A road trip is a great choice for those wanting to be in charge of their own journey as there is no better way to tailor a trip to your preferences. If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, we have 5 amazing road trip ideas for the ultimate adventure.
The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Short on time but still want beautiful views? The Amalfi Coast is arguably one of the best road trip settings in Europe. The beauty of this trip is that you can do it in 2-7 days depending on how many stops you want to take. We recommend hiring a small car as much of the coastal route is narrow with many winding roads.
Known for its colourful buildings and pebbled beachfront, Positano is a great destination to tick off along the way. If you’re going to stay anywhere for a night or two, make sure to splurge on a room with a view in this amazing cliffside village. Sorrento is one of the most popular stops, and while it can get quite crowded it’s definitely worthwhile. Make sure to check out the old town and perhaps even take a boat trip to the island of Capri for some snorkelling and celebrity spotting. This little piece of the Mediterranean is truly unique and full of culture.
Route 66, USA
Is any road trip list complete without a mention of Route 66? This iconic route spans over 2000 miles across 8 American states.
During this trip, you really do see it all. In Chicago, birthplace of the skyscraper, you can enjoy innovative and creative architecture, then in Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma you’ll experience true Americana – think 50’s and 60’s nostalgic diners. Learn about American Indian culture while passing through New Mexico and Arizona and try your hand at gambling in the city of Las Vegas, before finally arriving in L.A and mixing with the rich and famous.
While the most popular destinations are doable in just two weeks, we recommend going all out and spending closer to a month completing the legendary itinerary.
The Stuart Highway, Australia
One of the longest road trips in Australia is from Adelaide to Darwin. It’s perfect for the most adventurous road trippers looking for a sense of accomplishment at the end of the 3,027km (1,881 mile) journey. This trip covers real Outback Australia and with just a few communities to call in along the way, it certainly requires some preparation.
The Stuart Highway covers most of the journey and you should give yourself a week to ten days to complete it. You’ll start with old mining towns and then hit Uluru, or Ayers Rock, in the heart of the Northern Territories ‘red centre’. This giant sandstone rock is sacred to indigenous Australians and respectful tourists can enjoy breath-taking scenes here at dusk. Once you reach the tropical city of Darwin, you’ll experience a completely different climate. If you can handle the heat, there is plenty of exploring to be done in the rainforest and national parks.
Ring road, Iceland
The ring route covers over 800 miles in just one route. While it is possible to drive it in less than 24 hours, the photography opportunities are endless in Iceland and you’ll want to stop every 5 minutes. Give yourself at least a week to enjoy this Icelandic adventure and thank us later.
We recommend driving the route in a counter-clockwise direction to hit the touristy parts of the country first. Some must-see destinations include the Golden Circle in Reykjavik, followed by two tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park. Within the same day, you can go to Haukadalur, where you will find geothermal hot springs which erupt on a regular basis.
Explore the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon and ice caves while keeping a lookout for the famous Northern Lights each evening. Finally head to Holuhraun, the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in Iceland on route back to Reykjavik.
Southern Patagonia, South America
A two-week window allows you to enjoy the rugged and diverse wonders of Argentina and Chile. Start off in Northern Patagonia’s San Carlos de Bariloche, a charming mountain town with vast forests, glaciers and lakes. Your next main destination is 860 miles away so make sure to enjoy some sights and detours along the way. Our favourite must-see is the Cueva de los Manos – hand paintings which date back some 13,000 years ago!
After a couple of days driving you will arrive at El Chaltén, home to the famous Mt. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre mountains, where you can enjoy some of the many trails. Next, tour the massive glaciers of El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park.
El Calafate is a great place to leave Argentina and cross over the border into Chile. Explore the turquoise lakes of Torres del Paine and look out for Antarctica across the Strait of Magellan. After some wildlife spotting at Punta Tombo, head through the canyons of middle Patagonia, before returning to Bariloche.
Want to stay closer to home? Check out these road trip ideas in Great Britain and Northern Ireland – https://www.dailywaffle.co.uk/2019/07/the-best-road-trip-routes-in-great-britain-and-northern-ireland/
Author
Becky is a content marketer for Money4yourmotors.com
You can follow the car buying service on twitter here
