Table of Contents
- Route 66 in the United States
- The Ring Road in Iceland
- The Great Ocean Road in Australia
- The Garden Route in South Africa
- The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland
- The Kings Highway in Jordan
- North Coast 500 in Scotland
- FAQ
There is something irreducible about a road trip: the way the road has of dilating time, of imposing its own rhythm, of transforming every detour into a story. More than just a mode of transportation, it is a way of traveling that privileges the journey over the destination, chance over planning. For those who dream of taking the wheel, here are seven exceptional itineraries, chosen for the diversity of landscapes they traverse and the intensity of the memories they leave behind. To be traveled by car, motorcycle or camper van, according to your desire for freedom.
Route 66 in the United States
No other road has inspired as many songs, films and novels as Route 66. Opened in 1926, affectionately nicknamed the "Mother Road" by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath, it connects Chicago to Santa Monica over nearly 4,000 kilometers and crosses eight states. Its route has not been officially maintained since 1985, but it is precisely this patina of living memory that makes it a pilgrimage today.
The journey is a condensed version of America: wheat plains in Illinois and Missouri, Texas ranches, Martian landscapes in New Mexico, the Painted Desert and Grand Canyon in Arizona, then the triumphant arrival on the California Pacific coast. Between two stops, you pause at red Formica diners, fill up at gas stations frozen in the 1950s, and sleep in motels with neon signs. Whether you drive a convertible Mustang or ride a Harley-Davidson, plan at least three weeks to savor the itinerary without rushing.
I want to go By motorcycle, cabriolet or car of your choice, take Route 66 for a wonderful getaway. Cross stunning landscapes, venture into the Far West and make stops at the legendary gas stations of the Mother Road. Our recommended itinerary: The legendary Route 66 |
The Ring Road in Iceland
On an island where nature imposes its conditions, a single road makes a complete loop around the territory: the Hringvegur, the Ring Road, or more prosaically Route 1. Completed in 1974, it stretches for approximately 1,332 kilometers and forms the backbone of the country. Traveling it means crossing an open-air geology textbook: frozen lava fields, glacial deltas, fjords carved with precision, black ash plains, basalt sand beaches.
The route serves most of the island's emblematic sites: the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón and its drifting icebergs, Skaftafell National Park backed up to Vatnajökull, Lake Mývatn and its volcanic formations, the Seljalandsfoss waterfalls behind which you can walk, or the village of Vík and its cliffs populated by puffins. Allow ten to fifteen days to comfortably complete the loop, including detours to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula or the Westfjords. One word of caution though: in winter, certain sections may close without notice; always check road.is before departing.
| Plan your Road Trip in Iceland with the local agency Fjallabak |
The Great Ocean Road in Australia
There is a story behind the ribbon of asphalt that runs along Victoria's southern coast: the Great Ocean Road was built between 1919 and 1932 by soldiers returned from the First World War, and as such constitutes the world's largest war memorial. Over 243 kilometers, between Torquay and Allansford, it alternates between surfing beaches, eucalyptus forests, limestone cliffs and villages with English-style charm.
The main attraction remains Port Campbell National Park, where the sea has sculpted the famous Twelve Apostles — only eight remain today, as erosion continues its work — as well as the London Arch and Loch Ard Gorge. Along the way, you stop at Bells Beach, a temple of surfing, spot koalas in the trees of Kennett River, and experience the coolness of Otway's tropical forest. A minimum of three days is necessary to not miss the landscape. A van or camper van remains the preferred option on this stretch, where plenty of well-equipped camping areas are available.
The Garden Route in South Africa
Nestled between the Indian Ocean and the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, the Garden Route lives up to its name: over nearly 300 kilometers, it unfolds a full-scale garden where indigenous forests, turquoise lagoons, white sand beaches and nature reserves alternate. Officially, it extends from Mossel Bay to Storms River (or Jeffreys Bay depending on sources), but most travelers choose to approach it from Cape Town and extend it to Port Elizabeth.
Stops abound: Knysna and its lagoon, Plettenberg Bay and its beaches, Tsitsikamma National Park where you cross suspension bridges over gorges, not forgetting reserves like Addo Elephant Park, which is home to one of South Africa's largest elephant populations. From June to November, a detour to Hermanus, world capital of whale watching from the shore, is a must: southern right whales come to calve there just meters from the shore. An itinerary that combines coastal driving, wildlife and wine tourism in the Stellenbosch region.
| Plan your Road Trip in South Africa with the local agency Passion Africa Travel |
The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland
Inaugurated in 2014, the Wild Atlantic Way is a recent creation, but its route follows ancient geography: that of Ireland's western coast, where the European continent crumbles against the Atlantic. At 2,500 kilometers, it is one of the longest marked coastal itineraries in the world. It connects Malin Head, in Donegal, to Kinsale, in County Cork, and crosses nine counties while multiplying landscapes.
You encounter the vertiginous Cliffs of Moher (214 meters above the ocean), the karst landscape of the Burren, the Dingle Peninsula and its Ring of Kerry, the surf beaches of Bundoran and Lahinch, fishing ports painted at places like Roundstone or Dingle. In terms of pace, the Wild Atlantic Way does not lend itself to rushing: the road, often narrow and winding, slowed by sheep, invites you to extend your stages. Plan two to three weeks to cover the entire route, or choose a section — the southwest being the most emblematic.
I want to go Head to County Donegal in the north before taking the Wild Atlantic Way to Kerry and enjoy the magnificent wild landscapes of the Irish west coast. Our recommended itinerary: The grand tour of Ireland |
The Kings Highway in Jordan
While most road trips invite disconnection, the Kings Highway offers something different: an itinerary laden with history, where each stop refers to a sacred text or disappeared civilization. Stretching 400 kilometers, this road — the famous Highway 35 — is mentioned as early as Genesis and the Book of Numbers. It has seen Nabataean caravans, Roman legions, Crusaders and Muslim pilgrims en route to Mecca pass by.
From Amman to Aqaba, the itinerary opens a succession of windows onto the past: Madaba and its famous Byzantine mosaic map representing the Holy Land, Mount Nebo where, according to tradition, Moses beheld the Promised Land before dying, Karak Castle and its Crusader ramparts, the Dana Reserve and its canyons, and of course Petra, the Nabataean city carved from pink sandstone. Further south, you turn toward the lunar desert of Wadi Rum before diving into the Red Sea at Aqaba. One week allows you to grasp the essentials without rushing. Right-hand traffic, well-maintained roads, bilingual signage: Jordan remains one of the most accessible countries in the Middle East for autonomous road trips.
| Plan your Road Trip in Jordan with the local agency Enjoy Jordan |
North Coast 500 in Scotland
Launched in 2015 to boost tourism in far northern Scotland, North Coast 500 quickly earned the nickname "Scottish Route 66". Over 830 kilometers, it describes a loop departing from Inverness and crossing six regions: Black Isle, Easter Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Wester Ross and back to Inverness. The numbers tell little until you see these landscapes: endless moorlands, lochs with black reflections, white sand beaches worthy of the Caribbean (at Achmelvich or Sandwood Bay), single track roads where you must pull into passing places to let oncoming traffic through.
The route collects castles — Dunrobin, nearby Eilean Donan — and distilleries, including Glenmorangie, Old Pulteney and Clynelish, which produce some of the Highlands' most reputed single malts. For drivers, two tips: do not underestimate distances (narrow roads impose a slow average) and book well in advance between May and September, as enthusiasm for NC500 has strained accommodation availability. Plan seven to ten days to make the most of it.
I want to go Scottish roads and their incredible landscapes are calling you? Take to the road to discover Scotland in all its splendor: Our recommended itinerary: The grand tour of Scotland |