These 11 famous road trip routes span coasts, deserts, mountains, and national parks so you can plan a classic drive packed with scenery.
Road trips hit a sweet spot: freedom, steady scenery, diner coffee, and the freedom to pull over whenever you want. These drives span cliffs, cactus plains, glacier passes, whale bays, and windswept islands. You’ll get distance, best season, and safety notes so you can pick a route that matches your timeline and comfort behind the wheel.
Road Trip Routes You Should Drive At Least Once
The table below gives a fast cheat sheet. You’ll see the region for each drive and roughly how far it runs from end to end.
| Route | Where It Runs | Approx. Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast Highway (California, USA) | Dana Point to Leggett along Highway 1 on the California coast | ~655 miles / ~1,050 km |
| Route 66 (USA) | Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California | ~2,448 miles / ~3,940 km |
| Blue Ridge Parkway (USA) | Shenandoah National Park, VA, to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC | 469 miles / 755 km |
| Overseas Highway (Florida Keys, USA) | Key Largo / Florida City down to Key West across island bridges | ~113 miles / ~182 km |
| Going-to-the-Sun Road (Montana, USA) | Across Glacier National Park, West Glacier to St. Mary | ~50 miles / ~80 km |
| Icefields Parkway (Alberta, Canada) | Lake Louise to Jasper along Highway 93 | ~232 km / ~144 miles |
| Great Ocean Road (Victoria, Australia) | Torquay to Allansford on Australia’s south coast | ~240 km / ~150 miles |
| Ring Road (Iceland) | Route 1 loop circling the entire country | ~1,332 km / ~828 miles |
| Garden Route (South Africa) | Mossel Bay to Storms River on the southern shoreline | ~300 km / ~190 miles |
| Wild Atlantic Way (Ireland) | County Donegal in the north down to County Cork in the south | ~2,500 km / ~1,553 miles |
| North Coast 500 (Scotland) | Loop from Inverness around the far north Highlands and back | ~516 miles / ~830 km |
Pacific Coast Highway California Coast Drive
Why This Coastal Highway Hooks So Many Drivers
The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) hugs California from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County. That’s about 655 miles of surf towns, taco shacks, kelp beds, redwood groves, and pullouts where sea lions bark on offshore rocks. Big Sur hangs over pounding surf and feels like driving a balcony. Slides and winter storms still knock out pavement, so Caltrans sometimes closes segments for long repairs.
Trip Tips For The Pacific Coast Highway
- Late spring through early fall gives drier weather and longer light for pullouts.
Route 66 Cross-Country Americana Drive
Why This Old Highway Still Matters
Route 66, first commissioned in 1926, tied Chicago to Santa Monica across eight states and ran about 2,448 miles. It carried Dust Bowl migrants heading west and later pumped in neon motels, jukebox diners, and giant roadside mascots. The route lost its federal number in 1985, but preserved stretches still pass mom-and-pop cafés, retro gas pumps, murals, and tiny museums that celebrate the “Mother Road.”
Trip Tips For Route 66
- Spring and fall bring friendlier temps across both Midwest plains and the desert Southwest.
Blue Ridge Parkway Appalachian Ridge Drive
Why Slow Miles On The Parkway Feel So Good
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a two-lane National Parkway managed by the National Park Service. It links Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina across 469 miles with speed limits under 45 mph. Overlooks, picnic pullouts, and short ridge hikes stack up every few miles. High ridges ice fast, and storm washouts from Hurricane Helene in 2024–2025 forced rolling closures in North Carolina.
Before you head out, check the Blue Ridge Parkway road status page for closures, detours, and weather notes from rangers.
Trip Tips For Blue Ridge Parkway
- Late September through October brings blazing leaf color; late spring fills the overlooks with rhododendron blooms.
Florida Keys Overseas Highway Island-Hop Drive
Why This Stretch Feels Like Sailing By Car
The Overseas Highway carries U.S. 1 over open water from Key Largo to Key West. The run is about 113 miles and hops 40-plus bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge near Marathon. You get teal water on both sides, relics of Henry Flagler’s old railroad, Cuban-influenced seafood, reef snorkel boats, and tiki bars marked by mile number. Winter and early spring line up with clear driving days and a lower hurricane threat.
Trip Tips For The Overseas Highway
- Watch the mile markers; locals give directions by marker number, and the best stops brag about theirs.
Going-To-The-Sun Road Glacier Mountain Pass Drive
Why This National Park Crossing Feels So Wild
Going-to-the-Sun Road slices across Glacier National Park in Montana for about 50 miles from West Glacier to St. Mary. It climbs to Logan Pass, hugs narrow ledges blasted into cliff faces, and drops views over turquoise glacier-fed lakes. Deep snow keeps the high section buried well into June, so the full crossing usually doesn’t open until early July. Glacier now limits peak traffic with timed vehicle reservations between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on peak summer days, so most daytime drivers need a reservation or proof of lodging or tour booking.
You’ll find current timed-entry rules, parking notes, and safety guidance on the National Park Service’s Going-to-the-Sun Road info page.
Trip Tips For Going-To-The-Sun Road
- Start at dawn; Logan Pass parking fills fast once plows punch through.
Icefields Parkway Canadian Rockies Glacier Highway
Why This Alberta Corridor Feels So Otherworldly
The Icefields Parkway links Lake Louise and Jasper in Alberta over about 232 km, or 144 miles, along Highway 93. Every bend shows teal meltwater lakes, hanging icefields, and sharp peaks. Pullouts lead to glacier walks, canyon boardwalks, and picnic flats beside cold rivers. Parks Canada warns that gas, food, and cell coverage are sparse, and storms can blow in fast even in July, so top off the tank and pack layers.
Trip Tips For Icefields Parkway
- Plan a full day for this one stretch and slow photo stops with wildlife on the shoulder.
Best Season For Each Drive
When These Classic Road Trips Shine
Season can make or break the ride. Snow can shut mountain passes in Montana and Alberta. Hurricane season can rattle the Keys. Fall color crowds the Blue Ridge. The table below lists a sweet window plus the main draw for each route.
| Route | Best Season | Main Draw |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast Highway | Late spring to early fall | Dry weather, long light, cliff pullouts over Big Sur. |
| Route 66 | Spring or fall | Roadside diners and neon without blistering desert heat. |
| Blue Ridge Parkway | Late September–October or late spring | Leaf color in fall and rhododendron blooms in spring. |
| Overseas Highway | Winter to early spring | Clear reef water and calmer weather outside peak storm months. |
| Going-to-the-Sun Road | July–September | Logan Pass open, alpine lakes thawed, wildflower meadows bursting. |
| Icefields Parkway | June–September | Snow-free high passes and teal glacier lakes in Banff and Jasper. |
| Great Ocean Road | Dec–Feb (summer) and Mar–May (mild autumn) | Beach days near Torquay and soft sunset light on the Twelve Apostles. |
| Ring Road | June–August for daylight; winter for aurora hunters | Waterfalls, hot springs, and black-sand beaches circling Iceland. |
| Garden Route | September–April | Warm beach weather, whale watching near Plettenberg Bay, lagoon sunsets in Knysna. |
| Wild Atlantic Way | May–September | Long daylight on Ireland’s cliffs and fishing harbors. |
| North Coast 500 | May–September | Late sunsets and calmer Highland roads than winter gales allow. |
Great Ocean Road Coastal Victoria Drive
Why This Australian Coastline Stays On Bucket Lists
The Great Ocean Road runs about 240 km along Victoria’s south coast between Torquay and Allansford. It was carved in the 1920s and later dedicated to World War I dead, now called the world’s largest war memorial. You’ll see limestone towers called the Twelve Apostles, rainforest near Cape Otway, surf beaches, and easy koala sightings in roadside eucalyptus groves.
Ring Road Iceland Full Island Loop
Why This Loop Shows Iceland’s Greatest Hits Fast
Iceland’s Ring Road (Route 1) loops the island for about 1,332 km. It links glacier tongues, geyser steam, turf farmhouses, puffin cliffs, and black-sand beaches. You could blitz it in about 17 hours with no stops, but winter ice and brutal wind make that risky; smart travelers budget a full week and work the loop in chunks.
Garden Route South Africa Coastal Stretch
Why Drivers Keep Coming Back To This Shoreline
South Africa’s Garden Route traces about 300 km between Mossel Bay and Storms River. The drive strings together calm lagoons, whale lookouts, surf breaks, forest canopies, and suspension bridges. Knysna brings oyster decks and lagoon cruises, Plettenberg Bay brings whale-watch boats, and Tsitsikamma brings cliff trails and hanging bridges over pounding surf.
Wild Atlantic Way Ireland West Coast Drive
Why This Route Feels So Raw And Historic
The Wild Atlantic Way runs roughly 2,500 km down Ireland’s west, from County Donegal to County Cork, and it’s marked with a blue zigzag logo. The drive serves up sea cliffs like the Cliffs of Moher, Gaelic road signs, fishing harbors, and pubs with live trad music. The official map lists 157 “discovery points” and more than 1,000 mapped stops, so you can bite off one section and still get the flavor.
North Coast 500 Scotland Highland Circuit
Why This Scottish Loop Blew Up Online
Scotland’s North Coast 500 (NC500) loops about 516 miles from Inverness around the far north Highlands and back. You’ll pass empty beaches, peat moors, ruined castles, and sea caves such as Smoo Cave near Durness, praised as the largest natural sea cave of its kind in Britain. The NC500 name spread fast online and visitor numbers exploded, which pushed tiny single-track roads and small villages to handle lots more camper vans and rental cars each summer.
Trip Planning Notes Before You Hit The Road
Smart Safety Habits For Legendary Drives
Take your time. Long nonstop days sap focus, and many of these roads demand patience — hairpins above drop-offs in Glacier, blind bends on the Great Ocean Road, sheep in the lane on the NC500, gusty bridges in the Keys. Carry water, snacks, sunscreen, and layers. Download offline maps since cell service can vanish on the Icefields Parkway and in the far north Highlands, so you’re not stranded when the bars drop to zero.