46 Road Trip Ideas For Those Who Can’t Wait To Hit The Road

If you’ve dreamed of traversing Glacier National Park in Northwest Montana, Going-to-the-Sun Road is your only choice, as there is no other road that would run this course. Named after the Going-to-the-Sun Mountain that dominates the eastbound view, it will give you all the wonders of nature the Mountain West has to offer.

Whether you go clockwise or anticlockwise on this loop journey, you are in for some magnificent views. Apart from the snowy peaks of the Olympic Mountains, shorelines, and small picturesque towns, you will also encounter the crystal-clear waters of Lake Crescent. The Hoh and Quinault rainforests are there for you if hiking is on your list.

One great thing about Europe is that a road trip of only a couple of hours can take you through several countries. If you take this route from Paris through Champagne and Reims, you’ll soon find yourself in Luxembourg where you can stay for a while to explore all the fairytale-like castles. Keep moving northeast until you cross the border once again into Germany. Visit Trier, the oldest German city that still homes Roman basilicas and baths in perfect condition, then continue your way through the country, discovering its history, culture, industrial sites, and some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in this part of Germany. Finally, you will arrive in Berlin, one of the coolest cities not only in Europe but also in the world.

Once you’ve had enough of London’s fast-paced lifestyle, take the road to Oxford to visit the oldest English-language university in the world. From there, drive to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the world’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. Continue your journey northward through Manchester to the magnificent Lake District National Park. But don’t stop there; instead, go all the way to the north, until you find yourself in Scotland. And once you are there, travel all the way to the Highlands to visit Inverness, its unofficial capital, where you can admire marvelous historic architecture. 

Take the famous ocean highway from Miami to the southernmost point of the United States. It will only take a day but will most definitely leave an unforgettable impression. Once there, take your time to explore the island.

Canada may be huge, but it also offers shorter road trip routes. The Sea to Sky Highway will only take you 90 minutes to complete, but it has so much to offer, you really should take your time. Starting in Vancouver, it will take you on a mountain road through Squamish, which offers some of the world’s best kiteboarding, and to the home of the 2010 Olympics, Whistler. 

Take a ferry from Vancouver to Gibsons Landing, where your road trip along the Sunshine Coast will begin. Not only are you in for some magnificent views, historic places, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but you will also visit the place where the popular Canadian TV series The Beachcombers was filmed.

You can get to the South Island by bus, but once you are there, make sure you explore the place thoroughly. Landscapes change here literally at every turn, so there will be no dull moments. One of the highlights of this trip is the Milford Road to the Milford Sound.

If you’ve decided to go on a road trip, why not think big and cross an entire continent! This 12,000 km long route along the eastern part of Africa will take you through diverse landscapes, cultures, and customs. You will be passing through 9 (nine!) different countries on your way!

If you are a history enthusiast, traveling along Cape Cod’s Route 6A is going to be one of your best experiences. Through villages established in the early 17th century, past the Brewster Store that has been in business since the 1850s, continue your journey to Orleans with one of the most beautiful landscapes as your backdrop, and the Nickerson State Park until you arrive in Provincetown for a rest at the bay.

Starting from the capital city of Bucharest, travel northward to Transylvania where you can visit Bran Castle, which is rumored to be the place of residence of Dracula (but please don’t mention vampires to Romanians, it’s a tired joke). From there, drive through many picturesque Romanian cities toward the Hungarian border. Take your time to explore Budapest before you move into Slovakia. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself in the land of Mozart, great coffee, and the architectural wonders of Vienna.

The capital of Sicily, Palermo, combines history and urban chaos to give you a one-of-a-kind experience. Head toward the Tyrrhenian coast to experience the golden sands of the local beaches. Visit Enna, which, surrounded by cliffs, looks like it just came down from the pages of a fantasy novel. Continue your trip to the southeast until you arrive in Siracusa, which used to be one of the most important and influential cities in the region under Greek rule. Make sure to pay a visit to Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, before a ferry takes you to mainland Italy, where you can enjoy quiet beaches away from the crowds.

Want to take the ultimate road trip you could tell stories about for the rest of your life? Definitely put Dempster Highway on the list. Starting from Dawson City, Yukon, this road that stretches for over 700 km will take you to Inuvik, Northwest Territories. This trip comes with all the adventures you would expect when traveling to the far Arctic.

Running for 2,500 km along the entire west coast of Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest coastal route in the world. It offers incredible landscapes and introduces you to a unique culture.

The Outer Banks are a string of barrier islands on the US East Coast. After crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge to Kitty Hawk, you are open to some of the best experiences a seashore can give you. From fishing villages to colonial towns, from white sand to duck beaches and historic lighthouses, this journey will become one of the most memorable ones.

It may sound like a very short drive by US standards, but take your time exploring every inch of it at Carmel-by-the-Sea. And since it is not too long, you may try cycling instead of going by car.

Provence may be one of the most gourmet regions of France. Explore the local cuisine and bustling markets, and take in the beauty of lavender fields, all while sipping on some of the world-renowned wines produced in this very place. Once you visit Provence, you’ll understand why famous artists like Van Gogh and Cezanne fell in love with the place.

Even if you have been to Spain before, get ready to experience something completely different. To begin with, the Basque region is a paradise for any foodie, but it is not only about food. Art lovers can satisfy their urge for the beautiful by visiting the Guggenheim Museum and attending the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Sports enthusiasts will find some fantastic surf breaks, while everybody else can chill at majestic city beaches.

If you start in Braga, there is the whole western coastline of Portugal for you to explore on your way southward. From UNESCO World Heritage Site Guimarães to Portugal’s second-largest city of Porto, every dot on this road will be as magnificent as the previous one. Ranging from vineyards and valleys to white beaches, every landscape will take your breath away. Make sure to stop in Lisbon for its vibrant life, then continue to the south and take a ferry to Morocco. From there, you can continue driving through the country until you find yourself in the village of Merzouga, which is often described as a “desert theme park.”

Every inch of this journey is filled with details so ancient, they remember the beginning of time. Launch on your trip from Athens and travel south via coastal roads until you reach Sounion. Greet the god of the ocean Poseidon at his temple, then continue your way northward past the fortress of Kórinthos to Mycenae, the home of many Greek mythological heroes. Enjoy the view of the ancient sporting grounds in Olympia before you head to Delphi, which the Greeks deemed to be the center of the world and where they even had a monument to mark the place.