11 of the most breathtakingly stunning road trips around the world
Behind the wheel is the only practical way to discover the world. Learn about the best road trips in the world that we’ve selected throughout the globe.
1. Cabot Trail, Canada
300 kilometers of tranquil Nova Scotia charm? Do we sign here? The Cabot Trail has drawn a lot of attention from lovers of road trips, and it’s easy to see why: the breathtaking wilderness is frequently broken up by fishing villages and historic communities, fusing Canada’s past with undoubtedly beautiful environment. Without stopping, the entire process takes roughly five hours, but come on, you’re driving through the Canadian wilderness; you’re going to stop a lot.
2. Route 66, USA
The claim that Route 66 is the world’s most recognizable road trip is not absurd. Thanks to the innumerable books, songs, TV episodes, movies, and other media that have been produced, the 3,665 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles have become indelible parts of American culture. Its reputation as the Main Street of America is not unjustified. Allow yourself a few weeks to do this project while revelling in how uniquely American it is.
3. The Garden Route, South Africa
You won’t be let down if you have high hopes for a route called the “Garden Route.” From towering mountains to quaint coastal villages and all in between, South Africa’s stunning road from Cape Town to Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth) is a true celebration of the country’s wonderful nature. The 300 km (plus or minus) drive can be completed in a single day, but if you take your time and stop frequently, you can extend your trip to six or seven days.
4. Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia
It may seem strange to recommend a road trip that doesn’t concentrate on a road, but the Bolivian Uyuni Salt Flats are something else entirely. The largest salt flat on earth, Uyuni, does require some planning because there isn’t exactly a lot of infrastructure for road trips, but get everything in order ahead of time and prepare ready for an adventure of a lifetime. Make a round trip beginning at Sucre, but make sure you have a tank big enough (and enough water) to last the entire journey. Without a doubt, make a stop at the Laguna Colorada. You are pampering us, Bolivia.
5. Pula to Dubrovnik, Croatia
Driving the entire length of the Croatian coast is the best way to explore it. Starting in Pula, travel 709 kilometers along the coast to Dubrovnik, stopping along the way in Rijeka, Split, Zadar, and other places. Croatia is rich in culture and history, but its charming fishing villages date back hundreds of years.
6. Karakoram Highway, Pakistan
The closest thing to a road trip in heaven there is. The Karakoram Highway in Pakistan is one of the highest paved roads on earth and a true conveyer belt of grandeur, but it is not for the faint of heart. It is an understatement to say that the terrain becomes quite rough, and in the winter, the entire area is closed for months due to severe snowfall. The 1,300km-long roadway offers breathtaking mountain views and a very real sense of history to those who are successful in completing the journey. Take the road from Hasan Abdal all the way to the Chinese border. You won’t be sorry.
7. Ring Road, Iceland
Iceland must be on any list of travel experiences, right? Iceland is completely encircled by the 1,333-kilometer-long Iceland Ring Road, which may be driven in 12 or 13 hours, depending on pace. Actually, you should give yourself a week or more to do it right, pausing frequently to admire the breathtaking views that are unique to Iceland. This road trip is the ideal opportunity to assess how true the hoopla is.
8. Ruta 40, Argentina
From Punta Loyola in the south to La Quiaca in the north, Argentina’s Rutta 40 traverses the Andes for a whopping 5,194 kilometers. This is, without a doubt, one of the world’s and Argentina’s longest roads. That makes it very suitable for a road trip by itself, but there are other factors that make this a great excursion as well. The lakes, glaciers, national parks, and mountains make it well worth the planning and endurance required.
9. Pan-American Highway
Why not go on after your Rutta 40 journey and conquer the entire Pacific Coast while we’re talking about America’s monolithic roads? The Pan-American Highway is a network of roadways that stretches over 30,000 kilometers from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Quillon in Chile. Don’t rush this one; it takes approximately a month to complete. Driving through the Darién Gap presents a number of challenges. Although completing the entire thing has a unique Hall of Fame-like experience, it is best to break it up into chunks.
10. Atlantic Road, Norway
Not every road trip needs to last for several days. Sometimes all that is required is a few hours of breathtaking driving mixed with sights (and a picnic, you’ve got to have a lunch). Just over 8km long, the Atlantic Road in Norway is breathtaking on every inch. The road winds its way along the west coast, passing through breathtaking landscape deserving of the title of “world’s most beautiful car drive.”
11. Great Ocean Road, Australia
A unique kind of road journey is the Great Ocean Road. There is what is regarded as the largest military memorial in the world, honoring World War I troops, between Torquay and Allansford. This is very much a “leave a clean camp and a dead fire” kind of trip because there are so many things to see along the way and the entire area is protected. But you get the idea. All journeys need to be. The road follows beautiful coasts, providing the sea-hungry with numerous sight chances.
