As coronavirus has exerted its grip on the world, lives have been dramatically changed, and for those of us who enjoy a little wanderlust, the restrictions on travel have been particularly hard to accept. If Covid has taught us anything, it’s that life is short and fragile, so why not turn into reality that once-in-a-lifetime dream road trip you’ve always promised yourself?
To provide you with some inspiration, here is an array of the best driving roads in the world. They encompass some very different landscapes, cultures, climates and terrains, but each road is sure to provide memories that are guaranteed to last forever. You may fancy all of them, or just one or two, or even have your own ideas. But these best driving roads will inspire you to get out to explore our wonderful planet as soon as it’s possible, and in the best way imaginable: from behind the wheel of a car.
1. Going to the Sun Road, USA
Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed in 1932 and is a spectacular 50 mile, paved two-lane highway that bisects Glacier National Park east and west. It spans the width of the Park, crossing the Continental Divide at 6,646-foot-high Logan Pass. It passes through almost every type of terrain in the park, from large glacial lakes and cedar forests in the lower valleys to windswept alpine tundra atop the pass. Scenic viewpoints and pullouts line the road. In 1983 Going-To-The-Sun Road was included in the National Register of Historic Places and in 1985 was made a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
2. Atlantic Road, Norway
Voted Norway's 'engineering feat of the century,' the jaw-dropping Atlantic Road has got to be seen - or, rather, driven - to be believed. This eight-kilometre-long (5 mile) route connects the island of Averøy with the mainland, bending and swooping over the ocean like an elevated roller coaster. The journey is packed with beautiful Norwegian scenery, attracting thousands of keen road trippers every year. The Atlantic Road is super stunning in pleasant weather, with the sun reflecting off the sea and slowly dipping behind the surrounding mountains in the evening. But it's even more spectacular when the wind picks up and the waves crash against the bridges, making for a seriously dramatic atmosphere.
3. Lasseter Highway, Uluru, Australia
There are many adventures to be had in the Aussie Outback, but to recreate the mystique of days of yore try the Lasseter Highway, named after Harold Lasseter, a gold prospector who claimed to have found a gold reef in central Australia. The 152-mile highway, in the Northern Territory, will give you a taste of Outback life, with its bewitching red-earth scenery and small settlements, including cattle stations. To end your road trip on a spectacular high, you’ll arrive at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, home of the magnificent and iconic Uluru sandstone rock.
4. Stelvio Pass, Italy
The Stelvio Pass, located in Italy, at 2757 m (9045 feet) is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps, slightly below the Col de l’Iseran (2770 m, 9088 feet). Stelvio was also picked by the British automotive show Top Gear as its choice for the “greatest driving road in the world”, although their search was concentrated only in Europe. This conclusion was reached after the team went in search of a road that would satisfy every “petrolhead’s” driving fantasies in the premiere of the show’s 10th season. Top Gear later decided that the Highway in Romania was possibly a superior driving road.
5. Milford Road, New Zealand
State Highway 94, which runs between the lakeside town of Te Anau and the phenomenal Milford Sound, is one of the most popular drives in New Zealand. On the road you'll cruise by grand mountain ranges, glacial lakes, babbling creeks and thick native bush. There are countless remarkable places to stop along the way, with plenty of hiking, birdwatching, and photography opportunities. Don't forget to stop at the awe-inspiring Monkey Creek to drink fresh water straight from the spring!
