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The Top 70 Greatest Road Trips

Posted by Victoria Collins on

There are countless ways to explore the full splendour of a city, country or even a continent. But to explore the real depths of a place, there's nothing as exhilarating and eye-opening as revving up, buckling in, and hitting the open road for an awe-inspiring adventure across the world’s most scenic spots. 

To see which road trip ticks all the destination checkboxes, the team at CarMats.co.uk has analysed a seed list of the world’s most iconic highway destinations to reveal the best road trips in the world. 

The index analyses the destinations’ average temperature in summer, rainfall per year, sunlight hours, light pollution and the number of national parks to explore en route. The list also reveals the road’s length in km and the days it takes to explore. 

So, why wait? Grab your keys, rev your engine, and let's hit the road…

Top 70 Greatest Road Trips in the World

From the rugged valleys of the American Southwest to the winding roads of South Africa’s mountainous routes, CarMats.co.uk’s index ranks the best road trips in the world, taking into account factors like cost, weather and national parks to explore. 

Road Trip Country/State or City Continent Standout Landmarks Length in KM Length in time Total Score
1 The Savannah Way Queensland to Western Australia Australia Gorges and Rainforests 3700 km 3 - 4 weeks 70.8
2 The Grand Circle American Southwest North America Valleys and Canyons 1500 km 2 - 3 weeks 63.7
3 Route 66 Chicago to Santa Monica North America Wild West 3665 km 2 - 4 weeks 63.5
4 The Atlas Mountains Morocco Africa Mountains 1200 km 2 weeks 61.8
5 The Sahara Desert Loop Morocco to Mauritiana Africa Gorges 2500 km 2 - 3 weeks 59.8
6 Coastal Road Trip Morocco Africa Coast 2600 km 3 - 4 weeks 59.4
7 The Carretera Austral Chile South America Mountains and Lakes 1,240 km 2 weeks 59.3
8 The Danube Serbia/Hungary/Slovakia/Austria Europe Lakes 350 km 3 days 57.5
9 Trans-Kalahari Highway Botswana to Namibia Africa Grasslands 1900 km 3 - 4 days 57.3
10 Transpantaneira Brazil South America Wetland 145 km 2 - 3 days 56.5
11 Epirus Greece Europe Mountains 500 km 8 - 9 days 56.1
12 Great River Road Minnesota to Louisiana North America Rivers 3000 km 3 weeks 55.5
13 The Skeleton Coast Namibia Africa Dryland 1500 km 2 - 3 weeks 55.5
14 West America Road Trip California/Nevada North America Beaches and Valleys 2,300 km 12 - 16 days 55.3
15 Mae Hong Son Loop Northern Thailand Asia Mountains & Rivers 600 km 3 - 5 days 55.1
16 Tallinn to Tirana Estonia/Albania Europe Countryside 2859 km 12 - 16 days 54.8
17 The Friendship Highway Nepal to Tibet Asia Mountains 1080 km 8 - 10 days 54.8
18 The Gibb River Road Western Australia Australia Gorges and Waterfalls 660 km 7 - 10 days 54.6
19 Transfăgărășan Highway Romania Europe Mountains 151 km 1 - 2 days 53.9
20 Ruta 40 Argentina South America Mountains 5,200 km. 3 - 4 weeks 53.3
21 Alaska Highway Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction, Alaska North America Mountains & Valleys 2232 km 2 - 3 weeks 53.1
22 The Trans-Canada Highway Victoria, British Columbia to St. John's, Newfoundland North America Mountains & Countryside 7800 km 3 - 4 weeks 52.4
23 The Sani Pass South Africa to Lesotho Africa Mountains 75 km 1 day 52.2
24 Northern Lakes Italy Europe Lakes 400 km 5 - 10 days 52.1
25 Garden Route South Africa Africa Ocean 300 km 5 - 7 days 52
26 Pula to Dubrovnik Croatia Europe Coast 713 km 7 days 51.8
27 Florida Keys Miami to Key West North America Beaches 290 km 2 - 3 days 51.3
28 The Oregon Trail Missouri to Oregon North America Forests and Valleys 3,490 km 2 - 4 weeks 51.3
29 Pacific Coast Touring Route New South Wales and Queensland Australia Coast 900 km 7 - 10 days 50.9
30 Pacific Coast Highway Coast of California - San Francisco to San Diego North America Coast 885 km 2 - 5 days 49.8
31 Leh-Manali Highway India Asia Mountains 490 km 4 - 7 days 49.6
32 The Eastern Cape Wild Coast South Africa Africa Beaches 300 km 4 - 5 days 49.5
33 Red Centre Way Northern Territory Australia Outback 1155 km 5 - 7 days 49.2
34 Arugam Bay to Trincomalee Sri Lanka Asia Beaches & Fields 300 km 4 - 6 days 48.8
35 The Andes Venezuela to Chile South America Mountains 7,000 km 3 - 6 months 48.1
36 Thermal Explorer Highway New Zealand - Auckland to Napier Zealandia Valleys & Forests 600 km 1 week 47.8
37 The Great Alpine Road Victoria Australia Mountains 308 km 4 - 5 days 47.5
38 The Araksa Tea Plantation Drive Thailand Asia Forests 120 km 1 - 2 days 47.5
39 Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia Coast 243 km 3 - 4 days 47.3
40 The Dempster Highway Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, Northwest Territories North America Wilderness 740 km 2 - 3 days 46.9
41 Amalfi Coast Italy Europe Coast 50 km 2 - 3 hours 46.7
42 Milford Sound Road Trip New Zealand Zealandia Mountains 550 km 3 - 6 days 46.5
43 The Autobahn Drive Germany - Berlin to Frankfurt Europe Countryside 3000 km 2 weeks 46
44 The Basque Circuit Spain Europe Coast 600 km 4 - 5 days 46
45 Classic New Zealand Wine Trail New Zealand Zealandia Forest 380 km 4 - 5 days 44.8
46 Edinburgh to London UK Europe Countryside 655 km 2 - 5 days 44.7
47 The Icefields Parkway Canada - Alberta North America Mountains 232 km 2 - 3 days 44.1
48 The Welsh Coastal Way Wales - St Davids to Aberdaron Europe Coast 290 km 5 - 7 days 43.7
49 The Great Dolomites Road Italy Europe Mountains 110 km 3 - 4 hours 43.6
50 New England route Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island North America Forests 2000 km 10 - 13 days 43.3
51 The Route des Grandes Alpes France Europe Mountains 700 km 6 - 7 days 42.4
52 The Causeway Coastal Route Northern Ireland Europe Coast 195 km 2 - 3 days 42.3
53 Christchurch to Queenstown New Zealand Zealandia Lakes 480 km 1 week 42.1
54 The Romantic Road Germany Europe Historical ruins 350 km 5 - 7 days 42
55 The Cabot Trail Nova Scotia North America Rocky Shores 298 km 3 - 5 days 42
56 Blues Highway Tennessee/New Orleans North America Tropical Beaches 1011 km 6 days 41.5
57 Salar de Uyuni Bolivia South America Salt Flat 170 km 2 - 3 days 41.1
58 Scottish Highlands Scotland Europe Mountains 830 km 5 - 7 days 40.3
59 The Grossglockner High Alpine Road Austria Europe Mountains 48 km 1 - 2 hours 40.1
60 The Yorkshire Dales England Europe Countryside 330 km 4 - 5 days 39.5
61 The Wild Atlantic Way Ireland Europe Coast 2500 km 10 - 14 days 39.2
62 The Peak District England Europe Countryside 290 km 3 - 4 days 39.1
63 The Pan-American Highway Alaska/Argentina South America Mountains 25,750 km 6 - 18 months 38.1
64 Arosa to Zermatt Switzerland Europe Mountains 305 km 2 - 3 days 37.7
65 Iceland Ring Road Iceland Europe Glaciers & Waterfalls 1332 km 8 - 10 days 36.9
66 Atlantic Road Norway Europe Ocean 8 km 20 minutes 35.1
67 Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia to North Carolina North America Mountains 775 km 3 - 5 days 34.7
68 The Trollstigen Mountain Road Norway Europe Fjords and Mountains 20 km 30 minutes 33.9
69 Ho Chi Minh Road Vietnam Asia Mountains & Jungles 2000 km 2 - 4 weeks 31.1
70 The Panorama Route South Africa Africa Mountains 200 km 2 - 3 days 30.2

 

*An average figure was given for road trips that feature multiple destinations

Australia’s Savannah Way is the BEST road trip in the world, beating Route 66

Ranking first and highest with a score of 68.3 is Australia’s stunning Savannah Way which spans 3,700km across two-states across north Australia. 

With high temperatures, minimal rainfall, an abundance of national parks and the dramatic landscapes of the outback, this route has all the ingredients you need to create the perfect road trip recipe.

This unforgettable trip along The Savannah Way starts in Cairns, Queensland, and spans through the north of Australia, ending in Broome, Western Australia. 

At a reasonable cost of £39 a day (on average) to rent a car, you can expect to drive through an array of diverse landscapes - from dense rainforests to expansive savannahs and craggy gorges. 

Sightsee some of Australia's most recognised yet unique wildlife, including crocodiles, wallabies and even wild horses. With a rich and cultural timeline, the Savannah Way can lead you to explore Australia’s indigenous history with numerous communities and ancient rock art sites dotted throughout the route. With long stretches of open road drivers can soak up the natural beauty of this part of the world for hours on end. 

The diverse route also crosses through a near 15 awe-inspiring national parks like Litchfield National Park (pictured above). These views will provide you and your passengers with envy-worthy Instagram photos for your feed, while the waterfalls, grand scenery and sunbathing spots will help you get back to nature and relax. 

Top 10 dreamiest road trips: The best routes for stargazing, with Salar de Uyuni in the top spot

If a romantic road trip seeing the stars is what you’re after on your dream drive, then these top 10 dark (or darker) sky destinations are the ideal places for you. 

With a light pollution score of 1 and known for its starry skies, Salar de Uyuni is the road trip that has the finest celestial airspace. Bolivia’s salt flats destination frequently tops the world’s best location lists and its starry sky is an added perk.

Road Trip Country/ State or City Standout Landmarks Continent Length in km Length in time Light Pollution (Dark Sky Scale) Costs to rent car (avg) Avg yearly rainfall (in days)
1 Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Salt Flat South America 170 2 - 3 days 1 £86 104
2 The Sani Pass South Africa to Lesotho Mountains Africa 75 1 day 1 £17 160
3 The Sahara Desert Loop Morocco to Mauritiana Gorges Africa 2500 2 - 3 weeks 1 £24 23
4 Milford Sound Road Trip New Zealand Mountains Zealandia 550 3 - 6 days 1 £36 132
5 The Friendship Highway Nepal to Tibet Mountains Asia 1080 8 - 10 days 1 £62 52
6 Red Centre Way Northern Territory Outback Australia 1155 5 - 7 days 1 £70 111
7 The Gibb River Road Western Australia Gorges and Waterfalls Australia 660 7 - 10 days 1.5 £35 134
8 The Skeleton Coast Namibia Dryland Africa 1500 2 - 3 weeks 1.5 £50 41
9 Iceland Ring Road Iceland Glaciers & Waterfalls Europe 1332 8 - 10 days 2 £43 225
10 Scottish Highlands Scotland Mountains Europe 830 5 - 7 days 2 £39 175

 

These rural areas make up the best spots for stargazing due to their lack of light pollution. Light pollution occurs when stray light from urban areas scatters into the night sky. In areas where the population is dense and there isn’t stray light seeping from businesses, residential areas and street lights, the sky is at its clearest and so, stars are more visible in the sky. 

Need-for-speed-lovers needn’t attend though, as the Salar is best crossed in a sturdy 4x4. The surface is temperamental and even though it’s characteristically solid ground, the location is prone to flash flooding, and vehicles are susceptible to getting stuck. For that reason, it’s recommended to bring a tour guide with you.  

With an elevation of 4,000m and 10,000 square kilometres of space, the salt flat is a vast piece of land that’s impressive in its own light. It’s been made more of an iconic spot for tourists after it was featured in Star Wars: The Last Jedi too. 

The former giant lake now stands as the world’s largest salt plateau and offers a mind-blowing driving experience for those who want to have an out-of-the-world experience. 

Although known worldwide for its magical skies and Northern Lights views, Iceland’s iconic road trip the Iceland Ring Road features lower down on the top 10 list, in the ninth spot.

Gap year special: Top 10 long-distance dream road trips 

If you’ve got time to explore and are looking for a road trip of a lifetime, then the Pan-American route is the longest and one of the most epic road trips of them all. 

Starting in Alaska, the Pan-American route is a network of roads that spans through both North America and South America until its final destination in Argentina. It’s known as the longest road in the world at approximately 25,000 km, it connects two continents and passes through 14 countries.

Road Trip Country/State or City Standout Landmarks Continent Length in km Length in time Light Pollution (Dark Sky Scale) Costs to rent car (avg) Avg temp (in summer)
1 The Pan-American Highway Alaska/Argentina Mountains South America 25,750 6 - 18 months 4 £151 18
2 The Trans-Canada Highway Victoria, British Columbia to St. John's, Newfoundland Mountains & Countryside North America 7800 3 - 4 weeks 3 £64 19
3 The Andes Venezuela to Chile Mountains South America 7,000 3 months 4 £73 28.6
4 Ruta 40 Argentina Mountains South America 5,200 3 - 4 weeks 3 £71 23
5 The Savannah Way Queensland to Western Australia Gulfs Australia 3700 3 - 4 weeks 2 £39 25.4
6 Route 66 Chicago to Santa Monica Wild West North America 3665 2 weeks 6 £34 24.5
7 The Oregon Trail Missouri to Oregon Forests and Valleys North America 3,490 2 - 4 weeks 3 £37 23
8 Great River Road Minnesota to Louisiana Rivers North America 3,000 3 weeks 4 £37 30
9 The Autobahn Drive Germany - Berlin to Frankfurt Countryside Europe 3,000 2 weeks 4 £40 19.5
10 Tallinn to Tirana Estonia/Albania Countryside Europe 2859 12 - 16 days 7.5 £21 19.5

  

From waterfalls to jungles, cities and beaches, roadtrippers can expect to see some magnificent landscapes across the cross-continent drive. You’ll pass through the US, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and finally, Argentina.

Explorers looking to drive this epic road trip will have to block out a big chunk of their diary though, as it can take approximately 6 to 18 months to drive across, depending on the speed at which you’re driving and how long you take to explore your surroundings. 

If the actual drive itself is the part of the road trip you’re most interested in, then riding the Autobahn in Germany is a must. With no speed limit on the Autobahn, some cars with powerful engines can reach speeds of up to 190 mph. For this reason, the roads were featured on Top Gear. Speed isn’t the only perk though, as you can also experience the most scenic routes and autobahns linking Germany's awe-inspiring scenery of the Alps, the urban culture of Berlin and historic castles en route.

Taking the scenic route: Top 10 short-distance dream road trips

Road Trip Country/State or City Standout Landmarks Continent Length in km Length in time Light Pollution (Dark Sky Scale) Costs to rent car (avg) Avg yearly rainfall (in days) Avg temp (in summer)
1 Atlantic Road Norway Ocean Europe 8 20 minutes 4 £54 172 15
2 The Trollstigen Mountain Road Norway Fjords and Mountains Europe 20 30 minutes 5 £54 172 15
3 The Grossglockner High Alpine Road Austria Mountains Europe 48 1 - 2 hours 4 £49 141 19
4 Amalfi Coast Italy Coast Europe 50 2 - 3 hours 5 £33 125 24.5
5 The Sani Pass South Africa to Lesotho Mountains Africa 75 1 day 1 £17 160 28
6 The Great Dolomite Road Italy Mountains Europe 110 3 - 4 hours 6 £33 163 18
7 The Araksa Tea Plantation Drive Thailand Forests Asia 120 1 - 2 days 6 £31 109 28
8 Transpantaneira Brazil Wetland South America 145 2 - 3 days 3 £17 115 24
9 Transfăgărășan Highway Romania Mountains Europe 151 1 - 2 days 3 £18 120 25.5
10 Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Salt Flat South America 170 2 - 3 days 1 £86 104 22

 

Recognised as one of the most unique and beautiful drives in the world, the Atlantic Road in Norway is also the shortest drive on the dreamiest road trips list. 

At only 8km long, the stretch of road takes you to the start of the ocean's edge and connects Averøy with the mainland via a series of bridges and small islands. The coastal scenery, salty air and breathtaking views are not the only things to enjoy on this short but sweet trip, as there is a sea sports centre that organises fishing trips, snorkelling with seals or rib safaris. There are also places to park up so you can take a stroll along the hillocks.

Fuel your wanderlust on a budget: The top 10 purse-friendly road trip destinations

Whether you're a student on a tight budget or someone simply looking to stretch your money further while abroad, then these gap-year-friendly destinations will help you save some money while still enjoying new experiences. 

Looking at the average costs to rent a car, the top 10 cost-friendly road trips will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of travel without breaking the bank.

Road Trip

Country/State or City

Standout Landmarks

Continent

Length in km

Length in time

Light Pollution (Dark Sky Scale)

Costs to rent car (avg)

Avg temp (in summer)

1

The Danube

Germany/ Serbia/ Hungary/ Slovakia/ Austria

Lakes

Europe

350

3 - 6 days

4

£14

23

2

Thermal Explorer Highway

New Zealand - Auckland to Napier

Valleys & Forests

Zealandia

600

1 week

4

£16

18.5

3

The Sani Pass

South Africa to Lesotho

Mountains

Africa

75

1 day

1

£17

28

4

Transpantaneira

Brazil

Wetland

South America

145

2 - 3 days

3

£17

24

5

Transfăgărășan Highway

Romania

Mountains

Europe

151

1 - 2 days

3

£18

25.5

6

Tallinn to Tirana

Estonia/Albania

Countryside

Europe

2859

12 - 16 days

7.5

£21

19.5

7

Pula to Dubrovnik

Croatia

Coast

Europe

713

7 days

5

£23

27.5

8

Epirus

Greece

Mountains

Europe

500

8 - 9 days

4

£24

25

9

The Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Mountains

Africa

1,200

2 weeks

2

£24

23

10

The Sahara Desert Loop

Morocco to Mauritiana

Gorges

Africa

2500

2 - 3 weeks

1

£24

25

 

If you want an exhilarating road trip experience but you don’t want it to cost the earth, then a drive along the Danube will leave you breathless, but not penniless. 

With the average cost of £14 per day to rent a car throughout these destinations, The Danube road trip is the cheapest place to travel through on the list. 

As a general rule, due to a combination of historical, political, and economic factors, Eastern Europe tends to have a lower markup price for goods and services than the rest of Western Europe - meaning you will get more for your buck in this part of the world. 

This 350km trip through Central and Eastern Europe crosses through five major European countries and explores the length of The Danube River. Roadtrippers looking to drive this magnificent route are recommended to do so in the summer months of May to August, as you’ll experience warmer temperatures, less rainfall and longer sunlight hours.  

Whether you're seeking breathtaking natural landscapes, unique cultural experiences, or just a chance to hit the open road, there are countless destinations around the globe that offer unforgettable road trip experiences. 

Any road trip from this meticulous 70-strong list is bound to offer you a memorable adventure. So why not start planning your next adventure today? Whether you choose to travel solo, with friends or family, or on an organised tour, a road trip promises to be a journey that you will never forget.

Methodology

This analysis was conducted using national weather, climate and tourism sites, manual research and other Google resources to determine the dreamiest road trips. 

A seed list of 70 road trips was analysed alongside their distance in KM and travel time. A full list of sources used in the data can be found below. We used the following six factors, giving a score for each factor, before combining this to give an overall ‘dream’ factor:

  • Light Pollution (Dark Sky Scale) - Using the Light Pollution Map (https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/) we looked at each destination’s Bortle Dark Sky score, with the lowest score being the most desirable. For destinations that span multiple destinations, we created an average score. 
  • Average Sunlight Hours - We used Google to determine the average sunlight hours in each destination.  For destinations that span multiple destinations, we created an average time. 
  • Costs to Rent Car - We used Kayak (https://www.kayak.co.uk/cars) to calculate the average costs for car rental at each destination. For destinations that span multiple destinations, we used the starting point location. 
  • Average Yearly Rainfall (in Days) & Average Temperature (in Summer) - We used each country’s national weather site to calculate the average rainfall in days per year. For destinations that span multiple countries, we calculated an average score. 

 

This research was accurate as of May 5th 2023.

 


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