Best Road Trips in the World

The Great Ocean Road, Australia This iconic drive along Victoria’s southern coast winds past surf beaches, rainforest and the towering limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles rising from the Southern Ocean. Over a few unhurried days it packs in wildlife, viewpoints and seaside towns, best savoured slowly from east to west. Spring and autumn offer milder weather and thinner crowds than the summer peak.

The Ring Road, Iceland Circling the entire island, Route 1 strings together waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches, geothermal fields and volcanic deserts in a single unforgettable loop. Roughly seven to ten days lets you take in the highlights without rushing, with detours to fjords and hot springs. Summer offers endless daylight and open roads, while winter demands care but adds the Northern Lights.

Highway 1 and the Pacific Coast, United States California’s Highway 1 clings to cliffs above the Pacific through Big Sur, linking Los Angeles, the Monterey coast and San Francisco past redwoods, sea otters and crashing surf. It is one of the world’s great coastal drives, ideally taken over several days with plenty of pull-offs. Late spring and autumn bring the clearest weather and least fog.

The Garden Route, South Africa Stretching along the southern Cape coast, this lush drive links forests, lagoons, beaches and mountain passes between Cape Town’s environs and Port Elizabeth. Wildlife, whale-watching and adventure stops punctuate the route, which suits a relaxed week on the road. The spring months bring wildflowers and whale season along the coast.

Route 66, United States The mother road runs from Chicago to Los Angeles, a nostalgic ribbon of neon motels, diners and desert Americana that captures the romance of the mid-century road trip. Though bypassed by interstates, its surviving stretches still deliver quintessential small-town nostalgia. Spring and autumn avoid the worst desert heat across the southwest.

The North Coast 500, Scotland This 500-mile loop around the Scottish Highlands links single-track roads, sea lochs, castles and empty beaches through some of Britain’s wildest scenery. It rewards a slow week of driving, with whisky distilleries and fishing villages along the way. Late spring and early autumn offer long days and fewer midges than high summer.

The Amalfi Coast, Italy The corniche road along Italy’s Amalfi Coast twists high above the Tyrrhenian Sea, connecting pastel-hued cliff towns like Positano and Amalfi with dizzying sea views at every bend. It is a short but intense drive, best tackled at a leisurely pace given the narrow, busy road. Late spring and early autumn dodge the summer gridlock and heat.

The Atlantic Road, Norway A short, spectacular stretch of Norwegian coast, the Atlantic Road leaps between skerries on a series of dramatic bridges, most famously the swooping Storseisundet. It forms the highlight of a wider tour through fjord country and fishing villages. Summer brings the long days and open passes ideal for the wider route.

The Carretera Austral, Chile This rough, remote route through Chilean Patagonia threads past fjords, glaciers, temperate rainforest and hanging valleys along one of the last great wilderness drives. Much of it is gravel, so a sturdy vehicle and patience are needed, but the payoff is raw, empty grandeur. The austral summer, December to March, offers the most reliable conditions.

The Karakoram Highway, Pakistan and China One of the highest paved roads on earth, the Karakoram Highway climbs through the heart of some of the world’s mightiest mountains, past glaciers, gorges and the Hunza Valley to the Khunjerab Pass. It is a bucket-list drive for adventurous travellers, combining jaw-dropping scenery with rich mountain cultures. Late spring to autumn is the window, once the high pass is clear of snow.

The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland Running 2,500 kilometres down Ireland’s west coast, this waymarked route links towering cliffs, hidden coves, colourful villages and windswept peninsulas along the edge of Europe. It can be sampled in sections or driven in full over a couple of weeks, with pubs and music never far away. Late spring and early autumn balance decent weather with quieter roads.

Route 40, Argentina Argentina’s Ruta 40 runs the length of the country beside the Andes, from northern deserts to Patagonian steppe, crossing wine country, salt flats and glacier gateways over thousands of kilometres. It is an epic, sometimes lonely drive that samples the whole spine of the nation. The southern spring and summer, November to March, make the Patagonian sections far more comfortable.

The Cabot Trail, Canada Looping around the highlands of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, the Cabot Trail climbs from the sea into forested plateaus with sweeping Atlantic panoramas at every headland. It combines dramatic coastal driving with hiking, wildlife and Celtic music culture. Autumn, when the maples blaze red and gold, is the most spectacular season.

The Romantic Road, Germany Winding through Bavaria and Franconia, Germany’s Romantic Road links walled medieval towns, half-timbered villages and fairytale castles like Neuschwanstein in a gentle, storybook drive. It suits an unhurried few days of cobbled squares, vineyards and river valleys. Late spring through autumn brings the best weather and Christmas markets follow in December.