5 Best Road Trips in the World to take

There are few better ways to travel and to experience the journey but from the window of a car or van while on one of these best road trips in the world. Road trips provide the opportunity for travellers to really get in touch with the local landscape, experience everything the country has to offer, and to see more than big cities and touristic sites. Driving through different topographies, seeing the small towns, and eating the local foods are all by-products of road tripping around the world. There is just something special about traveling on your own schedule, being able to ebb and flow through your day, spontaneously stopping to take in those extra special moments if you please. You might need to use an airline like an Air Canada booking to make your way to the start of some of these epic road trips, but once you are on the road, the world is your oyster. Those who are interested in getting to know a country closely, should try out some of these 5 best road trips in the world.

Big Sur in California, USA

Driving down highway 1 to Big Sur feels like the flagship of road trips. Cruising down the west coast of California following the ocean as you traverse winding roads, across highly instagrammable bridges…this is what road trip dreams are made of. Highway 1 follows rocky cliffs and cypress trees, rolling up and down through the rough coast of California. Along the way road trippers will pass famous surf spots, empty scenic beaches and small towns with quaint cafés. Lets not forget the fabulous restaurants and locations that entice you to pull over and take in the view. A stop by the famous town of Carmel-by-the-Sea will leave you inspired, just as the misting water from the crashing waves have left many writers inspired. Highway 1 runs more than 700 miles along the edge of the continent, but the drive to and through Big Sur is by far the most impressive part, making it one of the best road trips in the world.

Red Center Way, Central Australia 

It is hard to imagine getting to know Australia without visiting the outback and the red clay lands that are so famously home to Uluru. With Alice Springs as the nearest city, this week long road trip has stops which include isolated swimming locations, large red gorges, canyons and rock formations that look as if they came from another planet. Road trips and Australia are synonymous. With the weather being perfectly agreeable, seeing the outback from a motor home or camper van is the ideal way to appreciate this vast and barren part of the world and you can find them here on Gumtree. Australia is a country designed for these experiences and so of course the trip through Red Center Way is one of the best road trips in the world. As it is such an expansive destination, experiencing the famous outback and Red Center Way is truly best seen and experienced from the window of a vehicle.

Carretera Austral, Chile

Patagonia is an area of South America famous for its rough and rural beauty. It is an outdoor person’s playground with much of its landscapes untouched by mankind. As a result of its rough natural beauty, a drive down the only highway, leading from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins is one of the best road trips in the world. The total length of the road trip is 770 miles. It provides access to two of Chile’s southern provinces which comprise around 100,000 people with Coyhaique being its largest city. The road is characterized by thick forests, fjords, glaciers and steep rough mountains. The majority of the road is unpaved and there are 3 different ferry crossings to complete the journey. The road was built to provide access to Chile’s isolated territories and to prevent a constant and necessary crossing back and forth through Argentine territory by Chilean people on this route. During the summer months, the Carretera Austral is incredibly popular among travellers. You can find them driving, cycling, hitch-hiking, and camping their nights away on this rural roadway.

The Amalfi Coast, Italy

Considered a UNESCO world heritage site since 1997, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful parts of Europe and is therefore one of the best road trips in the world. There are fewer places more instagrammable than Positano, a perfect starting location for this road trip. The journey will take travellers from Positano, along the winding coast, finishing in Vietri Sul Mare. During the trip travellers can expect to experience quaint hillside Italian towns complete with sweet cafés, delicious food, unreal architecture, history, and all of the character that makes Europe…well…Europe. The combination of rough and rugged coast line framed by pristine Mediterranean beaches and quaint Italian towns makes the Amalfi coast a desired journey. 

Sydney to Brisbane, Australia

One of the most sought after road trips in Australia is the long and beautiful drive down the pacific coast from Sydney to Brisbane. This journey spans 570 miles and takes travellers on an adventure through national parks, past pristine beaches, and by small authentic Australian towns. Along the way road trippers will experience Australia’s famous Gold Coast, travel through the wine region, see quiet surf spots and even catch a glimpse of Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lagoon. A best road trips in the world list would not be complete without a mention of Australia’s legendary Pacific Coast.

Road trips are a fantastic way to truly experience a country. They encourage travellers to get to know the small towns, the topography of the region and everything in between making for a more personal and authentic adventure. Travellers looking for this type of experience should try one of these best road trips in the world and enjoy the freedom of the open road.