There’s something magical about hitting the open road, feeling the wind rush through your hair, and taking in breathtaking views unfolding before you. The world’s most spectacular highways offer more than just a way to get from point A to point B—they’re destinations in themselves, promising adventure and unforgettable experiences.
Here is a list of 20 must-ride highways worldwide. These highways offer incredible journeys through diverse landscapes, from coastal cliffs to mountain passes, desert stretches to lush forests.
Pacific Coast Highway, California, USA
This iconic 655-mile stretch hugs the rugged California coastline, offering dramatic ocean views at nearly every turn. The section between San Francisco and Los Angeles takes you past charming seaside towns, towering redwoods, and the magnificent Big Sur region, where mountains plunge directly into the sea.
Driving this route feels like cruising through a perfectly curated photo album of America’s most stunning coastal scenery.
Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
Winding along Australia’s southeastern coast, this 151-mile road was built by returning soldiers after World War I as a memorial to their fallen comrades. The highway showcases the famous Twelve Apostles limestone formations, lush rainforests, and pristine beaches where you might spot whales during migration season.
It’s like driving through a constantly changing natural gallery where each view competes to be more spectacular than the last.
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Trollstigen, Norway
Known as the ‘Troll’s Path,’ this mountain road zigzags through Norway’s stunning landscape, with 11 hairpin turns carved into the mountainside. As you navigate each bend, you’ll be rewarded with views of cascading waterfalls, deep fjords, and verdant valleys that seem straight out of a fairy tale.
The road is an engineering masterpiece, like a carefully placed ribbon winding through some of Mother Nature’s most impressive work.
Karakoram Highway, Pakistan/China
Often called the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World,’ this highest paved international road connects Pakistan to China through the mighty Karakoram mountain range. Traveling this 810-mile highway means passing through landscapes ranging from lush valleys to barren plateaus, surrounded by some of the world’s tallest peaks.
The air gets noticeably thinner as you climb, reminiscent of how your jaw might drop at the increasingly spectacular views.
Route 66, USA
America’s ‘Mother Road’ stretches 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, passing through the heart of the country. Though officially decommissioned, this historic highway remains a symbol of American road culture, dotted with vintage diners, quirky roadside attractions, and classic motels that seem frozen in time. Driving Route 66 is like flipping through the pages of mid-century America, complete with neon signs and the occasional tumbleweed.
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Transfăgărășan Highway, Romania
This winding mountain road cuts through Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, offering hairpin turns and dramatic elevation changes. It was originally built as a strategic military route and is one of Europe’s most thrilling drives. Dense forests give way to alpine landscapes above the tree line.
The road feels like a rollercoaster designed by nature, complete with sudden twists and heart-stopping views that make you want to pull over every few minutes.
Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada
This highway stretches 144 miles through the heart of the Canadian Rockies and connects Banff and Jasper National Parks. The drive features over 100 ancient glaciers, turquoise lakes, and dramatic mountain peaks that remain snow-capped year-round.
Wildlife sightings are common, with bears, elk, and mountain goats making regular appearances alongside the road like willing participants in a live-action nature documentary.
Milford Road, New Zealand
This 75-mile journey takes you through Fiordland National Park to reach the magnificent Milford Sound. The highway passes through otherworldly landscapes featuring mirror lakes, native beech forests, and the impressive Homer Tunnel blasted through solid rock.
Each mile reveals picturesque scenes that look digitally enhanced, yet they’re completely natural—New Zealand’s version of showing off.
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Atlantic Road, Norway
This relatively short 5-mile stretch connects several small islands via bridges that curve and dip dramatically above the Norwegian Sea. During stormy weather, waves crash spectacularly against the roadway, creating an exhilarating driving experience.
The road seems to dance above the water, providing a unique floating sensation between sea and sky.
Amalfi Coast Road, Italy
Carved into cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea, this narrow coastal road winds past colorful villages perched precariously on steep hillsides. The 31-mile stretch between Sorrento and Salerno combines white-knuckle driving with beautiful views that hardly seem real.
Navigating its tight curves feels like being in an Italian sports car commercial with Mediterranean blue waters and pastel buildings clinging to impossible slopes.
Ruta 40, Argentina
Stretching nearly 3,200 miles from the southern tip of Argentina to the northern border, Ruta 40 is one of the world’s longest highways. The route crosses 20 national parks and 18 major rivers and climbs from sea level to 16,000 feet as it hugs the Andes Mountains.
Driving Ruta 40 is like experiencing a complete cross-section of South American landscapes, from windswept Patagonia to high-altitude deserts, all in one epic journey.
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Chapman’s Peak Drive, South Africa
This 5.5-mile coastal road features 114 curves as it hugs the mountainside between Noordhoek and Hout Bay near Cape Town. Carved into the near-vertical face of Chapman’s Peak, the highway offers uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean and is considered one of the most scenic marine drives in the world.
Each turn reveals a new postcard-worthy vista, making it the automotive equivalent of a highlight reel.
Stelvio Pass, Italy
With 48 hairpin turns climbing to 9,045 feet, this mountain pass in the Italian Alps is a marvel of engineering and a paradise for driving enthusiasts. The road seems to fold back on itself repeatedly as it ascends through alpine meadows toward snow-capped peaks.
Conquering Stelvio feels like completing a difficult puzzle; the reward is the satisfaction of making it to the top and the breathtaking panoramas.
Hana Highway, Hawaii, USA
This 64-mile tropical drive features over 600 curves and 59 bridges as it winds through lush rainforests, past waterfalls, and along dramatic coastal cliffs on Maui. The journey embodies the Hawaiian saying, ‘the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness,’ with natural wonders around every bend.
The road delivers a sensory overload of fragrant flowers, crashing waves, and verdant landscapes that remind you why Hawaii is considered paradise.
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North Coast 500, Scotland
Scotland’s answer to Route 66 forms a 516-mile loop around the northern Highlands, showcasing ancient castles, white sand beaches, and rugged mountain landscapes. The route passes through remote villages where traditional Scottish culture thrives alongside stunning natural beauty.
Driving the NC500 feels like traveling through the pages of a history book, where someone has also included spectacular nature photography on every page.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria
This high mountain pass winds through Austria’s largest national park, offering 36 challenging turns as it climbs to 8,215 feet. The road was designed to provide the most impressive views of Alpine landscapes, including Austria’s highest peak.
Each carefully engineered viewpoint feels like a theater seat for the perfect view of nature’s grandest performance.
Ring Road, Iceland
Circling the entire island, Iceland’s 828-mile Ring Road passes otherworldly landscapes of volcanoes, glaciers, hot springs, and black sand beaches. The route can be driven in a week, but it deserves much more time to explore the countless natural wonders off the main highway.
It’s like driving around the perimeter of a natural theme park where the attractions include erupting geysers, thundering waterfalls, and landscapes that feel more like another planet than Earth.
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Great Dolomite Road, Italy
This 86-mile route through northern Italy’s Dolomite Mountains reveals some of Europe’s most distinctive peak formations. The highway passes through charming Alpine villages where Italian and Austrian cultures blend seamlessly.
The imposing pale mountains transform throughout the day, catching the sunlight in a phenomenon locals call ‘alpenglow,’ turning the rock faces various shades of pink and purple like nature’s light show.
Hai Van Pass, Vietnam
This mountainous stretch between Da Nang and Hue rises to 1,600 feet where the Annamite Range meets the East Sea. The name means ‘Sea Clouds Pass,’ referring to the mist that often shrouds the road, creating an ethereal driving experience.
The highway reveals Vietnam’s rich tapestry of history, with ancient fortifications standing alongside jungle-covered mountains and pristine beaches, offering a perfect blend of cultural and natural beauty.
Garden Route, South Africa
Stretching 190 miles along South Africa’s southern coast, this scenic drive winds through diverse landscapes from ancient forests to pristine beaches. The route passes numerous lagoons, lakes, and nature reserves teeming with wildlife on land and in the adjacent waters.
The Garden Route delivers on its name with abundant natural beauty that changes with each mile, like driving through a constantly evolving botanical garden designed by nature itself.
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The Road Goes Ever On
These legendary highways represent more than just asphalt and concrete—they’re gateways to experiencing the world’s diverse landscapes, cultures, and engineering marvels. What makes these roads special isn’t just the destinations they connect, but how they transform ordinary travel into extraordinary journeys.
These ribbons of road have witnessed countless personal adventures, becoming characters in the stories travelers tell years after their tires have touched these iconic surfaces. So grab your keys, plan your route, and discover why sometimes the journey truly is the destination.
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