Some say the journey is more important than the destination and a self-drive holiday or road trip is a testament to that. Whether you hire a car or take your old reliable one, these type of holidays are a great way to explore somewhere new and enjoy the sights en route with friends, family or even solo.
To help inspire you and start you on your driving adventure, we've rounded up 5 of the very best road trip routes from around the world.
Route 66 is the most iconic route that springs to mind when you think of a quintessential American road trip, thanks to its seemingly endless stretch of highway that connects Chicago to Los Angeles. Here you can experience an unforgettable self-drive journey, passing through everything from ghost towns, abandoned gas stations and old-fashioned cattle markets, to the half-buried art cars of Cadillac Ranch and the Colorado Boulevard Bridge.
The 2,448-mile highway peaked in popularity during the 1950s, before the opening of the interstate took its toll. Thankfully, Route 66 was saved from decommission and is now recognised as a historic route that we can still experience today.
Scotland's answer to Route 66 is a circular route starting and finishing in Inverness. The 517-mile drive, or cycle or walk if you're feeling brave enough, showcases Scotland's finest scenery, beautiful wildlife and mesmerising landmarks. Highlights definitely include the spectacular sand beaches at Redpoint and the awe-inspiring Torridon mountains.
The drive itself is a huge bucket list item for sports car and Top Gear enthusiasts. Just be warned that this one of a kind driving experience is not for the faint-hearted as there's an abundance of blind corners and single track lanes.
The Great Ocean Road (B100) encapsulates an epic journey along Victoria’s south coast. You'll drive along pristine coastline, pretty seaside villages, ancient rainforest and abundance of wildlife. The route spans 249 miles and connects the town of Torquay to Nelson on the South Australian border. Day-tripping tourists from Melbourne complete the drive in less than 12 hours, but the route is best enjoyed over a period of days.
The Iceland Ring Road, also known as Þjóðvegur 1, or Route 1, is a 828 mile long national road that encircles the captivating island. This route takes you on a journey past active volcanoes, blue icebergs, roaring waterfalls, and if you're lucky, it even gives you the change to witness the magical northern lights. Stop off to explore the Golden Circle, chase waterfalls or relaxing on a famous black sand beach, or continue driving to finish the round trip (pun intended) in as little as 12-13 hours.
The Nova Scotia Cabot Trail is a 186 mile highway that offers dramatic coastal views, highland scenery, stunning waterfalls and welcoming locals. As well as meandering through the winding roads, you'll get to cut through the picturesque Cape Breton Highlands National Park (for a fee).
We'd recommend you spend a minimum of 3 days to discover everything the route has to offer, but if you're in a rush and unable to take a moment to bask in the trail's beauty, a non-stop drive should take no longer than 8 hours.
Have you driven along any of these amazing road trip routes? Drop us a tweet and let us know - @icelollyholiday!
Published on 29th June 2022
Published on 30th June 2022
Published on 29th July 2022