Weekend Drives
Short 1-2 day road trips for a weekend break — perfect for exploring nearby coast, mountains, and countryside without committing to a full holiday. 146 curated drives with mapped stops, distance, duration, and route notes — including Overseas Highway, Icefields Parkway, Sea to Sky Highway.
These 146 routes range from 20 to 530 km and from 0.08333333333333333 to 4 days, across 74 countries. Top picks: Overseas Highway, Icefields Parkway, Sea to Sky Highway.
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IconicOverseas HighwayUS-1 leaves the Florida mainland and drives 230km over 42 bridges across the Florida Keys, the highway that goes to sea. Turquoise flats on both sides, pelicans on every railing, and America's most southerly point at the end.EV-friendly
LegendaryIcefields ParkwayOne of the most spectacular mountain drives on Earth. Highway 93 runs from Lake Louise to Jasper through the Canadian Rockies, with glaciers, turquoise lakes, and peaks over 3,000 m at every turn. Banff and shuttle-only Moraine Lake work best as a separate pre-trip extension.EV-friendly
IconicSea to Sky HighwayBC-99 from Vancouver to Whistler is one of the world's great short drives, Howe Sound's fjord on one side, the Coast Mountains on the other, threading through old-growth forest past tumbling waterfalls and into a world-class mountain town.EV-friendly
LegendaryBeartooth HighwayThis iconic alpine drive climbs from Red Lodge, Montana to the Beartooth Plateau and down toward Cooke City, threading past hairpin switchbacks, glacial lakes, and broad tundra views. It is one of the highest paved roads in North America, with nonstop scenery and crisp mountain air.
LegendaryRoad to HānaThe Hāna Highway winds along Maui's dramatic northeastern coastline through 59 bridges and 620 curves, bamboo forests, hidden black-sand beaches, waterfalls tumbling into the sea, and one of the most lush drives on Earth.EV-friendlyPermit required
LegendaryGoing-to-the-Sun RoadThe only road that crosses the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park threads through the most dramatic mountain scenery in the American Rockies, hanging valleys, waterfalls cascading across the road, and grizzly bears roadside.
IconicMillion Dollar HighwayColorado’s Million Dollar Highway is the dramatic stretch of US 550 between Silverton and Ouray, threading over Red Mountain Pass through steep alpine scenery, old mining country, and sheer canyon walls. Expect tight curves, dramatic overlooks, and one of the Rockies’ most memorable short drives.
IconicSeward HighwayThis classic Alaska drive runs from downtown Anchorage south to Seward, following Turnagain Arm past tidal mudflats, glacier-capped peaks, and roadside viewpoints. It’s a straightforward paved route, but the scenery demands frequent stops for hikes, wildlife viewing, and overlooks along Kenai Peninsula’s dramatic coast.EV-friendly
LegendaryMilford Sound DriveFiordland is New Zealand's wildest corner, a frayed landscape of mountains sliced with fjords. The only road into Milford Sound from Te Anau follows Lake Te Anau's inland fjord shores, traverses the Eglinton Valley, passes the Mirror Lakes, climbs to the Divide through the 1.2 km Homer Tunnel, then descends steeply into mountain-rimmed Milford Sound.EV-friendly
IconicGreat Alpine RoadVictoria's B500 climbs over the Australian Alps from Wangaratta to Bairnsdale, the highest sealed road in Australia, through snow gum forests, Mount Hotham ski resorts, and the gold-rush valley of Harrietville.EV-friendly
IconicCairns to Port Douglas Coastal DriveThis classic tropical coast drive follows the Captain Cook Highway from Cairns to Port Douglas, skimming rainforest-clad headlands, palm beaches, and the Coral Sea. It is one of Australia’s most accessible scenic routes, with easy stops for lookouts, swimming beaches, and reef-day-trip departures.EV-friendly
LegendaryGrossglockner High Alpine RoadThere's a reason the Grossglockner Road is often cited as the finest drive in the Alps, a 48 km rollercoaster of sheer glacier-encrusted mountains, waterfalls, forested slopes, jewel-coloured lakes, and 4,000 m peaks on almost every distractingly lovely bend. The crown is Grossglockner itself at 3,798 m, Austria's highest peak, and the rapidly retreating Pasterze Glacier below the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe lookout.EV-friendly
LegendaryTrollstigenThe Troll's Path, eleven hairpins on a 10% gradient rising 850m above the Istra valley, with the 180m Stigfossen waterfall cascading alongside the road. Norway's most dramatic single route descends to Geiranger, the country's most celebrated fjord.EV-friendly
LegendaryTransfăgărășan: Poenari to SibiuA two-day northbound crossing from Curtea de Argeș via timed Poenari Castle, Vidraru Dam and Bâlea Lake to Sibiu.EV-friendly
IconicThree Corniches: Nice–Menton LoopA two-day loop that names the actual Moyenne and Basse Corniche segments while giving Èze, Monaco, Menton and Villefranche realistic time.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
IconicBlack Forest North-to-South Road TripA broader north-to-south Black Forest trip whose first day follows the classic High Road and whose second continues through the southern forest.EV-friendly
IconicGorges du VerdonFrance's answer to the Grand Canyon, a 25 km gash through the limestone hills of Provence where the Verdon River has carved sheer cliffs nearly a kilometre high. The usual route begins in the hilltop town of Moustiers-Ste-Marie, creeps around the gorge rim with roadside viewpoints galore, loops the 23 km Rte des Crêtes with 14 lookouts (keep eyes peeled for eagles and vultures), and ends at Castellane.EV-friendly
IconicChianti RoadToscana simply doesn't get more bella than the SR222 through Chianti country, linking two great medieval cities through gently rolling countryside striped with cypress trees, olive groves, and vines. Most photogenic during the late springtime eruption of poppies and wildflowers; stop at every enoteca for Chianti Classico, a sangiovese-dominated drop that tastes like the landscape.EV-friendly
IconicRing of KerryThe classic one-day 179 km Ring of Kerry on the N71/N70/N72 from Killarney through Muckross, Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville and Cahersiveen back to Killarney.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
LegendaryStelvio PassThe classic one-way east-to-west Stelvio ascent from Prato through Gomagoi, Trafoi and Franzenshöhe to the summit, then down to Bormio.
LegendaryAtlantic Ocean Road: Kårvåg to BudThe classic 36 km Norwegian Scenic Route from Kårvåg over the Atlantic Road bridges and island walks to the fishing village of Bud.EV-friendly
IconicAlbanian Riviera and Llogara PassA correctly ordered two-day Vlorë-to-Sarandë coast route over the old Llogara road, with one day-one beach and the Porto Palermo–Qeparo–Borsh sequence on day two.
IconicVršič PassA full-day Kranjska Gora-to-Trenta crossing over Vršič, with the Russian Chapel and one carefully gated Soča-source outing.EV-friendly
IconicEryri Scenic TraverseA two-day point-to-point Eryri traverse from Betws-y-Coed through Llanberis to Beddgelert, Portmeirion, Porthmadog and Harlech.EV-friendly
IconicPanorama RouteMpumalanga's Panorama Route strings together the most dramatic escarpment scenery in Southern Africa, canyon viewpoints, gold-rush villages, ancient potholes, and waterfalls spilling off the edge of the highveld.EV-friendly
LegendarySani PassA boulder-strewn 4WD track climbing 1332 vertical metres in 9km through the Drakensberg escarpment into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. At the top: the highest pub in Africa, a blanket of stars, and a Basotho world entirely apart.4WD onlyOff-road sections
IconicSkeleton CoastThe C34 salt-and-gravel coastal road from Swakopmund north along Namibia's Atlantic fringe to Terrace Bay, through the Skeleton Coast National Park, past bleached whale bones, shipwrecks, and Cape Cross Seal Reserve's 100,000-strong fur seal colony. Ultra-desolate. Motorbikes not permitted on the coast road.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
LegendaryShimanami KaidōSix islands linked by six bridges across the Seto Inland Sea, Japan's most celebrated drive arcs from Onomichi in Hiroshima to Imabari in Ehime, past lemon groves, castle ruins, and views so perfect they feel composed rather than found.EV-friendly
IconicHai Van Pass: Da Nang to HueThe complete classic day from Da Nang over Hai Van Gate, through Lang Co and Lap An Lagoon, then onward to Tam Giang or Thuan An and Hue.
NotableRuta de las FloresThe classic Ruta de las Flores links five flower-and-coffee towns in western El Salvador: Nahuizalco, Salcoatitán, Juayúa, Apaneca, and Concepción de Ataco. Two days leave room for artisan markets and murals on the main route plus a separate guided waterfall outing from Juayúa.
NotableHummingbird HighwayBelize’s Hummingbird Highway is a lush, low-stress drive from Belmopan to Dangriga, threading through citrus groves, Maya hills, and rainforest-covered valleys. The route is known for roadside fruit stands, mountain views, and easy detours to waterfalls, caves, and small Garifuna communities near the coast.
IconicDubai–Al Ain–Jebel HafeetThe classic day drive from Dubai to the garden city of Al Ain combines its UNESCO oasis and Al Jahili Fort with Green Mubazzarah and Jebel Hafeet’s paved switchbacks at late-afternoon light.EV-friendly
IconicArthur's PassThis classic South Island drive runs from Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains to the alpine village of Arthur’s Pass and on to the West Coast. It pairs braided rivers, beech forest, steep mountain walls, and dramatic viaduct engineering with easy roadside access to short walks and viewpoints.
Hidden GemB9 Road, MauritiusSkirting the Indian Ocean-facing Mauritius shoreline from Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage monolith with a poignant memorial to escaped slaves, east past Macondé Rock's viewpoint, Saint Martin, Bel Ombre, and the island's finest beaches at St Félix and Riambel to Souillac, finishing at Gris Gris. Le Morne sits a few km south of the B9's official western start at Grande Riviere Noire, so this drive begins just south of the true road terminus.
IconicBahrain Heritage LoopTwo unhurried days separate Manama, Qal’at al-Bahrain, Muharraq and the Pearling Path from the southern drive to Riffa, the Tree of Life and Bahrain International Circuit.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
LegendaryBariloche Extension to the Route of the Seven LakesThe most beautiful short drive in South America, Ruta Nacional 40 and Ruta Provincial 234 through the Andes foothills between Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes, threading through seven glacier-fed Andean lakes of extraordinary blue-green clarity: Nahuel Huapi, Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, and Machónico. The Swiss Alps transplanted to Patagonia.Permit required
Hidden GemCape Ann, MassachusettsThe North Shore route from Newburyport south along Cape Ann, clam shacks on Route 1A, the Parker River Wildlife Refuge's 800 species of birds and plants, Crane Beach (one of the longest and sandiest in New England), maritime Essex, and the working fishing port of Gloucester. A short drive dense with seafood and Atlantic atmosphere.EV-friendly
IconicCape Cod Route 6A and Outer CapeRoute 6A, the Old King's Highway, traces the Bay side of Cape Cod through 300 years of sea-captain architecture, cranberry bogs, saltmarsh, and shingled villages. The Cape narrows to a sandy hook at Provincetown, where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620.EV-friendly
IconicCaptain Cook Highway and Daintree CoastA two-day coast journey: the named Captain Cook Highway links Cairns and Port Douglas, then the explicitly disclosed Daintree Coast extension continues through Mossman, the ferry and rainforest to Cape Tribulation.EV-friendly
IconicCauseway Coastal Route: Belfast to DerryA two-day Belfast-to-Derry journey along the Antrim and Causeway coasts, with Carrick-a-Rede, Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce and Mussenden in geographic order.EV-friendly
NotableCaves RoadA short but extraordinary drive through the limestone karst of Western Australia's Margaret River region, above ground, the world's largest karri forests and a hundred world-class wineries; below, four show caves of stalactites and crystal formations accessible on guided tours along a single winding road.EV-friendly
IconicCentral Cross-Island Highway Access AlternativesThe historic Central Cross-Island Highway cannot currently be presented as a routine through-drive. This repaired itinerary offers two honest modules: a two-day western high-country trip from Taichung to Lishan and Wuling Farm via Puli, Highway 14A, and Dayuling, returning by the same verified public roads; and a separate one-day Hualien-side visit to the open Taroko Visitor Center and Qingshui Cliff coast. There is no drive between the modules and no recreational gorge transit.EV-friendly
IconicChain of Craters RoadThe most geological road on Earth, descending 1200m from Kīlauea's active summit caldera to the Pacific coast, past pit craters and still-smoking lava fields, ending where a previous flow swallowed the road whole and entered the sea.EV-friendly
IconicClarence DriveThe R44 (Clarence Drive) from Gordon's Bay to Kleinmond, continuing on the R43 to Hermanus, hugs the Kogelberg coastline, mountain cliffs plunging to turquoise sea, fynbos slopes, penguin colonies, and the world's finest shore-based whale watching.EV-friendly
NotableClassic Tequila and Agave LandscapeKeep the classic agave landscape focused on Guadalajara/Tlaquepaque, El Arenal, Tequila, and Amatitán. Guachimontones at Teuchitlán is the coherent optional third-day cultural extension; distant San Juan de los Lagos is a separate pilgrimage trip.
NotableCosta do Sol: Búzios and Cabo FrioA relaxed coastal loop through Rio de Janeiro’s Costa do Sol, this drive links the relaxed beaches of Cabo Frio with the granite coves and viewpoints of Búzios. It’s best as a short two-day road trip with time for beach stops, seafood lunches, and sunset along the shore.Permit required
IconicCross-Island Dominica via Morne Trois PitonsA one-day cross-island drive from Roseau to La Plaine through Morne Trois Pitons National Park, centered on Trafalgar Falls, Emerald Pool, and the volcanic rainforest interior.
Hidden GemDakar to Saint-Louis CoastThis easy Senegalese coast drive follows the Atlantic north from Dakar to the UNESCO-listed old city of Saint-Louis. Expect ocean views, fishing villages, salt pans, and broad sandy beaches, with the route becoming especially atmospheric near the Langue de Barbarie and the river mouth at Saint-Louis.
IconicDenali HighwayThe Denali Highway runs between Paxson and Cantwell across a vast sweep of tundra, alpine lakes, and glacier-carved ridges with constant views of the Alaska Range. Long gravel stretches and frequent wildlife sightings make it a classic remote drive, best enjoyed slowly in clear summer weather.Off-road sections
NotableEast CapeA two-day northbound SH35 drive from Gisborne through Tolaga Bay, Ruatoria and Te Araroa to East Cape and Opotiki, sequenced without backtracking and with recovery-work contingency.
IconicErg Chebbi and the Moroccan SaharaThis Saharan road trip runs from the palm-lined oasis town of Errachidia through the Ziz Valley to Merzouga and the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi, with a short kasbah-village detour through Tinejdad on the way. It blends paved desert highways, kasbah villages, and sunrise dune viewpoints, with the option to finish at a camel camp or desert lodge.
Hidden GemEssaouira to Agadir Atlantic CoastThis relaxed Atlantic drive follows Morocco’s coast south from Essaouira to Agadir, with sea views, windswept beaches, and easy stops in fishing towns and surf breaks. It is a straightforward paved route with good road access, best enjoyed in mild weather when the ocean light is clear.
IconicEstrada da Graciosa Self-Drive LoopThe historic colonial road carved through the Serra do Mar Atlantic Forest in 1872, PR-410 descends 900m from the Paraná plateau to the coast through dense rainforest, roadside waterfalls, and the colonial riverside town of Morretes, the home of barreado.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
IconicForgotten World HighwayNew Zealand’s Forgotten World Highway follows SH43 through remote hill country between Stratford and Taumarunui. It climbs over the Whangamomona Saddle, threads past lonely farmland and river valleys, and pauses at quirky Whangamomona, a self-declared republic that captures the route’s isolated, frontier character.EV-friendly
NotableGuatemala to TikalThe classic two-day road trip from Guatemala City to Tikal follows CA-9 and CA-13 through El Rancho, the Río Dulce corridor, Poptún, and Flores before entering the Petén jungle.
IconicHistoric Columbia River HighwayThis classic Oregon drive follows the restored Historic Columbia River Highway through the Columbia River Gorge, linking waterfalls, stone bridges, and bluff-top viewpoints. Starting near Troutdale and finishing in the Hood River area, it blends early 20th-century engineering with constant river-and-cliff scenery, best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.EV-friendly
Hidden GemHong Kong Island South & Shek OA correctly named two-day Hong Kong Island south-coast itinerary: one compact scenic drive from Central and Victoria Peak through Repulse Bay, Stanley, and Tai Tam, followed by a car-free Dragon's Back hike from To Tei Wan to Big Wave Bay and a relaxed finish at Shek O Beach.EV-friendly
IconicIzu Peninsula LoopA volcanic peninsula south of Tokyo where the Pacific crashes against black-sand beaches, hot springs rise from the ground mid-forest, and the road clings to sea cliffs past fishing villages that time left behind. One of Japan's great onsen drives.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
IconicJimmy Buffett's Florida KeysThe Florida Keys Scenic Highway, a prestigious All-American Road, is Jimmy Buffett's country. Hemingway lived here, Tennessee Williams wrote here, and Thomas McGuane caroused here. The drive hops one bridge at a time through a magnificent seascape to Key West's Margaritaville.EV-friendly
IconicKancamagus HighwayNew Hampshire's "Kanc", NH-112 through the White Mountain National Forest, is the quintessential New England foliage drive. No traffic lights, no commercial strip, no stops for 56km of blazing maple canopy, covered bridges, and cold mountain streams.EV-friendly
IconicKancamagus Highway and Franconia NotchNew Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway cuts through the White Mountain National Forest without a single traffic light. In fall, the hardwoods burn crimson and gold, one of the great foliage drives in the world.EV-friendly
NotableKelowna and West Kelowna Wine DayA compact Kelowna and West Kelowna wine day across the William R. Bennett Bridge, not a full Okanagan Valley tour to Penticton and Osoyoos.EV-friendly
NotableKenting and the Hengchun PeninsulaAn efficient two-day Hengchun Peninsula circuit: old-town and west-coast highlights through Houbihu and Maobitou on Day 1, then the classic eastbound sequence from Kenting and Sail Rock to Eluanbi and Longpan on Day 2 before returning to the night market.EV-friendly
NotableKuwait Bay Heritage CircuitA coherent west-to-east city day: Sadu House and one museum, Souq Al Mubarakeya, the Grand Mosque, Kuwait Towers and a waterfront finish. Extra museums and parks are optional rather than mandatory.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
NotableNadym to Salekhard and LabytnangiA geographically honest two-day tundra drive from Nadym to Salekhard, followed by the real seasonal Ob ferry or officially opened ice-road connection to Labytnangi. The plan prioritizes the Arctic Circle marker, Shemanovsky Museum, Obdorsky Ostrog, and riverfront without inventing a bridge or padding Labytnangi with a generic outskirts drive.SUV onlyOff-road sections
IconicNapa Valley Wine RoadCalifornia's Silverado Trail and Highway 29 thread through the most celebrated wine valley in the Americas, grand château wineries, Michelin-starred restaurants, mustard flowers in spring, and golden harvest light in fall.EV-friendly
IconicOʻahu Windward and North Shore TripThe Ko'olau pali throws a wall of fluted green peaks above Oahu's windward shore. H3 and the Kamehameha Highway trace the coast through taro fields, ancient heiau, sacred valleys, and turquoise bays where Hawaiians surfed a thousand years before tourists arrived.EV-friendly
Hidden GemPedernales and Barahona Scenic SouthA focused two-day drive along the Dominican southwest coast from Barahona through San Rafael, Los Patos, and Oviedo to Pedernales, capped by a boat trip from Cabo Rojo to Bahía de las Águilas.
IconicQatar Inland Sea and North Coast LoopA two-day Qatar classic: a prebooked licensed 4WD expedition to the Inland Sea, followed by Al Zubarah, the northwest coast and a tide-confirmed mangrove activity.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsLoop / circuit
IconicRuta Panorámica Puerto RicoPuerto Rico’s Ruta Panorámica is a mountain-to-coast drive across the island’s interior, linking forested ridges, coffee towns, and panoramic overlooks. The classic road-trip stretch runs from the western highlands near Mayagüez to the eastern side around Maunabo, with switchbacks, cool cloud-forest air, and views that change with every climb.
IconicSkyline DriveSkyline Drive is the classic ridge-top route through Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, tracing 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains. The road links mountain overlooks, short hikes, and forested valleys between Front Royal and Rockfish Gap, with especially vivid color in spring bloom and autumn foliage.EV-friendly
NotableSnaefell Mountain CourseThe world's oldest motorcycle race circuit, since 1911 the TT course has looped from Douglas up through mountain villages to the 621-metre Snaefell summit road and back. Outside TT week you can drive the full circuit at your own pace through stone walls, coastal hedgerows, and moorland; during TT the roads close and 250 riders race at an average of 216 km/h.EV-friendly
IconicSoufrière and the Pitons DriveA compact south-west coast loop from Castries to Soufrière, this drive follows winding shoreline roads past fishing villages, rainforest hills, and black-sand coves, with constant views of the UNESCO-listed Pitons. It is best enjoyed slowly, with stops for viewpoints, waterfalls, and the sulphur springs around town.
Hidden GemSt Catherine to DahabThis short Sinai drive links the granite monasteries and mountain basins of St Catherine with the Red Sea town of Dahab. The road drops from stark high desert into wide wadis and open coastal plains, with rugged peaks behind and clear water ahead.
IconicTahiti Island Circle RoadA two-day Tahiti Nui coastal circle that returns to Papeete, with Teahupoo handled accurately as an out-and-back Tahiti Iti peninsula spur rather than a road around the smaller island.
NotableTaranaki's Surf HighwaySH45 around the western flank of Mount Taranaki, a short coastal drive past dairy farms, surf breaks made famous by boardriders seeking the perfect wave, shipwrecks, and lighthouses. New Plymouth's Len Lye Centre kinetic sculpture and the Tawhiti Museum of settler history frame the journey's beginning and end.EV-friendly
IconicTop of the World HighwayClimb out of Dawson City onto a high alpine ridge where gravel pavement traces the Yukon–Alaska divide for miles above treeline. The drive delivers vast 360-degree views, gold-rush history, and a dramatic descent to the remote border crossing at Poker Creek and then into Chicken, Alaska.Off-road sections
IconicVal d'OrciaThe World Heritage-listed landscapes of Val d'Orcia have featured in Gladiator, The English Patient, and countless Renaissance paintings. Patchwork hills of cypress and wheat, walled medieval cities, Brunello di Montalcino paired with chestnuts and truffles, and the fortress of Radicofani at the end.EV-friendly
NotableWaiheke Island CircuitTwo days divide Waiheke into a reliable western Oneroa-Onetangi coast day and a slower eastern Stony Batter-Man O War day, with vehicle-ferry planning and sober transport for any tasting.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
IconicWanxianshan & Guoliang Tunnel VisitA realistic two-day Xinxiang–Wanxianshan visit that drives only to the official entrance, then uses the scenic shuttle and walking paths for Guoliang Tunnel, the cliff-gallery viewpoints, Guoliang Village, Tianchi, and the Grand Canyon viewing deck.
NotableYakutsk to Lena PillarsA correct two-day R-004 approach from Yakutsk to Batamay, followed by a booked boat crossing to the Labyda visitor area and the Lena Pillars eco-trail. Day 1 reaches the river base; Day 2 gives the UNESCO landscape, landing, briefing, trail, and viewpoint real time before the return.SUV onlyPermit required
IconicAparados da SerraThe Serra Geral escarpment splits the Rio Grande do Sul plateau with two of the deepest canyons in South America, Itaimbezinho (720m deep, 5.8km long) and Fortaleza (900m deep). The araucária pine forests above and the Atlantic Forest below create two entirely different worlds within 20km.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
Hidden GemBeatles TourThe world's most famous band grew up in the suburbs of Liverpool, a self-guided loop from the Beatles Story at Albert Dock through Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, Paul McCartney's childhood home, John Lennon's Aunt Mimi's house, the Cavern Club, and the NEMS record shop site where Brian Epstein first heard them play. Liverpudlians tell the story with fierce pride.EV-friendly
LegendaryGeiranger–TrollstigenNorwegian National Tourist Route 63, one of the world's greatest drives and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Steep inclines averaging 9%, slam-on-the-brakes-and-grab-the-camera hairpin bends, and views of Geirangerfjord's sheer 1,400 m walls make for terrific slow touring. The Trollstigen (Troll's Path) bombards you with mountains named Kongen (the King) and Dronnigen (the Queen), waterfalls spilling down sheer cliff faces, and fjords of the bluest blue.EV-friendly
IconicGrand Pacific DriveAustralia’s Grand Pacific Drive traces a classic coastal day trip from Sydney’s southern beaches to the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. The route crosses the Sea Cliff Bridge, passes rainforest-fringed headlands and surf towns, and finishes among Kiama’s famous blowholes, lookouts and rolling green coastline.EV-friendly
IconicLa Rioja Wine RegionA two-day west-to-east Rioja wine journey: Haro, Briñas, Briones and the Vivanco museum first, then Laguardia, Ysios and Elciego. The order follows the Ebro corridor without the former Briones backtrack, and every tasting requires an alcohol-free driver.EV-friendly
LegendaryNorth Yungas Road Guided Cycling DayBolivia’s North Yungas Road drops from the high Andes near La Paz into the humid Yungas valleys on a dramatic, tightly winding descent. Expect cliffside curves, changing weather, and sweeping mountain-to-jungle scenery on a historic route once notorious for its extreme exposure.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableRota RomânticaThe RS-235 through the Serra Gaúcha follows the valleys settled by German and Italian immigrants in the 1820s, half-timbered architecture, sausage and Gemütlichkeit in Gramado, the Parque do Caracol waterfall, and the Vale dos Vinhedos where Brazil's best Merlot and Moscato are made.EV-friendly
LegendarySani Pass and Roof of AfricaClimb from the Himeville area up the legendary Sani Pass into Lesotho, following one of southern Africa’s most dramatic mountain roads. The gravel switchbacks rise to the high plateau and the iconic Sani Mountain Lodge, with sweeping views over the Drakensberg and a true sense of reaching the Roof of Africa.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit requiredLoop / circuit
IconicSanto Antão Island CrossingThis island crossing follows Santo Antão’s dramatic north-to-south mountain roads from the ferry port at Porto Novo up through the cratered highlands to the lush valley country around Ribeira Grande, continuing on to Ponta do Sol and the cliffside village of Fontainhas. Expect plunging views, terraced slopes, and some of Cape Verde’s most memorable switchbacks.
IconicSerra da Leba and Tundavala EscarpmentThis southern Angola road trip links the dramatic switchbacks of Serra da Leba with the high rim views of the Tundavala Escarpment. Starting in Lubango and looping through highland villages and eucalyptus-clad slopes, it delivers some of the country’s most iconic mountain scenery and dramatic roadside viewpoints.
IconicTamanrasset to Assekrem in the HoggarThis short Saharan climb leaves Tamanrasset and heads into the volcanic granite peaks of the Hoggar, ending at the road-access point on the Assekrem plateau. The final visit to Charles de Foucauld’s hermitage is on foot; the drive itself is all about stark hamadas and vast sunrise and sunset views over the central Sahara.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableTarga Florio Grande Circuit-inspired Madonie LoopA two-day Palermo–Cefalù–Madonie–Palermo adaptation inspired by the historic Grande circuit, with its actual modern loop distance disclosed.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
NotableWaterfall WayWaterfall Way is one of northern New South Wales’ most rewarding short road trips, climbing from the coastal plains at Coffs Harbour into the cool New England tablelands near Armidale. The drive strings together rainforest, escarpment lookouts, and a run of dramatic waterfalls in national parks along a well-sealed, easy route.EV-friendly
Hidden GemWooden Churches Route, PolandThrough southern Małopolska's UNESCO-listed wooden churches, shaped like dainty wizard's hats, these all-wooden medieval churches survived centuries of wars, Tatar raids, and two world wars. The route east of Kraków visits Lipnica Murowana, Binarowa, Sekowa, and the largest Gothic-style wooden church in Europe at Haczów.EV-friendly
IconicZagorohoria, GreeceInto the slate-and-stone villages of the Zagori in the Pindos Mountains of Epirus, one of Greece's most untouched regions where roads are steep and narrow, stone bridges arch over rushing rivers, and village squares are shaded by centuries-old plane trees. The antidote to the Greek islands.EV-friendly
NotableAlnwick to LindisfarneNorthumberland's panoramic coast road from Alnwick north along the A1 to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, through one of Britain's finest stretches of undeveloped shoreline past Bamburgh Castle, Seahouses harbour, and the causeway that connects Holy Island only at low tide. Lindisfarne Priory closes November through January.EV-friendly
IconicBaeksu Coastal RoadKorea's classic short Yellow Sea drive, beginning with Beopseongpo harbour and the region's croaker-drying and gulbi food tradition before following the finest Baeksu cliff section from Daesin Lighthouse past the Sunset Exhibition Hall and 365 Health Stairs to a signed golden-hour viewpoint.EV-friendly
IconicBolaven Plateau LoopA compact but correctly ordered two-day plateau loop: the Paksong waterfall cluster first, then Thateng, Tad Lo and Tad Suong before returning to Pakse.Loop / circuit
NotableBonneville Salt FlatsThe remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville, 200km² of blinding white salt crust where land speed records are broken and the curvature of the Earth is visible to the naked eye. I-80 is one of the straightest, most surreal roads in America.
Hidden GemBulgarian Black Sea Coast Burgas to SinemoretsA two-day southbound Bulgarian coast route from Burgas and Pomorie through Sozopol to Arkutino, Ahtopol and the Veleka mouth at Sinemorets.EV-friendly
IconicCentral Otago Wine TrailThe world's southernmost wine region hugs valley roads between Queenstown and Wanaka, vineyards fighting for space between rugged schist mountains and the Kawarau River gorge. Central Otago Pinot Noir and Riesling rival anything from Burgundy or Alsace.EV-friendly
NotableDebed Canyon and Northern MonasteriesA two-day Armenian Debed Canyon route from Vanadzor through Odzun, Haghpat and Sanahin to Akhtala, stopping before the Georgian border.
NotableGobustan and Absheron PeninsulaA two-day Baku-based circuit: Gobustan rock art and the official mud-volcano complex, then Ateshgah, Yanar Dag and the Baku waterfront.EV-friendly
NotableGreat Western TiersA two-day Great Western Tiers route from Deloraine through Mole Creek and Leven Canyon to Cradle Valley. It deliberately ends at Dove Lake because no public road crosses the national park directly to Lake St Clair.EV-friendly
LegendaryKaikoura CoastSH1 north of Christchurch is one of the world's great coastal drives, the Seaward Kaikoura Range falls sheer into the Pacific, sperm whales feed in the canyon just offshore, and New Zealand fur seals laze on every rock shelf.EV-friendly
IconicLake District Passes TraverseA two-day Keswick-to-Windermere traverse via Borrowdale/Honister, then the demanding Wrynose–Hardknott crossing through Eskdale to Coniston.EV-friendly
IconicLeh to Hunder via Khardung LaThe classic 127 km Leh–Khardung La–Diskit–Hunder crossing, followed by a relaxed Nubra morning rather than an implausible same-day Turtuk detour.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicMadaba, Dead Sea and KarakTwo logical days run Madaba–Mount Nebo–Dead Sea, then either a confirmed Wadi Mujib canyon slot or the all-season signed shore alternative via Lot’s Cave/Museum before Karak. The unverified salt-flat walk is removed.
NotableMindanao Highlands: Davao to BukidnonA two-day highland route that reaches the promised Bukidnon sights, while leading with the material security distinction between Davao City and Bukidnon.SUV only
NotableRoadAtlas Hidden Highway: Shropshire to LlangollenAn original RoadAtlas two-day route linking Ludlow, Stokesay, the Long Mynd, Powis Castle, Pontcysyllte and Llangollen; it is not claimed as a historic named highway.EV-friendly
IconicThe Great Glen: A82 Fort William to InvernessThe A82 follows the Great Glen fault line from Fort William to Inverness, a geological crack splitting Scotland in two, now filled by Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, and the most famous stretch of water in the world: Loch Ness.EV-friendly
NotableTrinidad North Coast RoadA focused daylight drive from Port of Spain to Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas, and Blanchisseuse along Trinidad’s classic North Coast Road. Toco lies on a separate northeastern corridor and is not part of this route.
IconicWaimea Canyon DriveThe "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", HI-550 climbs from Kauaʻi's red-dirt lowlands to a 1200m lookout above a canyon 16km long and 900m deep, its walls stripped in ochre, violet, and jungle green by five million years of erosion.EV-friendly
NotableZeeland Delta Works: Renesse to VlissingenA north-to-south point-to-point route from Renesse and Brouwersdam over the Eastern Scheldt barrier to Veere, then across Walcheren to Vlissingen.EV-friendly
NotableCirque de Combe LavalThe D76 through the Vercors Natural Park cuts a ledge into sheer 400m limestone cliffs above the Lyonne valley, a vertiginous corniche through one of France's least-visited mountain regions, ending on the high Vercors plateau with its dark wartime history.EV-friendly
NotableCoral Coast Road, FijiAlong Viti Levu's southern flank on Queens Road, from Korotogo east to Pacific Harbour, tracing a coral reef that protects beautiful beaches facing an iridescent Coral Sea. Past Sigatoka's sand dunes, Sovi Bay's swimming beaches, and the traditional-style Vatukarasa village. Traffic drives on the left, in theory.
NotableLavaux VineyardsA short but sublime drive along Route 9 above the northern shore of Lake Geneva, through the UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux wine terraces that stagger up from the water in sheer stone-walled tiers that beggar belief. The road links the higgledy-piggledy French-speaking city of Lausanne to Château de Chillon, an extraordinary 13th-century fortress immortalised in Lord Byron's poem.EV-friendly
LegendarySusten–Grimsel–Furka LoopThe most concentrated Alpine pass loop on Earth, three legendary roads in a single circuit. The Susten crosses a granite wilderness, the Grimsel skirts black glacial reservoirs, and the Furka passes the Rhône Glacier, where Bond once drove an Aston Martin.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
NotableVale dos Vinhedos: Bento Gonçalves Wine DayThis relaxed loop through Serra Gaúcha links Bento Gonçalves, Garibaldi, and the vineyard-lined Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil’s best-known wine district. Expect paved country roads, hillside estates, cellar doors, Italian-Brazilian food, and sweeping views of neatly planted vines and rolling green valleys.
IconicAbergwesyn Mountain PassA full-day west-to-east Cambrian Mountains crossing from Tregaron past Llyn Brianne and Soar y Mynydd, over the Devil’s Staircase and Abergwesyn Pass, and into Llanwrtyd Wells. The short mileage is deliberately slow because the road is remote, narrow, exposed, and rich in signed landscape stops.EV-friendly
IconicAbha, Al Soudah and Rijal AlmaaTwo focused mountain days: Abha and Al Soudah first, then the classic descent to Rijal Almaa and return. The plan no longer wastes a day on distant Dhee Ayn.Loop / circuit
NotableBran Pass, RomaniaThrough Romania's medieval Transylvania from Brasov to Rucar, past Râșnov's maze-like citadel on a high hill, Bran Castle's Gothic towers (forever linked with Dracula), and along hairpin bends above forlorn country villages to the Bucegi Mountains. Best driven between May and October; the Bran–Rucar stretch can be perilous in winter.EV-friendly
IconicCastaway on Flores, AzoresA weather-led two-day Flores route: central crater lakes and Rocha dos Bordões first, then the west-coast waterfall circuit and Fajã Grande.EV-friendly
NotableCockle Creek, TasmaniaA two-day Huon Valley journey: book Hastings Caves first, then continue through Southport and Recherche Bay to the unsealed southern road end at Cockle Creek. Cygnet is only an optional pre-route loop.
NotableCosta Esmeralda: Santo Antônio de Lisboa to BombinhasThis short Atlantic-coast drive links Florianópolis to Bombinhas through Santa Catarina’s Costa Esmeralda, with beach towns, offshore islands, and turquoise bays along the way. The route is paved and straightforward, best enjoyed as a leisurely summer escape with stops for swimming, seafood, and viewpoints.EV-friendly
IconicCuronian SpitFrom the Hill of Crosses through the Baltic coast to the Curonian Spit, a 98 km slip of dunes and pine forest shared between Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The route ends in Nida, a village of painted fishing cottages and Thomas Mann's summer house above the world's tallest moving sand dunes.EV-friendly
IconicDublin to the Wicklow MountainsFrom Dublin's Georgian streets into the granite mountains of the Wicklow interior, through Sally Gap's bare moorland, the oak forest of Glenealo Valley, mirror lakes, and stone ruins. The Emerald Isle's most accessible wilderness drive, returning via the coast at Bray.EV-friendly
NotableEastern Slovakia Caves and ParksA two-day east-to-central Slovakia route joining Košice, Betliar, the Ochtinská and Dobšinská caves, Slovak Paradise and Banská Bystrica without the false I/59 label.EV-friendly
NotableGlasgow to Fort WilliamThe perfect introduction to the Scottish Highlands, from Glasgow's urban grit north through Loch Lomond's pastoral shoreline, the Trossachs National Park villages of Tarbet and Crianlarich, and along the great loch itself before the landscape shifts into the imposing drama of Glen Coe and Ben Nevis.EV-friendly
NotableLivradois-Forez, FranceThrough the Livradois-Forez Regional Park from Vichy's thermal waters south to the volcanic towers of Le Puy-en-Velay, via time-trapped Thiers (knife-making capital of France), creamy Ambert (birthplace of Fourme d'Ambert cheese), and the enigmatic abbey church of La Chaise-Dieu. Deeply provincial, deeply French.EV-friendly
NotableMansfield to MarysvilleVictoria's High Country gravel road from Mansfield through Woods Point to Marysville, through remote forest and mountain ranges on unsealed roads that venture into country where 4WD clearance is an advantage. The section between Mansfield and Woods Point feels further from civilisation than its distance from Melbourne suggests.SUV onlyOff-road sections
NotableMullerthal Little SwitzerlandA focused one-day Echternach–Mullerthal–Larochette circuit using a short named Schiessentümpel approach and one sandstone segment.EV-friendly
NotableRoute de TuriniThe most celebrated stage of the Monte Carlo Rally, a sinuous mountain road climbing from the Ligurian coast through chestnut forest to the Col de Turini at 1607m. Every hairpin is banked, every view cinematic.EV-friendly
Hidden GemSuriname Coastal Highway Paramaribo to Nieuw NickerieThis straight, low-key coastal drive follows Suriname’s main westbound highway from Paramaribo to Nieuw Nickerie, crossing wide rivers on road bridges, rice-country plains, and sleepy villages. It is a practical road trip through long stretches of flat, tropical scenery rather than dramatic mountain views.
IconicThe Black SpurVictoria's official 27.9 km Black Spur drive links Healesville and Narbethong on the Maroondah Highway through colossal mountain ash and giant ferns. This day continues roughly 14 km beyond the classic forest section to Marysville for lunch and Steavenson Falls; weekdays avoid the heaviest leisure traffic.EV-friendly
NotableThe CévennesA two-day classic corridor beginning at Florac, crossing the limestone causses and the gorges of the Tarn and Jonte, and ending at Millau and its landmark viaduct. The distant Saint-Jean-du-Gard approach is deliberately excluded from this paced version.EV-friendly
IconicTunnel du Mont-BlancFrance with extras, hop two borders and drive through a mountain on this riveting route between Switzerland and Italy. From Geneva across the French border to Chamonix (with a cable car ride to the Aiguille du Midi at 3,842 m), then through the 11.6 km Tunnel du Mont-Blanc directly beneath Europe's highest peak to Courmayeur and the Roman aqueduct town of Aosta.EV-friendly
Hidden GemFoz do Iguaçu Highlights DayA compact cross-border day loop from central Foz do Iguaçu to the iconic Triple Frontier, where Brazil meets Argentina and Paraguay beside the Paraná and Iguazu rivers. Expect easy city roads, sunset river views, and a lively mix of frontier landmarks, viewpoints, and local dining.Permit requiredLoop / circuit
IconicFurka PassSomething of a rite of passage for hardcore Alpine cyclists, Switzerland's Furka Pass is enshrined in motoring legend through its starring role in the Aston Martin/Ford Mustang car chase in James Bond's Goldfinger (1964). An Alpine pass and a half, with hairy switchbacks to an otherworldly 2,431 m plateau, the Rhône Glacier visible from the Hotel Belvédère, and deeply fissured blue ice grotto.EV-friendly
NotableJahra and Western Kuwait Signed-Road DriveThe former border-directed Al Salmi route is retired. Its safer replacement is a limited-sightseeing, full-day signed-pavement drive from Kuwait City through Jahra onto western Route 70, reversing well before the frontier.Loop / circuit
NotableJahra Reserve and Mutlaa Signed-Road LoopA deliberately conservative Kuwait day loop to a prebooked Jahra Reserve visit and signed public roads south of Mutlaa. Undefined frontier viewpoints, off-road ridge driving and the Boubyan detour have been removed.EV-friendlyPermit requiredLoop / circuit
NotableRiga to Cape Kolka Coastal RouteA two-day Riga-to-Cape Kolka paved-coast route via Jūrmala, Ķemeri, Engure/Mērsrags and an official Slītere trail.EV-friendly
NotableSabah Highway 500: Kota Kinabalu to TambunanA clearly locatable Crocker Range crossing from Kota Kinabalu through Penampang to Tambunan, built around one realistic principal nature stop.
NotableSalento Coast, PugliaA two-day Adriatic-to-Ionian Salento coast run from Otranto through Castro and Leuca to Gallipoli.EV-friendly
NotableMoldova's Monastery RouteOrheiul Vechi above the Răut, followed by the cliff and wooded-valley monasteries of the Dniester/Rezina corridor.