10 Road Trips That'll Immediately Make You Want to Get Behind the Wheel
You Won’t Want to Sleep on These Drives
As fun as road trips are, often the drive in between destinations can be boring and unexciting. At this point, the trip becomes all about the destinations, rather than about the journey in between.
This is far from the case when it comes to these incredible road trips. These stretches of highway and road will keep your eyes constantly trained out the window on the endless stream of beautiful scenery. After all, sometimes driving is the best way to truly appreciate the beauty and expansiveness of a region.
Take your pick from our list of the best road trips in the world. They are sure to inspire you to pack up, get behind the wheel, fill up that tank, crank the tunes and hit the road.
Ring of Kerry, Ireland
The Ring of Kerry is one of the most famously scenic drives on the planet and one of the top road trips to take in Europe. This incredibly mesmerizing route travels for roughly 125 miles, taking drivers through some of Ireland’s most breathtaking scenery.
This is the Emerald Isle you know from postcards, movies and television shows, where dramatic cliffs touch down to rocky shores and turquoise-hued waters. The brilliant green hills dotted with sheep and the maze of stone fences look so stunning it seems as if they were somehow computer generated, and plopped right down on Ireland’s west coast.
Pacific Coast Highway, CA
Highway 1 in California is legendary for its awe-inspiring scenery, particularly the 123-mile winding, cliff-hugging stretch from Monterey to Big Sur on the central coast. Here, mountains plunge down to the roaring waves of the Pacific on one side while majestic, towering redwoods flicker past on the other.
The area even boasts a rare purple-sand beach near Big Sur at Pfeiffer State Park and a waterfall that cascades down to the sand.
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Blue Ridge Parkway, NC/VA/WV
The nearly 500 miles of roadway that snakes through both Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains is ideal for those who want to enjoy the magnificent Appalachian scenery. The best way to begin is by starting in Asheville, NC. You’ll drive through forest-covered mountains to Skyline Drive before hitting the highlight: the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The fall is the best time to experience it, with the undulating hills a patchwork of gorgeous, vivid colors.
The Ring Road, Iceland
This incredible drive is best undertaken with plenty of time — ideally a week — to really soak up the views that are considered to be some of the most amazing on Earth. Begin on the Golden Circle, where you can stand in awe as Strokkur Geyser erupts, and marvel at powerful waterfalls and the rainbows that develop in their mists.
Fantastical wonders seem to wait around nearly every turn. Walk across a black-sand beach to unique cliffs of basalt columns, and take a break at the Glacier Lagoon to cruise among the maze of floating icebergs.
Your reward at the end of this unforgettable drive is a soak in the healing waters of the renowned Blue Lagoon.
Million Dollar Highway, CO
This drive that follows Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray in Colorado isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you can manage the twists and turns at the edge of steep cliffs, it’ll be worth the reward of taking in some of the most impressive views you’ll find anywhere.
The “Switzerland of America,” as it’s sometimes called, reveals the dramatic, jagged peaks of the San Juan Mountains in the southwestern part of the state. There are lots of lookout points along the way for capturing amazing photos too. Those lookouts make this an equally great road trip for families as they provide opportunities for the kids to get out and burn off some energy.
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Mamalahoa Highway, Hawaii
Mamalahoa Highway, also known as the Belt Road, is made up of Hawaii State Routes 11, 19 and 190. The route circles the Big Island of Hawaii, and passes numerous stunning sights, including pristine, white beaches, lush jungle areas, active lava flows and lava deserts.
The roadway rises in altitude while lowering in temperature until reaching Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Here you can safely view the active lava flows, getting up close by joining a ranger-led hike.
Alpine Road, Germany
Known as the premiere route of Germany’s many scenic drives, the Alpine Road covers some 300 miles from the Southern Bavaria foothills, winding through charming towns with medieval architecture and passing more than 20 mountain lakes, countless castles, abbeys and palaces.
Take the time to stretch your legs and walk through villages with streets lined with ornate wooden, chalet-style homes, and tour Neuschwanstein Castle, the fantasy-like castle that was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, MT
This jaw-droppingly beautiful 50-mile highway divides Glacier National Park east and west. It spans the width of the park and crosses the Continental Divide.
Frequently named one of the best, if not the very best, road trips in America, you’ll not only see brilliantly hued glacial lakes, cedar forests and waterfalls, but lots of wildlife. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep often hang out at Logan Pass, soaking up the sunshine right along the roadway.
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National Route 40, Patagonia, Argentina
This route is just 134 miles long, but it brings one breathtaking view after the next, from vast glaciers to some of South America’s highest peaks. The launching point is El Calafate — most begin in this tourist hub before traveling on the highway filled with scenic wonders.
When planning this road trip, take a short detour west into Los Glaciares National Park for the opportunity to view the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of nearly 50 that are fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. As you gaze out at the glacier from one of the observation decks, you’ll be able to see and hear massive chunks of ice fall into the lake.
Ending in El Chalten, you’ll find miles and miles of hiking trails to get out on to explore this incredible region.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi Coast is a 37-mile stretch of coastline between Sorrento and Salerno. It’s one of many scenic drives that can be taken in Italy, but it’s truly one of the best.
This impressive drive follows the shoreline, leaving just south of Naples and heading through tiny fishing villages and picturesque towns while clinging to sheer cliff faces on one side, and plunging straight down to azure waters on the other.
