Best Road Trips in the World

If you’re a big fan of road trips, you’re likely to be familiar with many of the famous routes in the US. However, there are many other areas of the world offering an amazing road trip experience. So, here we’ll explore the best road trips in the world.

The Ring Road, Iceland

If what you expect from an epic road trip is grandeur and spectacular geology, the Ring Road in Iceland is the perfect fit for you. This impressive loop spans 820 miles and it offers a journey of out of this world landscapes including grand waterfalls, lava fields, bubbling geysers and spouting glaciers. This is easily one of the best road trips in the world, but you will need at least seven days to take in the attractions along the way. However, if you’re visiting in May, June or July, there is almost 24 hours of sunlight a day. Most visitors start in Reykjavik, the capital and closest city to the Keflavik international airport. However, you can do the route clockwise or counterclockwise. Regardless of which you choose, it is well worth taking the detour to visit the northern Troll Peninsula. This traverses the headlands and you can see the end of the Skagafjörður fjord. It is also worth visiting Jökulsárlón. This glacial lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach are simply stunning, with chunks of ice and icebergs that sparkle, particularly against the black sands of the beach. 

The Romantic Road, Germany

The Romantische Strasse or Romantic Road makes it easy to see the inspiration for Grimm’s fairy tales. This German route is littered with red roofed villages, Alpine foothills and turreted castles. This is a scenic route that travels across Bavaria connecting Würzburg and Füssen. Würzburg is the home of the Unesco site, the Würzburg Residence, an opulent palace. Füssen is a short drive from Neuschwanstein Castle, which provided the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty palace in the Disney movies. Along your journey, there are plenty of beer gardens including the stunning Lechgarten in Landsberg am Lech, where you can enjoy a cool drink by the river.

Atlantic Road, Norway

Norway has an impressive 18 designated national scenic routes, but Bond fans may immediately recognize the Atlantic Road from the movie No Time to Die. Officially called the Atlanterhavsveien, this route links the fishing village of Bud with Averøy Island’s village of Kårvåg via eight low lying bridges that connect the archipelago. There are a couple of detours along the route that are well worth taking the time including the Vevang coastal path to see Columna Transatlantica, Jan Freuchen’s sculpture which is situated across the rocks and hills. There is also the Askevågen viewing platform, which is glass walled offering superb ocean and breathtaking mountain views.

The Explorer’s Way, Australia

Explorer’s Way runs right across the Red Center of Australia, a region marked by its iron oxide rich soil that creates a striking and vast landscape. This provides the ultimate outback road trip. Much of the drive is on the Stuart Highway, which was named for the first European to traverse the continent from south to north, John McDouall Stuart. While Stuart’s trek took almost a year, modern visitors can complete the journey in less than two weeks with plenty of time to take in the sights along the way. This includes a detour to Uluru Kata Tjuta National park, where you can see the massive monolith that stands over 2,800 feet tall. 

The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland

The Wild Atlantic Way is a narrow, winding route that hugs the spectacular and rugged west coast of Ireland for 1,600 miles. It starts in County Donegal and ends in Kinsale, County Cork, with the route broken into 14 stages, requiring at least five days to do it justice. There are lots of opportunities to explore the beaches and soaring cliffs. A good stopping point is Slieve League, which rises up 1,972 feet. You can go from Teelin village along the Pilgrim’s Path and then enjoy lunch at one of the cafes and bars in the area. It is also worth detouring to Achill Island, where you can walk almost two miles of golden sands at Keel Beach. This is a great spot for walking, relaxing or even renting a board and making the most of the waves. 

The Garden Route, South Africa

If you want a spectacular road trip, the Garden Route in South Africa offers an abundance of lush, national forests, beautiful beaches and even marine life. The gateway for the Garden Route is in Hermanus Bay, a former fishing village that is less than two hours drive out of Cape Town. If you visit between June and December, it is worth stopping a little while in Hermanus Bay as you can whale watch right on land as you look out over the water. However, you’ll need to drive three and a half hours on the N2 highway to reach Mossel Bay, the official starting point of the route. Approximately midway along the route, you’ll find Wilderness National Park. This is a great spot for a break, as you can kayak, birdwatch or simply immerse yourself in nature. The site has some inexpensive campsite options or you can book a night or two in the bed and breakfast. 

Milford Sound to Queenstown in New Zealand

Milford Sound was described as the “eighth wonder of the world” by Rudyard Kipling. It provides some stunning scenery, particularly with the glacier wilderness of the Fiordland National Park. You can walk the Milford Track, one of the Great Walks in New Zealand and it is also a great starting point for an epic drive to Queenstown along State Highway 94 and State Highway 6. The route takes only four hours, but it is worth taking your time to explore the alpine lakes and waterfalls along the way. At the halfway point is Te Anau, the perfect spot for refueling and getting something to eat before you continue on your journey. 

While the US has some amazing routes, some of the best road trips in the world are further afield. So, if you’re planning on an epic journey, it is well worth exploring these areas.