In beautiful places near and far, awe-inspiring road trip routes are waiting for you to explore while you discover the amazing history and culture of fascinating destinations. Here are six of the greatest road trip routes around the world that you may want to put on your “must do” list this year.
The French and Italian Riviera
A picture perfect summer vacation can be had city hopping along the Mediterranean Coast from France to Italy. Visit cities like Nice, Cannes and Marseille in France to Genoa, Camogli and Portofino in Italy. Feel the sea breeze on your face, stop for a glass of wine or a plate of fresh pasta. Visit tiny local beaches for a dip. Take your time, have long lunches and enjoy a taste of the peace that characterizes a quintessential southern European summer.
Along the Costa Verde, enjoy the vast expanse of the Cantabrian Sea as your travel more than 200 miles along the northern Asturian Coast of Spain. A road trip here means nights spent in small quiet fishing villages where time seems to stay still. While much of Spain roasts in the summer sun, the Costa Verde offers a temperate reprieve to travelers in need of a cool escape.
One of South America’s most popular roadways, Ruta 40 (Route 40) stretches over 3,100 miles along the entirety of western Argentina’s length. It offers adventurous drivers a challenging route through high-altitude desert plateaus in the Patagonia Desert. It also runs parallel to the Andes, through 11 provinces. On this route, should you travel far enough, you’ll encounter changing climates and terrains, and drawdropping vistas.
Mo’orea Coastal Road, French Polynesia
With all the wonders of French Polynesia, Mo’orea offers a singularly ideal experience for road trip lovers, though it might be shorter and sweeter than some others on our list. This island only has one coastal road that encircles the island. For around 37 miles, your view will include lagoons, green mountains and sea as far as the eye can see. The BBC recommends the island as a road trip destination, namely for its complete lack of high rises and traffic lights, which are instead replaced by a “string of small villages, roadside snack bars, green spaces and bays.” Plus, because the island is so small much of this exploring can be achieved within the course of one day on the island.
The romance of the road always lies in the myth of unfettered freedom, unlimited possibility, and the hope of what lies beyond the horizon. And in America, the remnants of the country’s past live on along this route. From Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 comprises 2,400 miles. It was one of the nation’s first federal highways, established in 1926. Along the way, ice cream and soda pop parlors have retained their mid-century charm, and souvenir shops stand on their rickety original foundations. Happy 100th Anniversary to Route 66!
Coursing through Southern Australia and the Northern Territory, the Explorers Way takes travelers from Adelaide to Darwin. This trip offers a wealth of geographical and natural wonders including ancient gorges, red rock canyons, and historical locations, like the 600-million-year-old Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy, a city where residents have inhabited homes built into the ground to survive scorching hot summers and freezing winters. Enjoy adventure, history, city life, and time in nature along this unique route.
