The ultimate adventure — combined with some downtime and exploration — is a road trip. From scenic coastal highways to mountain passes, cultural landmarks, or odd roadside attractions, the best route will make a journey more than just miles traveled. Beyond the family-friendly escapes, international adventures, scenic drives, and off-the-beaten-path explorations found in these 50+ epic road trip ideas. Whether you want to cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway, drive the Amalfi Coast, tackle the Iceland Ring Road or embark on an African safari each particular traveler has their heart set on the ultimate trip. Load your things, go the road, and prepare for the ultimate freedom of travel.
Epic Road Trip Ideas
1. Classic Coastal Road Trips
There really is nothing like driving along the coast with the salty air, stopping at beaches, boardwalks and coastal towns. Coastal drives are stunning and full of fun stop-offs.
Top Coastal Road Trip Ideas:
- Pacific Coast Highway (California, USA) — One of the most iconic road trips on Earth, it traverses the California Coast from San Francisco and Los Angeles with stunning ocean views from above the cliffs.
- Amalfi Coast (Italy) — A stunning drive that includes pastel-covered-up houses, lemon trees, and bright blue seas;
- Great Ocean Road (Australia) – Known for the Twelve Apostles rock formations and scenic beaches.
- Ring of Kerry (Ireland) – A scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, highlighted by steep cliffs, quaint fishing villages and dense greenery!
- Garden Route (South Africa) — Beautiful drive with activities, safaris, and seaside towns
- Andes Mountain Drive (Chile to Argentina) — A drive through the beautiful rugged Andes complemented with vineyards.
- Patagonia Trip Road (Argentina / Chile) – Glaciers, mountains and coastline; Nature at its best
Ideal for travelers looking for a mixture of relaxing and gorgeous roads.
2. Mountain and Adventure Road Trips
Mountain road trips offer excitement, variety, and euphoria in the same breath if you need a dose of fresh air, beautiful summits, and scenic roads. Perfect for hiking or camping, or even enjoying views of the alpine.
Must-Do Mountain Road Trips:
- Blue Ridge Parkway (USA) – its official nickname is “America’s Favorite Drive,” and the reasons are more than one too with endless mountain views and scenic outdoor trails.
- Transfagarasan Highway (Romania) – Transfagarasan Highway, the well-known asphalt of winding hairpin turns and breathtaking vistas.
- Leh-Manali Highway (India) – An extreme Himalayan pass that is not for the faint-hearted
- Route to Alpine (Switzerland) – Ride through snow-capped peaks, mountains, villages & lakes
- Canadian Rockies (Canada) – Between Banff to Jasper National Park; marvel at glaciers, lakes, and wildlife on this cinematic road trip
- Munnar near Kochi – Short getaway passing by tea plantations, wildlife sanctuaries and interesting lookouts(India)
- Cape Town to Hermanus (South Africa) – Get ready for Whale watching, beaches, and family-friendly nature reserves
3. Cultural and Historical Road Trips
Road trips are not only about natural beauty but also about discovering history, culture and heritage. And of course, driving through historic routes lets you live the past and experience local traditions.
Cultural & Historic Road Trips:
- Route 66 (USA) – The “Mother Road” with retro diners, motels from yesteryears, and eccentric roadside attractions
- The Camino de Santiago (Spain) – A Historic Pilgrimage Route
- Silk Road (Asia Central) – A mythique trading road through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and further.
- Golden Triangle (India) — Forts, Palaces & the Taj Mahal on a loop between Delhi, Agra & Jaipur.
- Wine Route (France) – Through Bordeaux and Burgundy, ideal for wine lovers and history lovers.
- Cappadocia, Turkey – History, fairy chimneys and cave hotels
- Moroccan Sahara Circuit – From the kasbahs and oasis pit stops of the desert dunes between Marrakech
- Scandinavia Fjord Route (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) – A scenic drive through fjords, forests and Viking history
Perfect for travelers looking for something more than just miles in the bank, these journeys combine culture, cuisine and historic landmarks.
4. Unique and Quirky Road Trips
The most enjoyable road trips are often the most impractical, the roads lined with weird attractions, theme drives and spontaneous breaks from the highway.
Fun & Quirky Road Trip Ideas:
- Florida Keys Overseas Highway (USA) — Drive miles across turquoise waters on Bridge.
- Icefields Parkway (Canada) – Pass by glaciers and wildlife on the way from Banff to Jasper.
- South Island Circuit (New Zealand) – A land of endless extreme sports, fjords and breathtaking scenery
- North Coast 500 (Scotland) – Scotland’s equivalent of Route 66 offers castles, whisky distilleries, and rugged coastline.
- Wild Atlantic Way (Ireland) — The longest defined coastal touring route in Europe
- Road Trip On «The Outback» (Australia) – Discover red deserts, kangaroos and Aboriginal culture.
- Peloponnese (Greece) – Mythical ruins and coastal villages that will make history come alive for kids.
- New England Fall Drive (USA) – Beautiful foliage, pumpkin patches and small town charm.
They score high on charm, mystery and photo ops, so for travelers seeking something out-of-the-ordinary, these trips deliver.
5. Family-Friendly Road Trips
When travelling with kids, be sure you are planning routes with many rest areas, attractions, and things to do along the way. And family-friendly road trips strike a balance between fun and relaxation so that everyone has a good ride.
Best Family Road Trip Routes:
- Orlando to Miami (USA) – Beach, theme parks, Everglades adventure
- Great Smoky Mountains – USA Scenic drives, mountain spell, wildlife watching, waterfalls and wildlife viewing for everyone.
- Loire Valley Castles (France) – for your little ones with an appetite for fairy tales and medieval Derring do
- Fuji (Japan) – A short drive with plenty of stops, hot springs and cultural sites on our trips from Tokyo to Mount Fuji (Japan)
- Germanys Romantic Road – A fairy-tale route of castles, villages and family attractions
- Pacific Northwest Loop (USA) – Seattle, Portland, forests, aquariums, kid museums…
- The Canadian Maritimes (Canada) – Seaside towns, whale-watching tours, plus lighthouses your kids will love.
- Niagara Falls Road Trip (US | Canada) – World-renowned waterfalls, waterparks, and quirky attractions.
- Cornwall (UK) : Quaint coastal villages with castles and sandy beaches, from £450 ($500) – $650 (£600), October 2023
- Australia: Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast – World-renowned theme parks and wildlife sanctuaries along pristine beaches.
- UAE/Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah – Family-oriented resorts, desert safari and adventure parks
These road trips are a great balance between fun for every age and convenience.
6. Epic International Road Trips
International road trips are the ultimate adventure if you want to push yourself outside the 6-foot bubble and experience amazing places in the world. Not only do they blend cross-country exploration with cultural immersion, but they leave you with unforgettable memories that you can cherish for a lifetime!
Epic Worldwide Road Trips:
- Pan-American Highway — Earths longest car road trip, pry from Alaska to Argentina.
- Mongol Rally (Europe to Mongolia) – The ultimate rally for adventure seekers
- Norway – Atlantic Ocean Road – The most scenic bridges in the world!
- South Africa’s Wild Coast — All the beauty of beaches, safaris, and culture into one trip.
- Milford Road, New Zealand – Snaking through fjords, rainforest, and waterfalls
- Around Iceland on the Ring Road – A complete circling of glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, and hot springs.
- Garden Route (South Africa) – Known for wildlife reserves, lagoons, and coastal towns
- Great Alpines Road (Australia) – A high-mountain cool road, passing through vineyards, valleys, and ski resorts.
- Balkans (Eastern Europe) – Three countries full of beaches, history, and culture in one itinerary: Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia!
- WILD WEST ROAD TRIP (USA) – Monument Valley, Grand Canyon and desert scenery
