The Best Road Trips in the World: A Driver's Guide

There's a particular kind of freedom that only a road trip delivers. No fixed itinerary, no platform announcements, no rush to a gate — just a full tank, a good playlist, and a coastline or mountain pass unspooling through the windscreen. The world's greatest drives turn the journey itself into the destination, stringing together cliffs, glaciers, fishing villages and hairpin bends into something you remember for the rest of your life.

This guide rounds up around a dozen of the finest road trips on the planet, from the wind-scoured north coast of Scotland to the apricot orchards of Pakistan's Hunza Valley. For each we cover the route, how far it runs and how long to give it, when to go, the highlights you shouldn't miss, and honest driving notes — because some of these roads are far more demanding than the postcards suggest.

We've also added a practical planning section on hiring a car, one-way fees, international driving permits and insurance, plus a Quick facts table and FAQ. Pakistani readers will find one of the world's truly epic drives right at home — the Karakoram Highway — which we cover honestly, safety notes and all.

Quick facts

Road trip	Country	Distance	Suggested days	Best months
North Coast 500	Scotland	~516 mi / 830 km	7–10	May–Sep
Great Ocean Road	Australia	~240 km / 150 mi	2–4	Nov–Apr
Garden Route	South Africa	~300 km / 190 mi	4–7	Oct–Apr
Amalfi Coast (SS163)	Italy	~40 km / 25 mi	2–4	Apr–Jun, Sep
Ring Road (Route 1)	Iceland	~1,322 km / 821 mi	7–10	Jun–Aug
Pacific Coast Highway	USA	~650 mi (full SR 1)	5–7	Apr–Oct
Wild Atlantic Way	Ireland	~2,500 km / 1,553 mi	7–14	May–Sep
Romantic Road	Germany	~460 km / 290 mi	3–5	May–Oct, Dec
South Island loop	New Zealand	varies (~1,500 km+)	10–14	Dec–Mar
Karakoram Highway	Pakistan/China	~1,300 km / 810 mi	7–12	May–Oct

Figures are approximate; always confirm current road status with official sources before you set off.

How to read this guide

We've ordered the trips loosely, leading with Scotland's North Coast 500 and the Western Highlands, which between them make one of the most rewarding self-drives in Europe. After the global highlights we finish close to home with the Karakoram Highway — a drive that belongs in any honest list of the world's best, and a genuine domestic option for Pakistani travellers. If a long-haul road trip is on the cards, you can compare fares from Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad on our flight search and sort out cover through travel insurance before you go.

North Coast 500 & Scotland's Western Highlands

If you only do one road trip in your life, make a strong case for this one. The North Coast 500 loops just over 516 miles (about 830 km) around the far north of Scotland, beginning and ending at Inverness Castle and threading together white-sand beaches, single-track moorland, sea-loch viewpoints and some of Britain's emptiest, most dramatic country (North Coast 500).

Route, distance & days: Plan 7 to 10 days rather than rushing it — the official itineraries run 8 to 9 days for good reason. Long stretches are single-track with passing places, so your average speed is low and your stopping rate is high.

When to go: May to September for the longest daylight and best chance of dry roads; May and September dodge the worst of the midges and the peak-summer crowds. Winter brings short days, ice and frequent closures on the high sections.

Highlights & the Western Highlands: Don't treat the NC500 in isolation — build in the Western Highlands on the way up or back. Glencoe, with its brooding ridgelines, is one of the most cinematic valleys in Europe. From the west coast you can detour to the Isle of Skye for the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing, and tackle the hair-raising Bealach na Bà pass to Applecross — a road of switchbacks climbing to 626 metres with views across to Skye and the Outer Hebrides. On the NC500 proper, save time for Achmelvich's turquoise beach, the Smoo Cave near Durness, and the lighthouse at Duncansby Head.

Driving notes: Single-track etiquette is everything — use passing places to let faster traffic through and never park in them. Fuel stops are sparse in the north-west, so fill up when you can. Sheep and deer on the road are routine, especially at dawn and dusk.

Great Ocean Road, Australia

Built by returned WWI servicemen and dedicated as the world's largest war memorial, Victoria's Great Ocean Road runs roughly 240 km (150 miles) from Torquay west to Allansford near Warrnambool (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: Give it 2 to 4 days so you're not driving the twisty coastal section in a single tiring push. Most travellers base out of Melbourne.

When to go: The Australian spring-to-autumn window (November to April) is warmest, though the road is open year-round.

Highlights: The limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles at sunset, Loch Ard Gorge, the rainforest walks of the Great Otway National Park, koalas around Kennett River, and the surf town of Lorne. Stop at Apollo Bay for a meal with a sea view.

Driving notes: Australia drives on the left. The coastal curves are scenic but demand attention; use the marked lookouts rather than slowing on blind bends.

Garden Route, South Africa

The Garden Route ribbons about 300 km (190 miles) along the southern Cape coast, from Mossel Bay (near Witsand) east to the Storms River in Tsitsikamma, taking in indigenous forest, lagoons and fynbos-covered hills (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: 4 to 7 days lets you slow down for the forests and lakes rather than just ticking off towns. George is the main hub and airport.

When to go: Mild year-round, but October to April is warmest; the region sees rain in every season, so pack for it.

Highlights: Knysna and its lagoon, the beaches and whale-watching at Plettenberg Bay, the canopy and suspension bridge of Tsitsikamma National Park, and an inland detour over the mountain passes to the Cango Caves and ostrich farms around Oudtshoorn.

Driving notes: Driving is on the left, roads are generally good, and the N2 backbone is easy. As anywhere, don't leave valuables visible in a parked car, and prefer secure overnight parking.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Short, world-famous and genuinely white-knuckle, the Amalfitana (SS163) clings to the cliffs for roughly 40 km (25 miles) between Vietri sul Mare and Positano on the Sorrentine Peninsula (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: The mileage is tiny but the driving is slow and intense — give it 2 to 4 days and treat the towns, not the road, as the destination.

When to go: April to June and September for warmth without the crushing July–August traffic.

Highlights: Pastel-stacked Positano, the cathedral and paper museums of Amalfi, the cliff-top gardens of Ravello (Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo), and lemon groves all the way down.

Driving notes: This is one of the most stressful drives in Europe — narrow, blind hairpins shared with full-size tour buses. If you're not a confident driver, the SITA buses and ferries are an excellent, far less stressful alternative. Parking is scarce and expensive; book ahead.

Ring Road (Route 1), Iceland

Iceland's Route 1 circles the whole island in 1,322 km (821 miles) — the longest ring road in Europe — linking waterfalls, black-sand beaches, glacier lagoons and geothermal fields (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: 7 to 10 days for the full loop with proper stops. EV drivers are well served, with fast chargers roughly every 50–80 km.

When to go: June to August for open roads, midnight-sun daylight and the best access to the highlands and side roads. Winter driving is for the experienced only.

Highlights: The Golden Circle's geysers and Gullfoss, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the fjords of the east, and the lava fields and whales around Mývatn.

Driving notes: Watch for single-lane bridges (the route has 31), steep gradients and sudden weather. Speed limits are 90 km/h on the open road, 50 in towns. Check road.is conditions daily and never drive onto an F-road (highland route) without a suitable 4x4 — it can void your insurance.

Pacific Coast Highway, USA

California's State Route 1 runs about 650 miles end to end, but the headline act is the cliff-hugging Big Sur stretch — some 72 miles of bridges, redwoods and Pacific lookouts often called one of the most beautiful drives on earth (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: Most people drive San Francisco to Los Angeles in 5 to 7 days, heading southbound so you're on the ocean side of the road.

When to go: April to October for clearer skies; coastal fog is common in early summer mornings.

Highlights: The Golden Gate Bridge, Monterey and the 17-Mile Drive, the Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur's McWay Falls, the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, and Santa Barbara's Spanish-revival charm.

Driving notes: Big Sur is prone to landslide closures — always check Caltrans for the current status, as detours can be long. If you want the full cross-country experience instead, our Route 66 road trip guide covers Chicago to Santa Monica state by state.

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

At a staggering 2,500 km (1,553 miles), the Wild Atlantic Way is one of the longest defined coastal driving routes in the world, running down Ireland's west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in Cork (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: You don't have to drive all of it. Pick a region for a week, or string several together over two weeks. The far south-west (Kerry and Cork) and the west (Galway and Clare) are the classic sections.

When to go: May to September for the kindest weather and longest evenings, though Atlantic showers are possible any day.

Highlights: The Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula, the lunar limestone of the Burren, Connemara's bogs and mountains, and the Skellig Michael viewpoints.

Driving notes: Driving is on the left, and rural roads are narrow and hedge-lined. Take the signposted "Discovery Point" detours — that's where the best views hide.

Romantic Road, Germany

Germany's Romantic Road (Romantische Straße) links Würzburg in the north to Füssen in the Bavarian Alps over roughly 460 km (290 miles), threading together walled medieval towns and fairy-tale castles (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: 3 to 5 days at a gentle pace, overnighting in the prettiest towns.

When to go: May to October for greenery and long days; December is magical for the Christmas markets, especially in Rothenburg.

Highlights: Perfectly preserved Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the walled towns of Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen (built inside a meteorite crater), and the grand finale of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles near Füssen.

Driving notes: Roads are excellent and well signposted with the brown "Romantische Straße" markers. On the autobahn sections, keep right except to overtake — left-lane speeds can be very high.

South Island, New Zealand

New Zealand's South Island packs more landscape per kilometre than almost anywhere — alpine passes, fiords, glaciers and turquoise lakes within a few hours' drive of each other. A loop from Christchurch taking in Queenstown and the West Coast easily tops 1,500 km (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: Give it 10 to 14 days. A popular loop runs Christchurch → Aoraki/Mount Cook → Queenstown → Milford Sound → the West Coast glaciers → Arthur's Pass → back to Christchurch.

When to go: December to March (NZ summer) for warm, settled weather and open mountain passes.

Highlights: Milford Sound in Fiordland, Aoraki/Mount Cook (3,724 m, the country's highest peak), the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the West Coast, and adventure-capital Queenstown.

Driving notes: Drive on the left. Distances look short on the map but mountain roads are slow; Milford Sound in particular is a long, winding day trip. Carry chains in shoulder seasons and check passes for snow.

Karakoram Highway, Pakistan — the world's great drive at home

For Pakistani travellers, one of the planet's most jaw-dropping road trips needs no visa and no long-haul flight. The Karakoram Highway (KKH, N-35) runs roughly 1,300 km (810 miles) from near Hasan Abdal up to the Chinese border at the Khunjerab Pass, climbing through the meeting point of three of the world's greatest mountain ranges (Wikipedia).

Route, distance & days: Allow 7 to 12 days to do it justice — Islamabad to Hunza and the Khunjerab Pass and back, with stops. The Pakistan section (around 800 km) is the heart of the trip.

When to go: May to October, with June to September the sweet spot. The Khunjerab Pass — at about 4,693–4,714 m, among the highest paved border crossings on earth — is typically open in the warmer months and closed by snow in winter; clearance dates shift year to year, so confirm before you commit (Wikipedia).

Highlights: The fairy-tale Hunza Valley with Baltit and Altit forts, the viewpoints over Rakaposhi and Passu Cones, the surreal Attabad Lake, the meeting of the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush at the Jaglot junction, and the high, wild plateau approaching Khunjerab.

Driving notes — honest version: The KKH is spectacular but serious. The lower and middle sections, especially around Kohistan and Chilas, can be subject to landslides, rockfall and occasional security advisories — many travellers cover those stretches quickly and overnight further north. Monsoon rains in July and August trigger landslides that can block the road for hours; heavy winter snow shuts the high sections entirely. Altitude at Khunjerab (nearly 4,700 m) affects some people — ascend gradually and don't linger if you feel unwell. Many first-timers hire a local driver or join a tour rather than self-driving the high mountain sections. Carry a permit for the Khunjerab National Park, fuel up in the main towns, and check current conditions and advisories before each leg. Plan the route and accommodation with our trip planner, and browse more domestic ideas in our destination guides.

How to plan any road trip

A great drive lives or dies on the boring logistics. A few essentials:

• Car hire: Book early in peak season, and read the fuel and mileage policy. For one-way routes (picking up in one city, dropping in another) expect a one-way fee, which can be modest within a region or steep across borders — always ask before booking.
• International Driving Permit (IDP): Most countries want an IDP alongside your national licence, not instead of it. An IDP is essentially a recognised translation, valid for up to one to three years depending on the convention, and is never valid in the country that issued it (Wikipedia). Pakistani drivers can obtain one before travelling; carry both documents at all times.
• Insurance: Rental rates rarely include full cover. Decide between the rental company's collision-damage waiver and a standalone policy, and make sure you have proper travel insurance for medical emergencies — especially on remote, high-altitude or single-track roads.
• Visas & flights: Sort the paperwork first. Check requirements and apply through our visa services, then compare long-haul fares on flight search.
• Navigation & connectivity: Download offline maps; mobile coverage drops out on the best roads. A local SIM or eSIM is worth it.

Costs & booking notes

Costs vary wildly by region, season and how you travel, so treat these as planning ranges rather than quotes:

• Car hire: roughly PKR 8,000–20,000+ per day equivalent for a small car in Europe, the US, Australia or NZ in peak season; campervans and 4x4s cost considerably more.
• Fuel: budget generously — Iceland, Italy and the UK have some of the priciest fuel, while distances on Icelandic, NZ and Scottish routes add up fast.
• One-way fees and tolls: can add a meaningful chunk; factor them in early.
• KKH (domestic): by far the most affordable option for Pakistani readers — no visa, fares in PKR, and modest guesthouse and fuel costs, though a hired driver or tour adds to the bill.

Book accommodation ahead for popular routes (NC500, Amalfi, Milford Sound) where beds genuinely sell out in season.

Safety & practical tips

• Match the road to your confidence. Single-track Highland roads, the Amalfi hairpins and the high Karakoram are not the place to learn. If in doubt, use buses, ferries or a hired driver.
• Respect the weather and conditions. Check the official road-status source for your route every morning — Caltrans, road.is, or the relevant Pakistani authority — and don't push on if a pass is closing.
• Drive rested. Long scenic days are tiring; swap drivers and stop often.
• Wildlife and livestock are real hazards on Scottish, Irish, NZ and KKH routes, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Altitude matters on the KKH — ascend gradually and know the symptoms of altitude sickness.
• Carry the essentials: water, snacks, a paper map backup, a basic first-aid kit, and a full tank wherever fuel is sparse.

Itinerary ideas

• One week, Europe: the North Coast 500 with a Glencoe and Skye add-on, or a Romantic Road run through Bavaria.
• Two weeks, big country: Iceland's full Ring Road, a South Island loop, or a chunk of the Wild Atlantic Way.
• Short and sweet: the Amalfi Coast over a long weekend, or the Garden Route within a wider South Africa trip.
• Domestic epic: Islamabad to Hunza and the Khunjerab Pass on the Karakoram Highway — scenery to rival anywhere, without a passport stamp.

FAQ

What is the best road trip in the world for first-timers?

Scotland's North Coast 500 and Australia's Great Ocean Road are both forgiving introductions — well-signposted, packed with stops, and easy to break into short days. Iceland's Ring Road is also beginner-friendly in summer. Save the Amalfi Coast and the high Karakoram for when you have more confidence.

Is the Karakoram Highway safe to drive?

The KKH is one of the world's great drives but it demands respect. The Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan stretches are very popular with tourists, while the lower Kohistan and Chilas sections occasionally carry security and landslide advisories. Travel in the May–October window, check current conditions before each leg, consider a local driver for the high mountain sections, and confirm the Khunjerab Pass is open before heading to the border.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

For most countries, yes — carried alongside your national licence. An IDP is a recognised translation of your home licence, valid for one to three years depending on the convention, and not valid in the country that issued it. Pakistani drivers should arrange one before flying out. See our visa services for related travel paperwork.

When should I drive Iceland's Ring Road?

June to August is by far the easiest, with long daylight, open roads and access to side routes. Winter driving is possible but should be left to experienced drivers comfortable with ice, wind and limited daylight — and always check road.is daily.

How long does the North Coast 500 take?

Plan 7 to 10 days. The single-track sections keep average speeds low, and the whole point is to stop often — for beaches, viewpoints, distilleries and the Western Highlands detours to Glencoe, Skye and Applecross.

Which is the cheapest world-renowned road trip for Pakistani travellers?

The Karakoram Highway, comfortably. There's no visa, fares and costs are in PKR, and the scenery rivals anything abroad. Pair it with a hired driver if you're not confident on mountain roads, and use our trip planner to map the stops.

Conclusion

The best road trips aren't about the miles — they're about what happens between them: the unplanned beach, the village café, the pass that opens onto a view you didn't believe could be real. Whether you're chasing single-track magic in Scotland's Western Highlands, hairpins above the Mediterranean, or the apricot blossom of Hunza, the formula is the same: give yourself time, respect the road, and let the drive be the holiday.

When you're ready to turn the dream into a plan, start with our destination guides and trip planner, sort your visa and insurance, and compare fares on flight search. The open road is waiting.