When you're searching for freedom, an adventure of a lifetime, or scenery that leaves you one breath away from forgetting where you are, you have to look no further than a scenic drive around the world for those opportunities to experience those things. Whether it's famous road trip routes, epic road trips around the globe, or exciting long-distance drives, the open highway is full of opportunities. Many of the world's best scenic road trips have become iconic because they deliver unmatched natural beauty, cultural flavor, and memorable experiences for travelers. Whether one looks for the top road trips for adventure travelers or rather slow-paced drives rich with scenery, this comprehensive guide highlights some of the best places where the journey itself becomes the destination.
The magic of scenic road trips around the world is in the raw, unfiltered experience of discovering places at your own pace. Unlike guided tours or flights, driving through the most legendary road trip routes lets you see how dramatic landscapes unfold mile by mile. Many of the most famous world road trips include rugged cliffs, coastal highways, desert crossings, and mountain passes-each offering a thrilling sense of exploration.
These routes are perfect for tourists seeking a taste of adventure and independence. These road trips attract travelers who want to have memorable moments, see unique scenery, and experience extraordinary cultures, since many of the places along the route also fall under this category of being among the best scenic road trips around the world.
Several scenic road trips throughout the world offer beautiful coastal views; however, several routes stand out as being particularly exceptional for their scenic coastal scenery. Coastal routes are especially suited to travelers who are looking for breathtaking ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and quaint coastal communities.
The Pacific Coast Highway has maintained its status as one of the premier road trip locations in the world. The highway travels from Southern California all the way up to Northern California, paralleling some of the more rugged sections of the California coast.
It offers dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, and endlessly winding roads. Being among the top alternatives for long-distance drives, this route features in many people's bucket lists.
Adventure travelers will be pleased with this trip, thanks to the scenic views of the rugged cliffs, limestone, and powerful waves that await you on your journey along the Great Ocean Road. The Twelve Apostles rock formations provide an amazing opportunity to capture some inspiring photos, creating a memorable trip. Overall, the Great Ocean Road is considered one of the most iconic road trips worldwide.
The Irish Wild Atlantic Way combines more than 1,500 miles of coastal beauty to create one of Europe's longest long-distance drives. Travelers find dramatic sea cliffs, historic castles, and charming fishing villages. It also features in the list of the best scenic road trips in the world.
Some of the most thrilling mountain scenic road trips in the world will be found winding through high-altitude terrain, offering breathtaking views and exciting twists and turns.
Often called the world's most exciting mountain road, this serpentine highway is a top contender among world road trips. Those who seek adventure enjoy the hairpin turns, steep climbs, and panoramic vistas that make the route one of the best scenic drives on the planet!
When driving across the Swiss or Italian Alps, it is an absolute dream come true to see the white-capped peaks, lush greenery of the valleys, and turquoise blue of the lakes that make this a scenic drive of epic proportions for those who love the great outdoors.
The Manali-Leh Highway (India) to Leh Ladakh is regarded as a 'must-do' for the intrepid adventurer due to the high elevation, extreme weather, and rugged nature of this mountainous highway, plus breathtaking scenery!
This route pushes your limits while rewarding you with surreal landscapes.
If endless horizons and golden sands inspire you, then several desert drives rank among the most memorable scenic road trips around the world.
Legendary Route 66 remains one of the most iconic road trip routes to this day. Stretches throughout many different states in the United States, with its desert scenery and odd roadside items to view, as well as many retro diners, make for an everlasting trip. It’s also one of the most photographed world road trips.
The deep oranges and reds of the Namib Desert create some of the most surreal landscapes anywhere in the world. This is a spectacular option for long-distance drives, especially for photographers and lovers of wildlife.
This modern desert road offers luxury blended with the dunes and eclectic cityscapes. It's a drive that will deliver to travelers wanting a scenic road trip in the world, with sophistication.
For travelers interested in endurance and long-haul explorations, several long-distance drives are known for their length, variety, and unforgettable experiences.
The longest highway system in the world, at 19,000 miles, is one of the most recognizable road trips in the world. The epic journey traverses several cultures, climates, and terrains, hence ranking high among the top road trips for adventure travelers.
This popular drive leads travelers through forests, beaches, mountains, and wildlife reserves. It is one of the most visually rich road trip routes and among the best in the world for diversity.
Considered part of the Canadian Rockies, the Icefields Parkway is one of the most impressive scenic road trips in the world. Home to glaciers, blue lakes, and several kinds of pine trees, it truly is an outdoorsman's dream.
Driving isn't always about scenery; sometimes, culture and communities encountered along the way make certain world road trips unforgettable.
A full circuit around Iceland includes sights of geothermal springs, volcanic landscapes, and traditional villages. Its breathtaking natural beauty makes it one of the best scenic road trips in the world.
This scenic route connects medieval towns, castles, and local delicacies for the culture-driven traveler in search of memorable long-distance drives.
The mixture of rural charm, volcanoes, temples, and coastal views makes this road trip route one of the most unusual ones available to travelers today.
With so many incredibly scenic road trips around the world, choosing the right one is, of course, determined by what type of traveler you are.
Whichever you opt for, the experience of driving through some of the best scenic road trips in the world will remain etched in your memory forever.
Long road trips have so much magic because of the little moments. It's about quiet sunsets, roadside cafés, small-town encounters, and unexpected scenic surprises. Scenic drives allow you the flexibility to pull over to admire the scenery or interact more intimately with your local community.
When you ask many travelers what part of their trip was most memorable, they will tell you that often it was the time they spent traveling rather than arriving at their destination. This is one of the many reasons that scenic drives and scenic journeys are so attractive to travelers around the world.
From the mountains of Europe to the deserts of North America, down to the coastlines of Australia, some of the most breathtaking scenic road trips in the world await adventurous travelers. Whether one is interested in famous routes for road trips, bucket-list world road trips, or adrenaline-filled long drives, each has something extra special.
These are indeed the best scenic road trips in the world, ideal for all those who feel a need for scenery, culture, and indelible memories. Whether you're ready to hit the road, pick one of the top road trips for adventure travelers, plan your route, and pack the essentials. Let the journey guide you. It all begins when you turn the key.
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