🚗🌍 The Ultimate Road Trip Bucket List: The Best Routes Around the World

There’s something magical about hitting the road with your favorite playlist, a car full of snacks, and the world unfolding in front of you. Whether you’re chasing coastal sunsets, mountain passes, or red dirt horizons, road trips are the ultimate adventure—and we’ve gathered the best ones from across the globe. Buckle up, because this list will have you itching to fill your tank and go!

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United States – Pacific Coast Highway (California) 

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 San Francisco to San Diego
🛣️ ~965 km / 600 miles
Why it’s amazing:
This iconic West Coast drive hugs the ocean with cliffside views, surf towns, and redwood forests. 🌊🌲 Highlights include Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and endless beach pit stops. Think: whales breaching 🐋, tacos by the ocean 🌮, and that classic California freedom.

Iceland – Ring Road

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Full loop around Iceland
🛣️ ~1,330 km / 825 miles
Why it’s amazing:
You’ll drive past waterfalls 💦, glaciers ❄️, volcanoes 🌋, black sand beaches 🖤🏖️, and hot springs ♨️—with hardly any traffic. Add Northern Lights 🌌 in winter or midnight sun ☀️ in summer for max magic.

Australia – Great Ocean Road (Victoria)

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Torquay to Allansford
🛣️ ~240 km / 150 miles
Why it’s amazing:
Kangaroos 🦘, koalas 🐨, cliff-hugging curves, and the stunning Twelve Apostles 🏞️. Surf at Bells Beach 🏄, wander through rainforests 🌿, and soak up Australia’s wild coastal beauty.

Switzerland – The Grand Tour

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Loop across the entire country
🛣️ ~1,600 km / 1,000 miles
Why it’s amazing:
Alpine passes 🏔️, turquoise lakes 💧, cheese fondue 🧀, and chocolate pit stops 🍫—this is Switzerland at its finest. You’ll feel like you’re driving through a snow globe.

South Africa – Garden Route

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Mossel Bay to Storms River
🛣️ ~300 km / 190 miles
Why it’s amazing:
Ocean meets jungle 🌳🌊 in this adventure-packed drive. Zipline through forests, explore wildlife parks 🐘, enjoy wine 🍷, and breathe in the rich coastal air.

Canada – Icefields Parkway (Alberta)

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Jasper to Banff
🛣️ ~230 km / 140 miles
Why it’s amazing:
Towering peaks 🏔️, mirror-like lakes 💎, and glaciers all around. One of the most photogenic drives on Earth, where elk 🦌 and bears 🐻 might just cross your path.

Italy – Amalfi Coast Drive

Photo by PickPik

📍 Sorrento to Salerno
🛣️ ~80 km / 50 miles
Why it’s amazing:
Short but unforgettable. Sheer cliffs, pastel villages 🏘️, lemon groves 🍋, and sparkling seas 🌊. Stop for gelato 🍦 in Positano and seafood spaghetti 🍝 with a view.

New Zealand – South Island Scenic Route

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Christchurch to Queenstown
🛣️ ~480 km / 300 miles
Why it’s amazing:
Jaw-dropping landscapes that blend glaciers 🧊, lakes 🌅, snowy mountains ❄️, and sheep-dotted hills 🐑. It’s like driving through a fantasy movie.

Morocco – Marrakech to Merzouga

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Over the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara
🛣️ ~560 km / 350 miles
Why it’s amazing:
This mystical desert road leads you past kasbahs 🏰, canyons 🏜️, and palm oases 🌴 before ending with a camel ride 🐪 into golden dunes beneath a starlit sky ✨.

United States – Route 66

Photo by Wikimedia

📍 Chicago to Santa Monica
🛣️ ~3,940 km / 2,450 miles
Why it’s amazing:
The mother of all road trips. Drive through time with neon diners 🍔, retro motels 🛏️, kitschy roadside stops, and old-school Americana 🇺🇸.

✨ Honorable Mentions:

• United Kingdom – North Coast 500 (Scotland) 🏰🥃

• Argentina – Ruta 40 🏔️

• Ireland – Wild Atlantic Way 🌧️🌊

• Japan – Izu Skyline 🗾🚙

• United States – Blue Ridge Parkway 🍁🎻

🧳 Road Trip Tips:

• 📱 Download Your Tripio Itinerary – Cell service fades, but the road goes on

• 🎶 Create a killer playlist – Every journey needs a soundtrack

• 🧃 Pack snacks + water – Fuel the adventure

• 📸 Stop for photos often – The detours are the story

• ♻️ Leave no trace – Keep nature wild and wonderful

🚘 Ready to Roll?

Whether you’re cruising California, zig-zagging through the Alps, or bouncing through the Aussie bush—these road trips are made for dreamers, doers, and sunset chasers. Which one’s next on your list?

Check out: Embrace The Open Road: The Best US Road Trips

-Gemma Winchester, Tripio Guru

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