Best Road Trips in the World: The Ultimate Driving Bucket List

Ready to hit the road? These aren't your average road trips. Think beyond scenic views, we're talking wellness stops, sustainable detours, digital nomad hubs, and more. Here's a list of the best road trips in the world that are making travel headlines in 2025.

Don’t get stuck in one place. Go around the world, experience every culture, and take time for yourself by reconnecting with nature. After all, nature is the best medicine for the mind.

1. Pacific Coast Highway – California, USA - Where the Ocean Never Leaves you Side

Vibe: Ocean Therapy + Wellness Stops

The Pacific Coast Highway is also known as California State Route 1, is a dreamlike journey hugging the rugged coastline of California. Starting from the fog-kissed Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the road winds through towering redwoods, dramatic cliffs, charming surf towns, and sun-drenched beaches before ending in sunny San Diego. At every turn you can see the stunning view, especially around Big Sur, where the road is carved into cliffs above crashing waves. And also you will cross landmarks like the Bixby Brigade, and visit coastal towns where life moves a little slower.

📍 Route Start: San Francisco, California

📍 Route End: San Diego, California

Ideal Duration: 5-7 days (ideal for a relaxed pace with scenic stops)

2. Manali to Leh - Where Mountains Meets the Sky

Vibe: Crisp Mountain Air + Soulful Journeys

The journey from Manali to Leh is one of the most beautiful and life changing routes. This is not just a road trip, it is an adventure that shapes your soul. And it is about the silence between the mountains, friendships made at roadside dhabas, and the thrill of being somewhere few dare to venture. It is the real magic that starts the moment you leave behind the bustling hill towns of Manali and start your climb into the wild, raw beauty of the Himalayas. 

📍 Route Start: Manali, Himachal Pradesh

📍 Route End: Leh, Ladakh

Ideal Duration: 2–3 days (with overnight halts)

3. Ring Road – Iceland - The Journey through Fire, Ice & Quite Magic

Vibe: Glacial Beauty + Solo Peace

With beautiful views, your favorite music playing, and your partner by your side, the journey becomes nothing short of magical. These Iceland roads are the best to go with your partner. This is more than just a loop around a country, it is a healing journey through wild beauty. It is 1,332 km of the loop. You will start and end in Reykjavik, but everything in between feels like another planet. One moment you’re watching puffins fly past sea cliffs in East Iceland, and the next you will soak in a secret hot spring with nothing but mountains and sky around you. The silence? Unmatched. The stars? Endless.

📍 Route Start: Reykjavik

📍 Route End: Reykjavik (circular route)

Ideal Durations: 7–10 days (the longer, the better—you’ll want time to pause)

4. Atlantic Road – Norway - Where Sea Meets the Sky

Vibe: Engineering Marvel + Nordic Calm

Just imagine a road where, on one side, wild waves crash against the rocky shore, and on the other majestic mountains rise the clouds. That’s the magic of the Atlantic Road in Norway. This short but surreal stretch connects a chain of tiny islands with dramatic bridges that seem to float above the ocean. As you drive the wind whispers through the fiords and salty sea spray kisses your window. It feels like you are suspended between two worlds caught between sky and sea.

📍 Route Start: Kristiansund

📍 Route End: Bud

Ideal Durations: 1–2 hours (but you’ll want to stop for photos every few minutes)

5. Hai Van Pass- Vietnam - Misty Roads & Mountains Dreams

Vibe: Misty Mountain Roads + Coastal Freedom

If you are chasing the kind of road that feels like a movie scene, the Hai Van Pass is your calling. Where the mountain road gives you the thrill of sweeping curves, emerald peaks, and the endless sparkle of the South China Sea. Made famous by Top Gear, this 21-km stretch between Da Nang and Hue is more than just a beautiful route, it is a sensory journey. It is a short journey but you will get a lot of memories while traveling these routes. Don’t skip this road trip if you are in Vietnam. 

📍 Route Start: Da Nang

📍 Route End: Hue

Ideal Duration:  1–2 hours

6. Amalfi Coast – Italy - Where Cliffs Kiss the Sea

Vibe: Lemon-Scented Cliffs + Sun-Drenched Seaside Dreams

While some roads are just beautiful, the Amalfi Coast is pure romance. It is the perfect road trip for couples. Winding along Italy’s southern cliffs, this iconic drive feels like you are floating between citrus-scented hills and a shimmering sea that never seems to end. It is not a road you rush through. This is the kind of journey made for slow cruising, seaside lunches, gelato break, and sunset stops that make you forget about time.

📍 Route Start: Sorrento

📍 Route End: Vietri sul Mare 

Ideal Duration: 2-3 hours

If you are in Italy, Norway, Vietnam, Iceland or California and still haven’t experienced a road trip, or if you are in another country and want to experience at least one road trip among the list, then don’t wait any longer. Book your ticket, fly to your chosen destination, and rent a car or bike for the ultimate road trip experience. 

Let the open road become your therapy. Feel every turn, embrace every view, and let the journey move your soul. Take a break from your busy life. This is your sign to start fresh. To new roads, fresh starts and finding yourself along the way. If you are seeking a journey that transforms you, this is the one. Wishing you adventure, growth, and all the beauty the road has to offer. Safe travels!