On Jeju Island the bus to the far side of the island can take two hours, while a rental car does the whole coastal loop in about four. That is why Jeju is where most visitors who drive in Korea end up behind the wheel: cars rent cheaply at the airport, the roads are quiet outside holiday weekends, and the beaches, lava tubes and trailheads of Hallasan are scattered far apart.
On the mainland a car makes less sense for cities, where the KTX and subways beat any drive, and far more sense for the edges of the map. Route 7 runs down the east coast from Sokcho past Gangneung and Donghae towards Busan, with the sea on one side most of the way. In the south, the island bridges of Namhaedo, the green tea terraces of Boseong and the bamboo country around Damyang sit at the end of slow bus connections.
Korean roads are excellent, signs are in Korean and English, and fuel and rest stops are frequent. The two things that trip visitors up are paperwork (you need an International Driving Permit) and navigation, because Google Maps does not give driving directions in Korea.
At a Glance#
- The classic: the coastal loop of Jeju Island, about 180 km, two to four days with stops at Seogwipo, Udo and the Hallasan trailheads.
- East coast: Route 7 from Sokcho and Seoraksan south through Gangneung and Donghae to Pohang, with an inland turn to Gyeongju.
- Mountain roads: passes through Seoraksan and Odaesan in Gangwon, and the high roads around Jirisan.
- Southern coast: Namhaedo’s terraced rice fields, the island bridges to Yeosu, and Tongyeong in Hallyeohaesang National Park.
- Jeolla countryside: Boseong’s tea fields, the Metasequoia road at Damyang, and Suncheon Bay’s reed beds.
- Costs: a small car from about 30,000 to 80,000 won a day on Jeju (about 20 to 55 USD), with expressway tolls of roughly 18,000 to 20,000 won from Seoul to Busan.
Jeju Island#
Jeju is built for driving. The coastal road circles the island in about 180 km, and you can split it into a north side of beaches and cafes around Jeju City and the windmills at Sinchang, an east side with the Seongsan sunrise crater and the ferry to Udo, and a south side of waterfalls and sea cliffs around Seogwipo. Inland roads cross the middle of the island past the oreum (small volcanic cones) and climb to the trailheads of Hallasan, where the 1100 Road tops out at a rest area about 1,100 m up, often in snow from December to February.
Rental companies collect you by shuttle from the airport to a car-hire area nearby, and prices are among the lowest in the country because competition is fierce. Allow three days to see the island without rushing; add a day if you plan to hike Hallasan, which needs an advance reservation for the summit trails. The Olle trail walking routes start along the coast road, so a car also makes it easy to walk one stage and taxi back.
The east coast#
Route 7 is Korea’s great coastal drive. Start in Sokcho, at the foot of Seoraksan, where the Hangyeryeong pass (Route 44) crosses the mountains in a series of switchbacks that are at their best in mid to late October. South of Sokcho the road follows beaches and harbours to Gangneung, known for its coffee street at Anmok beach and its lakeside pavilions, then on through Donghae and Samcheok, where sea caves and cliff walks line the shore.
Below Samcheok the coast is quieter, with fishing towns and hot springs in Uljin, before the road reaches Pohang. From there turn inland for Gyeongju, the old Silla capital, and finish in Busan. Sokcho to Busan is about 400 km and fits comfortably into four or five days. Inland from Gangneung, the roads into Odaesan and Pyeongchang climb through the highest farmland in the country, cool even in August.
The southern coast and Namhae#
The south coast is a maze of peninsulas and islands joined by bridges. Namhaedo, linked to the mainland by bridge, has the steep rice terraces of Gacheon Daraengi Village dropping to the sea and a coast road with views across the water at almost every bend. From the island, roads continue towards Yeosu, whose harbour and night views make an easy overnight, and east towards Tongyeong and Geoje in Hallyeohaesang National Park.
Jeolla and Jirisan#
The southwest is Korea’s farm country and its best food region, and it is where a car saves the most time. Boseong’s green tea plantations climb the hills in neat rows; nearby, Suncheon has the reed beds and boardwalks of Suncheon Bay, best in late October and November. North of Gwangju, the Metasequoia road at Damyang is a straight avenue of tall trees that changes colour with each season, and the bamboo forest town around it is an hour from Jeonju. Further west, Mokpo, Jindo and Wando are the gateways to the islands of Dadohaehaesang National Park.
Jirisan sits where three provinces meet. Roads cross its passes past temples and tea villages, and in autumn the valleys turn red and gold. Combine Jirisan with Andong and the Hahoe Folk Village on a central Korea loop if you have a week.
Suggested routes#
| Route | Distance | Days | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeju coastal loop | about 180 km | 2 to 4 | April to June, September to November |
| Sokcho to Busan on Route 7 | about 400 km | 4 to 5 | May to June, October |
| Seoraksan and Odaesan passes | 150 to 250 km | 2 to 3 | mid to late October |
| Namhae, Yeosu and Tongyeong | 250 to 350 km | 3 to 4 | April to June, autumn |
| Jeolla: Jeonju, Damyang, Boseong, Suncheon | about 400 km | 4 to 5 | May, October to November |
Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Summer brings humidity, monsoon rain from late June into July and occasional typhoons in August and September; winter driving in Gangwon’s mountains needs care on icy passes. Our best time to visit South Korea page has the weather month by month.
Car hire, licences and tolls#
To rent a car you need your home licence, your passport and an International Driving Permit obtained in your home country before you travel; rental desks will not release a car without it. Most companies require drivers to be at least 21 with a year or more of driving experience. Lotte Rent-a-Car and SK Rent-a-Car have desks at Incheon, Gimpo and Jeju, and Lotte also has branches at big KTX stations such as Seoul and Busan, which makes train-plus-car trips easy.
Korea drives on the right. Expressways have tolls, which you pay by card or cash at the booth or automatically with a Hi-pass unit or card, which rental desks can usually supply; ask at pickup how tolls are billed. The Seoul to Busan run costs roughly 18,000 to 20,000 won in tolls. Speed limits are 100 to 110 km/h on most expressways, 50 km/h on most city roads and 30 km/h in school zones, and cameras are everywhere; fines follow the car to your rental contract.
Navigation needs a local app. Naver Map, KakaoMap or the T map app give turn-by-turn driving directions with camera warnings, and rental cars have built-in navigation that accepts phone numbers of hotels and sights as destinations.
Strict drink-driving and right-turn rules
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.03 percent, and police run frequent roadside checks. When turning right at a red light, stop fully first and give way to pedestrians on the crossing. Check the latest rules before you go.
Combine the KTX with car hire: take the train to Gangneung or Suncheon and rent a car there for two or three days, then drop it and ride the train back. You skip the traffic around Seoul, which can add hours on Friday evenings and holiday weekends.
For trains and buses, see our getting around South Korea guide. For drives across the wider region, see road trips in East Asia and the best road trips in the world.
Best road trip regions in South Korea#
More Things to Do#
South Korea road trip FAQs#
Can tourists drive in South Korea?
Yes, with an International Driving Permit obtained before you leave home, plus your home licence and passport. Rental companies require you to be at least 21 and usually to have held a licence for a year.
Is it easy to drive in South Korea?
Roads are well built and signed in English, but cities are congested and drivers can be aggressive. Outside the cities and on Jeju, driving is straightforward. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for directions, since Google Maps does not give driving routes.
How much does it cost to rent a car in South Korea?
On Jeju a small car costs about 30,000 to 80,000 won a day, depending on season and insurance. Mainland rentals cost more. Add fuel, tolls and full insurance cover; take the zero-deductible option.
Are there toll roads in South Korea?
Yes, most expressways charge tolls. Seoul to Busan costs about 18,000 to 20,000 won. Rental desks can usually supply a Hi-pass unit or card that pays automatically; ask how the tolls are billed.
Where is the best road trip in South Korea?
The Jeju coastal loop is the easiest and most popular. On the mainland, Route 7 down the east coast from Sokcho to Busan is the classic, and the southern coast around Namhae and Yeosu is the most scenic.
Do I need a car to visit Jeju?
Not strictly, since buses reach every part of the island, but they are slow and infrequent outside Jeju City and Seogwipo. A car turns a day of bus connections into a couple of hours of driving.