, there’s not a lot that compares to the Dempster Highway. You can drive to the Arctic on the Dempster Highway and that is exactly what we did.

This 736 km road stretches from the far Arctic in Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, to Dawson City in the  Yukon. It crosses the equator through the most beautiful landscape in the world. You’ll see caribou, grizzley bears and other wildlife on along the way and it is simply spectacular.

• Duration:  2-6 days
• Highlights of the Dempster Highway:  Crossing the Arctic Circle, Innuvik, Dawson City, Eagle Plains, Tombstone Mountains
• Read More:   Drive to the Arctic, Yes you Can

10. Fundy Trail – New Brunswick

The province of New Brunswick houses one of the most beautiful coastal drives in Canada. Famous for the Hopewell Rocks, we drove along the Bay of Fundy Parkway and witnessed giant sea cliffs plunging into the sea.

There are secluded and isolated beaches, it crosses through the Fundy National Park where you can hike to waterfalls and lookouts and it drives along one of the longest undeveloped coastlines in North America.

It is home to the world’s highest tides where you can walk out for miles on the ocean floor. Take your time to drive along this stretch of road that houses some of the most spectacular scenery on earth.

• Duration:  3 – 4 Days
• Highlights of the Fundy Trail : Hopewell Rocks, Saint Stephen’s Sea Caves, Fundy National Park, Cape Enrage, Town of Alma, Covered Bridges. 
• Read More:  Things to do in Saint John, New Brunswick

11. Cowboy Trail – Alberta

If you love getting away from it all and having a rip-roaring adventure, the Cowboy Trail is for you. This is one of our favourite road trips we’ve ever done. Following the route through Southern Alberta is easy, well marked and filled with activities and beauty. There is something to see every single day and this trip will surprise you.

From the lunar landscape of the badlands to where the great plains meet the Rocky Mountains, you’ll be driving through the varied landscapes that will take your breath away.

• Highlights of the Cowboy Trail: Dinosaur Provincial Park, Crows Nest Pass, Bar U Ranch, Waterton Lakes National Park, Hoodoos of Drumheller
• Read more:  Full Itinerary – Alberta Road Trip, Where to Stay in Banff

12. Cabot Trail – Nova Scotia

The Cabot Trail is one of Canada’s Ultimate Scenic Highways. Located on  Nova Scotia’s  Cape Breton Island, it is filled with sea cliffs, coastal hikes, beaches, and untamed wilderness. You’ll see moose on the Skyline walk, whales on kayaking and scenic boat trips and stunning sunsets over the Gulf of St. Lawrence explore the best scenic stops in the country.

• Duration: 2-5 Days
• Highlights of the Cabot Trail: Skyline Trail, Alexander Graham Bell’s house, Uisge Ban Waterfall Hike, North River Kayaking, Ingonish Beach, Middle Head Trail, Boat Tours, whale watching and wildlife.
• Read More:  11 Not to be Missed Stops on the Cabot Trail

13. Sea to Sky Highway – British Columbia

Canada is known for its multiday road trips since the country is so massive, but the Sea to Sky Highway is an excellent short road trip from Vancouver. The Sea to Sky drive is only about 90 minutes from Vancouver to Whistler, but there are many sights to see along the way this mountain road.

We suggest taking at least two days and spend the night in Squamish. Squamish has some of the best rock climbing in the world at Big Chief, there are world-class kite surfing and backcountry hiking. It also has fantastic dining options.

On the way to Whistler (home to the 2010 Olympics), there are scenic lookouts, waterfalls, hiking trails and adrenaline sports like bungy jumping, skydiving and scenic flights) Read more at Sea to Sky Highway Stops – What to See From Vancouver to Whistler

14. Sunshine Coast – British Columbia

A 90-minute ferry ride from Vancouver takes you to the start of the Sunshine Coast drive at Gibsons Landing. The beloved Canadian TV Series, The Beachcombers was filmed here for 20 years! You may also like These Best Places to Visit in British Columbia

The Sunshine Coast takes you through a gorgeous coastal drive, historic towns, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It has some of the best mountain biking and hiking in the country with well marked trails and few crowds.

It’s a wonderful road trip taking you on several ferries, over bridges and along the coast. The entire loop goes through the towns on the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver Island.

• Duration: 1 week Highlights of the Sunshine Coast: Gibson’s Landing, Smuggler’s Cove, Historic Powell River, Rockwater Resort, Secret Cove, Lund, Desolation Sound
• Watch our video of our Sunshine Coast Road Trip

The Best European Road Trips

5. wild atlantic way – ireland.

It’s the longest Coastal Route in the World and Ireland has done an incredible job at marketing it as the best road trips on earth. During our many trips around Ireland, The Wild Atlantic Way is a standout. Starting in Dublin , we made a b-line for the west coast of Southwest coast of Ireland from Cork to the  Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal .

The Wild Atlantic Way runs 2500 km up the Western Coast of Ireland. There are so many things to see and do on this route. Every day offers spectacular views of enormous sea cliffs, incredible beaches, and unique culture . This is a road trip that packs a huge punch with a road that goes along the entire west coast of Ireland. Read more: 23 of The Very Best Things to do in Ireland

• Duration: 2-4 weeks
• Highlights of the Wild Atlantic Way: Cliffs of Moher, Skellig Michael, Mizen Head, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Slea Head Drive, Aran Islands
• Read more about this Road Trip :  Tips for Driving the Wild Atlantic Way 

16. North Coast 500 – Scotland

The North Coast 500 is Scotland’s answer to America’s Route 66. With legendary castles, extraordinary coastal scenery, and famous whisky distilleries lining the winding single track lanes, the North Coast 500 is the ultimate drive for travel lovers.

At 500 miles long it is a touring route around Scotland’s northern coast, starting in Inverness. A Highlithg was most certainly Duncansby Head’s Seastacks

• Duration: 5 Days to 2 Weeks
• Highlights of the North Coast 500:  Inverness, Duncansby Head, Loch Ness, Distilleries, Dornoch Castle, Smoo Caves, Ullapool, Klinlochewe Viewpoint, Applecross, Baelnabach. Eilean Donan Castle
• Read More:  The Essential Guide to the North Coast 500

17. Amalfi Coast – Italy

I think the best road trip in Europe is the Amalfi Coast . We fell in love with that drive from Sorrento to Ravello. There is a reason this drive along the most stunning sea cliffs on earth has been used in so many movies.

The towns and lookouts along the coast are something out of a fairytale. They are just gorgeous. We pulled off to the side of the road to look at the luxurious island of Capri. We saw yachts sailing along the coast, and we were ein awe at the height of the seacliffs. It is truly spectacular.

• Duration:  2 days to a week
• Highlights of the Amalfi Coast  – Positano , Amalfi Town, Ravello, Sorrento, Beaches, Grottos, Capri, Hiking and Waterfalls. 
• Watch it:  Watch our video of our Amalfi Road Trip
• Check out our post :  The Best Things to do on the Amalfi Coast

18. Causeway Coast – Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is so amazing for driving and its star attraction is the Causeway Coast. The Causeway Coastal Route is filled with stop after stop of amazing sights and scenery.

It’s a much shorter route than the Wild Atlantic Way and it can be done in just a couple of days, but we recommend giving at least 4 days to explore this coast because there is so much to see.

We actually took 9 days to drive around Northern Ireland and it was perfect. Highlights include the Giant’s Causeway, Carick a Rede Bridge, The Dark Hedges and Belfast

• Duration: About a Week
• Highlights of the Causeway Coast – Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, Belfast, Game of Thrones. 
• Read more:  Best things to do in Northern Ireland

19. Bavaria – Germany

Driving through the Bavarian Alps will take your breath away. Our road trip through the Alps started in Munich where we made our way to some of Germany’s most iconic sites.

Take a trip through fairytale castles and the highest peaks of Germany for one of the most memorable drives on earth. Go to the Olympic town of Garmish-Partenkirken, tour the world’s oldest monastery and brewery and hike through the picturesque landscape filled with rivers, valleys, lakes, and mountains.

• Duration: 2  Weeks
• Highlights of Bavaria : Neuschwanstein Castle, Berchtesgaden ,  Weltenburg Abbey, Danube Gorge, Munich , Nuremberg, Volkach wine region, Alpspix
•   The Best of Bavaria  
• Things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen
• Things to do in Munich

20. Ring Road – Iceland

The Ring Road Route 1 of Iceland circles the entire country offering drivers the chance to explore every nook and cranny. People normally drive the route in 10 days to 2 weeks, but to really explore Iceland properly you should take longer. We drove around the island in a counterclockwise directly from Reyjavik Vik and then turning north to see the rest of Iceland.

You can camp or stay at hotels along the way. We drove counterclockwise around the 1,322 km (821 miles). With magnificent glaciers, mountains, hot springs, an untamed coastline, and fascinating culture, The Iceland Ring Road is definitely one of the best road trips in the world.

• Duration: 2 Weeks
• Highlights of the Ring Road:  Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Skogafoss waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, Vik, Horseback Riding Skagafjörður Region, Myvatn Geothermal Area, Kirkjufellsfoss
• Read more:  18 Photos of Iceland’s Mind-Blowing Beauty and 30 of the Best Places To Visit In Iceland

The Best International Road Trips

21. south island – new zealand.

The best way to get around New Zealand is by driving independently. We traveled the South Island two ways, on a bus with the Flying Kiwi which was affordable and a great way to see the highlights, but once we took more time to explore with our own camper van, that’s when the true road trip in New Zealand began.

Just follow the roads in a circle around the South Island island to explore all there is to see and do. New Zealand has a diverse landscape in a very little area. You’ll be mesmerized by the changing landscape before your eyes at each and every turn. Be sure to drive the Milford Road to see the incredible Milford Sound.

There are glaciers, mountains, lakes, and amazing adventures to be had. Read all about it on 46 Top Things to do in New Zealand

• Duration: 4 Weeks
• Highlights : Queenstown, Milford Sound, Abel Tasman, Lake Tekapo, Kaikoura, Pancake Rocks
• Read more about New Zealand:  33 Reasons to Visit New Zealand

22. Great Ocean Road – Australia

Australia is an amazing country to take a driving tour. The Great Ocean Road is probably the most scenic road trip in the country. The route is more than 600km (400 miles) and drives along sea cliffs, jungles, and out to amazing beaches. Some of the top beaches for surfing are located along this route.

If you can, get out and hike because that is where you really get to witness the spectacular coast. We did the Great Ocean Walk – A Beautiful Way to Experience the Twelve Apostles and it was truly a memorable experience.

• Duration:  1 – 3 days
• Highlights  – Twelve Apostles, Bells Beach, Koalas of Kennet River, Otway National Park,
• Read more:   Great Ocean Walk to the 12 Apostles

Overland Europe to Asia

23. mongol rally – 12 countries/2 continents.

It’s the mother of all road trips and the most epic road trip we have ever taken. We hit the open road for six weeks traveling overland from England to Mongolia. iI you are up for the adventure of a lifetime, this is a must.

The Mongol Rally is on many a bucket list and it lives up to the hype! The Mongol Rally is a charity rally starting in London, England and ending in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Read more: 38 Best Things to do in London, England In 2023

You choose your route and take as long as you want to get there. Take your time to get to know the people, and to experience some of the most remote regions on earth.

You just have to raise a certain amount of money for charity and buy a car that used to be donated to the country, but now must be shipped back when you finished.

Or if you have loads of time, return in back around in a different route!

• Duration – 3-8 weeks
• Highlights – 15 countries, 2 continents, endless possibilities – Siberia, The Mongolian Steppe, Prague, Brussels , Kyiv, Kazakhstan, it all really depends on the route you choose to take.
• Countries include England , France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Tip of Austria, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia.

Africa Road Trips

24.  garden route – south africa.

I always thought the Garden Route of South Africa sounded a little tame, the name sounds like we’d be driving through Botanical gardens. I had visions of sipping tea in manicured gardens as we overlooked the ocean, but this road trip is filled with amazing adventure, striking coastlines, wild animals, incredible nature, and world class wine and dining.

The Garden Route is the southern half of the Durban to Cape Town road trip that we took, and we highly recommend doing the entire thing. South Africa has it all in one of the most exotic and beautiful places on earth. From Gorgeous coastal views, whale watching, jungles and caves. There is so much to see. This is a year round route so hop in your car and go any time.

• Highlights – Great White Shark Diving, Cango Caves, Big 5 Safari, Ostrich Farm, Microlight over Durban, Cape Town
• Read More:  Awesome Things to do in South Africa

25. Cairo to Cape Town –  Entire Coast of Africa

We said early that road trips take many forms, so we wanted to include this one as well. This is more than a cross country road trip, it’s a cross-continent road trip!

Even though we did it by bicycle, you can drive an SUV or motorcycle down the Eastern side of Africa. 12,000 km takes you through some of the most fascinating countries on earth.

Landscapes and cultures vary drastically as you start in the desert landscape of Egypt’s Middle East and the Islamic culture of Sudan. It’s then into the great plains, jungles, and wildlife of Eastern and Southern Africa that takes you all the way down to the Southern point of the continent. Wow!

You can drive this epic route down Africa going through 9 countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa.

• Duration: 3 – 4 months
• Highlights : 10 countries, 3- 6 months, the possibilities are once again endless…Pyramids of Egypt, Blue Nile, Victoria Falls, Safaris, Chobe National Park, Addis Ababa, Nubian Desert of Sudan, Cape Town South Africa
• Read more:  We cycled the Continent of Africa

Road Trip Planner Apps

• Road Tripping Apps – Going on a Road Trip Check out these driving route planners and travel apps to make the most of your trip.
• Apple Maps:  We used Apple Maps recently from Florida to Toronto and found it to be better than Google Maps. It offered more options for avoiding traffic than Google.
• Road Trippers:  Road Trippers is a popular one that is free for shorter road trips offering 7 waypoints. If you upgrade to the paid subscription you get 150 points to pin on your route.
• Waze:  Dave os a huge fan of Waze, even for daily commutes. It’s a social-riven app that lets you know of collisions, traffic, police radar and gas prices.
• Spotify:  Okay, this isn’t a route planning app, but it is a must for road tripping. We have our tunes for each part of the day sectioned on playlists.
• To get started we use our  Ultimate Road Trip playlist  and then as the day goes on we end with our mellow mix.

Travel Tips for Road Trip Planning

We have taken a lot of road trips, and the best times we have had were when we were prepared.

We aren’t saying that you can’t stray from your route, but have what you need ready in case of an emergency or any unplanned hiccups.

I know a lot of this is common sense, but if you go through the checklist, it will make for fewer headaches when you are on the road.

Route Planning and Maps

Plan the route on your road trip planner,  but have a hard copy map with you as well. In many places, you are going to drop cellular coverage and will have to rely on good old fashioned map reading.

Have car chargers for your electronics . Most cars have a USB charger, but we find we need more than one. We love the dual USB charger, we have even charged our drone in our car while on a road trip.

Car Insurance

Insurance : If you are renting a car, check with your insurance company to see if it covers rentals, if not make sure you get insurance.

Our American Express Platinum Card also covers all insurance if we rent our car through our credit card in the same name that the rental is in. Check with your credit card company to see if you are covered for everything.

We nearly always get the extra coverage because we don’t want the hassle of having to go through our insurance should something happen.

If there is a fender bender, we just hand over the keys and don’t worry about a thing. but it is more money, so be prepared.

If you enjoyed this post, save it to Pinterest for future travel planning. 

So there you have it. The best road trips ever! (that we have taken) There are other road trips on our list. Like Let us know if you have a suggestion, we are always adding to our list.

Read other road trip itineraries destinations around the world

• Tasmania Road Trip
• Ultimate Arizona Road Trip Itinerary
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Road Trip
• Tips for Driving from England to Mongolia
• Mongol Rally Gear Guide

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals.

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor.

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Safety Wing - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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72 thoughts on “25 Best Road Trips in the World – That We’ve Taken”

I was very excited after reading about Road Trip. I like this part “It’s the longest Coastal Route in the World and Ireland has done an incredible job at marketing it as the best road trips on earth” very much because I have never here about it. Thanks for writing about road trip. I also write a blog on it but it is nothing in front of your Article.

I would have never thought about the Mongol Rally until I saw this. That is an awesome trip out of so many I honestly don’t know how to pick a favorite. Thanks so much for all this good information to have.

I loved reading about your road trip experience around the world. Your descriptions really made it come alive for me. Happy travels!

Arizona is my one of the favorite places. hope, i’ll go there in future. thanks for sharing this amazing post with us.

So many fantastic road trips – so much to be discovered! We have done a lot in the USA, and especially loved our California road trip that included 5 national parks and we REALLY LOVE Colorado – you two would love a southwest Colorado road trip !

The view of the Arizone road 66 is awesome.It stars attracting me,haha

OMG! These places are really so amazing. I always love to travel whenever I’ve chance to visit. Also, I want to say that these roads are beautiful to see. You’ve counted the most beautiful place from all over the world. In this article all pictures are mindblowing. Thanks

When i “grow up” i want to to atleast half of this 🙂 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

Really a great list of road trips. Love to do one of these road trips. Thanks for sharing.

Amazing post! I’ve only been to a few of these road trips in past four years. Now it looks like I have many more to add to my bucket list. Pictures are gorgeous! Thanks for the list.

Wow, what a great list of the trips. It is nice and informative.

Can any one give me a perfect travel plan to visit Amalfi Coast – Italy. May i know the monsoon time of Amalfi Coast.

You can check out our blog here. We are planning on updating it with more information, but it gives you the highlights here. https://theplanetd.com/things-to-do-in-amalfi-coast-italy/

Thanks for sharing a great post!

Great post, we have to go back to Canada for a while next year and planning a few road trips out west. We’ve seen much of the world the last 5 years but really haven’t seen much of Canada.

We did our own version of the Garden Route a few years back, crossing the mountains into the Karoo and then across the Swartberg pass to Prince Albert. The best road trip we’ve done.

Fantastic list of imagination I love road trips very much. I feel more close to nature Maybe in my next trip I’ll think about one of them and over time I’ll try it all Thank you I’m constantly following up on your advice

Looks like you have not traversed the entire Route 66 so let’s do it. When do you want to go?

Thank you all for your responses. Greatly appreciated.

I’ve done the road 66 with my best friends and laugh a lot, I really need to make much more road trips it was so a good experience, loved it! I’ve written an article also about Road trips

I’d add the Corniche, the drive along the French Riviera coastline from St Tropez to Cannes, past and then on to Juan Les Pins, Antibes and Nice, a really brilliant drive.

Awesome article and inspiration, thanks Dave and Deb! I agree with you on the South African Garden Route (also the trans-Karoo is spectacular…and many more in our beautiful country). One more to try out if you haven’t is Namibia – that country was MADE for gravel travel roadtripping! From south to north, the desert scenery turns to bush and lush riverine country in the north – and NEVER gets ugly, boring or repetitive. An outstandingly beautiful and safe country to travel. PS our names are also Dave and Deb 🙂

hey Dave and Deb, In search of freedom and liberty, I quit my job and started my business. Hope this venture of mine goes successful. If that happens, the first thing that I am gonna do is spend a nice and a long vacation with my family. you guys are amazing. keep travelling and keep sharing.

regards, Dhruv K. Mangukia

Amazing photos, great list of Road trips. You guys done a great job. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

Thabks sharing the awesome travel Skills

I think Ireland will be one for us soon ? Headed to the US soon but no roadtrip one this trip!

Another nice but short road-trip is from Lisbon to Faro at the west-coast of Portugal. I did this last year with a friend and it was awesome! Although the weather wasn’t that good we saw a lot of beautiful bay areas. forests and hidden cliffs!

Wow these are all epic, I would love to do some of these road trips – fantastic post!

really a very good list.. thanx for sharing

Great list! I’d love to take one of these road trips one day. Thanks for sharing..

Love your site!!! We me and my wife are getting ready for a European roadtrip in a mobile home do you have any expirience or tips of that? All our best Annika & Daniel Majak

We haven’t done a European mobile home trip, but we did have a campervan in New Zealand. just have a great time, be flexible and enjoy the campgrounds. We’ve stayed at a few campgrounds in Europe and they are excellent! They’re often close to cities and some even have shuttles.

I have almost finished 2500km walk around Ireland, doing both the Coastal walk, and the Wild Atlantic way, the published distance is a bit missleading, you would have to go back and forth on every sign poated road for the WAW to be 2500. That said , it is spectacular.

That is great that you have walked nearly all around Ireland. The official Website for the WAW also says 2500 km. That’s their claim to fame, the longest coast driving route int he world. Pretty awesome. I didn’t measure the exact km we did from bottom to top, but it was pretty much 2500 km as well. We definitely did a lot of back and forth and around different bays and lochs, so that probably explains. If you go in a direct line, it definitely cuts km off:)

Awesome and interesting post.

Massive list!! You guys have done on a lot! Currently doing a massive road trip to Mongolia, inspired by the mongol rally. But i like to take some more time then 3-8 weeks 😉

One good roadtrip that you guys ‘should’ do is the Transfagarasan in Romania. 90 km both ways and very scenic!

Love your website!!! Arnoud

That’s a good idea. We’d like to do it again but take a few months. There’s so much to see and so many different routes. The Mongol Rally was a blast, but longer would be better. Thanks for the suggestion about Romania. We drove through Romania during the Mongol Rally, but I’m not sure if we went that route. Cheers!

Would do any of these at the drop of a hat. Road trips are such a fun, classic way to see the world 🙂

They are a great way to see the world aren’t they?

Some incredibly beautiful places…… all the pics in this post are worthy of becoming wallpaper on my laptop……. I will make at least a couple of these my laptop wallpapers!!

Some of these are still on the bucket list, and while the LA to SF is one of the shortest it is one of my favorite! So many people think California is just LA and don’t take the time to spend the extra couple days to enjoy the AMAZING drive up the coast. Carmel might just be one of my favorite little towns on Earth!

Great list! I’d love to take one of these road trips one day. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you Sanjana. You would love any one of these road trips. We definitely did.

Amazing photos, great list of Road trips. Though I’m a hiking lover but you did succeed in encouraging me to try road trips. I don’t know how to drive and my parents never taught me. Maybe I can ask my parents to drive for me and explore all of this area.

Glad we could entice you to give road trips a try. We love hiking too. The great thing about a road trip, is you can take time off to go for a hike. The car gives you freedom to do whatever you like. I think your parents would love a road trip too!

Taking note, as a few of these are in the works. And guys, Norway has fabulous road trips, especially along the long coast. Just sayin’. 🙂

Thanks Sophie! Have a great time road tripping! I would love to go to Norway, hopefully one day soon, that is one long coas.t We’ll be sure to rent a car!

The Cairo to Cape town trip looks exciting. Is the route generally safe?

Dave & Deb, having just made the legendary road-trip along California’s Highway One, I’m eager to do more, and like the look of the drives that you included here. Another one of our favorites has been exploring the Dalmatian coastline in Croatia, and then crossing into Montenegro and Albania too. Love your captures, particularly those from Hawaii and Dark Hedges,.

They sound like awesome road trips, thanks for sharing! WE havne’t been to Montenegro or Albania, I smell another road trip on the horizon! Thanks for the compliment regarding the photographs. It’s pretty easy to be inspired by such beautiful destinations.

Some great exciting road trips, im from New Zealand and have yet done a South Island road trip, although many of my friends have and say it is amazing!

Thank you! You’ll definitely have to get that South Island road trip in, it’s amazing!

I have done a few of these road trips that you mentioned, but nothing to the level that you guys have done. The pictures are fabulous. Your mention of the Route 66 road trip brought back memories to me. I made a cross country road trip of the USA where most of it was on Route 66 when they were still building the interstate highway system, so most the the route was still there. I am so glad that I did because a lot of that is gone now and I have memories that cannot be duplicated today. I am intrigued with Canada and would love to take a trip across the southern portion. I would also enjoy such a trip by train and leave the driving to them. I heard there is such a great trip available.

Hey Bob, that would have been amazing. We only gave it an honorable mention because we haven’t done the entire thing. We felt that we couldn’t properly say we’ve done Route 66 when we’ve only done portions. Now to do the whole thing, that would be amazing. I’d love to do it on a motorcycle. You would love visiting Canada, In the summer, it’s beautiful. A road trip through the Rockies is outstanding.

Loved doing road trips in South Africa and in South Island New Zealand where the blues are the most gorgeous hues we have ever seen! Next time, do try the Route 62 from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in South Africa – the towering cliffs just come at you! Also you two will love the east coastal drive in Sri Lanka – although hugging the east coast, the route also takes you inland through some rugged terrain with elephants. Lovely images – thanks for inspiring us.

Sounds fantastic! Thanks for the recommendations. You could spend a lifetime doing road trips around the world and barely scratch the surface. We didn’t get to explore much of the Eastern Sri Lankan Coast, another reason to go back!

South Island, New Zealand is very beautiful place in world. Really I like this place very much. Anyone can be more delighted to come here.

These all look amazing. I was on the Hana Highway many years ago, and would love to go back. Having lived in Alberta in the 70’s (and dating a couple of cowboys!), I’d love to go back and do the Cowboy Trail

thanks for this compilation. It will now be on my bucket list before I turn 60. 10 years to go. Keep exploring guys !

Fantastic photos guys. Very sharp! I’ve done a road trip from LA through to Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It was our first time in America and I did this with my husband and young son. Also, we drove from Berlin to London. I’m not sure that you would call it a road trip per se, but I think driving through 5 independent countries and then crossing the British Channel should surely count LOL! Nice post guys. 🙂

Hi Victoria, Thanks for the compliment. Sounds like you’ve done some awesome road trips. I call Berlin to London a road trip for sure. Anytime you drive and travel, it’s a road trip to me! Love it!

Wow, what a great list of road trips! Some wonderful photos too. Really like the bamboo forest. I’ve only done a couple road trips that you have listed…Page to Antelope Canyon being one of them. I actually did a little video if your readers are interested: http://www.mikesroadtrip.com/antelope-canyon

Thanks Mike, that bamboo forest is pretty incredible eh? I’ll definitely check out the video, thanks for sharing.

Would love to do every single one of the road trips you mentioned above. Especially the Mongol Rally would be something I´d love to do. My aunt and uncle did it a couple of years ago and they fell in love with the landscape in Mongolia. If you have a chance you should do a road trip in Southern France. The Lavender Route is a great route where you will drive along one of the largest canyons in Europe and you will drive past the famous lavender fields.

Your Aunt and Uncle are right. The landscape of Mongolia is so beautiful, we both really want to go back. We’ve actually done Southern France, I should have included that one! We went from Paris through the South of France, into Spain and then over to the Cinque Terre in Italy. You’ve reminded me that I will have to add it to this list when I get a chance.

Great list!! We are currently driving the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland! Also headed to the Causeway Coast. Love the Lake Superior Circle Tour (Duluth/Superior is our home town!!!) and loved the Road to Hana. Nothing like a great road trip.

Have an amazing time on the Wild Atlantic Way! It’s incredible isn’t it? And enjoy the Causeway Coast,try to stay over night at the Giant’s Causeway to see it in the morning or at sunset without all the tour buses there. Totally worth it.

Great post with amazing photos!

Thanks Johnny! And thanks for the inspiration it was #TravelSkills that got me thinking about putting all the road trips together!

I’ve only been to a few of these road trips, looks like quite a few more I would need to add to my bucket list – gorgeous pics!

Thanks Noel, I’m glad we could inspire you with a few ideas:)

Fantastic list of imagination I love road trips very much. I feel more close to nature Maybe in my next trip I’ll think about one of them and over time I’ll try it all Thank you I’m constantly following up on your advice

Thanks Noel even I am glad to know this Thank You very much

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9 Best International Road Trips, According to Travel + Leisure's A-List Advisors

Exploring new places by car gives you flexibility and freedom to go at your own pace.

One silver lining of the pandemic: a new era of road tripping has begun. Travelers have taken to the open road across the U.S., exploring scenic routes from northern California to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

But these four-wheel adventures aren't limited to domestic trips – in fact, driving through countries that aren't our own can be a fantastic way to glean insights into local culture and less-visited destinations. To help you brainstorm, we asked Travel + Leisure's A-List of travel advisors for their favorite international road trips – including the best stops for snacks and sites along the way.

"This naturally diverse and culturally rich country is often overlooked, but would make a wonderful road trip adventure. I'd suggest an eight-day itinerary that starts on the Istrian coastline in the town of Portorož, known for its restorative salt-water baths and health resorts. Another stop is the Goriska Brda wine region in the western part of the country to taste wines, olive oils, and fruit. In Lower Carniola, visit the Lipica Stud Farm, the original home of Lipizzaner horses, and then, to finish the trip, arrive in the capital of Ljubljana. No trip to Ljubljana is complete without taking a tour of the Ljubljanica River in a handmade wooden boat, and riding the funicular up to see the Ljubljana Castle." — Jessica Griscavage, Runway Travel

"On a two-week solo journey, I picked up a car in Lisbon and drove down to Sagres, one of the most stunning and unpopulated areas in the Algarve. Then I drove up Costa Vicentina (the Vicentine Coast) where I stayed at a country estate in the middle of a protected nature reserve. After heading north to Porto, the country's second-largest city, I headed out to the gorgeous Douro Valley for 48 hours of hiking, boating, and of course, wine. My next stop was the peak of Serra da Estrela, the tallest mountain in continental Portugal. This was a challenge for me as it was my first major mountain drive — 4,101 feet high with no guardrails! Eventually I headed down to the coast where I spent my last two days at Areias do Seixo , a chic eco-friendly property on the beach, just an hour's drive from Lisbon." — Sheree M. Mitchell, Immersa Global

"On a three-week self-drive circumnavigating the country of Namibia, I stayed at the best lodges amid dramatic, ever-changing scenery. It's totally safe, doable, and highly recommended if you have the time to slow down and allow the journey to unfold." — Tesa Totengco, Travels with Tesa

Northern Italy

"The Trentino-Alto Adige region in northern Italy is a wonderful option to beat the oppressive summer heat on the Padana Plain. Driving around the mountains provides a chance to enjoy a slower pace with wholesome pleasures, like enjoying the crisp air on a chair lift (and pausing at the top for a snack of strudel). Other hallmark foods in this region: sparkling Trentodoc spumante wine, apples, speck, and pasteurized mountain cheeses served with hearty brown bread." — Joyce Falcone, The Italian Concierge

South Africa

"Here's a must-do: driving South Africa's Garden Route in the Western Cape Province–it's beautiful, with great food, nature, sweeping beaches, and activities ranging from tanning, to safari game drives, to golfing." — Kent Redding, Africa Adventure Consultants

Cornwall, England

"Cornwall in the Southwest of England! Because it is its own micro climate, the area has especially beautiful gardens (which is saying something in Britain) that bloom several weeks ahead of the rest of the country. The stately homes there are gorgeous, the food is five-star level, and the coastline views spectacular." — Ellen LeCompte, Travel Experts

South of France

"It's hard to beat and easy to do: Rent a nice convertible and drive along the coast of the south of France, visiting small gems like Les Baux de Provence commune, exploring the Camargue nature area outside Marseille, seeing the cultural highlights of Arles or Avignon , hitting the race track of Le Castellet or the beach in Antibes, and dining in fantastic restaurants at every stop. There are so many places to include — Cannes, Monaco — no wonder they call it a "route du bonheur" (a route of happiness)." — Rob Clabbers, Q Cruise + Travel

Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

"Definitely Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. You can't do it all in one trip, but you can break it into a couple different vacations. There are wild, rugged coasts, villages and towns full of character, and the best seafood, plus hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Four national parks exist within just a few miles of the ocean!" — Jonathan Epstein, Celebrated Experiences

Ladakh, India

"The best road trip I've ever taken was in India's Ladakh region, from the city of Leh to the Nubra Valley. It's a mountainous road that reaches over 18,000 feet and is primarily used by the Indian army for military training. The road winds up to the peak and then meanders slowly down into the valley — it was an amazing experience." — Carole Cambata, Greaves Tours

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The 10 best road trips in the world

While there are limitless ways to experience the full force of a country or continent, there's nothing quite like buckling up, hitting the open road and embarking on an epic road trip across a country (or two). Behind the wheel, you're in full control of the agenda, steering the trip wherever your heart or mind takes you. Put simply, it's all about the journey.

Our list of the 10 best road trips in the world covers everything from Alpine mountain passes and arid desert drives in western America , to lush forests in Japan and India , and the rugged coastlines of Norway and Scotland . With that, indulge in some route planning and prepare to be inspired.

Blue Ridge Parkway, USA

Afton to Cherokee, 469 miles (755km)

Just over three hours southwest of Washington DC lies the start of the most phenomenal scenic byway that carves its way through the lush, mountainous forests of Virginia and North Carolina . Named the Blue Ridge Parkway – due to the surrounding mountains having a bluish colour when seen from a distance – the route starts in Afton, Virginia, and runs for 469 miles (755km) down the spine of the Blue Ridge, before finishing up in Cherokee. Driving along here at any time of year is a treat but prepare to be blown away in autumn , when the forests turn to iridescent shades of brown, orange and red. Linking the Shenandoah National Park to the beautifully named Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this route down the eastern states of the USA is one to savour.

Great St Bernard Pass, Italy

Turin, Italy to Montreux, Switzerland, 143 miles (230km)

For movie fans, this road is a must-drive after it was immortalised in the iconic opening scene of the original Italian Job , starring Michael Caine. The film opens with a Lamborghini Muria dancing its way over the Great St Bernard Pass, which, aside from a few safety improvements, is still as unspoilt and spectacular as it was back in 1969. Its blend of sheer drops, hairpin bends and tunnels give way to vistas across the Alps, making it the model Alpine mountain pass. Added to that, the starting point in the charming Italian city of Turin is only topped by finishing up on the shores of Lake Geneva in the jazz town of Montreux.

The Carretera Austral, Chile

Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins 770 miles (1240km)

Patagonia is a place that should appear on everyone's bucket list. This remote, pre-historic wilderness is made of mountains, lakes, forests and fjords, which can all be absorbed from the comfort of a car driving down Chile 's Southern Highway (Route 7) – the ‘Carretera Austral’. At 770 miles long, this route is for those seeking adventure off the beaten track and is best undertaken between October and April . Starting in Puerto Montt – a busy town in the Chilean Lake District – the route heads south through Santa Lucia, Coyhaique and Tortel before finishing in Villa O'Higgins. Leave plenty of time to take in everything Patagonia has to offer and be prepared to get out of the car and hike, ride or swim to experience the very best views and nature.

The North Coast 500, Scotland

Inverness to Inverness loop around Scotland's coastline, 516 miles (830km)

One of the best road trips the United Kingdom has to offer is the North Coast 500. As the name suggests, the 500-mile route loops its way around Scotland 's rugged northern coastline, taking in everything from white sandy beaches to mountains and remote fishing villages. Heading north from Inverness, the route takes in the Black Isle, Easter Ross and Caithness around the top of the British Isles, including the most northerly point, John O'Groats. After that, the route heads back down the western coast and south through Sutherland, Wester Ross and back to Inverness.

Read our ultimate guide on the North Coast 500 .

Wayanad Ghat Road, India

Kozhikode to Wayanad, 53 miles (86km)

Clinging on for dear life as you negotiate the twists and turns of the Wayanad Ghat Road in Kerala is an exhilarating experience. Cutting through the lush forest of the Western Ghats, the road snakes its way past waterfalls, misty mountains and vast tea plantations that date back centuries. Driving the Thamarassery Churam mountain pass, which sits 800m above sea level, it's worth stopping along the route to take in some of the spectacular scenery, or hiking to explore the waterfalls and trails – just watch out for wild elephants who occasionally stray across the road!

The Japanese Alps

Kyoto to Tokyo (the long way around), 460 miles (740km)

Getting off the train and into a car in Japan is one of the best things you can do. While the Shinkansen – or Bullet Train – is a marvellous feat of engineering, exploring Japan by car is how to access the country's best-kept secrets. Taking the long way round from Kyoto to Tokyo , head north from the historic city and up to Kanazawa. From here, the route heads east across the Japanese Alps, taking in the onsen – hot spring – spa towns high in the mountains. With some epic and well-kept driving roads that twist their way through the mountains, the route is a must for any keen drivers. After navigating your way through the hills, the route takes in some historic sights, like the Samurai city of Matsumoto, before it heads towards the hill resort town of Karuizawa and south, to the bright neon lights of Tokyo.

Atlantic Road, Norway

Molde to the Gjemnessundbrua suspension bridge – 69 miles (111km)

Navigating Norway's extensive road network, which is punctuated by bridges, tunnels and ferries, is one of the best ways to take in its mighty landscape. With towering, sheer-faced and snow-capped peaks rising from the depths of its icy fjords and glacial lakes, inspiration isn’t hard to find. One particular route, the Atlantic Road, is perhaps the best example of Norway's sightseeing routes as it sweeps its way from the city of Molde and over to the island of Averøy, giving way to some spectacular views across the Atlantic. If you tackle this stretch on a calm summer's day, it's possible to soak up the stillness as you breeze across the sparkling water, but head there as a blustery northwest storm rolls in and be prepared to feel the full force of the Atlantic's awesomeness.

Southern Utah National Park Circuit, USA

Dead Horse Point to Zion National Park, 475 miles (764km)

In the land where scorched red pillars of rock rise majestically from the earth, the sense of scale soon becomes apparent as you travel across vast swathes of rocky desert in the wild west of Southern Utah. Although this route has no official name, it's the amalgamation of several routes that carve their way through some of the most impressive landscapes on earth. Each bend in the road – which can be few and far between on some stretches – reveals an awe-inspiring view, reminiscent of Hollywood Westerns. Setting off from Dead Horse Point near Moab , the route takes in the Canyonlands National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon before finishing in the enchanting Zion National Park, nearly 500 miles later. For those looking to indulge en route, it's hard to resist a night or two at the remarkable Amangiri hotel – a luxury oasis that blends into the vast, surrounding landscape of canyons, mesas, ridges and gorges.

The Panorama Route, South Africa

Hoedspruit to Pilgrim's Rest, 130 miles (209km)

Heading up and over South Africa 's Drakensberg Escarpment, the route takes in wildlife reserves, fruit fields, gold-rush sites, cascading waterfalls, gorges and, of course, the imposing peaks of the Drakensberg Escarpment. Once over the peak, the aptly named 'God's Window' reveals views over the Blyde River Canyon, the famous Kruger National Park and the Lebombo Mountains on South Africa's border with Mozambique . Known as one of the world's greatest wildlife reserves, you have a good chance of encountering the Big Five in the Kruger National Park, which is just an hour's drive east from the end point in Pilgrim's Rest.

The Great Ocean Road, Australia

Melbourne to the 12 Apostles and back to Melbourne, 340 miles (550km)

Australia ’s most famous road blends rugged coastal vistas with dense forests, national parks and beach towns. Starting in the city of Melbourne , the route heads southwest to the beach town of Torquay, which is where the Great Ocean Road officially starts. From here, it hugs the Victorian coastline all the way along to a group of limestone sea stacks called the 12 Apostles, just before Port Campbell. While the weather has taken its toll, reducing the number of sea stacks over the years, the route is still a popular sightseeing trip from Melbourne and is frequented by campervans and cars alike. Turning back towards Melbourne at the 12 Apostles, make sure you loop back, inland at Cape Otway taking in the dense forests of the Otway National Park before heading back into the hustle and bustle of the city.

The best road trips in the world

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 24.04.2024

If you're dreaming of setting out to hit the open road, look no further. This is our pick of the best road trips in the world, from majestic day-trips to week-long odysseys.

1. Cabot Trail, Canada

2. the garden route, south africa, 3. columbia river gorge, usa, 4. san juan skyway, usa, 5. gobi desert, mongolia, 6. south island circuit, new zealand, 7. salar de uyuni, bolivia, 8. costa smeralda, sardinia.

• 9. Iceland's ring road

10. The Karakoram Highway, Pakistan

11. tasman peninsula, tasmania, 12. highway 61, usa, 13. northeast coastline, brazil, 14. ruta 40, argentina, 15. the pan-american highway, 16. the golden road to samarkand, uzbekistan, 17. the atlantic road, norway, 18. the outer hebrides, scotland, 19. bollenstreek route, the netherlands, 20. the atlantic highway, england, 21. the basque circuit, spain, 22. the great ocean road, australia, 23. skeleton coast, namibia, 24. avenue of the baobabs, madagascar, 25. driving to uluru, australia, 26. the oman circle, oman, 27. the powder highway, canada, 28. ocean drive, usa, 39. the road to mount nebo, jordan, 30. new york city to niagara, usa, 31. big sur, usa, 32. badlands national park, usa, 33. the road to hana, hawaii, 34. coastal route 15, mexico.

• 35. Corsica's northwest coast, France

Planning your perfect road trip

This 298km road traverses the island of Cape Breton , arguably the most beautiful part of Nova Scotia. The highlight of the trail is the northern section. This takes you through the magnificent Cape Breton Highlands National Park — home to bald eagles, moose and black bears. Take the journey at a leisurely pace to explore charming small villages where the French and Scottish influence is still obvious.

Cabot Trail, Canada © Shutterstock

The lush, slender stretch of coastal plain between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth makes for an easy and beautiful introduction to South Africa . As you drive you'll see mountains and vineyards on one side and rocky shores and sandy beaches on the other. The coast is at its most dramatic at Storms River Mouth. Abandon your wheels here to walk the trails, with the surf pounding the rocks below you.

Start planning your Garden route trip today! With the help of our local experts and carefully crafted South African itineraries , you're guaranteed an outstanding experience.

The Garden Route in South Africa © LMspencer/Shutterstock

Travelling east out of Portland , Oregon, Interstate-84 winds its way beside the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Though it’s just 112km long and easily covered in one day, a few days will enable you to get the most out of the area. Take your time soaking up the views of the USA’s second-longest river, and its many dramatic waterfalls.

Portland, Oregon © Shutterstock

This 380km drive through Colorado’s dramatic San Juan Range will take you past gushing streams and waterfalls in spring, bright wildflowers in summer, and snowy slopes in winter. However, this fabulous route is at its most spectacular in autumn, when the landscape is ablaze with the yellows, oranges and reds of the leaves. It's also one of the reasons that we think makes Colorado one of the most beautiful states in the USA .

Eager to explore the States? Let our tailor-made trip service spare you the hours of research needed for your dream vacation. Rely on us for planning and booking. Our journeys, carefully crafted by local travel experts, can be fully tailored to suit your preferences.

San Juan Skyway is one of the best road trips in the world © Shutterstock

Off-road to your heart’s content in the Gobi Desert , where kilometre after kilometre of nothingness stretches out around you. This truly remote region has a rugged beauty – not least the sand dunes of Khongoryn Els. When you get tired of being behind the wheel, explore on camelback and spend your nights at a traditional Ger camp.

Gobi Desert snow, winter, Mongolia © RethaAretha/Shutterstock

The South Island is where New Zealand ’s landscape is at its most remarkable. Driving around it at your own pace allows you to really soak up the many varied vistas, stopping for an adrenalin fix every now and again. Arguably the most stunning part of the drive is between Te Anau and Milford Sound, which crosses tranquil Fiordland and some of the Southern Alps.

Milford Sound (Fjordland, New Zealand) © Darryl Leach/Shutterstock

Driving across the perfectly flat white expanse of the world’s largest salt lake , it’s easy to believe you’re on another planet. After it rains, the salt flats are turned into an enormous mirror. In the reflection, you'll see the mountain peaks that surround the area. When dry, the surface is so intensely white that it appears to be ice. At night, the landscape is illuminated by the eerie white glow of the moon. There are plenty of adventures to be had in Bolivia, too – start with these beautiful journeys across the country .

Salt lake Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia © Helen Filatova/Shutterstock

Sardinia’s beautiful northern coast, the Costa Smeralda (or “Emerald Coast”), sees the meeting of dramatic headlands and turquoise waters. This is the island’s best-known resort area, with a reputation for glitzy opulence. Visit in late spring or early autumn for the best experience; quieter roads, beautiful weather, and uncrowded beaches.

Porto Cervo Costa Smeralda, Italy © Shutterstock

9. Iceland's ring road

Iceland is known for it's beautiful road trip opportunites . A 1,339-kilometre road that runs right around the island, the N1 enables you to enjoy Iceland ’s awe-inspiring scenery. Drive past fertile valleys and snow-capped mountains to lava fields, vivid blue fjords and volcanic craters. This beautiful, if brutal, landscape of big open spaces is perfect for exploring on four wheels.

On our Ring Road in 10 days tailor made trip, you'll spend time exploring, soaking in thermal tubs, whale watching and more. Our tailor made trips are crated by local travel experts and are completely customisable. 

Askja Volcano Crater, Iceland © Shutterstock

The highest paved road in the world, the Karakoram Highway connects China and Pakistan. Along the way, it crosses the rocky mountain range that separates the two countries. Undoubtedly one of the world’s most stunning routes, the journey takes you through some seriously epic scenery. You'll see towering snow-capped mountains, rocky gorges and pale blue rivers, not to mention past numerous pieces of rock art, which date back as far as 1000BC.

View on the new silk road or Karakoram Highway © khlongwangchao/Shutterstock

This southeastern corner of Tasmania is one of the most stunning parts of Australia. It boasts a rugged coastline that leads down to crystal clear waters of the many beaches. Self-driving is the best way to explore. Allow plenty of time for stops to get up close to the spectacular scenery, not least to see Tasman’s Arch and the Devil’s Kitchen.

Tasmania is a great place for a road trip © Shutterstock

There’s no greater musical odyssey to be had in the United States than that of the Blues Highway – one of our top 5 road trips in the USA. Running south for 2,300km from Wyoming to New Orleans, Louisiana, it follows the course of the mighty Mississippi River for much of the way. The greatest stretch for music lovers is undoubtedly that from the Blues city of Memphis to intoxicating New Orleans .

Memphis, Tennessee, USA Downtown Skyline Aerial © Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock

A road-trip for beach-lovers, taking you between Jericoacoara, with its fine white-sand beach and turquoise lagoon, and Salvador, second only to Rio for the magnificence of its natural setting. In between stretch kilometre after kilometre of unbroken beaches that are undoubtedly among the most beautiful in the world. This is unspoiled Brazil , from sheltered reef beaches to wilder ones backed by mountainous sand dunes and palm trees.

Take your dream trip hassle-free with our tailor-made travel service . Leave the planning to us. Our itineraries , crafted by local travel experts, can be customized to perfectly fit your specific preferences.

Jericoacoara, Brazil © Shutterstock

Running parallel to the spine of the Andes in Argentina , this is one of the longest roads in the Americas and one of our top 6 journeys in South America . The route takes you from tranquil lakes and lush national parks to salt flats and the wilds of Patagonia. Best of all, you can relax at the end of the day with a glass of delicious local wine.

Fitz Roy mountain in Patagonia, Argentina © Shutterstock

Undoubtedly one of the best road trips in the world, travelling from the southernmost tip of Argentina to Alaska . In other words, it takes you from the Antarctic to the Arctic and covers an astounding 48,000km. The world’s longest driving route (only broken in Panama by the rainforested Darién Gap ), you'll encounter almost every ecosystem and habitat on earth along the way.

Dalton Highway in north Alaska in winter © FloridaStock/Shutterstock

Trace ancient footsteps through the heart of the historic Silk Road in Uzbekistan. An eight- to ten-day trip, it's best experienced by hiring a 4WD. The Golden Road journeys through breathtaking landscapes and historic cities – nowhere more impressive than your end goal, Samarkand, home to the beautiful turquoise-domed Registan.

Gur-E Amir Mausoleum, the tomb of the Asian conqueror Tamerlane, Samarkand, Uzbekistan © NICOLA MESSANA PHOTOS/Shutterstock

The route may be short – a mere 8.3km – but it's incredibly impressive. Eight low bridges link the islands between Molde and Kristiansund in the western fjords of Norway . The most beautiful is Storseisundet, curving scenically above the water. In summer you can spot seals and whales, while autumn brings its own appeal, with dramatic rainstorms that pound the road.

Storseisundet Bridge, Norway © alexilena/Shutterstock

The single-track road that runs down this island chain is one of Britain's greatest driving experiences. Rugged, windswept and jaw-droppingly beautiful, this route shows Scotland at its best. Travelling both by road and sea, you can do a bit of island-hopping, experiencing beautiful beaches like Luskentyre, ancient standing stones, and the justifiably renowned Hebridean hospitality.

St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides, Scotland © Shutterstock

The Netherlands is renowned for its flowers, and there’s no better way to experience them then on the Bollenstreek – or Bulb – route. The best time of year to drive the road is, unsurprisingly, spring, when brightly-coloured flowers carpet the plains. And there's more than just tulips – you can expect to see narcissi, hyacinths, irises and dahlias, among many others.

Classic Dutch windmills, Netherlands © JeniFoto/Shutterstock

The A39 from Bridgewater to Bude runs along the northern coast of Devon into Cornwall . You get some of the country’s best sea views on one side, and wild, dramatic hills on the other. With pretty villages and sweeping beaches to explore, not to mention the great expanse of Exmoor National Park, this is perfect for a leisurely few days of exploring.

Kingsbridge Estuary Salcombe © David Hughes/Shutterstock

This 480km route through northern Spain takes you through some of the country’s (many) highlights – Bilbao , Pamplona , the Pyrenees, and back along the coast, with the beautiful Bay of Biscay on your right. You’ll want plenty of time to explore – not least to sample some of the wonderful local food – and to allow for the views to distract you along the way.

Why wait? Let our tailor-made trip service simplify your travel experience by handling all the planning and booking for you. Our trips, designed by local travel experts , are fully customizable to ensure they align perfectly with your preferences and interests.

Spain is a great place for a road trip © Shutterstock

Extending 285km between Torquay and Warrnambool in southwestern Victoria, the Great Ocean Road was conceived as a scenic road of world repute to commemorate the soldiers who died during World War I. The most spectacular part of the drive is undoubtedly the appropriately named “Shipwreck Coast”, home to the dramatic rock formations of the Twelve Apostles.

12 Apostles, Port Campbell, Victoria © Shutterstock

This barren stretch of coast in Namibia is named for the countless shipwrecks that have occurred here over the centuries. Many of the sun-bleached wrecks can still be seen – often shrouded in mist. The Skeleton Coast's appeal lies not only in its dramatic scenery but also in the hostile remoteness of its location. In addition to windswept sand dunes, expect black lava ridges and granite massifs. You might even spot elephants, black rhinos and springboks from your 4WD.

Ready to explore Namibia by car? See our guide to planning the perfect week long itinerary , or see our exisiting Namibia itineraries for inspiration.

Skeleton Coast in Namibia © gg-foto/Shutterstock

This dusty road in western Madagascar , between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina, is lined by remarkable baobab trees. Their stark silhouettes are especially striking in contrast to the low shrubland that surrounds them. Reaching up to 30m height and 11m diameter, and up to 800 years old, the majesty of the baobab can only really be appreciated by seeing them in person – a truly extraordinary sight.

Avenue baobabs, Madagascar © Michail_Vorobyev/Shutterstock

There’s nothing quite like driving through the brilliant red, parched desert of Australia’s Northern Territory and seeing Uluru rising up in front of you for the first time. Despite being one of the most recognizable sights in the world, it’s hard not to be awestruck. Whether drenched in fierce Australian sunlight, or softened by the colours of sunrise and sunset, it’s a memory you won’t ever forget.

Uluru, Ayers Rock, Australia © Uwe Aranas/Shutterstock

Driving this route is a wonderful way to explore this fascinating country. I will allow you to experience the full range of its beautiful landscapes, from deserts and dunes to cave systems and exotic souks. Be sure to take a break from the road to spot turtles on Ras Al Jinz beach, or to try wild-swimming in the river at the bottom of a wadi.

Desert, Oman © Shutterstock

British Columbia’s Powder Highway is the perfect road trip for lovers of the white stuff. The roads that make up this 1,094 km loop run through the heart of western Canada take in traditional ski resorts – including Kicking Horse and Fernie – and backcountry ski lodges, with fabulous mountain views that unfold with every turn in the road.

Glacier National Park in British Columbia © Jiri Kulisek/Shutterstock

There’s no denying that Portland , Oregon, is currently one of the coolest cities in the USA , so start your journey with a few days here, soaking up the vibrant music scene, before heading south down the coast. As you drive, mile after mile of beautiful – and empty – beaches await, complemented by quaint towns. You might even be able to spot grey whales just off the coast.

Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon, USA © Allard One/Shutterstock

Following the road 10km northwest of Madaba leads you to Mount Nebo, said to be the final resting place of Moses. It's a place of unique resonance to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Though there’s nothing to see in terms of remains, this journey through Jordan is more than worth it to see the special mountain, which is crowned by an ancient church that houses some marvellous mosaics.

Mount Nebo, Jordan © VLADJ55/Shutterstock

This is an epic drive, covering an impressive 2,100km, from New York City to Niagara Falls , before returning to the bright lights via the Amish farms and vineyards of Ithaca. It's a fantastic route throughout the year – you'll see snow in the Catskills, the lush green countryside in spring and summer or the irresistible colours of the autumn leaves in the Adirondacks.

Horseshoe Fall, Niagara Falls © Alexander Demyanenko/Shutterstock

The USA is full of iconic drives, and undoubtedly one of the most famous is that along California’s Highway 1. The road's undoubted highlight is Big Sur. With 145 km of wild and undeveloped coastline, the road curves through bedrock cliffs above the ocean. Below hide sandy beaches, while inland are grand redwood groves lining river canyons in the shadow of the Saint Lucia Mountains.

Big Sur with the Bixby Bridge in California © Songquan Deng/Shutterstock

There’s a rugged beauty to Badlands National Park , where the layered rock formations, ravines and mesas provide particularly striking panoramas. The classic route through the park is on Highway 240 – or the “Badlands Loop” – where the 51km drive takes you past fourteen different viewpoints where you can appreciate up the sheer scale and isolation of the national park.

Sunrise over Badlands National Park, South Dakota © Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock

Undoubtedly dramatic, the Road to Hana on the Hawaiian island of Maui encompasses six hundred twists and turns, and fifty narrow bridges, making it surprisingly white-knuckle at times. The pay-off is more than worth it, however, as you pass lush jungle, cascading waterfalls and steep cliffs that lead down to stereotypically picturesque Hawaiian beaches.

The road to Hana in Maui at Kaumahina State Wayside Park Hawaii © Reimar/Shutterstock

An unforgettable road that runs from Nogales, on the US border, to the seaside resort of Puerto Vallarta – once you hit the Pacific, expect ocean on one side and anything from desert to rainforest on the other. You’ll need at least five days to do the stretch justice, allowing time to take in tiny seaside pueblos, colonial villages and the vivid blue of the ocean.

Not sure when to travel? Arm yourself with info on when to go to Mexico around the year.

View of Banderas Bay and Puerto Vallarta © Ferenz/Shutterstock

35. Corsica's northwest coast, France

The 112 hair-raising kilometres of the D81 from Calvi to Cargèse takes you through jagged mountains with unique, savage beauty. Ten days will allow you to really make the most of the journey, from Calvi’s bustling port to the vivid-red rock gorge of the Fango River, and the fabulous views of the Scandola headland to be had from the Croce Pass.

Calvi historic city center with sandy beach, Corsica, France © Eva Bocek/Shutterstock

Our local experts can plan a fantastic road trip no matter where you'd like to go. Simply get in touch when you would like to travel. We will then create a personalized itinerary, which you can amend until you are totally happy with every detail of the booking. All of our planned itineraries can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

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The World’s Most Popular Road Trips

Whatever the location of your next adventure, we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve analysed just under 47 million #roadtrip hashtags across Instagram to discover the very best routes and locations anywhere in the world.

Now you can find your next life-changing experience.

Explore the Routes for Yourself

The first step begins now. To help plan your next road trip you can take an interactive tour of the top 20 most popular road tripping countries on the planet. Which one is next on your bucket list?

{{#each route}} {{name}} {{#each stops}} {{this.place}} {{this.description}}

Where are the most popular #roadtrip hot spots?

These are the countries, cities and global routes where the road trip revolution runs and runs. They are the most popular spots for the #roadtrip hashtag. Check them out and dream of your next drive.

Most Instagrammed #roadtrip attractions

Wow. This is it. This is what those trailblazing travellers that have gone before you have shown to the world. These hotspots and attractions are hashtagged the most alongside #roadtrip . Just look at them!

Methodology

The World’s Most Popular Roadtrips has been brought to you by Europcar.

Images used in this piece have been published by; Tbennert, Alexander Blecher, blecher.info, Jeremy Thompson from Los Angeles, California, Lienhard Schulz and Todd Dailey, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 International and Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 International .

The list of road trip hotspots was compiled by analysing over 47 million social media posts from across Instagram that used the hashtag “#roadtrip” between 2016 and 2017 and was sourced via Crimson Hexagon. The locations of these posts were then ranked by volume at a country level, state level and city level to show where in the world the ‘roadtrip’ hashtag was most popular.

To discover the most popular road trip routes, the most mentioned locations were analysed to map popular routes between two or more locations over five markets (USA, UK/Europe, France, Australia and Worldwide).

In order to understand the most Instagrammed hotspots and attractions, a sample of posts were taken from the most popular regions and mentions of attractions were then weighted with the volume of posts from that region to create a list of the most popular attractions to visit on a road trip.

The World’s Best Road Trips: What Places Do People Want to Visit?

Where are the most popular road trips in the world?

Once you pass your driving test , you are free to travel the open road and really get the best out of your new found freedom. Whether you’re a new driver or have decades of experience, these road trips are some of the best adventure ideas you can experience. The possible journeys are endless.

Using Google search data we have been able to establish which road trips are the most popular across the globe, and which ones interest residents of different nations the most. We have listed the best road trips across the world, the best in the UK, and the best in the US.

Updated for 2023, this report details the most popular road trips across the world, UK, and US, and how our road trip preferences have changed over the last year. 

The World’s Most Popular Road Trips 2022

1 – Route 66 – 6 ,523,000 Global Annual Searches

Moving from second place last year to the top spot this year is Route 66. Bobby Troup cemented the legacy of the world-famous Route 66 with the lyrics “Get your kicks on Route 66” . Route 66, located in the US, stretches almost 4,000 kilometres from Santa Monica to Chicago. The road was once the main route across the country, however, it has more recently become a quieter, more scenic way to cross America due to the development of other main roads.

2 – Big Sur – 4,625,000 Global Annual Searches

With over 4.6 million searches, the second most popular road trip right now was 2021’s most popular. Big Sur Coast Highway, California, USA, is a section of road on California’s ‘State Route 1’ and is breathtakingly stunning. Expect to experience a windy coastal cliff edge flanked by the bright blue Pacific Ocean on one side and the towering Californian mountains on the other.

3 – Dolomites – 3,337,000 Global Annual Searches

In northern Italy, we find some of the greatest driving roads in the world, and the Dolomite mountains are no exception. The Great Dolomites Road is a road trip between Bolzano and Cortina d’Ampezzo that travels right across the mountain range and allows road trippers to take in some spectacular Italian views along the way.

4 – Salar de Uyuni – 2,575,000 Global Annual Searches

Salar de Uyuni is one of the most striking and spectacular landscapes on the planet. Home to the largest salt flats in the world, the Salar de Uyuni sits amongst the Andes mountains in Bolivia. In total over two and a half million people searched for the Salar de Uyuni in the past year, making it one of the world’s most searched for road trips.

5 – Blue Ridge Parkway – 2,046,000 Global Annual Searches

Blue Ridge Parkway finishes our top five most popular global road trips with just over two million annual searches. The parkway is America’s longest linear park, running for 469 miles, and has been the most-visited part of the National Park System every year since 1946, except for four. Blue Ridge Parkway is a new entry to the top five most popular road trips in the world.

Every Country’s Favourite Road Trip

Route 66 is the road trip location that is the most searched in most countries with 46 nations having it as their most popular road trip. The second and third routes which came top in the most countries are the Dolomites and Big Sur, being the most popular in 21 and 19 countries respectively.

The Most Popular British and Irish Road Trips

1 – NC500 – 739,700 National Annual Searches

Maintaining its number one spot as the most searched domestic road trip by British citizens is the North Circuit 500 (NC500) in Northern Scotland, achieving over 150,000 additional annual searches compared to last year. This beautiful and majestic road trip has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it is no surprise as to why, with beautiful driving roads flowing through spectacular mountains and coastline.

2 – Ring of Kerry – 57,300 National Annual Searches

As the name suggests, the Ring of Kerry is a circular route around the southwestern Irish county. Kerry is one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland and this road trip takes you out to the coast from Killarney, where visitors will find fantastic views of the breathtaking Skellig Islands. Movie fans should note these islands were featured in the Star Wars movies. The Ring of Kerry was third place last year.

3 – Glasgow to Inverness – 32,400 National Annual Searches

Knocking the Wild Atlantic Way (last years second place) out of the top three is Glasgow to Inverness. From Scotland to Ireland and back again, our third most-searched-for UK road trip is located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, spanning incredible roads from Glasgow over to Inverness. This trip takes you past Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Ben Nevis, and many other must-see Scottish landmarks.

The Most Popular US Road Trips

1 – Big Sur 2,729,000 National Annual Searches

Big Sur is the most searched US road trip by Americans with over 2.7 million annual searches. While still the most searched, Route 66 saw over 500,000 less searches this year compared to 2021. One of the more spectacular aspects of this route is the exquisitely engineered bridges that span rivers and gorges where they meet the ocean, with the Bixby Creek Bridge being one of the finest examples.

2 – Route 66 – 2,277,000 National Annual Searches

With over 2 million annual searches in America, Route 66 comes in second for the US’ most searched for road trips. Although it is no longer possible to drive the original Route 66 uninterrupted, due to decommission all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles, much of the original route and alternate alignments are still drivable; some original stretches are quite well preserved.

3 – Blue Ridge Parkway – 1,925,000 National Annual Searches

National Parkway and All-American Road, the Blue Ridge Parkway rounds off our American top three road trips. This trip covers part of the Appalachian mountains and the road through them has spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The US top three is unchanged from last year, cementing these road trips as America’s favourites.

Methodology

• We looked at multiple online articles listing popular routes to create lists of global, US, and UK road trips to reveal 80 global road trips, 25 UK trips, and 25 US trips.
• By using Google Ads Keyword Planner we were able to find out the number of annual searches globally and domestically for each road trip, taken on 01/04/2022.

The 2021 World’s Best Road Trips Report

If you want to read our previous report you can download it here:

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How to Plan an Around the World Itinerary in 8 Steps

Last updated on January 5, 2024 by Shannon

You’re planning an around the world trip . Congrats! My one-year trip turned into a decade of wandering and it transformed my life . My own one-year trip itinerary took me through 15 countries and countless experiences—but narrowing down my dream countries to just 15 was hard.

After so many years on the road—and after several round the world trips since that first one—I have some hard learned advice for anyone planning their own route and building their own trip around the world. If you’re planning a world trip, it’s usually a long-term route of at least a few months and up to a year around the world, or more.

These are eight ideas—eight steps really—to help narrow your travel itinerary down to those stops along your route that will fit your budget, highlight the most memorable places to you, and make sense for the trip you’ve always dreamed of taking.

Table of Contents

1. Make an itinerary bucket list for the entire world.

The inspiration phase of planning your round the world trip itinerary is one of the most fun. Maybe you already have a laundry list of places you hope to cram into your world trip itinerary. Or perhaps you’ve nailed down a few key experiences but you’re open to more inspiration. You should absolutely start with a long bucket list of locations all over the world, because weather and route might automatically strike a few off the list for you.

If you’re curious for more travel ideas, browse the  best travel books sorted by destination , or search for long-reads and podcast recommendations on my Destination Travel Guides . Use these books and resources for inspiration on not only places to add to your round the world route, but activities, too.

Perhaps you read The Devil’s Picnic and subsequently add Paris to your list for that stinky but toothsome Époisses de Bourgogne cheese, or you add Bhutan because of its intriguing portrayal in The Geography of Bliss (that’s what has it on the itinerary for my next around the world trip!).

Books and podcasts are a phenomenal way to expand your idea of what is possible on your trip.

Once you have a list of dream destinations for your travel itinerary, highlight up to five that are your absolute priorities—these will become the bedrock of your around the world trip. The rest of the places on your list will slot in around those stops based on timing, weather, and more.

How granularly you plan is personal—some travelers leave with a precise list of destinations and timelines, while others plan the first couple of months of their round the world trop.

My three key travel destinations:

For my first year, I had three key activities on my list. The first was diving the Great Barrier Reef —that’s why my trip started in Australia . The second was meeting my cousin in India and backpacking north from Mumbai together for two months before ending our time together at a volunteer placement in Nepal . The third was time-sensitive as I had always dreamed of attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival , which takes place every August in Scotland.

Later, when I traveled with my 11-year-old niece for six months in Southeast Asia , I led her through some basic Google searches so that she could see what was on offer. We planned our joint world trip itinerary together centered around her three biggies: an ethical elephant encounter , ziplining somewhere, and visiting Angkor Wat .

2. Pick a direction around the world.

From your home country, your travel itinerary will take you either east to west, or west to east around the world. Backtracking is not ideal—it’s expensive, causes more jet lag, and is bad for the environment. Use this strategy whether you use a round the world ticket (which requires this stipulation) or if you book flights as you travel.

Pros and cons of traveling east:

• Science says this direction is harder on your body and produces more jet lag . The short of it is because you are losing time when you fly through time several zones, but your body actually prefers cycles slightly longer than 24 hours, not shorter.
• You’ll need to become a pro at minimizing jet lag so you don’t lose several days to it in each new location.
• If you’re planning a very long RTW trip, perhaps 18 months or more, and your itinerary creeps around the world, then you will likely not notice the difference much.

Pros and cons of traveling west:

• As noted, your body actually prefers days that run longer than 24 hours, so your internal clock has a much easier time adding hours into your day. This means fewer nights adjusting and staring at the hotel ceiling at 3am.
• Your body can do at least two hours of time zone jumping in this direction without having a noticeable effect on you, so it’s ideal to slowly hop west around the world. And if you’re crossing the Pacific from the U.S., your largest time zone change will likely occur at the beginning of your trip, so you can then enjoy more relaxing travel for the many months afterwards.

How I decided my world trip direction:

I was lucky that two of my key experiences could bookend my trip. Scotland and Australia are not close, so it was easy to plan many of my other dream destinations to fill the space between these countries.

Since I planned to leave the U.S. in November, it was easy to surmise that starting my trip in Australia, which was entering summer, made the most sense. Then I would make my way west toward Scotland for Edinburgh Fringe, handily skirting both winter in Europe and summer in Asia.

3. Find creative overland routes.

Whew, you now have a list of dream destinations for your world trip and a direction of travel. Now it’s time to fill in the space in your itinerary. And you’ll do that by using local transportation, which is a lot more fun than flying—you’ll see more of the country and culture, and you’ll have richer travel experiences .

Go back now to those handful of key destinations from your bucket list that. These are the foundational bedrocks of your world trip itinerary. These dots on the map should lend a rough overview of a route. If they don’t, if one is just an outlier that makes it hard to see logical jumps, narrow your list down to four, and see if that helps—if you truly love the idea of an experience, but it doesn’t fit this trip it might make a great trip on its own in a couple years time.

Now, your world trip itinerary needs the details, and those usually come from visiting clusters of bordering countries—you’ll be crossing overland among many of these destinations. (For that to work, however, check visa restrictions for your nationality as some countries require visas in advance, or don’t allow crossings at certain borders).

Popular routes ( backpacking Southeast Asia , for example), have only a few restrictions and those are easily handled online, or in the days before your border crossing.

Start dotting the map with the countries that are very close to your bedrock destinations. That looks like this: If trekking in Nepal is a bedrock item, and India’s Golden Triangle and Sri Lanka were both on your dream list, then it makes sense to add them into your route, since you’ll definitely be in the region.

My creative overland routes:

As I planned my itinerary, a dear friend announced she wanted to meet me in Florence, Italy in June. That became another bedrock item with a firm date, so I now had a time I had to leave South Asia and head to Eastern Europe.

Nearby Croatia was on my tentative list, and I had a friend in Bosnia , so both of those became stops on my itinerary that helped give it shape. Prague hadn’t been on my list, but I decided to move north through Eastern Europe after leaving Bosnia.

I filled in adventurous stops that would take me from my friend in Italy in June to Scotland in August—plenty of time for rafting in Slovenia , finding charming towns in Czech Republic , biking Amsterdam like a local, and walking through the Lake District of England first!

Research activities in countries you’re considering.

If there are countries nearby your “must-visit” locations, use a site like GetYourGuide to research the types of activities you could see and do if you visited these adjacent destinations as well. I like checking out the day tour sites more than a guidebook at this stage because it’s a very quick overview of the must-dos in each location.

4. Research festivals in your favored locations.

Local festivals around the world are amazingly full of life, culture, and fun. It’s a huge letdown when you learn too late that you missed a major religious and celebratory festival by just a few days. And it’s also a shock if you arrive thinking it’s shoulder season but you really arrived during Brazil’s carnival.

Plan your route to coincide with the dates of festivals that seem most fun for you (this is especially important for trips with kids, because they love the excitement, colors, and foods at these types of events. You’ll need to book accommodation early depending on the event, so that may take some flexibility from your world travel route, but it’s worth it.

Here are a few favorite annual festivals that many travelers plan around: La Tomatina in Spain in late August; Holi the Festival of Colors  in India around early March; Thailand’s Songkran Water Festival often falls within April and its Loy Krathong Lantern Festival falls in late October or early November.

Festivals around the world I sought out:

When my cousin told me should could only meet in India in February, and I knew we’d be there for two months, I went into planning mode to decide where we should celebrate Holi the Festival of Colors . It was a real highlight of my trip and I am so glad our world travel itinerary allowed us to experience this incredible Indian festival.

Then, of course, was the Fringe Festival —that was one of my bedrock destinations so it was definitely on the planned route.

5. Play Tetris with locations to fit your travel budget.

I stuck to an amazing year-long world travel budget that came in under $20,000. The only way I could do that was by carefully planning my time to favor budget-friendly countries, and then add in high-cost countries in smaller supply.

Research each of your dream destinations ahead of time because some places you might assume are budget actually cost more than you imagine (a safari in Africa is not cheap, nor is accommodation in much of Africa, but visiting a dream destination on the continent is worth it). Japan may be in Asia, but it’s pricey, too. Central America and Mexico are easy on your budget, as are parts of South America.

How I made my RTW travel budget work:

Australia , England, Scotland, and Ireland were mega expensive and represented three of my eleven months on the road. India and Nepal were, by far, the cheapest places (even cheaper than backpacking Southeast Asia ), and it was actually difficult to go over budget during the three-and-a-half months that I backpacked South Asia.

I spent the other months in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, two regions that are in the discount to mid-range. All told, I was able to easily average $50 a day, even though some days in Europe topped $100.

6. Plan around weather trends.

On your trip, research destinations ahead of time and plan according to your own weather preferences. While it’s not likely you will hit every destination in your preferred season, you should know when monsoon season makes a paradise island unenjoyable, or when blizzards will thwart a planned ski trip.

Research using this great rundown of shoulder season locations around the world, and this European shoulder season list , and this very cool map of a a sample round the itinerary featuring perfect weather in every location.

Why I chased summer around the world:

I planned my trip itinerary to chase summer around the world. As a native Floridian, my tolerance for heat is higher than most others, and I deeply enjoy warmth. A year of summer was lovely.

Whether your around the world trip chases summer or snow—and note it’s way easier to pack for long-term travel when you can leave behind thick jackets and boots—you’ll want to pack effectively using packing cubes .

I have probably 20 packing cubes after 15+ years of travel—cubes of all shapes, sizes, and uses to fit every trip. This eight-pack starter set is well-priced, durable, and will give you a worthy introduction into the sheer magic of packing cubes.

7. Consider how you will fly.

When planning your itinerary, you have to consider more than just major long-haul flights. On my travels, I research local budget airlines too, and I always have a good idea of which regions of the world offer affordable puddle-jumper flights. If you’re considering buying round the world tickets , read my insider tips and advice first!

Southeast Asia has AirAsia and Vietjet, among others. Europe has many budget carriers: Vueling, Ryan Air, and EasyJet. And JetStar has good flight deals in South Asia. By checking for budget airline routes, I know that I can easily visit more countries in a region if there are sub $100 flights around the area. (Tip: this is an amazing interactive map of low-cost airline routes ).

My transportation choices:

I priced out my year on the road and found it was cheaper to combine overland travel with local carriers than it would have been to buy a RTW ticket up front. I also have a guide to how I find good flight deals , since I never buy round the world airfare.

Generally, flights are likely necessary unless you plan an entirely overland route around the world , but flights are harmful if you solely rely on this form of transportation, so truly consider how you can incorporate other options, such as buying a Eurail ticket in Europe, or a Greyhound bus ticket to travel down the east coast of Australia.

Don’t forget to  book travel insurance for your trip —a great policy provides coverage in case of medical emergencies, lost or stolen gear, adventure sports riders, and more. I’ve used  IMG Global  for more than a decade  highly recommend it !

8. Remove some destinations from your world trip itinerary.

There is no wrong way to plan your route around the world, and there is no perfect number of places that you can visit in a year—it all depends on what you’re looking for on your trip. And no matter how carefully you plan, you will love some places, feel mediocre toward others, and perhaps even leave early from a few. You won’t know until you set out which type of places and experiences best fit your long-term travel style.

But please keep in mind that the pace of short-term travels is very different from a multi-month trip. Create a route that travels slowly, avoids the dreaded travel-fatigue , and includes destinations you have long dreamed of visiting. To do that, you now need to take a critical eye to your trip and trim the fat.

Is there something you added it because it seemed fun and was moderately close, but it wasn’t a bedrock item? Or perhaps it’s a location you love the idea of so much that you know you will plan a trip there in the future if you skip it now. Snip those from your world travel itinerary right now and you will be shooting me an email of thanks once you’re on the road.

The countries I cut from my around the world trip:

The best advice other travelers gave me when I asked for itinerary advice in a travel forum was to remove an entire leg of the trip. I had hoped to backpack Scandinavia between my time in the Czech Republic and Amsterdam, but long-term travelers assured me that I would be grateful for wiggle room in my itinerary by that stage of my trip (nine months into it).

Plus, they accurately pointed out that I just couldn’t swing these very expensive countries on my limited travel budget.

Turns out that I burned out a month before reaching Czech Republic and camped out in Slovenia for an extra two weeks—if I had been dead-set on Scandinavia, I would have never had time to do that while still making it to Edinburgh Fringe in time! (And let’s not even think about what Scandinavia would have done to my travel budget!).

If you’re overwhelmed about planning the nitty-gritty details on a months-long trip around the world, know that a rough route suffices. All you truly need before you leave home is logistics for the first couple of weeks—you can easily sort out the rest on the road. I promise.

Really, I promise. It seems scary but I swear to you that you will be grateful for flexibility once you land, and that it’s completely possible to plan the smaller details as you go. Moving between countries and regions was infinitely easier than I had anticipated before my first round the world.

Your Next Steps for Planning an Around the World Itinerary

Research places around the world and assemble a dream list of locations. That’s really the first step and should be a lot of fun.

While my travel books selections are a starting point, you can also peruse guidebooks for inspiration. I always buy a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for my first planned destination (and then I swap it along the way for each new country), and before my first round the world trip I checked out a stack of 25 guidebooks from my library. Do your research and dream big before you even begin selecting an itinerary and paring down your list of destinations.

This is my core page compiling resources on How to Travel the World and here are a few other pages sharing advice specifically for long-term travel planning.

• How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World
• How to Save for Travel
• Free Destination Travel Guides
• Best Credit and Debit Cards for Travel
• How to Pack for Long-Term Travel
• How to Pick the Right Travel Insurance

How to Travel the World

Free resources and first-hand advice on how to plan long-term and round the world travels.

Essential Travel Planning Resources

❗ Yes, you need travel insurance . IMG Global is the travel insurance I’ve used for well over a decade of traveling solo, and with kids. Here’s why .

🧳 Smart packing can save your trip. Shop my favorite travel gear , including all of the packing essentials for world travel , gear to keep you safe on the road, my favorite travel books , and more.

🛏️ Find great accommodation . Booking.com is essentially the only hotel booking site that I use. It has a wide and affordable selection of traditional hotels, but also hostels and vacation rentals, too. Use these pro tips to find the best travel accommodation .

📍 Navigate more effectively. Rome2Rio is super handy to assess the full range of transport options between two cities—shows everything from flights to trains, buses, minibuses, and more. If you’re booking a rental car, I’ve always found the best deals on RentalCars.com .

✈️ Book affordable flights. Expedia is one of the first places I look for low-cost flights .

☕ Peruse all of my tips for round the world travel , or learn how to move and live abroad .

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Global Gallivanting

Our epic spain and portugal road trip route & itinerary.

In September 2021 we drove an epic 3,500 km in 1 month visiting 12 destinations on an amazing whirlwind Spain and Portugal road trip.

We had the time of our life exploring the beautiful cities, landscapes and historical sights, eating as many tapas and pasteis de nata as possible, visiting offbeat communities and catching up with friends who have moved out there.

We didn’t find many articles online about driving around both Spain and Portugal in one trip and I didn’t find any Spain and Portugal itinerary that started from the ferry ports in Northern Spain.

So in this blog post I’ll share our route, itinerary and tips for an epic Spain and Portugal road trip – what we loved and what we would have done differently another time.

Our 1 Month Spain and Portugal Road Trip Route

We got the ferry from the UK to Spain and this was our 1 month Spain and Portugal road trip route:

Portsmouth (UK) – ferry to – Bilbao (Spain) – San Sebastian – Madrid – Granada – Orgiva – Seville – Algarve – Lisbon – Fundao – Porto – Braga – Oviedo – Bilbao – ferry to – Portsmouth.

We had wanted to do this in 2020, but it looked too difficult with the constantly changing Covid restrictions, but in 2021 the dream finally came a reality and Covid really didn’t affect our trip too much. I’ll explain more about what it’s like traveling nowadays later on in this post.

My Top Tips for Driving in Spain and Portugal

The best time to travel around Spain and Portugal is during the shoulder seasons like May – June and September – October. During this time the weather is the most pleasant and the crowds are less than during the summer holidays.

To see all of Spain and Portugal you need at least 1 month, but you could see the highlights like Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Seville, Lisbon and Porto in 2 weeks.

We spent 1 month in Spain and Portugal, 3 weeks traveling and 10 days visiting a friend’s farm in Portugal towards the end of our trip. 3 weeks allowed us to have a few days to relax and really explore each place.

If you have time, I would recommend spending 1 month as there is plenty to see and do in both beautiful countries. If you have 1 week then just do a road trip around Andalusia or travel from Lagos to Porto or you’ll be spending more time driving than enjoying!

Car or Camper?

Whether I travel by car or campervan, my favourite way travel experiences are always road trips. Nothing can beat the freedom of exploring with your own set of wheels.

We took our own car over on the ferry from the UK, but when we’ve rented cars on previous trips to Europe we used Discover Cars because they compare all the major car hire companies and got us the best price with and no hidden fees.

A campervan or motorhome is even better for this route as your transport, accommodation and kitchen are all on wheels for the ultimate freedom! Check out Motorhome Republic to compare and find the best deals for campervans, motorhomes and RVs.

The free roads in Spain were great, but in Portugal we had to take some toll roads if we didn’t want to spend double the time driving.

Pin me for later! 🙂

To Book or Not To Book?

Europe is very popular in the summer so, especially if you are traveling in the peak season of July and August, you should book your accommodation and tickets for popular sights and attractions to avoid disappointment.

I usually prefer Booking.com to book accommodation, but for a road trip I like how Agoda has a handy filter to find hotels with car parks. The downside of taking a road trip is navigating confusing city center one way systems and finding affordable places to park.

To avoid this we stayed at hotels a little outside the city center with parking and took public transport to save us the hassle of driving in. I’ll mention the car friendly hotels with parking and easy access from the motorways that we stayed at in each destination in this post.

Be aware that tickets for some of the most famous attractions do sell out and some, like the Alhambra (a highlight of my trip) have to be arranged at least 3 days before visiting. I use Viator and Get Your Guide , to find skip the line tickets to make the most of your time and avoid queues.

There’s more practical Spain and Portugal itinerary and road trip tips at the end of the post but lets get on with my Spain and Portugal road trip route!

Our Spain Road Trip

We began our Spain and Portugal road trip taking the 24 hour ferry with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth (UK) to Bilbao (Spain). Bilbao is a buzzing port city in the Basque region of Northern Spain and home to the Guggenheim Museum.

From Bilbao we drove through the mountainous landscape to San Sebastian. Driving a British right hand drive car on the right side of the road and figuring out the different road signs, in Spanish and Basque, was a bit confusing at first!

But Spanish roads are great and we soon got the hang of driving in Europe. It was useful to have someone in the passenger seat when merging into motorways or overtaking but over all it was fine once we got used to it.

Still, I would recommend allowing time in your Spain and Portugal itinerary so that you don’t have to rush on the first day and can acclimatize to the different driving conditions.

Bilbao to San Sebastian: 127km –  2 hours

San sebastian.

Donostia San Sebastian was a perfect start to our Spain and Portugal road trip adventure!

Only 2 hours driving (avoiding tolls) from the ferry port at Bilbao is this pretty seaside town with lovely beaches, stunning views and a fab foodie scene.

San Sebastian’s Old Town is lovely to wander while sampling the delicious Pintxos (tasty tapas-like bar snacks) in the bars and the harbour treated us to a spectacular sunset.

Our highlight was taking the historic funicular railway up to Monte Igueldo to see the quirky amusement park and incredible views from there.

Best Things to Do in San Sebastian

• Wander through the Old Town or take a walking tour
• Go up to Monte Igueldo for the views and amusement park
• Taste the best pintxos in the city – we took this food tour
• Laze on La Concha Beach or stroll along the Paseo De La Concha.

Check out more things to do in San Sebastian and  book tours here.

Where to Stay in San Sebastian –  Mercure Monte Igueldo Hotel 

The Mercure Monte Igueldo Hotel has the best views over San Sebastian, a lovely outdoor swimming pool, great breakfasts and free parking.

Also Visit: Barcelona is one of my all time favourite cities in the world for it’s combination of beautiful and unique art and architecture, beaches, food and all round amazing vibes.

Barcelona shouldn’t be missed off any Spain and Portugal itinerary but as I’ve been to Barcelona many times before we skipped it on this trip, but if you haven’t been you could skip Madrid and visit Barcelona instead and then head down the coast visiting Valencia and then heading to Granada.

San Sebastian to Madrid: 471km – 4.75 hours

From San Sebastian we drove almost 5 hours through the country to Madrid, the Spanish Capital, to break up the journey south to Andalusia.

Madrid is a beautiful, classy city with grand architecture, amazing parks, some of the most impressive art galleries and museums in the world and the largest Royal Palace in Western Europe.

Our highlight was visiting the Prado and exploring the Parque de El Retiro. This huge city center park, originally a pleasure grounds for King Felipe IV in the 17th century, is one of Madrid’s most well loved hang outs. It’s full of interesting statues, monuments, palaces, gardens, museums, galleries and activities. You can even row a boat on the lake.

Best Things to do in Madrid

• Explore Madrid’s Art Triangle; the Prado Museum , the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza are considered the best art galleries. The Art Walk Pass gives you entrance and queue jump at all three.
• Marvel at Madrid’s Royal Palace – the largest in Western Europe.
• Stroll around the Gran Vía, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor
• Relax and explore Parque El Retiro and row a boat on the lake
• Visit IKONO and the Museum of Illusions
• Sample Madrid’s best wine and tapas – we took this fun tapas crawl tour.

Check out more things to do in Madrid and  book your tickets and tours here.

Where to Stay in Madrid – Barcelo Imagine

Not wanting to drive right into Madrid we stayed at the Barcelo Imagine. It’s close to the motorways and Chamartin metro station with parking available onsite. The stylish rooftop pool, gardens and interiors also made this hotel a winner.

Madrid to Granada: 420 km – 4 hours

After a 4 hour drive from Madrid we reached Andalusia – Spain’s most flamboyant region and somewhere not to be missed of any Spain and Portugal itinerary. If you didn’t have time to travel around the whole of Spain, Andalusia is my top choice for a short Spain road trip.

From the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Mediterranean Coast, the beautiful landscapes, sun soaked white-washed villages, Moorish forts and palaces make Andalusia one of the most bewitching regions of Spain and my personal favourite.

Granada is home to  The Alhambra , a vast palace and fortress perched imposingly on a rocky outcrop against the backdrop of the mountains.

The Alhambra’s long and storied history dates back to 899 AD. It was once home to Granada’s Nasrid rulers in the 14th century and contains some amazingly intricate architecture and palaces inside.

As one of the finest and largest Moorish Islamic buildings in Europe it’s almost overwhelming how much there is to see here. The Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Carlos V Palace and the gardens at Generalife are all must sees.

When planning your Spain and Portugal itinerary take into account that you must book at least a few days in advance to get a time slot for the Nasrid Palaces and have your passport with you when you visit.The audio guide isn’t the best so I recommend taking a guided tour so you know more about what you are looking at!

This Alhambra guided tour has great reviews and includes the admission ticket and allows you to skip the line. I’d definitely do that next time.

Best Things to do in Granada

• Explore the magnificent Alhambra – book your fast track tickets here.
• Take a photo from the Plaza Mirador de San Nicolas for the best viewpoint of the Alhambra
• Join a sunset walking tour or a fun Segway tour of Albaicín & Sacromonte – Granada’s medieval neighbourhoods
• Visit the Sacromonte Cave Museum and see how people used to live in cave houses.
• Visit Granada Cathedral – Spain’s 2 nd largest cathedral
• Relax in a traditional Arabic Hammam

Check out more things to do in Granada and  book your tickets and tours here.

Where to Stay in Granada –  Hotel Andalusia Center 

Parking is difficult in Granada so we stayed at this comfortable, modern, good value hotel on the outskirts with a rooftop pool and on site parking only 15 minutes walk into town.

One of our reasons for taking a road trip through Spain and Portugal is because we wanted to visit some alternative communities, friends and more remote regions that would have been difficult to access by bus.

Orgiva is a small town tucked away in a beautiful valley between the Sierra Nevada mountains about 1 hour from Granada.

I’d heard about the alternative communities around Orgiva from friends in Goa and wanted to check it out for myself.

I loved how people were able to build their own unique homes and form a community in this beautiful valley. It was really inspiring for me but if you’re not into this kind of stuff and just want to focus on seeing the sights then you can skip this part for your own Spain and Portugal itinerary.

The town, and it’s interesting mixture of inhabitants, is also brought to life in the book – Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart which is now being made into a TV series.

Where to Stay in Orgiva –  Casa Jazmin

A lovely traditional Spanish house with beautiful swimming pool and gardens. Situated close to town with free street parking and friendly hosts

Granada to Seville: 250 km – 2.5 hours

Andalusia, and especially Seville , really captures the essence of Spain. As both the Moorish capital and later a 16th-century metropolis rich on the back of trade with the New World, flamboyant Seville has no shortage of sights and was one of the highlights of our trip.

You can see Seville’s sights on a horse and carriage ride or simply wander in the sunshine, admiring the incredible architecture and beautiful parks like Parque de María Luisa.

Don’t miss the Plaza de Espana, the Royal Alcazar and the massive Seville Cathedral – it’s the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and was even built to ‘make something so beautiful and so magnificent that those who see it will think we are mad!’

Soaking up Spanish culture, eating tapas washed down with sangria and watching flamenco is the perfect way to spend an evening in Seville.

I really fell in love with Seville, it’s became my favourite place on this trip and I already can’t wait to return. Definitely allow at least 3 days to explore Seville into your Spain and Portugal itinerary.

Best Things to do in Seville

• Marvel at The Royal Alcázar of Seville – Europe’s oldest royal palace still in continual use
• See Seville’s sights on a romantic horse drawn carriage ride
• Explore the Plaza de Espana and the beautiful Parque de Maria Luisa
• Visit Seville Cathedral and climb the La Giralda Tower
• Watch a traditional Flamenco performance in the home of Flamenco
• Visit the futuristic Metropol Parasol , also known as Setas de Sevilla, at night.

Check out more things to do in Seville and  book your skip the queue tickets and tours here.

Read More: My Perfect 3 Day Seville Itinerary and Tips

Where to Stay in Seville – Exe Isla Cartuja

The historic centre of Seville is another place where it’s hard to find hotels with parking. Exe Isla Cartuja is a good value modern hotel located near the stadium with plenty of free parking. It also offers easy access from the motorway and a quick bus into town

Seville to Carvoeiro, Algarve: 250km – 3.5 hours (avoiding tolls)

We just drove straight over the bridge and crossed the border from Spain into Portugal – there were no checks or Covid documentation required.

Our Portugal Road Trip

The Algarve

We started the Portugal part of our road trip with a much needed beach day in the Algarve! If you’re following a packed Spain and Portugal itinerary like us you’ll probably want to factor in some rest days too!

Even though it was warm in the September sun, the sea was really quite cold already so it was a super refreshing swim. The turquoise water and golden cliffs, a quintessential Algarve beach scene, made a stunning backdrop.

We only had a couple of days to spend in the Algarve to we stayed in the center of the region near the fishing village of Carvoeiro.

There is still no shortage of beautiful beaches in the Algarve , but sadly a lot of this region has been blighted with developments of towering white concrete apartment blocks (which looked empty)

But Carvoeiro retains it’s charm and made a good base to explore the nearby beaches like Praia da Marinha, kayak to Benagil Caves and to walk the Seven Hanging Valleys hiking trail to soak up the stunning views and rock formations that the Algarve is known for.

Best Things to do in the Algarve

• Relax on the beaches
• Take a boat tour  or kayak to visit Benagil Caves
• Take your Benagil Cave tour to the next level by travelling on a pirate ship!
• Walk the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
• Learn to surf by taking a surf lesson or joining a surf camp

Check out more things to do in the Algarve and find the best deals for activities and day tours here .

Where to Stay in Carvoerio –  Castelo Guest House

A unique castle themed hotel in a central location with free street parking. Soak up the stunning views over the beach from the rooms and terraces and enjoy the wonderful breakfast and hosts.

Carvoeiro, Algarve to Lisbon: 307km – 2.75 hours

(4.25 hours avoiding tolls).

Taking the toll road from the Algarve to Lisbon will cut your journey time in half.

Or, if you have more time for your Spain and Portugal itinerary and want to take the scenic route you could visit the historic town of Evora on the way from the Algarve to Lisbon.

It’s one of the most picturesque and best preserved medieval walled towns in Portugal and a UNESCO world heritage site.

One of Europe’s most distinctive, colourful and picturesque cities. Old yellow trams rattle and screech up and down along Lisbon’s cobbled streets, terracotta rooftops sprawl across the hillsides, while tile covered, pastel coloured buildings part to reveal glimpses of the shimmering Tagus river.

It’s hard not to fall in love with Lisbon. Plan to spend at least 3 days here in your Spain and Portugal itinerary.

Best Things to do in Lisbon

• Wander and explore or join a walking tour through Lisbon’s most historic and storied districts – this is the tour we took
• Ride the historic Route 28 tram through Lisbon’s most iconic districts. Or, if you’d rather avoid cramming in with the crowds take a tram tour or follow the route in Tuk Tuk!
• See the Belem Tower and marvel at the 16th-century Manueline architecture of the Jerónimos Monastery
• Take in the beautiful, heart-felt sounds of a traditional acoustic Fado show.
• Explore Lisbon from land and water in adventurous style on an amphibious vehicle
• Take a day trip to Sintra to explore the colourful fairytale castles and palaces.

Check out more things to do in Lisbon and book your skip the queue tickets and tours here.

After spending so long in Goa , and falling in love with the unique blend of Indian and Portuguese influences there, it was interesting to learn about the history and culture of Portugal on a guided walking tour of Lisbon and to explore the narrow streets of Alfama (the only part of the Old city to survive the devastating 1755 earthquake)

The waterside district of Belem is definitely worth the short tram ride out of Lisbon’s city center. This was the place where many of the Portuguese maritime explorers left from to explore the world and is a lot more spacious and relaxing than the city center.

Don’t miss the marvelling at the Belem Tower and walking along the Tagus River to the Discoveries Monument. There’s also a huge world map in mosaics on the floor behind showing all the places the Portuguese explored which was eye opening to see.

The Jeronimos Monastery , also in Belem, has beautiful nautical themed details and you can try the original recipe pasteis de natas at Pasteis de Belem nearby.

Our Highlight: Lisbon’s old yellow trams have become an icon of the city and quite the tourist attraction. Riding the scenic tram route 28 as it twists like a rollercoaster through the historic neighbourhoods like Alfama, Baixa and Chiado was one of the highlights of my time in Lisbon.

You can buy a Viva Viagem 24 hour unlimited ticket for only €6.40 which includes all trams, metros, buses and elevadors in Lisbon. But you can only buy it at a metro station not on the tram. Or you could get a Lisbon Card which gives you free access to Lisbon’s top attractions as well as free public transport.

It’s so popular its actually difficult to get on! Board at Martim Moniz, where the metro meets the tram terminus, for a good chance of getting a seat. Standing is quite the experience as the tram lurches, screeches and rattles around.

Or, to be guaranteed a seat and learn something about the streets you travel though, I recommend taking the  tram tour for a better experience.

Day Trips from Lisbon

Lisbon is also a great base to explore the many beautiful places nearby. Most of these are easily accessible with a day trip tour.

Don’t miss Sintra , a town and former royal retreat in the Sintra Mountains just 30 minutes from Lisbon. The colourful, fairy-tale like castles and mansions at Sintra are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most enchanting places in Portugal. This is the Sintra day trip we took.

You could also combine Sintra with a stop at Cabo da Rocha and the seaside town of Cascais or the picturesque Azenhas do Mar.  Find more Sintra day trips here.

Visit the surfing capital of Europe – the surf reserve of Ericeria only 45 minutes away. It’s a charming historic blue and white fishing town with beautiful beaches and one of the best places to learn to surf in Portugal – more about surf camps in Portugal here.

Where to Stay in Lisbon –  Inspira Liberdade Boutique Hotel

An elegant hotel with free parking located near Marques de Pombal so it’s easy to drive to and also close to the metro station. Some balconies have hot tubs.

For more on the different areas of Lisbon and the best hotels check out my post on Where to Stay in Lisbon.

Lisbon to Porto: 317km – 3 hours (5.5 hours avoiding tolls)

After Lisbon we headed inland to the region of Castelo Branco to visit friends on their farm near Fundao.

If you didn’t want to go into the countryside the route up the coast from Lisbon to Porto is only about 320 km which takes 3 hours driving on toll roads, or 5.5 hours without tolls.

There’s plenty of stunning beaches, legendary surf spots like Peniche and Nazare and historic towns to visit on the way including picture perfect Obidos , the historic university city of Coimbra and Aveiro , the Venice of Portugal.

A Lisbon to Porto road trip is one of the highlights of many people’s Spain and Portugal itineraries, but this time we went inland to see what life was like on the farm so check out this blog for more about the Lisbon – Porto route.

Lisbon to Fundao: 260 km – 2.5 hours (4.5 hrs avoiding tolls)

Portuguese farm life, castelo branco.

One of our main reasons for taking this Portugal road trip was to visit friends who bought an old farm near Fundao in Castelo Branco, Central Portugal and to check out what the lifestyle is like there.

This area is pretty remote with just a few small villages and plenty of nature backed by the mountains of the Serra da Estrela . There’s alot of ruins and cheap land in this area of Portugal (find them on Pure Portugal ) and its inspiring to hear and see how people have moved out here to renovate the ruins and farms to build self sufficient homesteads and live off grid.

Some are also building eco villages, communities and yoga retreats and it’s been a dream of mine for a long time to come and see what farm life in Portugal is like for myself.

Our home for the week was this self contained cabin on our friend’s farm. It’s a beautiful area and it’s really inspiring to see what’s going on here but it’s also a reality check of how much money, time and hard work it takes to make it happen.

If you aren’t lucky enough to have a friend with a farm in Portugal but still want to have this experience you can find hosts on Worldpackers looking for volunteers and you’ll receive free food and accommodation in return for your help.

(Use the code ‘GLOBALGALLIVANTING’ to get $20 off membership with Worldpackers.) 

Where to Stay in Castelo Branco –  Natura Glamping

Natura Glamping is an amazing example of a new eco resort with white geometric domes, spa baths, infinity pool, amazing views and free onsite parking.

Monsanto, Castelo Branco

While staying on the farm we took a day trip to the historic village of Monsanto – a village in Central Portugal that won the award of ‘ the most Portuguese village in Portugal ‘ and was one of the coolest places we’ve seen in the country.

Yes, the Portuguese seem to like building settlements on steep hills, but Monsanto isn’t really your typical Portuguese village. Actually it’s quite unique and even the Game of Thrones are filming the ‘House of The Dragon’ here!

I loved exploring the historic village of cobble stoned pathways and houses built around the boulders. The ruins of Monsanto castle perch high above the village with amazing views and an old church with spooky graves cut out from the rock.

Best of all it just felt like we were exploring, it doesn’t feel like a tourist attraction. Monsanto is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the Castelo Branco region.

Due to the steep, narrow, historic lanes you can’t drive into Monsanto village. There is car parking and a shuttle bus slightly down the hill.

Where to Stay in Monsanto –  Casa Mont’Santo

A cute historic fully equipped 3 bedroom cottage, accessible by car with parking, large terraces and great views

Fundao to Porto: 259 km – 2.5 hrs (4.5 hrs without tolls)

Portugal’s 2 nd city is worth visiting just as much as Lisbon and mustn’t be missed from your Spain and Portugal itinerary!

Explore the grand cathedrals, blue mosaic covered churches and the colourful buildings of the historic Ribeira district that tumble down to the Douro River where port barges would have awaited their cargo.

Nowadays you can take a cruise along the river , ride the old trams, funiculars and the modern Gaia Cable Car to explore Porto and stop in at cellar doors to taste Port wine in the city that it was invented.

Did you also know that author JK Rowling taught English and lived in Porto for a while and found inspiration for the Harry Potter series in the enchanting bookstores here like the Livraria Lello and in the uniforms of the university students.

Best Things to do in Porto

• Cross over the river on the Ponte de Dom Luis I Bridge for magnificent views
• Take the 6 bridges cruise down the Douro River
• Visit the port wine cellars and taste the best wines of Portugal on a wine tour
• Explore the historic Ribeira district or join a walking tour.
• Enjoy panoramic views of Porto from the top of the Torre dos Clérigos
• Watch the sunset from the Jardim do Morro.
• See the places that inspired JK Rowling on a Harry Potter tour
• Visit the World of Discoveries museum 

Check out more things to do in Porto and find the best deals on tours and attraction tickets here.

Our Highlight: The iconic Ponte de Dom Luis I Bridge is rated on Trip Advisor as the best thing to do in Porto and I can see why. Whether admiring it from below or walking along the top soaking up the sweeping views of this beautiful and unique city and watching the sunset from Jardim do Morro.

Soaking up the picturesque views and riverside vibes while tasting port wine in Vila Nova de Gaia and riding the cable car up to the bridge was another highlight.

Where to Stay in Porto –  Vincci Porto 

Amazing art deco style hotel in a stylishly renovated landmark building with easy access from motorway, onsite parking and opposite a tram stop. The panoramic river views from the terrace were a highlight.

Porto to Braga: 54 km – 1 hour without tolls

We made a short stop in Braga to meet a friend’s 2 week old baby! Braga looked like a lovely, historic city but it was raining most of the time we were there so we spent most of the time inside catching up and playing with the little ones.

One thing I couldn’t miss when in Braga is the UNESCO listed Bom Jesus do Monte! The wedding cake like layered steps remind me of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church – the famous church in Panjim, Goa.

If you’re not keen on walking up the 577 steps you can take the historic wooden funicular railway up to the top. Dating back to 1882 it’s the oldest in the world that moves using water counter balancing.

Where to Stay in Braga –  Vila Gale Collection Braga

Located in an amazing heritage building that used to be a church! With a beautiful swimming pool and gardens, fantastic central location and free onsite parking

Braga to Oviedo: 479 km – 4.5 hours (6 hours without tolls)

As we hadn’t planned enough time for our epic Spain and Portugal itinerary, after Braga we only had a few days to drive the 700km back to Bilbao for the ferry so we had to put our foot down if we were going to make it back to the ferry on time and sadly has to skip Santiago de Compostela.

We wound our way over the mountains of Northern Portugal and crossed over the border into Spain without any border checks or paperwork.

Oviedo, Spain

Northern Spain and the regions of Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria are beautiful, green and alpine-like – very different from the rest of the Spain.

We stayed 1 night in Oviedo , the unpretentious capital of the Asturias region, and had a bit of time to look around the compact and characterful old town, wander the Campo de San Francisco park and try the local food and cider.

There’s plenty to keep you occupied for a few days in Oviedo. It’s also part of the pilgrims route – the camino (way) to Santiago de Compostela and the cathedral at sunset was a mesmerising sight.

Where to Stay in Oviedo –  Exe Oviedo Centro

Great value modern hotel with spacious, comfortable rooms and free onsite parking, close to train station and 15 mins walk to the cathedral

Oviedo to Bilbao: 280 km – 3 hours

I would have loved to spend more time in Northern Spain but sadly we had our return ferry booked. The ferry departed at 8pm so the next day we drove the 3 hours along the coast from Oviedo to Bilbao.

We stopped for lunch at the pretty seaside town of San Vicente de la Barquera . The harbour, beaches, old village and castle amongst the backdrop of the mountains of the Picos de Europa make it one of the most picturesque sights on the Cantabrian coast.

Other places to visit

If we had planned our Spain and Portugal itinerary better we would have loved to visit Santiago de Compostela and spend some time walking the Camino , the historic pilgrimage route, but we didn’t have time. Plus, it feels a bit like cheating to drive there instead of walk! I’ll save it for another trip when I have enough time to walk the camino properly!

We also wished we’d had more time to explore the coastline of Northern Spain and Picos de Europa – we didn’t know the region would be so beautiful so I recommend that you leave more time in your Spain and Portugal road trip itinerary for Northern Spain than we did.

FAQs and Tips for Planning a Spain and Portugal Road Trip

Why take a road trip around spain and portugal.

There are many ways to travel around Europe – flights are cheap, an interrail pass is fun and convenient and buses are affordable.

But for this trip as we wanted to visit a lot of places in a small amount of time, including some communities and friends off the beaten track. Doing this would be difficult, time consuming and expensive without our own transport.

Nothing beats the freedom of having your own set of wheels and being able to go wherever you want, whenever you want.

Plus, there was less chance of catching Covid or dealing with Covid related paperwork when traveling in the safety of our own vehicle. When we crossed the borders between Spain and Portugal there were no checks or controls at all – we just flew straight through.

Where’s the best place to rent a car or campervan in Spain and Portugal?

We took our own car from the UK on the ferry from Portsmouth to Spain but it’s sometimes cheaper and more convenient to take a cheap flight and then rent a car when you get there.

The benefit of this is that you can drop it off in a different location from where you picked it up saving time and money on fuel (you may have to pay a one way hire charge though)

To find the best deals on rental cars I recommend Discover Cars. They compare all the best deals from the best companies which can save you alot of money – sometimes even 70%, Best of all there are no hidden fees so you can easily see the total price you’ll pay.

Traveling in a campervan, RV or motorhome is also an amazing way to explore and road trip in Europe. You can save money on accommodation and eating out when staying in a campervan or motorhome.

I use Motorhome Republic to find the best deals for motorhome and RV rental. As one of the largest motorhome rental agencies they have a price beat guarantee and the biggest choice from reputable and trusted companies.

You can find places to camp on the Park 4 Night app .  It’s easy to find places to camp for free in Spain but Portugal made wild camping illegal in 2021. There’s plenty of campsites which are still a fun, friendly and affordable option. Many have swimming pools, bars and restaurants and feel more like a resort.

How much does the fuel for a Spain and Portugal road trip cost?

We spent €300 on fuel for this 3,500 km trip.

When’s the best time for a Spain and Portugal road trip?

The Summer months of July and August are the peak season for traveling in Spain and Portugal but I think the best time for a Spain and Portugal road trip is the Spring or Autumn as it won’t be so hot and the sights will be less crowded, plus you’ll get cheaper rates on accommodation.

How to plan a Spain and Portugal itinerary? How long should we spend in each destination?

When planning an itinerary you’ll need to research what you want to see and do so you know how many days to spend in each destination.

As a general rule of thumb I usually recommend spending at least 2 nights/ 3 days  in each destination so that you have enough time to explore and relax and don’t feel like you’re spending most of your time driving.

We took 1 month for this trip but we spent 10 days with friends on their Portuguese farm, so we only had 3 weeks to travel. Although we tried to fit as much in as possible, there are still places we sadly had to skip because, to be honest, we didn’t plan our Spain and Portugal itinerary very well! So I would recommend spending at least 1 month to see the highlights of both Spain and Portugal.

If you have less time maybe just concentrate on one region like Northern Spain, Andalusia or Lisbon to Porto.

Did you use toll roads in Spain and Portugal?

To keep costs down and to see more of the countryside we tried to avoid toll roads on our Spain and Portugal road trip. This was easy to do in Spain because the free roads were so good and, on the motorways, there were petrol stations literally every 10 kms.

Portugal was a different story though and by avoiding toll roads in Portugal we would have ended spending double the time driving.

The Portuguese toll system is a bit tricky, especially if you are driving an non-Portuguese registered vehicle and don’t have an electronic transponder in your car, so it’s worth getting acquainted with it before you go for a hassle free trip . Read this article for tips.

If you rent a car in Portugal you can rent a transponder from the car hire company.

Is it more expensive to take your car on the ferry straight to Spain or to drive through France?

This is a question we spent alot of time deliberating on. Driving all the way through France looked fun with plenty to stop and see but would ultimately end up being exhausting and costly so we decided to take the car on the ferry from Portsmouth, UK to Bilbao in Northern Spain.

We estimated how much we would have spent in 5 or so days traveling through France in fuel, tolls, eating and accommodation (not to mention attractions and sightseeing) and it made more sense to take the ferry instead.

We paid £780 for return ferry tickets for 2 people, 1 car and cabins on each crossing. We found it useful to compare the routes available and get the best deal on Ferry Savers.

This 24 hour crossing is known for being rough at times but it was nice and calm and I didn’t feel sea sick at all. We had a comfortable en-suite cabin and enjoyed exploring the ferry. It felt like a mini cruise with the bars, restaurants, sun decks and even a small swimming pool.

Taking the ferry made it feel like much more of an adventure than flying!

What was it like traveling in Spain and Portugal during Covid in 2021?

The Covid situation and rules are always changing and you should always check the most up to date news before traveling.

But in our experience, in September and October 2021, Covid didn’t adversely affect our Spain and Portugal road trip too much,

We had to present either a negative test, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery and fill out a health form to enter Spain. The process of checking in and disembarking from the ferry was quick and simple. You don’t even need to get out of your car to go through immigration.

Our passports did get stamped at the Spanish border (due to Brexit UK citizens are only allowed 90 days out of 180 in the Shengen zone now.)

Apart from people wearing masks both inside and outside on the street (even though it was not a legal requirement to wear them outside) we didn’t notice many differences from traveling Europe before Covid.

Everything was open, people were friendly and happy to see tourists and, apart from wearing face masks in supermarkets and on public transport, Covid didn’t restrict or impact on our trip too much.

The restrictions had recently been relaxed in Portugal so we no longer need any tests or proof of vaccination to stay in a hotel or eat in a restaurant. There was no Covid pass in Spain.

When returning to the UK we had to fill out a passenger locator form and book a test to do on day 2 after we arrived back. We didn’t need to isolate or quarantine.

Covid doesn’t have to ruin your travels, but it’s really important these days to always check the most up to date rules before traveling!

Do you have any more tips or questions about our Spain and Portugal road trip?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Read More Travel Blogs:

• Discovering the Cheaper, Quieter, Hippie Side to Ibiza 
• Best places to visit in Europe

Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido: Best Beaches, Areas & Hotels (2024)

My pick of the best horse riding holidays in the uk.

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[…] Also Read: Our 2021 Epic Spain and Portugal Road Trip – Route, Itinerary and Tips! […]

Always beautiful article.

Thanks for your really interesting blog on Spain and Portugal road trip. We are travelling over from Australia in September/October for a 6 week road trip and your blog was very insightful and informative. It will help us immensely. Thanks for making our travel plans a bit easier. Nicky

Hey Nicky! So nice to hear that my blogs been useful for you! Thank you! 🙂 Hope you have a great trip 🙂

Great blog post. Really informative. Keep up the good work.

[…] was my favourite place on our epic Spain and Portugal road trip and I hope this post will give you all the tips you need to love it as much as we […]

Thanks so much for this write up. My partner and I have just decided (literally today) to do a 25 day or so road trip through Portugal and Spain and your article is really helping us plan. We fly to Seville in a week and have absolutely zero plan. Luckily car rentals are very very cheap. I was initially feeling motivated to do Southern Spain, Andalusia, Algarve, up through Lisbon and Porto and then NW Spain to San Sebastian/Bilbao/etc. But in reading your article I’m starting to think the smart thing to do is cut out NW Spain. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. It sounds like you really enjoyed Seville. My girlfriend loves beaches, and I know that NW Spain has fantastic ones, but I also imagine that late September might be too cold. Anyways, thanks again for sharing your story!

Hi Peter Thanks so much – it’s great to hear that my blog has helped you plan what sounds like an epic trip. Andalusia and Southern Portugal were my highlights of this trip and unfortunately we stayed longer than planned and ran out of time to stop at some of the beautiful places we drove through in Northern Spain when we drove back to the ferry. If you have time I think the north is a bit of a hidden gem but you can’t miss places like Seville and Lisbon – I never wanted to leave. Hope you have an amazing trip 🙂

Am interested in a road trip tour package to spain and Portugal to include catholic pilgrimage sites. Group of 4-6 pax. September-October 2024.

Nice to hear your thinking of a group pilgrimage trip to Spain and Portugal! Sorry, I travelled independently so I don’t know any package tour operator for this. Good luck 🙂

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Global Munchkins

Travel + Global Inspired Lifestyle

March 1, 2023

60 Road Trip Questions To Spark Conversations

Road trips with friends or family can be fun and exciting. One of the best parts of any road trip are the conversations, it helps everyone feel more connected.

However, there will be times where it becomes boring if you don’t have any conversation starters to keep it lively. Luckily (and sometimes unlucky), I have a husband who has an endless amount of random road trip questions to keep the conversation going.

This summer our family is planning on hitting the open road once more. We have already tackled a West Coast Road Trip and a Southern Coast trip , so this year we are planning on heading to the mountains. So, I decided to tap into my husband’s endless list of questions to give you some great ones to keep your road trip rolling along.

Going on a road trip is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones. Whether you’re traveling with your partner, family, or friends, it’s important to have some interesting and engaging questions to keep the conversation flowing. Below we listed some road trip questions for couples, kids and families and other fun car ride questions to make your long road trip more enjoyable.

Get-To-Know-Each Other Questions

Sometimes you go on a road trip and it has been a while since you have been around these people for long periods of time, so I like to use these thought-provoking road trip questions to get the conversation started.

• Where do you want to be in 10 years?
• Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
• If you could live in any TV show home, which one would it be? (For example, The Simpsons or The Brady Bunch ?)
• What superhero name would you pick for yourself?
• What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
• What’s your favorite moment from your childhood?
• Do you have any phobias?
• What actor would you want to play you in a movie?
• What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done?
• If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? This question can spark some interesting travel-related conversations and maybe even inspire your next adventure.
• What’s the best camping experience you’ve had?
• Have you ever cheated on a test? (My kids were way too honest on this question)
• Where would you go for your dream vacation?
• What are your top three favorite movies, and why?
• Do you have a favorite family tradition?
• What’s the most fun road trip you’ve ever been on? This question can lead to some great stories and memories.
• Did you go outdoors often as a kid, or did you stay inside and play games instead?
• Are you an early bird kind of person or a night owl?
• What’s the best road trip you’ve had (besides this one)?

Funny & Off-wall Road Trip Questions

My favorite type of road trip questions are funny and off-the-wall. It really sparks people’s imaginations and often gets everyone laughing. You will find you get some weird answers and some hilarious debates with these typed of questions.

• Would you rather uncontrollably fart in public or uncontrollably burp?
• What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever witnessed?
• If you could shapeshift into any animal, what would you pick?
• If cats or dogs were to take over the world, which one would you pick? Cats or dogs?
• If a radiation spill happened, would you rather be burdened with four arms or four legs?
• What would you do if the zombie apocalypse started next week? How long do you think you would last?
• Is cereal soup? Why or why not?
• If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would buy? This question can reveal a lot about someone’s priorities and desires.
• What’s the best WiFi name you’ve seen?
• What do you think is in Area 51?
• If you had to choose between having no soap or no toilet paper for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
• What is the craziest fact you know?

Deep Thinking Questions

You will be surprised by the answers to these road trip questions, I can guarantee it. My kids have had some interesting answers and some surprisingly very insightful ones as well.

• What do you think your spirit animal would be? And why?
• Do you wonder if we travel to another dimension when we’re dreaming?
• If you could take back one moment in your life, which one would it be?
• What do you think qualifies as art?
• Would you rather be attacked by an Alligator or a Shark? (This one was discussed on our Road to Hana drive in Maui)
• What do you think about music nowadays vs. back in the old days?
• Would you rather have the ability to fly or the ability to breathe water (and be able to explore the ocean)?
• What is one advice you would give to your younger self if you could travel back in time?
• What mythical creature you wish was real? Would it benefit the world?
• If you could go back in time with a time machine, what dream would you want to fulfill? This question can spark some interesting conversations about your biggest aspirations and wishes.
• Would you rather deal with relationship problems or money problems?
• If you could travel to any destination in the world, where would it be?
• If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring with you? This classic question can reveal a lot about someone’s priorities and values.
• If you had a time machine, what date would you want to go back and experience? This question can lead to some interesting historical discussions and maybe even some romantic daydreaming.
• What makes you happiest, and why?
• What’s your worst date experience? This question can be a great icebreaker and a way to share some laughs and maybe even some cringe-worthy stories.
• If a genie happens to pop out and grants you three wishes, what would they be?

Random Road Trip Questions

Lastly, we have some random questions for your road trip. These really don’t fit in any category but are fun to keep the conversation going.

• Would you choose to climb a mountain, or go deep diving?
• What’s the worst travel advice you’ve ever received?
• Where’s one of the weirdest places you’ve ever slept?
• What’s your favorite conspiracy theory?
• What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to music, TV shows, or food? This question can lead to some lighthearted banter and maybe even some shared interests.
• Which sense (sight, smell, taste, etc.) would you give up, and why?
• Android or Apple?
• Have you had anything supernatural happen? (Ghostly encounters?)
• What’s the best toy or game from the ‘90s, 2000’s etc…?
• If you could stay at a certain age forever, what would it be?
• Would you rather have a terrible job but be able to retire in several years or have an excellent “dream” job, but you would have to work until you’re 60-70 years old.
• What is your biggest kitchen failure?
• What is your favorite hack?

Enjoy your Road Trip!

Overall, having some car ride questions in your back pocket can make a long road trip much more enjoyable. So grab some snacks, hit the road, and get ready for some fun conversations!

I hope you enjoyed our list of road trip questions. If you have any other great road trip questions feel free to leave them in the comments or send a message my way on Instagram . We will be adding more after our next road trip!

If you enjoyed our road trip questions, You might also enjoy:

Surviving A Road Trip with Toddlers; Our Best Tips!

10 Best Cars for Road Trippin’ This Summer + Road Trip Tips

15 of the Best Summer Vacation Spots in the US for Families 

Pin-it for later: 60 Perfect Road Trip Questions to Start at Conversation

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23 Incredible Road Trips in the U.S.

Whether you’re looking for sweeping views of the pacific ocean or a multiday adventure through national parks, these road trips provide plenty of opportunities to explore the united states..

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Glacier National Park is one of many scenic places you can visit on an American road trip.

Photo by Zack Frank / Shutterstock

In a country as large as the United States, there’s no shortage of destinations and detours to explore by car . Whether your idea of the perfect American road trip entails an epic, cross-country journey or a shorter jaunt through a few of its most iconic national parks , your options are as large and varied as the country itself.

Even if you don’t have the time to drive cross-country, there are plenty of road trip routes (ranging from three days to a week or longer): classic California itineraries , New England routes that shine especially well in the fall, scenic East Coast adventures, and a variety of Midwest journeys for folks farther from the coasts.

No matter your mode of transportation—be it van, RV, motorcycle, or four-door sedan—these are 21 of the best road trips in the nation to consider.

Plan your next Route 66 trip around thirst-quenching stops.

Photo by Peek Creative Collective/Shutterstock

There are many ways to do a cross-country road trip in the USA, but these two itineraries will take you through some truly iconic American places.

1. Chicago to Los Angeles: A Whiskey Road Trip on Route 66

It doesn’t get more American than a 2,000-mile drive along the entirety of Route 66. There are endless ways to take this legendary trip (including an EV version —but to take your cross-country road trip to the next level, we recommend exploring another American pastime: whiskey.

Starting in Chicago and ending in L.A., you’ll stop by some of the leading craft distilleries in the United States, like Few Spirits in Chicago, Still 630 in St. Louis, and Red Fork Distillery in Tulsa. In between tastings, make time for detours to natural attractions, like the Grand Canyon, and quirky roadside curiosities, like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Just remember to drink responsibly—this is a road trip after all.

Plan your trip

The full itinerary: Put a New Twist on Route 66—Make It an American Whiskey Road Trip

No cars are allowed on Mackinac Island, so you need to park before taking the ferry to this spot.

Photo from Shutterstock

2. Bangor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington: The Great Northern on U.S. Route 2

Covering both the U.S. and Canada, a cross-country trip along U.S. 2 is ideal for anyone who wants to experience the vast diversity and expansiveness of North America. This drive runs the entire top border of the U.S. and showcases otherworldly natural wonders like Acadia National Park in Maine, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, and Mackinac Island in Michigan. The route also passes through Canada, taking road-trippers through Ontario into Quebec—this route may focus on nature, but you won’t want to miss a stop in Montreal or Ottawa.

You’ll also get to explore Montana and Glacier National Park ( reservations may be required ) before passing the Columbia Plateau and ending in the Pacific Northwest’s largest city, Seattle. Don’t miss spending time in the Olympic Peninsula (home to Olympic National Park) for a peek at one of the most scenic places on the West Coast.

3. Dana Point to San Francisco: Driving California’s Pacific Coast Highway

The seemingly endless views of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) are what road trip dreams are made of, and exactly what makes this California road trip so popular. However, with so many stops along the 655-mile stretch, we pulled together a list of the ones well worth pulling over to view. Don’t miss the perfect surfing waves in Santa Cruz, seasonal cuisine in Malibu, an afternoon a the boardwalk in Santa Monica, or a night in Big Sur as you drive between Dana Point (just south of Los Angeles) and San Francisco.

• The full itinerary: The Best Stops for a Road Trip on the Pacific Coast Highway
• The AFAR Guide to San Francisco

The seaside town of Monterey was the setting for John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row .

Photo by Denise Lett/Shutterstock

4. Big Sur to Mono County: A Literary Road Trip Through Northern California

Yes, this itinerary requires you actually put down your book to drive, but seeing some of the pivotal places that shaped American authors will be so worth it. Follow in the footsteps of writers like Jack Kerouac, Maya Angelou, and Amy Tan on this road trip that takes you through literary landmarks in Northern California, such as Caffe Trieste, a meeting place for Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Alan Watts, and other bohemian writers and thinkers. This 12-stop itinerary is perfect if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area because you’ll be able to stay make these trips in one or two days.

The full itinerary: The California Road Trip All Book Lovers Should Take

Arizona may take its nickname from the Grand Canyon, but the state has far more natural wonders than just that one.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

5. Phoenix to the Grand Canyon: An Iconic Arizona Road Trip

This 240-mile Arizona road trip takes travelers along some of the state’s most iconic highlights, including its most famous one, the Grand Canyon. A great itinerary for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, it offers plenty of opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, and biking—as well as tasty food along the way. Hike the 2,704-foot-tall Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale or take in the beautiful red rocks of Sedona on a hike to Cathedral Rock while exploring the Grand Canyon State.

• The full itinerary: The Classic 5-Day Arizona Road Trip
• Grand Canyon guide: The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon
• Where to eat in Phoenix: A Chef’s Guide to the Best Restaurants
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Arizona ; The Best Airbnbs in Sedona

The Delicate Arch living up to its name in Utah’s Arches National Park

Photo by tusharkoley / Shutterstock

6. Zion to Grand Canyon: A National Parks Road Trip in the Southwest

If you’re looking to visit as many national parks as possible in one road trip, this southwestern itinerary is for you. This journey through Utah and Arizona lets you hike Angel’s Landing in Zion, feel tiny under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, explore Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon, and, of course, raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon remain on the rim, but take at least four days to venture within the canyon and take advantage of the trails and river rafting.

• The full itinerary: The Ideal Road Trip Through U.S. National Parks
• Utah’s 8 Best National Parks and Monuments
• 10 Best National Parks and Monuments in Arizona
• The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon

Stop and admire the winding roads of the San Juan Skyway.

Photo by Anh Luu/Shutterstock

7. San Juan Scenic Skyway Road Trip: An Adventure Through Southwestern Colorado

This Colorado trip takes you along the 232-mile loop of the San Juan Scenic Skyway, where you will see plenty of alpine forests, mining towns, and craggy peaks. And for anyone looking to enjoy refreshments after a long day of driving, this route features many opportunities to stop at some of the best breweries in Colorado , such as Ska Brewing Co. in Durango.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Southwestern Colorado Road Trip
• Five Classic Colorado Road Trips To Take This Year

In small-town Buena Vista, the riverfront Surf Hotel offers front-row seats to Colorado-style adventure seekers.

Courtesy of the Surf Hotel

8. Denver to Montrose: A 420-Mile Road Trip Through Colorado

Want to explore even more of the Centennial State? Head out on this weeklong road trip where you can fish for salmon in Colorado’s largest reservoir, visit numerous small towns, like Paonia and Crawford, with thriving art scenes along the Colorado Creative Corridor , and explore Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the least visited national parks in the nation.

• The full itinerary: Art Stars, High-Altitude Wines, and a Remote National Park: The Ultimate Colorado Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Colorado
• The AFAR Guide to Denver

Portland may be Oregon’s largest city, but with a population of some 652,000 (or 2.5 million in the larger metropolitan area), it isn’t intimidatingly large.

Photo courtesy of Travel Portland

9. Portland to Astoria: An Oregon Coast Road Trip for Outdoor Lovers

If you love the outdoors, then this six-day road trip along the coast of Oregon is for you. After driving to Coos Bay from Portland, travelers will meander along Oregon’s dramatic, rocky coastline, discovering some quintessentially Pacific Northwest vistas along the way: evergreen forests, seaside dunes, and marine ecosystems. Between stops, there are ample opportunities to stretch your legs hiking, kayaking, or strolling around the region’s small towns—like the historic old town in Florence.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Oregon road trip without a stop (or three) at a craft brewery, such as Fort George Brewery in Astoria, or cozy coffee shop, like Bread & Roses in Yachats.

• The full itinerary: An Outdoor Lover’s Road Trip on the Oregon Coast
• The AFAR Guide to Portland

The State Capitol Building in Nashville marks the end of this road (trip).

Photo by photo.ua / Shutterstock

10. Seneca Falls, New York, to Nashville, Tennessee: Follow the Path of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Starting in New York’s Finger Lakes region and ending at the State Capitol Building in Nashville, this road trip traces the route of the national women’s suffrage movement. Highlights include stops at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House ; Union Square in New York City, which was the site of the first suffrage march; and the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington, D.C.

• The full itinerary: Celebrate Women’s Suffrage on an Epic, Self-Guided Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Washington, D.C.

Asheville is one must-stop on a North Carolina road trip.

Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com

11. Charlottesville to Asheville: A Scenic Road Trip Through Virginia and North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the country. Beginning in the soft hilly meadows of the Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park down into the Blue Ridge Mountains, then into the Great Smoky Mountains, this five-day road trip is best done at a slower pace, which is perfect for admiring the dramatic outlooks and green plateaus. This eclectic itinerary features stops at an art museum, a dairy farm, and plenty of hiking trails.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
• Where to stay: 12 Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins You Can Rent on Airbnb and Vrbo
• 8 U.S. National Park Road Trips to Take in Your Lifetime

Dowa:kwe dance group from Zuni Pueblo in 2019

Courtesy of Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

12. Albuquerque to Las Cruces: Discover New Mexico on This Three-Day Road Trip

This route steers you away from New Mexican tourist hot spots like Taos and Santa Fe and instead takes you on a three-day adventure with places that teach you about Pueblo history. You’ll stop at Indian Pueblo Kitchen (formerly known as Pueblo Harvest), a restaurant inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that features Indigenous cuisine ; pick up peppers at Three Brothers in Hatch; and slide down the dunes in White Sands National Park.

• The full itinerary: This New Mexico Road Trip Is the Perfect Introduction to the Land of Enchantment

Historic Fort Martin Scott is one of the places travelers can visit to learn about Fredericksburg’s history.

Photo by Mark König/Unsplash

13. A Five-Day Scenic Road Trip Through Texas Hill Country

This Texas road trip starts and ends in San Antonio with stops in small towns like Bandera, Boerne, and consider a stop in Fredericksburg, which is one of AFAR’s best places to go in 2024 ). Over five days, you’ll find opportunities to stroll in a Japanese tea garden in San Antonio, relax along the Sabinal and Frio Rivers by inner tube, and eat as many tacos as you want. Seriously: You could eat tacos for every meal on this road trip and not get tired of them.

• The full itinerary: Tree Houses, Tubing, and Tacos: The Ultimate Texas Hill Country Road Trip

Mount McKinley looms large on a drive through Denali National Park.

Photo by warnsweet / Shutterstock

14. A Weeklong Road Trip Through Alaska’s Most Majestic Sights

This weeklong drive in Alaska starts and ends in Anchorage. You travel along four scenic byways; explore Wrangell–St. Elias wilderness, the largest U.S. national park; catch sight of Denali, the tallest peak in North America; and enjoy the surprisingly stellar food scene of McCarthy, a one-road town with only a couple dozen residents.

• The full itinerary: Glaciers, Mountain Peaks, and Organic Farms: The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip
• Which Alaska National Parks Should You Visit?

More than geothermal pools, Kirkham Hot Springs features a piping-hot waterfall.

Courtesy of Idaho Tourism

15. Boise to Sun Valley: Explore Idaho’s Scenic Byways

Even a short road trip can be packed with adventure, good food, and scenery, which is exactly what this trip from Boise to Sun Valley along Idaho’s Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway offers. Although the drive only takes six hours, we recommend taking a few days to explore all the stops and detours along the way. One can’t-miss spot is the Kirkham Hot Springs , where you can stand under a waterfall that will splash you with 135-degree mineral water year-round.

• The full itinerary: The Little-Known Idaho Road Trip You Need to Drive
• Things to do: The Best Outdoorsy Things to Do in Idaho

Grand Portage State Park is the only state park jointly managed by a state and a Native American band.

Photo by Shutterstock/QZ

16. Duluth to Grand Portage State Park: A Scenic Minnesota Sampler

Although there are many appealing road trips throughout the Midwest, this 143-mile, three-hour circuit, which starts and ends in Duluth, Minnesota, is worth keeping in mind. Meandering north on MN-61 with this itinerary, you will enjoy prime views of Lake Superior and towns like Grand Marais, as well as Grand Portage State Park, home to waterfalls, hiking trails, and opportunities to learn about the Ojibwe community who occupy the land today. Once back in Duluth, enjoy a beer at Canal Park Brewing Company before checking into the waterfront Canal Park Lodge nearby.

• The AFAR Guide to Minnesota

Wind your way through colorful foliage in New Hampshire.

Photo by Shutterstock

17. Kancamagus Highway: A Quintessential New England Drive

Yes, you can take a road trip in New England at any time of the year , but this region shows off its best colors in the fall, when locals and tourists alike head out into the country to view the changing colors of the trees. Join other admirers of fall foliage on this popular, 34.5-mile road trip along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway, colloquially known as the “Kanc,” for picturesque ponds, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks.

• Plan Your Fall Getaway With This Peak Foliage Prediction Map

Ogunquit is home to the small, postcard-perfect harbor of Perkins Cove.

Photo courtesy of QualityHD / Shutterstock

18. Maine’s “Lobster Trail”: Travel Route 1 Along the Coast

Traveling Route 1, affectionately known as “the lobster trail,” along Maine’s jagged coastline is an exercise in indulgence. Sample lobster dishes in all forms—buttered, steamed, on a roll, or even in a decadent mac-and-cheese.

The trip starts in the quaint small town of Ogunquit , with its rare (for the area) 3.5 miles of white-sand beach. Make your first lobster of the journey count, steamed with a side of drawn butter at Barnacle Billy’s in picturesque Perkins Cove harbor. Stop at Big Daddy’s for a cone on your way to the shipbuilding center—and summer home of George H. W. Bush—Kennebunkport. Stay at the recently redesigned 150-year-old classic White Barn Inn , and consider a sailing trip for an afternoon. With lobsters cooked in ocean water, the legendary lobster roll at the Clam Shack is a must.

• 8 Scenic East Coast Road Trips to Take This Year

Throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont region, innovative restaurants, shops, and restaurants like Leah & Louise in Charlotte, above, are creating a buzz.

Photo by Peter Taylor Photography

19. Raleigh to Charlotte: A 4-Day Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

North Carolina’s Piedmont region extends from the coastal plain to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and includes farmland and rolling wooded hills, especially on the 1-40 stretch near Hillsborough. Starting in Raleigh, drive the short distances to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte to see how these cities are innovating through art, food, and a celebration of the past. Take your time—four days should do—to experience downtown arts districts, James Beard Award–winning restaurants, and civil rights museums that speak truths. Plan your trip

• A Road Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

Scenic South Walton is part of the Emerald Coast of Florida.

20. Scenic Highway 30A: A Sunday Drive Through South Walton, Florida

Florida is full of places to cruise with the top down, but it’s hard to beat a Sunday (or any day) drive along Scenic Highway 30A through northwest Florida, home to a postcard-perfect stretch of seaside towns known as South Walton.

The roughly 28-mile route through South Walton County kisses the coast for nearly all its length, taking you through gorgeous residential Gulf-front communities like Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, and Blue Mountain Beach . Roll down the windows and let the emerald-hued views in.

Pull over to explore, too—maybe to admire the New Urbanism architecture in Alys Beach or to swim in the clear waters at Grayton Beach State Park . (The beach here has been lauded among the best in the world.)

• The full itinerary: The Florida Road Trip You’ve Been Missing

Stand-up paddleboarding is just one way to enjoy a Florida Keys sunset.

Shutterstock

21. The Florida Keys: An Island-Hopping Getaway

For a sunny road trip itinerary in Florida, skip Miami and head farther south. Beginning in Key Largo and ending in Key West, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is often overlooked for more well-known routes up north, but it is well worth going out of your way to experience.

As the name suggests, this route is very scenic, so plan to spend at least a few days exploring it and numerous stops along the way. Some highlights include driving across the impressive Overseas Highway, stopping to admire art in the town of Islamorada, and enjoying the historic sites, food, and (of course) beaches in the city of Key West.

• The full itinerary: How to Road Trip in the Lesser-Known Florida Keys

Sun Studio in Memphis was the site of the famous Million Dollar recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Photo by f11photo on Shutterstock

22. Memphis to Bristol, Tennessee: A Music-Driven Adventure

If you have about a week to spare and a deep appreciation for music, take a road trip from one side of Tennessee to the other, starting in Memphis and ending in Bristol. The eastbound trip spans genres, including rock ( Graceland ), blues ( Beale Street) and, of course, country (did you really go to Tennessee if you didn’t go to Dollywood ?). Nashville serves as the halfway point on your journey—so consider penciling in an extra 48 hours to fully explore the state capital’s greatest hits.

• The full itinerary: 5 Great American Road Trips For Music Fans

The stunning coastline near Cueva del Indio has been the backdrop of star-studded films.

Photo by Alexsf.gr/Shutterstock

23. Arecibo to Condado, Puerto Rico: A Lesser-Known Side of a Well-Loved Island

In the minds of many, trips to Puerto Rico bring images of stunning beaches , delicious foods , and maybe a bioluminescent bay or two . But there’s plenty of history to be found here, too, as Puerto Rico was home to an Indigenous population known as the Taino, a heritage many Puerto Ricans embrace. That history can be explored via a road trip. Starting in the northern town of Arecibo, travel south to Ponce, then back north to Condado—along the way you’ll encounter petroglyphs, Indigenous sites, and breathtaking natural spots.

• The full itinerary: A Puerto Rico Road Trip That Puts Indigenous Culture First

Additional road trip planning resources Picking the route for your road trip is only one part of your planning. From what snacks to pack to which podcasts to listen to, these additional resources will help you prepare for your next adventure:

• Best road trip snacks
• Road trip planning apps
• Podcasts and audiobooks to download
• What to pack for a road trip

This article originally appeared online in August 2020. It was most recently updated on April 4, 2024, to include current information. Additional reporting by Jessie Beck, Erika Owen, Ray Rogers, Terry Ward, and Sheryl Nance-Nash.

V2G Global Roadtrip: Around the World in 50 Projects

October 2018

READY FOR A CROSS- CONTINENTAL ADVENTURE?

A summary of landmark v2g projects from around the globe..

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is booming. Across the world, pioneering V2G projects are delivering cutting-edge insights through learning by doing.

But whilst most projects have published individual outcomes, no one before has ventured to systematically capture lessons learned – and apply these to the UK and beyond. This is a problem. By focusing only on activity at home, we risk repeating mistakes that others have already learned; and we risk missing out on early successes too.

So this report is a round-the-world road trip of landmark V2G projects. It is jointly commissioned by leading network operator UK Power Networks    and innovation agency Innovate UK , both at the forefront of V2G demonstration. It’s an ambitious exploration, made possible only through the pan-industry support from contributors, and the records of intrepid explorers who have charted part of the way with early comparative reviews.

Our goal is to equip Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and market participants with the latest intelligence on where the value of V2G lies and what the challenges are. Please join us: pack your bags and off we go!

The report can be downloaded here: V2G Global Roadtrip: Around the World in 50 Projects

Read Paul Reynolds blog here

If you would like to discuss V2G further, please either contact Paul through his blog or send an email to  [email protected]

How smart charging and vehicle to grid services will cut the cost of EVs

What do you think of when I say electric vehicle? Hopefully not a 1970s milk float, perhaps a Nissan LEAF or Tesla Model S? Well here at Everoze when we think of an electric vehicle we don’t just think of a car, we think of a powerful battery, on wheels!

Seven trends to make or break corporate PPAs

In this article, published in PV Magazine International’s September 2018 edition, Everoze partner Ragna Schmidt-Haupt is putting corporate PPAs to the test.

Will blockchain solve the problem of Renewables Guarantees of Origin?

The Energy Web Foundation (EWF) is developing a global open-source blockchain for energy – and wants to use it to certify green power. Could this work?

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Darkest Dungeon II

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Darkest Dungeon II is a roguelike road trip of the damned. Form a party, equip your stagecoach, and set off across the decaying landscape on a last gasp quest to avert the apocalypse. The greatest dangers you face, however, may come from within... Gather your courage and ride out into the chaos of a world undone. Four heroes and a stagecoach are all that stand between darkness and salvation. Roguelike Runs; Even Failure Moves You Forward Each expedition is less than 5 hours, and progress you make opens up new hero abilities, items, and stagecoach upgrades that can be used on your next journey. The Affinity System As travels progress, heroes bond with each other or grate on each others’ nerves, leading to desperately needed combat synergies or journey-ending dysfunction. Manage their stress and interaction to keep the team together until the bitter end. Face Your Failures Uncover and experience the tragic origin stories of each hero and unlock their full potential. Nightmarish Environs From the burning Sprawl to the diseased Foetor, the road will challenge your strategies and your endurance.

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• Single player
• Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
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Darkest Dungeon® II: Oblivion Edition

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• Hear from Jo Hayward, bp’s VP for convenience in Europe

The future of food on the forecourt

Childhood road trips helped to form jo hayward’s view of what makes for a great customer experience. in a recent speech, bp’s vice president for convenience in europe spoke about how bp’s food offer is changing.

As a teenager, I used to love spending time with my dad during the holidays, travelling up and down the country. He was a security director for a national building society, so store visits were a part of his role, with customers and branches all over the UK.

I knew that if I went out with him for the day, we’d stop at a petrol station and he’d treat me to a chocolate milkshake and a pasty – something I really looked forward to.

Convenience stores have been present on UK retail forecourts for decades, but they haven’t traditionally been recognized for great quality food and drink – more for treats or essentials when travelling.

Now, the future of mobility and convenience is changing rapidly. 

bp is known for being disruptive in our industry, bringing new ideas and ways of doing things. bp was one of the first oil and gas companies to announce a net zero ambition back in 2020, for example.

Another is our partnership with M&S Food, which started back in 2005.  Through this collaboration, our UK retail sites became a destination for top-up grocery shops or picking up something for dinner on the way home. 

Now, we’re planning to invest around $15 billion in convenience and EV charging in the next seven years.

Just this year, we acquired TravelCenters of America, adding around 280 huge truck stops, with more than 600 full-service and quick-service restaurants, to our US network.

We are also aiming to double our gross margin in convenience, and increase the number of what we call ‘strategic convenience sites’ by 2030.

We’re also aiming to grow customer interactions at our retail sites globally from 12 million a day to more than 15 million a day in just two years.

Listening to our customers

More than half the customers who visit our retail sites in the UK now come for food alone. People still want treats when they’re on the move, but they’re looking for more.

Our research in various markets across Europe suggests that customers want to be able to purchase something to eat immediately, they want grocery items for the next few days, and they want clean, accessible services and amenities. What we offer today is in line with what our customers are telling us that they want. 

Meanwhile, in countries around the world, our ‘food for now’ and barista coffee offers at our Wild Bean Cafes give customers access to delicious food and drink.

We are one of the leading coffee retailers in New Zealand, while last year in Poland we sold 12 million hot dogs. And in the UK, we sell a coffee every 1.5 seconds and are known for baked goods – selling 3.3 million sausage rolls and bacon and cheese turnovers last year.

Our Wild Bean Cafe offer is still evolving – we’re developing new food lines tailored to different markets and consumer tastes around the world.

The experience of the future

We know that as the energy transition progresses, customers and their habits will change. We expect customers will spend more time at our sites in the future, charging their EVs.

Our challenge now is to work out how we flex our current five-minute grab-and-go offer for a 20-minute customer stay while they charge.

We imagine the new reality will look something like this:

“We expect customers will spend more time at our sites in the future, charging their EVs. Our challenge now is to work out how we flex our current five-minute grab-and-go offer for a 20-minute customer stay while they charge.”

You set off on holiday in your EV.

The kids are in the back, excited about the week ahead. Then, a few hours into the journey, everyone’s getting tired and hungry – it’s time for a stop. Luckily, as a loyal bp customer, you’ve been able to pre-book an EV charger on your app at the next bp site.

After a quick toilet stop – in exceptionally clean facilities – it’s time for some food. The kids want burgers and ice-cream – no problem. Your partner fancies a freshly-baked croissant and a flat white – no problem. For you, it’s got to be the Wild Bean Cafe avocado, halloumi and egg bap.

And as a BPme loyalty member, you get a discount – bonus! You pay for it all on your app, which means more loyalty points for money off next time you visit. Everyone sits back, relaxes and enjoys their food.

And while your EV has charged, you’ve recharged yourselves – as well as your phones and the kids’ tablets – in our comfortable café seating area.

Then, you pick up something from M&S to eat later and get back on the road.

In action today 

We are creating this future and developing new food ranges today.

We are trialling our new Wild Bean Cafe made-to-order ‘food for now’ offer at two sites around London, with a further 10 pilots coming next year. 

Since introducing this concept, we have seen a 60% increase in Wild Bean Cafe sales and a 20% increase in transactions.

These trials are helping us to better understand what customers want and figure out how to introduce new offers that they will really value.

We will keep building our retail expertise and keep working to transform forecourt convenience to provide customers on the move with what they want, when they want it and where they want it.

In the UK, we sell a Wild Bean Cafe coffee every 1.5 seconds

In Poland, we sold 12 million hot dogs in 2022

We’re developing new food lines tailored to different markets around the world

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