Road trip itineraries

655 km (407 miles)5-7 days recommendedApril to October

Pacific Coast Highway

California's iconic coastal drive

urban adventure

3,940 km (2,448 miles)14-21 days recommendedSpring or Fall

Route 66

America's Mother Road

80 km (50 miles)1-2 days recommendedJuly to September

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Montana's crown jewel

755 km (469 miles)5-7 days recommendedOctober for fall foliage

Blue Ridge Parkway

America's favorite scenic drive

182 km (113 miles)2-4 days recommendedDecember to April

Overseas Highway

The road that goes to sea

232 km (144 miles)2-3 days recommendedJune to September

Canada

Icefields Parkway

The most beautiful drive in the world

298 km (185 miles)2-4 days recommendedSeptember to October

Canada

Cabot Trail

Where the mountains meet the sea

123 km (76 miles)1-2 days recommendedYear-round

Canada

Sea to Sky Highway

From ocean to alpine in one drive

1,700 km (1,056 miles)10-14 days recommendedNovember to April

Mexico

Baja California Peninsula

Mexico's wild frontier

13 routes

Europe

1,332 km (828 miles)7-10 days recommendedJune to August (summer) or September to March (northern lights)

Iceland

Iceland Ring Road

Land of fire and ice

2,500 km (1,553 miles)14-21 days recommendedMay to September

Ireland

Wild Atlantic Way

Europe's longest coastal drive

50 km (31 miles)2-4 days recommendedApril to June or September to October

Italy

Amalfi Coast

Italy's most glamorous coastline

830 km (516 miles)5-7 days recommendedMay to September

Scotland

North Coast 500

Scotland's answer to Route 66

460 km (286 miles)3-5 days recommendedMay to October (Christmas markets in December)

Germany

Romantic Road

Germany's fairy-tale route

180 km (112 miles)2-3 days recommendedJune to August

Norway

Trollstigen & Atlantic Road

Norway's engineering marvels

151 km (94 miles)1-2 days recommendedLate June to early October

Romania

Transfăgărășan Highway

The best road in the world

48 km (30 miles)1 day recommendedJune to September

Austria

Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Austria's highest mountain pass

120 km (75 miles)1-2 days recommendedJune to October

Switzerland

Swiss Alpine Passes

Where James Bond drove

200 km (124 miles)3-5 days recommendedMay to June or September

Spain

Costa Brava Coastal Road

Catalonia's rugged coast

300 km (186 miles)4-6 days recommendedMay to September

England

Coast to Coast (England)

From sea to shining sea

179 km (111 miles)1-3 days recommendedMay to September

Ireland

Ring of Kerry

Ireland's most famous scenic drive

650 km (404 miles)5-7 days recommendedMay to June or September

Croatia

Croatian Coastal Highway

The Adriatic Riviera

7 routes

Oceania

243 km (151 miles)2-4 days recommendedYear-round (December-February for best weather)

Great Ocean Road

Australia's most scenic coastline

119 km (74 miles)1 day + cruise recommendedNovember to April (accessible year-round)

New Zealand

Milford Road

New Zealand's most dramatic drive

2,400 km (1,491 miles)14-21 days recommendedDecember to March

New Zealand

New Zealand South Island Circuit

Middle-earth's greatest hits

desert adventure

2,834 km (1,761 miles)7-10 days recommendedMay to September (dry season)

Stuart Highway

The Explorer's Way across the Outback

660 km (410 miles)5-7 days recommendedMay to October (dry season only)

Gibb River Road

Australia's ultimate 4WD adventure

450 km (280 miles)5-7 days recommendedMay to October (dry season)

Nature's Way

Australia's tropical Top End

3,700 km (2,299 miles)14-21 days recommendedMay to September

Savannah Way

Australia's adventure drive

5 routes

South America

1,240 km (770 miles)10-14 days recommendedDecember to March

Chile

Carretera Austral

Patagonia's wild highway

5,224 km (3,246 miles)21-30 days recommendedNovember to March

Argentina

Ruta 40

The backbone of Argentina

64 km (40 miles)1 day recommendedMay to October (dry season)

Bolivia

Death Road (North Yungas Road)

The world's most dangerous road

4,260 km (2,647 miles)14-21 days (partial route)July to November (dry season)

forest adventure

Brazil

Trans-Amazonian Highway

Through the world's greatest rainforest

110 km (68 miles)1-2 days recommendedNovember to April

urban adventure

Argentina

Ruta de los Siete Lagos

Patagonia's Lake District gem

6 routes

Africa

300 km (186 miles)5-7 days recommendedYear-round (whale watching: July-November)

Garden Route

South Africa's coastal paradise

desert adventure

350 km (217 miles)3-5 days recommendedMay to September (dry season for wildlife)

Panorama Route

Canyons and waterfalls of Mpumalanga

500 km (311 miles)3-5 days recommendedApril to November

Namibia

Skeleton Coast

The land God made in anger

800 km (497 miles)5-7 days recommendedMarch to May or September to November

desert adventure

Morocco

Morocco High Atlas Route

From imperial cities to Sahara sands

1,400 km (870 miles)5-7 days recommendedYear-round

Cape Town to Johannesburg

South Africa's epic north-south journey

100 km (62 miles)1-2 days recommendedYear-round (November-March warmest)

Cape Peninsula Scenic Drive

Where two oceans meet

7 routes

Asia

100 km (62 miles)1 day recommendedFebruary to August

Vietnam

Hai Van Pass

Vietnam's legendary coastal road

479 km (298 miles)2-3 days recommendedJune to September

India

Leh-Manali Highway

India's ultimate high-altitude adventure

600 km (373 miles)4-6 days recommendedNovember to February

Thailand

Mae Hong Son Loop

Thailand's mountain motorcycle route

150 km (93 miles)2-3 days recommendedApril to May or September to October

China

Great Wall Highway

Drive along China's ancient wonder

500 km (311 miles)5-7 days recommendedMarch to May or September to November

Japan

Kyushu Island Route

Japan's volcanic southern island

168 km (104 miles)2-3 days recommendedMarch to May or September to November

Taiwan

Taiwan Highway 11

Pacific coast of Formosa

11 km (7 miles)Half day recommendedApril to October

China

Tianmen Mountain Road

Heaven's Gate, 99 curves

2 routes

Middle East

280 km (174 miles)3-4 days recommendedMarch to May or September to November

Jordan

King's Highway

Ancient trade route through Jordan

1,000 km (621 miles)7-10 days recommendedOctober to April

Oman

Oman Coastal Route

Arabia's most beautiful coastline