16 Fabulous Road Trips Around the World

This road trips around the world collection includes some of the most unique and fun scenic drives on Earth. I was thrilled to receive responses from five continents with submissions of some places I have not visited and roads I have yet to drive.

One road trip is even a bicycle trip (love it).

My only “road trip rules” were favorite drive that is not a USA road trip, a description of up to 75 words, and one picture. All text and photos were submitted by the listed author(s).

16 Fabulous Road Trips Around the World

Africa Road Trips

Cape Town, South Africa by Lance and Laura Longwell of TheTravelAddicts.net

Our new favorite road trip is the famous Cape Point Route—a stunning one-day drive from Cape Town, South Africa. It features the winding road of Chapman’s Peak Drive, breathtaking views of Hout Bay, stunning vistas of the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans as they meet, greeting African penguins up close, and enjoying delicious wines at local vineyards. The Cape Peninsula is some place special.

Cape Town, South Africa by Lance and Laura Longwell of TheTravelAddicts.net
best road trips in South Africa: Cape Town by Lance and Laura Longwell

Kruger National Park, South Africa by Shara Johnson of SKJTravel.net

It may be the slowest road trip ever … with a 25 MPH speed limit, you can’t travel too far in one day, but crossing the African wildlife preserve of Kruger National Park in South Africa, which encompasses an area larger than some countries, delivers extraordinary TPH (thrill per hour). Copious wildlife crossings and lions bellowing into the night around the campgrounds create an experience unparalleled and unforgettable in the annals of road trips.

Kruger, South Africa by Shara Johnson of SKJTravel.net
best road trips in South Africa: Kruger National Park by Shara Johnson

Asia – road trips around the world

United Arab Emirates by Jennifer Melroy of Made-All-The-Difference.com

One of my favorite routes is the two-hour drive from the city of Abu Dhabi to the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort. The first 1.5 hours is straight flat roads made for speed. The last half an hour is curve after curve that leads into the dunes of Rub’ al Khal. The sand blows across the road leading into the nothingness of the Empty Quarter. The road ends when Qasr Al Sarab rises from the desert.

Abu Dhabi by Jennifer Melroy of Made-all-the-difference
best road trips in Asia: Abu Dhabi by Jennifer Melroy

Vietnam by Elaina Bird of TheFreedomTravellers.com

While travelling though South America I read a book about a guy named Steve who walked around the world. That book inspired me to take my travels to the next level so I decided to cycle from China all the way through Vietnam and into Cambodia. The road trip was full of unknowns. I couldn’t speak the language or read road signs but it was so much fun! Cycling was an incredible way to experience the culture of these amazing countries.

Vietnam by Elaina Bird of TheFreedomTravellers
best road trips in Asia: Vietnam by Elaina Bird

Europe Road Trips

Alps, Europe by Ana Astri-O’Reilly of AnaTravels.org

My husband and I crossed the Alps from Switzerland to Italy in his 1965 yellow Alvis via the Chamonix-Mont Blanc road. There were a lot of trucks, which made the going a bit hairy at times, especially because the Alvis is a left-hand drive. We took the Mont Blanc tunnel. I had high expectations but it was just a long tunnel, one of the many we had to go through on our way to Genoa.

Europe Alps by Ana Astri-O'Reilley of AnaTravels.org
Europe Alps by Ana Astri-O’Reilley

Bulgaria by Erin of ExploreWithErin.com

Bulgaria was quite the surprising road trip. Endless fields of sunflowers, historic buildings and snow-capped mountains with beautiful grassy slopes. The best 5 places to visit? Varna, Veliko Tarnarvo, Plovdiv, Govedartsi, and Rila. You will find great food in Veliko Tarnarvo, scenic lakes in Govedartsi and a 10th century monastery in Rila. Driving is easy with most signs in English and most of the roads were fairly well kept. It’s all relatively close together as well, so hit it up in one week or take your time and spread it over a month.

gorgeous rustic red cabin from a Bulgaria road trip
Bulgaria by Erin of ExploreWithErin.com

Scotland by Viktoria Urbanek of Chronic-Wanderlust.com

Start your road trip in Edinburgh, Scotland’s vibrant capital and make your way to your first stop at Stirling Castle. Enjoy a throwback in time as you visit the castle before you continue towards Loch Lomond National Park. The endlessness welcomes you with wide arms. Your next stop should be around Fort Williams to catch a glimpse of the Glenfinnan viaduct where a scene of the second Harry Potter movie was shot. Prepare yourself for Nessie when you arrive at Loch Ness and feel the magic that surrounds the lake.

Scotland by Viktoria Urbanek of Chronic-Wanderlust.com
best road trips in the world: Scotland by Viktoria Urbanek

Mallorca, Spain by Betsy Wuebker of PassingThru.com

The road to Sa Calobra through the Escorca region of Mallorca will reward you with breathtaking vistas that are worth the white-knuckle hairpin turns up and then down again. Avoid the coach tours in the middle of the day and don’t miss the Escorca Restaurant for authentic “comida de campo” (country food) such as roasted goat (delicious!), rabbit, lamb, or suckling pig.

Mallorca, Spain by Betsy Wuebker of PassingThru.com
best road trips in Europe: Mallorca, Spain by Betsy Wuebker

>>> Also read Auto Europe Car Rental Tips

North America Road Trips

Nova Scotia, Canada by Cory deHaan of InspirationalLifeAdventures.com

My favorite road trip in the world is the Cabot Trail, on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. You just cannot get enough of the scenic trails, and the wildlife that go with it. Offering stunning views of the ocean on one side, and the mountains on the other, you won’t want to leave quickly. Pictures only tell part of the story on the winding mountain road trip that is, Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Nova Scotia, Canada by Cory deHaan of InspirationalLifeAdventures.com
best road trips in Canada: Nova Scotia, Canada by Cory deHaan

Ontario, Canada by Alouise Dittrick of TakeMeToTheWorld.com

One of my favourite road trips was driving the TransCanada Highway in Ontario from Wawa to Sault Ste. Marie. While there are no towns on this drive there are several places to stop and enjoy the scenery, including two provincial parks. Driving alongside Lake Superior, the largest fresh lake in the world, made me feel like I was driving alongside the ocean, even though I was thousands of miles from the coast.

Ontario, Canada by Alouise Dittrick of TakeMetoTheWorld.com
best road trips in Canada: Ontario, Canada by Alouise Dittrick

Mexico by Claudia Tavani of MyAdventuresAcrossTheWorld.com

My first time in Mexico was in 2011, when I went there with my sister. We rented a car, and drove all around. I particularly loved the drive from San Cristobal de las Casas to Palenque, on perhaps the bumpiest, curviest, hilliest road I have ever seen. It took us all day and several breaks, including a stop to swim at the natural pools at Agua Azul. After so many hours of driving, it really felt like paradise!

Mexico by Claudia Tavani of MyAdventuresAcrossTheWorld.com
best road trips in the world: Mexico by Claudia Tavani

Grand Cayman Island, Caribbean by Laura Lynch of SavoredJourneys.com

The best way to truly discover the charm and beauty of Grand Cayman Island is to take a leisurely road trip around the Island, starting in Hell and ending at Rum Bay. The island is only 22-miles wide, so the entire trip takes only about an hour without stops, but you’ll want to spend the whole day stopping off at all the pristine deserted beaches and idyllic snorkeling spots along the way.

Grand Cayman Island by Laura Lynch of SavoredJourneys.com
Caribbean road trip: Grand Cayman Island by Laura Lynch

For some amazing USA scenic drives, see Unique US Scenic Drives

Oceania – road trips around the world

Australia Bush by Paula McInerney of ContentedTraveller.com

The Australian bush at dawn is both stunningly beautiful yet fraught with danger. Dawn and dusk are the most perilous times to travel in the Australian bush, as this is when kangaroos and wombats come down to the roadside in search of moisture from the grass alongside the road. Yet, it is at this time particularly, that you get to see how beautiful the light is here in Australia.

Australia Bush by Paula McInerney of ContentedTaveller.com
best road trips in Australia: Australia Bush by Paula McInerney

Grand Pacific Drive, Australia by Jen Seligmann of TheTrustedTraveller.com

My favourite road trip just happens to be right on my doorstep. The Grand Pacific Drive stretches from the Royal National Park in south Sydney to the town of Nowra on the New South Wales South Coast. Follow the clearly marked signage as the 140 kilometre drive winds along the coast past picturesque beaches and through quaint small towns. Popular stops include the Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong Lighthouse, and the sleepy seaside town of Kiama.

Grand Pacific Drive, Australia by Jen Seligmann of TheTrustedTraveller.com
best road trips in Australia: Grand Pacific Drive, Australia by Jen Seligmann

Great Ocean Road, Australia by Lyn Lindfield of TheTravellingLindfields.com

The Great Ocean Road winds for 255 km along the south-east coast of Australia, hugging the tempestuous Southern Ocean in a series of long, undulating curves and sweeping views.  Thousands of years of erosion have left spectacular limestone stacks abandoned off-shore by the retreating coastline. On shore are koalas, kangaroos, emus, penguins, and the site of Australia’s most intriguing UFO mystery.

Great Ocean Road, Australia by Lyn Lindfield of TheTravellingLindfields.com
best road trips in Australia: Great Ocean Road, Australia by Lyn Lindfield

South Island, New Zealand by Kelsey Ohleger of RouteWords.com

The South Island of New Zealand has long, desolate roads that hug the rocky coastlines and snake through astonishing mountain ranges. It’s sure to take a bit longer to travel from place to place because every turn reveals more jaw-dropping, photo-worthy scenery. Hike through glaciers, relax on the beach, get your adrenaline rushing and kick back at the wineries. The only traffic jams are caused by sheep and you can stay in budget by camping throughout your trip.

New Zealand by Kelsey Ohleger of RouteWords.com
best road trips in New Zealand: South Island by Kelsey Ohleger

Wow, these are fantastic suggestions. I send a special Thank You to the travel experts who contributed to this post.

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28 thoughts on “16 Fabulous Road Trips Around the World”

  1. Thank you for sharing this great comprehensive list of best road trips in the world! I love that you brought up Cape Town!

  2. One of the older posts here, but fabulous contributions from so many great bloggers, many of whom I already follow. Ellie & I have done hardly any of these road trips yet, NZ South Island being one of few exceptions. My favourite to do would probably be South Africa, especially Kruger National Park. Thank you for having put this collaboration together and sharing.

  3. That UAE road trip sounds amazing Charles. We have taken a few gems here in Oman. The South Island of NZ is bananas. We spent hours driving through that other worldly beauty. Inspired!

  4. These photos and descriptions have me craving a long road trip in 2018. They all look wonderful but South Island New Zealand or one of the two Australia trips are top of my travel wish list. Nice article for sparking wanderlust.

  5. Just want to say your article is astounding. The clarity in your post is simply spectacular and i can assume you are an expert on this field

  6. Awesome, would love to take at least one of this road trip. have you ever visited India, I am visiting India with my friends this year would really appreciate if you can help me find a good road trip over there.

  7. Wow, fantastic places to explore, I definitely would love to drive through most of these gorgeous places and explore slowly

  8. Thanks for letting me contribute to this post. These are some amazing road trip suggestions. Looks like I have a few ideas for my next road trip.

  9. These are really great suggestions. I want to do each one of them now. Thanks for including mine!

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