The best road trips in the world
The best road trips in the world
Hi! My name is Lara and I’m a travel passionate. I have been traveling since I can remember. There is so much to see, so much to discover… I have traveled up to more than 25 countries and keep adding new ones to my bucket list! I have created a travel tips and guide website to help and inspire people to travel around the globe.
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If you like driving around and encounter random adventures on the way this is your post!
The options below are recommended mostly for a two week itinerary considering the distances, spots to visit and time to rest and enjoy enough.
You will have to consider a budget for flights, car rental, accommodation, meals and activities. The total budget will cost around 1,000 – 3,000 EUR specially depending where you are traveling to.
TIP HERE: Use Skyscanner to find the best flight options and play with dates if you have flexibility on your travel dates. If you’d like to save some money definitely consider renting a camper van with basic cooking facilities, bed and shower. The best option is to have a look at accommodation prices and consider if its the best option (in most cases it’s definitely worth it and you’ll be able to see and discover much more than if you traveled by public transports).
Keep reading!
Here are my top best road trips in the world
short intro
If you like driving around and encounter random adventures on the way this is your post!
The options below are recommended mostly for a two week itinerary considering the distances, spots to visit and time to rest and enjoy enough.
You will have to consider a budget for flights, car rental, accommodation, meals and activities. The total budget will cost around 1,000 – 3,000 EUR specially depending where you are traveling to.
TIP HERE: Use Skyscanner to find the best flight options and play with dates if you have flexibility on your travel dates. If you’d like to save some money definitely consider renting a camper van with basic cooking facilities, bed and shower. The best option is to have a look at accommodation prices and consider if its the best option (in most cases it’s definitely worth it and you’ll be able to see and discover much more than if you traveled by public transports).
Keep reading!
Here are my top best road trips in the world
1. Route 66
The one and only.
Route 66 is the ultimate and probably the most famous road trip in the world. Obviously it had to go first in our list.
I highly recommend at least two weeks for this route and three weeks would be ideal so you have enough time to rest and discover as many places as possible.
You can plan your trip in advance but I think it’s much more fun to decide as you go. Imagine driving for a while and you start to feel tired and stop and rest in a motel in the middle of nowhere. What an experience! Or perhaps, you are in a spot you really love and have to run quickly because you have a reservation somewhere else in few hours… do as you feel in the moment!
The best way to start your trip is from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica (end of the trail).
PLACES YOU MUST STOP ON THE WAY:
1. Chicago & Springfield (Illinois)
3. Sullivan & Cathage (Misuri)
5. Tulsa (Oklahoma)
6. Amarillo (Texas)
7. Tucumcari & Albuquerque & Gallup (Nuevo Mexico)
11. Flagstaff & Seligman (Arizona)
13. Needles (California)
14. Get out of the way and go to Las Vegas!
14. San Bernardino
15. LA & Santa Monica
2. Amalfi Coast
Naples to Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most stunning road trips through Italy. The stretch of coastline is simply gorgeous as it consists of 13 charming towns that cling to the cliffside.
I recommend one week to being able to enjoy this road trip properly and definitely during the summer season. It gets quite crowded but the weather really makes it ideal to travel.
PLACES YOU MUST STOP ON THE WAY:
Starting in Nápoles and rent the car.
1. Naples
2. Salerno
3. Ravello
4. Amalfi
5. Praiano
6. Positano
7. Nerano
8. Sorrento
9. Capri if you have time!
10. Back to Naples
3. Spain & Portugal
Road trip through Andalucía ending in Portugal
As Spain and Portugal are neighbours and the distances aren’t too far, this route is a great option if you’d like to visit two countries on a road trip.
Definitely recommend this route for at least 2 weeks and during the summer season as you’ll discover all the coast side and amazing beaches.
You can rent a car in Granada or Málaga’s airport and return it in Lisboa’s airport for your way back.
PLACES TO STOP ON THE WAY:
Starting in Granada or Málaga and rent the car
1. Granada
2. Málaga (Nerja & Marbella)
3. Cádiz (Tarifa, Bolonia, Zahara de los Atunes & Barbate)
4. Seville
5. Huelva
6. Portugal (Albufeira, Sagres – good for surfing, Ericeira)
7. Finish in Lisboa
4. Sri Lanka
Round trip through the interior & coast
Sri Lanka is a dream. In this road trip you’ll be able to enjoy many contrasts! From beach paradise, to jungle adventures (having to avoid wild elephants on the way).
Definitely recommend this route for at least 2 weeks and during any season as the weather is pretty good throughout the year. however we recommend March & April
PLACES TO STOP ON THE WAY:
Starting in Colombo and renting the car
1. Colombo
2. Hikkaduwa
3. Galle
4. Mirissa
5. Ahangama
6. Tangalle
7. Yala National Park
8. Ella
9. Nuwara Eliya
10. Kandt
11. Pinnawala
12. Back to Colombo
5. Quintana Roo
Enjoy the caribbean beaches
I totally love the idea of a road trip through Quintana Roo enjoying the unbelievable caribbean beaches. You’ll have freedom to get lost and discover many things which you wouldn’t discover in any other way. The distances are quite close to each other along the coast, so even if you fancy going back and see a spot you didn’t had the chance to see it’s a great option.
I recommend at least 12-15 days for this route to properly enjoy every place. There are amazing cheap hostel options on the way.
Also, I felt completely safe at all times. Quintana Roo is very touristy so everyone is used to seeing tourists around. However, I do not recommend driving at night.
PLACES TO STOP ON THE WAY:
Starting in Cancun and rent your car
1. Cancún
2. Playa del Carmen
3. Tulum
4. Sian Ka’an (Punta Allen): The road is a bit rough but it’s so worth it when you arrive! Definitely one of the best spots in Quintana Roo and non-touristic at all
5. Mahahual
6. Bacalar
7. All the way up to Valladolid (Yucatán): Is a good option if you’d like to explore the interior, if not, you can go back north from the same road you came
8. Chiquilá (Holbox): This is a MUST. Take a rest on your lasts days in Holbox and relax. Leave the car in Chiquila’s car park and get the ferry to the island (forget about car these last days).
9. Back to Cancún
6. New Zealand
Discover the South
The south island is where New Zealand has its most remarkable landscape. The most stunning part is definitely the way from Te Anau to Milford Sound.
I recommend at least 10-15 days to do this road trip and travel during the summer season from December to March.
PLACES TO STOP ON THE WAY:
Starting in the ‘Garden City’ of Christchurch and rent your car
1. Canterbury
2. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park & Waitaki River
3. Explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula
1. Te Anau
2. Milford Sound
3. Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown
4. Franz Josef Glacier (access via Wanaka)
4. Back to Christchurch