There’s a special thrill in hitting the open road, windows down, music up, and adventure ahead. From coastal highways to mountain passes, these 15 epic road trips around the world offer breathtaking scenery, unforgettable experiences, and a sense of freedom that turns every journey into a story worth telling.
1. Pacific Coast Highway, USA
Highlights: Bixby Creek Bridge, Hearst Castle, Malibu beaches, and wine tasting in Santa Barbara.
Stretching from San Francisco to Los Angeles, California’s Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) offers cliffside views of the Pacific Ocean, charming coastal towns like Monterey and Santa Barbara, and access to iconic sites like Big Sur and Bixby Creek Bridge. It’s one of the most scenic road trips in the world.
- Best Time to Go: Spring and Fall
- Distance: ~600 miles
- Duration: 3–5 days
2. Great Ocean Road, Australia
Highlights: The Twelve Apostles, surfing in Torquay, koala spotting at Kennett River, and rainforest walks in Great Otway National Park.
This legendary Australian route takes you along the southeastern coast of Victoria. Expect dramatic coastal rock formations like the Twelve Apostles, lush rainforests, and quaint seaside towns along the way.
- Best Time to Go: December to February
- Distance: ~150 miles
- Duration: 2–3 days
Read More: Discover the Most Spectacular Hiking Routes on Earth
3. Ring Road, Iceland
Highlights: Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Lake Mývatn, and the Northern Lights in winter.
If you’re looking for otherworldly landscapes, Iceland’s Ring Road delivers. This route circles the entire country and includes waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, black sand beaches, and geothermal hotspots.
- Best Time to Go: June to August
- Distance: ~820 miles
- Duration: 7–10 days
4. Garden Route, South Africa
Highlights: Knysna’s forested cliffs, Tsitsikamma National Park, ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn, and whale watching in Hermanus.
This coastal route from Mossel Bay to Storms River is a mix of beaches, national parks, lagoons, and mountains. Stop in Knysna for oysters, go zip-lining in Tsitsikamma, and don’t skip a safari in nearby Addo Elephant Park. It’s adventure packed into paradise.
- Best Time to Go: September to November
- Distance: ~190 miles
- Duration: 3–5 days
5. Route 66, USA
Highlights: Cadillac Ranch in Texas, Petrified Forest National Park, roadside diners, and quirky motels.
The Mother Road offers a nostalgic trip from Chicago to Santa Monica, featuring neon diners, quirky roadside stops, and timeless desert towns. It’s a slow-paced journey through classic Americana, where every vintage sign and retro gas station tells a story.
- Best Time to Go: May to October
- Distance: ~2,400 miles
- Duration: 2–3 weeks
6. Amalfi Coast, Italy
Highlights: Positano’s colorful villas, Ravello’s cliffside gardens, Amalfi’s historic cathedral, and Neapolitan cuisine.
This is what Italian dreams are made of. Hairpin turns, cliffside villages, and the sparkling blue Mediterranean always in view. Drive from Sorrento to Salerno, stopping in Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello for limoncello and that famous Italian flair.
- Best Time to Go: April to June or September
- Distance: ~30 miles
- Duration: 1–2 days
7. North Coast 500, Scotland
Highlights: Bealach na Bà pass, Dunrobin Castle, white sand beaches in Durness, and whisky distilleries in Inverness.
Scotland’s answer to Route 66 takes you on a 516-mile loop of the Scottish Highlands. Think remote beaches, fairy-tale castles, misty mountains, and whisky distilleries (for after the drive, of course). It’s hauntingly beautiful and full of legends.
- Best Time to Go: May to September
- Distance: ~500 miles
- Duration: 5–7 days
8. The Atlantic Road, Norway
Highlights: Ocean-hugging bridges and stormy sea views on a short but spectacular route.
This engineering marvel zigzags across the sea via islands and causeways. The Atlantic Road is short but spectacular, like driving on water during storm season. It’s a rollercoaster for your senses.
- Best Time to Go: Summer
- Distance: ~5 miles
- Duration: 1 day (or part of a longer Norwegian road trip)
9. Route 40, Argentina
Highlights: Mendoza wine country, Perito Moreno Glacier, and ancient cave paintings in Cueva de las Manos.
Yes, it deserves another shout-out! Route 40 stretches over 5,000 km and is one of the longest and most legendary roads in the world. From arid deserts to snow-covered peaks, it showcases Argentina’s rich landscapes and cultures.
- Best Time to Go: November to March
- Distance: ~3,100 miles
- Duration: 3+ weeks
10. Canadian Rockies, Canada
Highlights: Glacial lakes, towering peaks, and wildlife in a pristine alpine setting.
Drive from Banff to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway. Towering peaks, turquoise lakes, and epic glaciers make this one of the most jaw-dropping road trips in North America.
- Best Time to Go: June to September
- Distance: ~140 miles
- Duration: 1–3 days
11. The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
Highlights: Windswept cliffs, cozy villages, and Ireland’s untamed west coast.
The west coast of Ireland, stretches over 2,500 km along its rugged west coast. Picture dramatic cliffs, sleepy villages, ocean spray, and endless green. It’s poetic, raw, and beautiful in the most Irish way possible.
- Best Time to Go: May to September
- Distance: ~1,600 miles
- Duration: 1–2 weeks
Read More: Rome in 48 Hours: An Insider’s Itinerary for a Perfect Weekend
12. Ticlio Pass, Peru
Highlights: Sky-high Andean vistas and a taste of Peru’s extreme elevations.
Welcome to one of the highest paved roads in the world! At over 15,800 feet, Ticlio Pass is not for the faint-hearted. This Andean road offers a challenging, high-altitude drive through dramatic mountain scenery, with llamas often chilling roadside.
- Best Time to Go: May to October
- Distance: ~90 miles
- Duration: 1 day
13. Carretera Austral, Chile
Highlights: Patagonia, General Carrera Lake, marble caves
If you’re chasing raw, untouched beauty, Chile’s Carretera Austral is the one. It stretches through Patagonia, weaving past fjords, waterfalls, and thick forests. The road isn’t always paved, and that’s part of the thrill. It’s rugged, wild, and absolutely breathtaking.
- Best Time to Go: December to March (Chilean summer)
- Duration: 7–14 days
- Distance: ~770 miles
14. Leh-Manali Highway (India)
Highlights: Himalayan passes (Rohtang, Tanglang La), monasteries
One of the most thrilling and high-altitude road trips in the world, this 500-km stretch through the Himalayas is a spiritual journey. Snow-capped mountains, Buddhist monasteries, and heart-pounding mountain passes, this one’s for the brave-hearted.
- Best Time to Go: Mid-June to September (open season)
- Duration: 2–5 days
- Distance: ~295 miles
15. South Island Circuit, New Zealand
Highlights: Alpine lakes, fjords, and cinematic scenery at every turn.
Driving New Zealand’s South Island feels like flipping through a nature documentary. You’ve got mountains in Queenstown, glaciers in Franz Josef, and the stunning Milford Sound fjords. Every bend in the road offers a new “wow” moment.
- Best Time to Go: November to March
- Distance: ~1,000 miles
- Duration: 10–14 days
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re in the mood for coastal serenity, alpine adventure, or cultural exploration, these road trips will spark your sense of wanderlust and keep you dreaming of the next great journey. So pack your bags, fuel up, and start planning your next unforgettable ride.
Ready to hit the road? These epic road trips are calling your name.
