There is a reason the road trip holds such a hallowed place in the imagination. From the glamour of mid-century films to the compelling, behind-the-wheel novel, the pull of the open highway is undeniable. The idea of rolling through a wide, open vista, with little concern for time or entertainment except for that which awaits around the corner, is the antithesis of our hectic lives (and our even more hectic holidays).
The spirit of a road trip means that the start and end points are often flexible, and their lengths are, as a result, approximate. More importantly, their adaptability means that the driver can choose to stop off at certain points, eschew others, and prioritise their (or their passengers’) particular interests. That might mean parking up for a day of hiking in dazzling Norway, or taking in the culture of Uzbekistan’s bustling market cities. The American road trips included here, in particular, reward a more leisurely pace: Route 66, for all its high-octane appeal, really should be observed from roadside dive bars as much as through the windscreen.
Some European road trips can easily be accomplished with one’s own vehicle – the Wild Atlantic Way, in Ireland, is rather simple to navigate (and no less impressive for it). Others might require more organisation. The Garden Route, in South Africa, and the Great Ocean Road in Australia, are similarly straightforward but will probably be best negotiated by hiring a car. Others, like Argentina’s Ruta 40, will likely require all but the most adventurous to hire a guide to share the driving. Regardless, each entry below has the option of a package tour, most of which are self-drive. And whether you’re behind the wheel or in the backseat, these road trips are guaranteed to raise the heart rate.
![scotland road trip](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/road-trips-scotland-portrait.jpg?imwidth=350)
The North Coast 500
Scotland
The North Coast 500 has proven increasingly popular since its inception in 2015 – so much so that officials have warned road users to be respectful of the villages on the route. Despite its legions of fans, it remains beautiful. The journey begins in Inverness, where the cityscape quickly gives way to rugged countryside. Take the clockwise direction along to Applecross, then follow the road north. From there, things get seriously wild: twist around the hairpin bends of Bealach na Bà, drive along the coast of Loch Maree, and stop off at the many Highland beaches (Oldshoremore is a favourite). John O’Groats is the most northerly point, so grab a photograph and then head south back down to Inverness.
How to do it
Absolute Escapes offers an 11-day package from £1,370 per person, including car hire, itinerary, accommodation and breakfast.
![route 66](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/road-trips-66-body.jpg?imwidth=350)
Route 66
USA
Route 66 will be 100 years old in 2026: a big birthday for the most momentous of road trips. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, head to the US before the anniversary and take part in this iconic route. From vintage signs to wide open plains, the cross-country road is a bucket list trip for the serious driver. Start in Chicago, before heading out to St Louis, the “official” starting point – make sure to pay a trip to the Route 66 Car Museum. Cut through Kansas to Oklahoma City, then sail through the sprawling deserts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Stop off at the Grand Canyon, take an excursion through Las Vegas before kicking back in Los Angeles.
How to do it
Freedom Destinations offers a 21-day Route 66 and National Parks self-drive trip from £2,779 per person, including flights, car hire, accommodation and a personalised itinerary.
The Garden Route
South Africa
South Africa is a perennial favourite for vibrant cities, extraordinary wildlife and luxurious vineyards. The Garden Route, stretching 124 miles through the Western Cape, is the perfect way to experience them all. The route is usually accessed from Cape Town, but it officially starts in Mossel Bay, where seaside shacks are the ideal place to pick up supplies. Then it’s on to George, a historic timber town that is home to a lush Botanic Garden, where drivers can swap air conditioning for some of the region’s most diverse flora. If the natural world is your thing, make sure to linger in Wilderness National Park, or drive on to Storms River, where, as the name suggests, the smooth contours of the coast give way to rocky outcrops and dense forest. Most end the journey in Gqeberha, or Port Elizabeth, a beachside city that offers whale watching trips aplenty.
How to do it
Responsible Travel’s Beyond the Garden Route package keeps the pace slow. From £2,170 per person, including car hire, activities and full-board accommodation. Excluding flights.
![ireland road trip](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/road-trips-irelandbody.jpg?imwidth=350)
The Wild Atlantic Way
Ireland
The Wild Atlantic Way has always been in existence in some form – many stretches have served local communities for millenia. The official route, however, is only 10 years old. Expect astounding, strange landscapes, like the unusual Burren, or the wide beaches of the Beara Peninsula, and pick up a few useful phrases in Gaeltacht areas, dedicated to preserving the Irish language. If you’re travelling with children, be sure to pick up a Wild Atlantic Way passport, and collect stamps as you move around the coast of the Emerald Isle.
How to do it
McKinlay Kidd offers a 10-night Wild Atlantic Way EV Road Trip holiday from £2,795 per person, including electric vehicle rental, accommodation, breakfasts, and five guided tours. Excludes flights.
![australia road trip](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/road-trips-australia-portrait.jpg?imwidth=350)
The Great Ocean Road
Australia
Australia is a country that rewards long journeys. The Ghan railroad in the northern territory, for example, is a spectacular way to see the rugged Outback. For those who like things a little more breezy, the Great Ocean Road is the place to be. This 150 mile-long road traverses the Victoria coast, taking in the stunning Aireys Inlet and Point Addis Marine National Park, plus fast-disappearing wonders like the Twelve Apostles stack formations. It’s a route that rewards a slower pace of travel, so stop off at the surf towns (and perhaps learn how to catch a wave), hike to the thunderous Phantom Falls in Lorne, or people watch in the cafes of Port Campbell.
How to do it
Wexas Travel offers a Melbourne, the Grampians & Great Ocean Road package, starting at £2,695 per person, including flights with airport lounge access, car hire, accommodation and breakfast.
![norway road trip](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/382735004_E%2B_Aerial%20View%20of%20Car%20Driving%20Modern%20Sea%20Bridge%20to%20Island%20in%20Norway.jpg?imwidth=350)
The Atlantic Road
Norway
The Atlantic Road might just be the most beautiful in Europe. Twisting through the most stunning scenery in the north of Norway, this is a wonderful way to see the country beyond Oslo. Start in Bergen, where brightly coloured houses line the waterfront, and travel through waterfall-fringed valleys to the eight bridges that join Bud and Kristiansund. Pause here for wildlife-spotting – expect seabirds and seals; try the local delicacy, salted fish. The more active types will enjoy the cycle routes along the way, or hike along the beaches on the sunnier days. The route ends in Trondheim, where medieval buildings hint at the country’s long history.
How to do it
Regent Holidays offers a 10-day Coastal Explorer & Atlantic Road Fly-Drive tour from £1,645 per person, including car hire, flights, transfers, accommodation and breakfast.
![overseas highway](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/road-trips-florida-body.jpg?imwidth=350)
Overseas Highway
USA
Another American route – and this one is decidedly watery. This “floating” highway is a shorter trip, taking in 113 miles of the Florida Keys. But it is astonishing. An engineering marvel, this 42-bridge route connects palm-lined islands, and allows the driver to sail over the ocean. Detours are encouraged, but the traditional route starts in Key Largo, passes through watersports-obsessed Islamorada, deserted Big Pine and then, finally, onto Key West. On route, stop off at Bahia Honda State Park and try to spot miniature Key deer, or book yourself onto a boat tour to explore the abundant, strange waterways of this most enigmatic of routes.
How to do it
Stewart Travel’s Florida Keys Fly Drive Holiday is a seven-night trip costing from £2,450 per person, including return flights, car hire and accommodation.
Ruta 40
Argentina
Argentina’s Ruta 40 could be the most thrilling road trip in the world. Beginning at the Bolivian border, this impressively long highway runs parallel to the Andes and stretches, for 3,230 miles, down into the chilliest parts of Patagonia. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and drivers would be wise to spend as long as possible exploring its winding corners. However long you have, it’s wise to start in the Santa Catalina Department, and then make your way past 20 national parks and 24 major rivers. Highlights include the Cueva de las Manos, or Cave of the Hands, which is filled with prehistoric paintings, and the Perito Moreno Glacier, at the end of the route. It is worth noting that while the Argentinian government has pledged to pave the entirety of Ruta 40, some parts remain in poor condition, and so it is advised to join a guided tour for some sections.
How to do it
Andean Trails’s guided Ruta 40 trip costs from £3,049 per person, including transportation, accommodation, breakfast and some lunches. Excluding flights.
![Uzbekistan road trip](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/road-trips-silk-road-body.jpg?imwidth=350)
The Golden Road to Samarkand
Uzbekistan
Central Asia is woefully under visited, and this route through Uzbekistan is no exception. This section of the Silk Road is, however, remarkable – although not for the faint of heart. Those who are new to the style of travel (or this part of the world more generally) might be advised to hire a driver before heading out. However you do it, start in the bustling capital, Tashkent, and explore its imposing, glittering architecture. Most then fly to Nukus or Urgench, where the route begins in earnest: delve into the collection at Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art, venture through the Kyzylkum Desert, then enter Samarkand: a city swimming with ancient history, blue-domed buildings and ornate courtyards.
How to do it
If you are not quite ready to make the drive yourself, Jules Verne’s guided 11-day trip costs from £2,959, including the tour, flights, accommodation, plus breakfast, one lunch and nine dinners.
![pacific road trip](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/road-trips-pacific-body.jpg?imwidth=350)
Pacific Coast Highway
USA
A lot of recommendations for the Pacific Coast Highway suggest limiting the driver to the stretch in California, moving from San Francisco to San Diego. If there is time, however, an extension that takes in Washington and Oregon will reward the road-tripper. The road itself – known as Highway 101 in the northern states, and Highway 1 further south – passes through some of the most dramatic spots on the coastline. In the most northerly state, wind through the Olympic National Park (and make sure to visit the 2.6-mile-long Blue Glacier), then drop into Oregon, for exquisitely moody pine forests. Finish in California by crossing the Golden Gate bridge, heading down through Big Sur, and then stretch your legs on Venice Beach.
How to do it
Bon Voyage’s two-week Pacific Coast Adventure costs from £3,995 per person, including flights, car hire and accommodation.