Some roads are worth driving for their own sake. Whether you’re chasing coastlines, mountain passes or open desert, these routes turn a drive into the main event of the trip.
Routes for your bucket list
- Pacific Coast Highway, USA: cliffs, beaches and small coastal towns along California’s shoreline.
- Route 66, USA: the classic cross-country drive, full of retro diners, neon signs and roadside history.
- Great Ocean Road, Australia: dramatic sea views and limestone formations along Victoria’s southern coast.
- Ring Road, Iceland: waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and glaciers on a loop around the island.
- Amalfi Coast, Italy: winding cliffside roads with lemon groves and pastel villages.
- Garden Route, South Africa: forests, lagoons and beaches between Mossel Bay and the Eastern Cape.
- Manali–Leh Highway, India: one of the world’s highest road journeys, crossing high Himalayan passes.
Before you set off
Check seasonal road closures, especially on mountain routes, and have your vehicle serviced in advance. Plan fuel stops, since some stretches have long gaps between petrol stations, and download offline maps because mobile signal can disappear.
Most importantly, build in time to stop. The best moments on a great road trip are rarely at the destination. They’re at the viewpoint, the roadside café or the detour you hadn’t planned.
