12 Destinations Worth Visiting for an Epic Drive
Road Trips are exciting: the thrum of the engine, your favorite playlist, and the off-key singing of friends who come along for the ride. There is so much to love about the open road and the feeling of freedom as you chase the horizon.
The destination is not always the most important part of a road trip. These 12 amazing routes will leave you in awe with fun stops, and beautiful scenery. You’ll find yourself wanting to capture every moment of the drive.
Romania’s Transfăgărășan Highway
The Transfăgărășan Highway, once described by Top Gear as “the best road in the world,” is a marvel of engineering. This 56-mile stretch is tucked in the Carpathian Mountains and is full of hairpin turns, tunnels, and sweeping views. Bâlea Lake, for example, and Poenari Fortress, home of Vlad the Impaler, are all worth seeing.
California, Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is California’s love letter to the West Coast’s beauty. The 600+ mile route winds past some of the most stunning ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and beach towns. The route runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles with stops including Big Sur’s jagged coastline, Monterey’s aquarium, and Santa Barbara’s charm. At sunset, the Pacific burns with orange and gold dazzling travelers with its beauty.
Overseas Highway, Florida
The Overseas Highway is a 113-mile stretch connecting mainland Florida to Key West. It crosses 42 bridges, a 7-mile Bridge being the most famous one of them all. Indeed, it’s just as much about the views as it is about the laid-back vibe of the drive. Stop at a local diner for some delicious key lime pie. It’s the icing on the cake of an amazing coastal cruise.
Montana: Going to the Sun Road
The bucket list adventure known as Going-to-the-Sun Road sits inside Glacier National Park. The 50-mile route travels through Montana’s best-preserved wilderness, with alpine peaks, glacial lakes, and wildlife sightings. The National Park Service says nearly 3 million people take this route each year making it one of the park’s biggest draws.
Icefields Parkway, Canada
The glacial wonderland known as the Icefields Parkway heads north of the border through Alberta. This 144-mile route runs between Jasper and Banff National Parks, passing snowcapped peaks, crystalline lakes, and massive ice fields. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk is a beloved stop for travelers and draws nearly 1.2 million visitors a year according to Parks Canada.
Great Ocean Road, Australia
Australia’s Great Ocean Road is an unrivaled overseas adventure. The 151-mile coast road hugs Victoria’s southern coast and contains iconic landmarks such as the Twelve Apostles —towering limestone stacks emerging from the sea. If you’re a wildlife lover, you’ll love spotting kangaroos, koalas, and even whales, during the migration season.
Highway 1, Iceland
Iceland’s Ring Road (Highway 1) is an 828-mile (1334km) that circles the island with views of geysers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is the perfect place to watch icebergs drift lazily by. This postcard-worthy scene deserves to be captured, so take a camera along for the ride.
North Carolina & Virginia, Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains and is nicknamed “America’s Favorite Drive”: It’s one of the best places to see a kaleidoscope of fall colors or lush greenery in summer. Panoramic views of rolling hills and misty mountain ranges are just some of the things travelers love to stop at overlooks to see. It’s the perfect place to reconnect with nature.
Milford Road, New Zealand
The gateway to Milford Sound, Milford Road, is a visual wonder. Meandering through Fiordland National Park, this is a 75-mile route featuring towering peaks, cascading waterfalls, and dense rainforests. Don’t miss the Mirror Lakes located north of Wanaka where still waters perfectly reflect the surrounding scenery. It’s no wonder that New Zealand Tourism reports that nearly 1 million people visit Milford Sound each year according to the Southern Discoveries.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Italy’s Amalfi Coast is a drive and an experience. Breathtaking views of the Mediterranean hug dramatic cliffs as you travel along the narrow, winding roads. The coastline is dotted with colorful villages like Positano and Ravello where travelers can stop for some fresh seafood and limoncello.
Garden Route, South Africa
A feast for the senses is South Africa’s Garden Route. The drive stretches 190 miles along the country’s southern coast and boasts dramatic cliffs, ancient forests, and golden beaches. The Tsitsikamma National Park and the charming town of Knysna make this cut. Adventure-seekers can attempt bungee jumping off Bloukrans Bridge, one of the world’s highest commercial jumps.
Illinois to California, Route 66
Route 66 is a highway that runs a stately 2,400 miles. This legendary road is the epitome of Americana, marked with quirky, kitschy diners, retro motels, and tourist traps seen only when traveling by road. Traversing Route 66 is like time traveling – think neon signs, vintage cars, and a charm you won’t find on any modern interstates. You can start your trip in Chicago and absorb all the detail on your way to Santa Monica.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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