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12 Incredible Countries for an Epic Road Trip
Scribbled by Claire ⬩ 27 Sep 2025
Do you love road trips? Are you looking for inspiration for your next journey? We’ve listed the most exciting countries to drive in, some individual scenic routes and why they make the cut for our top road trip destinations!
Extensive, lengthy road trips are my favourite. Having your own transport, learning how residents get around, spotting scenery and stopping at roadside viewpoints that you’d otherwise miss – this is the unresearched, exploratory vibe we’ve had for many of our journeys.
Sometimes it’s simply the scenery that makes a trip epic. Other times, it’s the adventure, mystery and unexpected moments. Often, it’s the people you meet along the way. If you’re lucky, it’s all three. Whatever your road trip goal is, you’re always left with some seriously core memories!
For me, it was the barbecue rats on sticks in Cambodia and walls of multi-coloured fuel containers adjacent to hanging, skinless goats in Tunisia. It was California’s outrageously prominent snow-capped volcanoes, the milky limestone-blue waters in Slovenia, and Thailand’s endless undulating hills in the north and deserted beaches in the south. It was Japan’s deep-green river gorges, creepy scarecrows and unreasonably slow speed limits, and the elephant trunks that swayed just feet away from our tuktuk in Sri Lanka.
Some other places have filled me with constant awe, even without leaving the car. Southern Utah probably takes the crown for scenery (how could it not?), followed closely by the staggering sea cliffs of southern Oman.
The memories from road trips are far more prominent and visceral than any other travels I’ve taken via a bus or train (although I love them, too – any journey is a good journey!).
So, here, we’ve written about our twelve favourite countries and regions – the trips whose memories have set up camp in my mind. This list is intentionally a little less Europe-centric, because many similar lists to this one have, like, 90-100 percent European/Western countries, which just doesn’t do the world’s diversity justice!
We’ve also written about a few places we want to visit that would no doubt make this list – because we know we’ve not even seen a fraction of our extraordinary world yet.
IN THIS GUIDE //
Road Trippin’ Adventures (in no particular order)
1. Oman
2. Tunisia
3. Japan
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Slovenia
6. Utah
7. Thailand
8. Sri Lanka
9. Morocco
10. The Yucatan
11. California
Bonus: Yorkshire
Other Places on our List
Where to Next?
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1. Oman: Mountains, Dunes and Wadis
This is the one country we keep returning to. It’s an outdoor utopia, with perfect paved roads running north to south, super polite drivers, and some of the most accessible offroad routes that cater for the extra adventurous.
There are incredible aquamarine pools (wadis) hidden in the mountains, 4000-year-old tombs perched on the edge of seemingly unreachable cliffs, enormous sand dunes tipping straight into the sea, some of the most remote, inaccessible white sand beaches, empty towering forts, and more.
We’ve driven about 18,000 kilometres around Oman over three visits totalling 2.5 months, and keep going back. It’s a highly underrated destination.
It’s all just a little bit magical.
Why Road Trip Oman?
Oman is the perfect road trip destination for the outdoorsy types because wild camping, almost anywhere, is totally legal and culturally common. This keeps the trip budget right down!
Another, fantastic reason to love a road trip in Oman is the lack of people. The country has a small population and also sees few visitors – there’s never a time where I felt surrounded by people (apart from at the famous livestock market!).
The country is a fantastic mix of outdoor scenery (with almost no fees), and cultural adventures, like isolated forts and panoramic mountain villages.
Omani hospitality is second to none. The country is one of the friendliest and most welcoming places we’ve ever been (and that hospitality includes the drivers!).
It’s one of the most affordable countries to road trip, particularly if you’re willing to camp.
If you are interested in learning more about what it’s like to drive in Oman, take a peek at our driving guide.
How Long and Where to Go?
For a one-week road trip, we’d highly recommend the paved northern loop through Muscat, Nizwa, Wahiba Sands, and Sur. This hits all the most popular spots in Oman.
For a more adventurous itinerary, we absolutely love the offroad routes in the western Hajar Mountains, and rogue adventures around Oman’s isolated southern coast. Both of these regions can take up to a week or more each.
For a longer trip, combining the three itineraries above would take between three and four weeks.
2. Tunisia: Star Wars, Amphitheaters and Islands
Road tripping around Tunisia was a last-minute decision for us. We were leaving Saudi Arabia and had no idea where to head next and, as luck had it, a friend was in Tunisia at the time.
So, we booked a rental car and arrived in Tunis, with no plan or notion of what there was to do, or even what Tunisia was all about. However, it turned out to be one of our coolest road trips! We spent a month driving all over the country – it’s such a compact nation which gave us loads of time to soak up all the diverse vibes Tunisia was giving out in abundance.
Why Road Trip Tunisia?
Tunisia is extraordinarily varied. Scenery in the north-west genuinely reminded me of northern England, and in the south, it was exactly how I imagined small Sahara Desert towns to be.
Between these extremes are some world-class Roman ruins and quiet, hassle free medinas, photogenic ksars, plus a stunning island town used as a canvas for an international street art project.
Alongside these distinctive sights, the country has decent roads, a hassle-free hospitality that is almost unmatched, and is particularly easy to traverse if you speak French (we don’t speak much, though, so you don’t need to!).
Tunisia’s identity and history is a blend of Phoenician, Roman, Mahgrebi, Arab-islamic, French, and a road trip around this low-key country is a perfect introduction to this fascinating mix.
If you want to learn a little more about what it’s like to drive there, check out our Tunisia driving guide.
How Long and Where to Go?
If you just want to check out Tunis and the surrounding region, five to seven days is great. For a little bit of inspiration, have a look at our favourite day trips from Tunis.
We’d recommend 2-4 weeks if you want to explore the entire country by car. Check out our full country road trip itinerary if you’re interested, which includes some of the coolest ksars, oases and medinas, plus the best Roman ruins, and loads more.
3. Japan: Green Valleys and Red Temples
So, Japan isn’t the typical road trip country. All I ever heard from people before visiting was that the public transport there is amazing and you don’t need to drive. However, it’s actually not that amazing in my opinion, and it can be pretty expensive if you exclusively use the fast trains.
Instead, we set off on a whirlwind, six-week road trip around the country during blossom season, travelling through Honshu, plus the lesser visited Shikoku and Kyushu regions.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect (probably due to our standard, serious lack of prior research).
But wow, is Japan pretty. The roads are magnificent, the scenery is even better than I imagined and there is so much to do away from the typical tourist spots of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Volcanoes, oceanfront temples, crazy blue gorges, islands full of art, giant bridges linking huge landmasses through inland seas; this country has everything you could ask for in a road trip. Oh, and don’t forget to circumnavigate Mount Fuji!
Why Road Trip Japan?
Well, for starters, it can end up being far cheaper than the trains, especially if there is a group of you (although avoid the toll roads because they could bankrupt you).
Also, Japan is suffering from overtourism at the moment. There are statistics that say a huge majority of Japan’s visitors only stay in a tiny percentage of the country (like Tokyo and Kyoto). This makes the country feel densely populated with tourists, when most of the other areas are relatively empty. So, renting a car and driving somewhere is a fantastic alternative to the crowded towns and cities, and gets people out and about.
Outside of the major cities, we found accommodation and food to be far less expensive, so road tripping can also save money there.
The scenery absolutely blew me away (I’m aware of how cheesy that statement is, but it’s valid in this instance).
Driving in Japan is crazy easy, too. The roads are great, speed limits low and drivers pretty polite. We had a great time.
How Long and Where to Go?
For a road trip to Japan, we’d recommend a minimum of a week. The problem is that Japan is enormous and there’s so much to do, that anything less than three months is a struggle in my mind!
We visited Kyushu, Shikoku and parts of Honshu, which we did in a six week loop. So, as difficult as this sounds, you’ll have to narrow down exactly what you’d want to do.
Personally, we particularly loved driving around Shikoku’s crazy river gorges and wiggly mountain roads, and would recommend at least a week there! The scenery was far beyond what we expected.
4. Saudi Arabia: a Vast, Epic Odyssey
Saudi Arabia is ideal for an adventurous road trip! It’s absolutely enormous, with a vast array of landscapes, some of which really surprised us.
The country is assumed (from the outside) to basically be one giant desert. Masses and masses of sandy, dunes-y fun. And, in some areas, that’s true. However, Saudi Arabia is way more than that.
We’ve driven around the country a few times, totalling around six weeks on the road. In the south, we’ve traversed the highest mountains on the Arabian peninsula, had hundreds-strong monkey hoards run in front of our car, visited improbable hanging cliffside villages, and even got into a snowball fight!
Then in the middle, there was the thickest fog we’ve ever seen, volcanic craters, the bluest of oceans and amazing views of Makkah from afar.
In the north, there are adventurous four-wheel-drive wadis, like Wadi Disah, Wadi Rum-esque scenery, and Petra’s dramatic little sister.
Over to the east, there’s the world’s largest oasis that almost nobody visits (it shocked the local kids we met when we visited!).
The best part is that this area of the world is not heavily travelled by international visitors, so you won’t be surrounded by other foreign tourists. Saudi has a unique domestic tourism culture that you can experience as an outsider, and the best way to do that is with your own car.
Why Road Trip Saudi Arabia?
Well, Saudi Arabia receives relatively few visitors. And even fewer of them drive around the entire country. This means that, as a foreigner, you’ll be a novelty pretty much wherever you go which is really quite fun.
Saudi is huge and it makes sense to drive around unless you want to spend your trip taking a million domestic flights.
The scenery is starkly contrasting, depending on where you are.
In some regions, it’s almost impossible to get around without a car.
Driving in Saudi Arabia is mostly pretty chill, although a little less so than in some of its neighbours. If you’re interesting in learning more about what it’s like to drive in Saudi Arabia, check out our detailed guide.
How Long and Where to Go?
If you want to travel around the entire country, we’d highly recommend around a month for your road trip. However, if you are low on time, then it’s best to choose a region and just explore there (which avoids the lengthy cross-country drives, too).
We’ve written an itinerary that is split into north, south, east and west, each of which would be perfect for around a week or so. Take a look if you’re interested!
5. Slovenia: Valleys, Lakes and (not that many) Italian Drivers
I’ve driven around quite a few places in Europe: Italy, France, Germany, Norway, Croatia, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Romania and a bunch more. It comes with the territory of being a traveller and living in Europe (and my family living in France!).
I sat and thought for quite a while about where I’d recommend for the best road trip in Europe, and weirdly, my mind immediately swung like a magnet to Slovenia. We recently spent several weeks there exploring entirely by road, and it renewed my interest in pursuing more European road trips.
Honestly, this tiny, central European country may not be the first place people expect on a list like this, but anyone who’s been there knows. They know about the silky, pale blue waters of the Soca Valley, the craggy mist-covered mountains of Triglav National Park, the abundant slaps (waterfalls) that fall down every precipitous cliff, the picturesque coastal town of Piran and, of course the renowned Lake Bled.
There are also castles in cliffs and insanely huge limestone caves that scared the shit out of me (I’m not good with being underground). For the wine and spa lovers, head east to the significantly less visited Maribor.
This teeny-tiny country packs such a punch, perfect for someone with a short amount of time available!
Why Road Trip Slovenia?
The roads in Slovenia are first-class and the drivers are at least better than in neighbouring Italy (you take what you can get).
Road tripping around Slovenia means access to nearby major cities like Trieste in Italy, and Pula and Zagreb in Croatia, too. These are all reachable from Slovenia as most rental cars are allowed to cross borders.
Slovenia is small so it’s easy to see a lot in little time.
Prices are slightly lower than in some of the surrounding countries, but not by much. Parking prices are extreme – we saw signs stating six euros an hour, even outside the main tourist areas. Activities and attractions can be crazy pricey, too.
Slovenia is just as pretty as the adjacent Italian Dolomites, for example, but with a slither of the tourist numbers.
How Long and Where to Go?
You can easily see a whole lot of Slovenia in just five days. This would include visiting Lake Bled, Ljubliana, and road tripping through the mountains.
We spent two weeks, including a quick trip into Italy to visit Trieste, and this was an excellent amount of time explore more of the country.
6. Utah: Possibly the World’s Prettiest Road Trip?
I mentioned in the intro, but southern Utah is, hands-down, the most scenic place on this list (subjectively, at least).
It’s out of this world, with unearthly huge buttes and mesas, natural bridges and arches, constricting slot canyons, exciting dirt roads through remote deserts and canyons, and rivers and valley scenery that rival anywhere in the world.
I know this all that seems vague, but that’s only because I don’t even know where to start. Even if you don’t hike, this area offers up so many individually stunning road routes, like Scenic Byway 12, the Burr Trail, State Route 95, both the 279 and 128 out of Moab, Valley of the Gods, and the roads between Page and Lees Ferry. Even the Interstate 15 cuts directly through the Virgin River, which is magnificent.
The routes this area offer driving enthusiasts are second to none in my opinion.
Then there are the offroad options, for all those four-wheel drive fanatics, like the White Rim Road and Needles in Canyonlands National Park, Cathedral Valley and Hanksville around Capitol Reef, and literally any of the plethora of routes around Moab!
I’ve spent an entire year of my life driving around this region, for a reason. It’s simply incredible.
Why Road Trip Southern Utah?
It’s really easy driving in southern Utah, but it can also be enormously adventurous, too. This means that any kind of road trip goes – whether it’s rock-crawling in a modified Jeep, driving the sandy Monument Valley loop, or sticking to its smooth paved main roads, the state has an abundance of options.
There’s also a tonne of beautiful, sometimes free camping opportunities, either on public lands or in national parks and forests. This really helps to keep the budget down.
The roads are generally in great condition, and better still, they are quiet. We’ve never ended up in a traffic jam in southern Utah, so if you’re looking for some low hassle road trip inspiration, maybe consider Utah!
How Long and Where to Go?
You can easily see the five major national parks and highlights of southern Utah in a week if you’re really, really quick. However, we’d recommend taking your time and doing this loop in around two weeks. Our most recent trip lasted six weeks, which was a pretty comprehensive journey including loads of hiking and camping.
We’ve written absolutely loads about southern Utah, including how to plan the perfect road trip itinerary route, so check that out if you’re interested.
7. Thailand: Historic Routes and Crazy Wiggles
So, Thailand doesn’t have the most impressive scenery compared to other countries across this list, but there are a few epic regions that rival anywhere in the world. We’ve done more road trips in Thailand than we can count and they have never disappointed.
If you are looking for scenery, the north is where it’s at. Regions like Nan offer some of the best roads in the world (motorbikers go crazy for them), and the famously scenic (and wiggly) Mae Hong Son loop, west of Chiang Mai along the Burmese border can easily be done with a car instead of a bike.
One of the lovely things about road tripping around Thailand is that you can avoid the hordes of tourists who descend on only a few destinations within the country. If someone says to you that ‘Thailand is just too touristy nowadays’, tell them to rent a car!
This country has masses of magic just waiting to be discovered for the vaguely intrepid, including weird structures like the Pink Dragon Temple, hidden cascades like the Huay Mae Khamin Falls, remarkable ancient capitals like Sukhothai, historic cultural villages like Sangkhla and Ban Rak Thai, and endless, empty beaches in the south. Don’t even get me started on the hundreds of genuinely unique Buddhist temples you can visit, rarely with a foreign tourist in sight!
Thailand is made for road tripping and it’s such a pity more people don’t realise it.
Why Road Trip Thailand?
Thailand is a pretty affordable country to travel around, and as soon as you leave the tourist centres of Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi, the costs plummet further still. Seriously, driving around Thailand is mega-affordable and you’ll get great value for your money, too.
The roads are really easy to drive and the signs are mostly in English. Also, the drivers are reasonably chill, although the safety record is a bit sketchy (we talk about why that is on our Thai driving post).
Also, if there’s a group of you, renting a car can often be way cheaper than everyone paying for a bus, plane or train ticket.
Airconditioning. Thailand is seriously hot, like easily the hottest place on this list for most of the year. That is all the persuasion you should need!
For more information on safety, road culture, and all things car, check out our super detailed driving guide.
How Long and Where to Go?
If you want to explore Thailand’s most exciting roads, one to two weeks in the north will be sufficient to explore the sites.
We’d highly recommend adding Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, the ancient cities of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, and then some islands in the south or the islands in Trat Province, like Koh Chang, if you want to road trip the country and see a bit of everything. This would take at least 3 to 4 weeks.
8. Sri Lanka: Rogue Tuktuks and Hidden Temples
Although Sri Lanka is synonymous with backpackers on intricately decorated buses, circumnavigating this sensational little island with your own vehicle is a magnificent idea (in case you’ve never considered it).
This teardrop-shaped country is way more than just idyllic beaches (although it does has some of best I’ve ever seen – my favourites being Mirissa, Hiriketiya and Tangalle). The rice fields glisten, the dramatic, jungly central region is lined with tea plantations, and the cultural triangle is packed with UNESCO sites that far too few people talk about.
There’s even an actual hill town called Nuwara Eliya that looks just like an English village, with post boxes, polo players and all! If this surprises you, then you’re in for a treat in Sri Lanka.
We rented a tukuk for a month and our journey around Sri Lanka really smashed my expectations. The roads are decent (mostly – stick to main routes to avoid pot holes), the traffic is pretty polite, and even the infamous bus drivers aren’t that bad. It was a sensory journey and I’m really keen to get back there and do another one.
It’s a place that calls you back – although I’ll be avoiding our run-in with the elephants next time.
Why Road Trip Sri Lanka?
Well, first of all, driving a tuktuk is fun, unique, and ultimately hilarious.
You can avoid the hot, overpacked buses which barrel their way down the hills without a second thought for anyone else.
It avoids the otherwise necessary use of local taxis. If you want to get to Sigiriya Rock, you’ll need a taxi; if you want to visit Polonnaruwa, you’ll need a taxi; if you want to see the Nine Arches Bridge, you guessed it: you’ll need a taxi. Alternatively, you can take your own transport and save money, chill out and travel totally on your own schedule.
There are so many amazing spots to stop, especially in the mountainous regions. If you get a driver, you’ll have to ask them to pull over, every two minutes. On a bus, you can’t stop at all!
Sri Lanka tuktuk rentals are quite affordable, especially if there is a group of you travelling together (or a small family).
Honestly, it’s such a fun country to drive around.
How Long and Where to Go?
If you want to just check out Sri Lanka’s southern beaches or explore the UNESCO sites in the cultural heart, a week will be enough (we suggest more days though!).
If your plan is to explore further afield and do a loop of the island, we’d recommend at least three weeks.
Take a look at our three week itinerary for some inspiration!
9. Morocco: Mountain Passes, Medinas and Ksars
This country was probably the biggest surprise in all our road trip travels. I didn’t really expect much, but left feeling like it could be my new favourite ever driving destination.
We spent six weeks traversing the entire length of the country and are already planning a return trip. Whether you’re into vast empty landscapes or buzzing ancient old towns, Morocco is an absolute must for anyone looking for an adventurous, safe, and diverse place for their next road trip.
The scenery rivalled Oman, the friendliness rivalled Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, and the variety rivalled, well, anywhere in the world! The southern region, with its rolling sand dunes of the Sahara, tiny scenic cliffside towns and high mountain passes, was my favourite. The actual magical UNESCO town of Ait Ben Haddou, plus Taroudant, Tinghir and Tafraoute, were particular highlights in a region with so much fierce competition.
Along the coastal route, there are some of Morocco’s most beautiful cities, like Essaouira, and some of the most scenic beaches, like Legzira, Mirleft, Imsouane, Tagazout and Tamracht. The Mediterranean north has all the European vibes and café culture in Tangiers, and even an entire town covered in street art at Asilah!
There’s so many more, but I simply cannot list all of the incredible spots that a road trip around Morocco will lead you to.
Why Road Trip Morocco?
Morocco’s drivers are definitely some of the politest that we’ve ever encountered. It’s such an easy, comfortable place to drive, so you can easily head off for an exciting road trip with zero stress!
Car rental in Morocco is very, very affordable. We originally planned for four weeks but did six instead because our rental was such good value.
The variety of scenery you can experience by driving through areas that tours and traditional routes miss, like Bin el Ouidane, is incredible.
Parking is super affordable and there are always lots just outside the medinas to leave your car. We never had a problem parking (or driving) in any of the many cities we visited.
Distances can be long – Morocco is way bigger than I realised! I’m eternally grateful that some of those longer drives were not spent in a stuffy minibus.
Taking a road trip means you can avoid the tourist hotspots. Just like with Thailand and Japan, most visitors to Morocco visit only a few places. So, with very little effort, it’s easy to leave all that behind.
How Long and Where to Go?
To explore a region of Morocco by car, you’ll need 7-10 days, or more. To traverse the entire country, we’d recommend at least 4-6 weeks.
We’ve written three itineraries covering different regions, so check them out if you are interested:
⬩ The coastal route – two weeks, covering the coast from the Mediterranean’s Al Hoceima to the windswept Atlantic’s Sidi Ifni.
⬩ 10 days around northern Morocco – hitting the blue city of Chefchaouen, along with Tangier, Meknes, Fes, Morocco’s best Roman ruins, and loads more.
⬩ Two weeks in the mountains of southern Morocco – the most scenic route in Morocco, through mountains, villages and dunes.
How Long and Where to Go?
To explore a region of Morocco by car, you’ll need 7-10 days, or more. To traverse the entire country, we’d recommend at least 4-6 weeks.
We’ve written three itineraries covering different regions, so check them out if you are interested:
⬩ The coastal route – two weeks, covering the coast from the Mediterranean’s Al Hoceima to the windswept Atlantic’s Sidi Ifni.
⬩ 10 days around northern Morocco – hitting the blue city of Chefchaouen, along with Tangier, Meknes, Fes, Morocco’s best Roman ruins, and loads more.
⬩ Two weeks in the mountains of southern Morocco – the most scenic route in Morocco, through mountains, villages and dunes.
10. The Mexican Yucatan: Cenotes, Flamingos and No Tourists
I thought a lot about whether I wanted to include the Yucatan on this list.
The thing is, although a lot of the roads are pretty and the region is lovely, it’s not exactly crazy panoramic like Utah or Oman, is it? It’s not even the most panoramic area in Mexico. But, just like we mentioned with Thailand above, it’s a culmination of the entire road trip experience, not just the scenery, and driving around the Yucatan was awesome.
There were so many highlights, like avoiding the insane crowds of Cancun and Tulum, driving down dirt tracks to isolated cenotes owned by individual families, or traipsing barefoot through mud to find flamingos. We also cruised through remote villages lined with children’s swings, dead snakes, red and green bunting, and stumbling upon entirely empty Mayan ruins.
We even saw a jaguar on our way to the Mayan ruins of Calakmul!
That’s not to mention the tiny beach side towns with the best tacos you’ve ever eaten.
It’s a whole journey – one that would be almost impossible without a car.
I’ve spent about two months traversing the Yucatan and many more months around the rest of Mexico, and the entire country is worth as many days as you can throw at it. Ignore any niggling doubts and book the trip.
Why Road Trip the Yucatan?
You can utterly escape the frat-boy misery that is Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum (can you tell I’m not a fan?). The Yucatan has far more to offer than just Quintana Roo.
There are loads of Mayan ruins that are much easier to reach with a car – like Edzna, Calakmul, Uxmal and lots of smaller ones.
Driving is really safe and easy in the Yucatan. You don’t need a big car and the roads are mostly completely flat. There’s also very little traffic outside a few bigger cities.
It’s so family friendly – the roads are calm, the sites are great for children, and getting around by car is ideal!
How Long and Where to Go?
To drive around the Yucatan in a nice tidy loop will take around two weeks or more. It would be easy to cut it down and do part of the loop in one week.
We’ve written the ideal route to avoid the crowds and take a circle through the Yucatan – check it out if you are interested.
11. California: Everything You Could Dream of
One of the OG road trip destinations: California has literally everything you could want (apart from affordable prices).
It is, without a doubt, one of the most diverse places for a road trip in the entire world.
Steaming volcanic geysers, a dozen mountains above 14,000 feet, the world’s lowest and hottest place, a famous (and spectacular) cliff-hugging oceanside route, plus the world’s largest, tallest and oldest trees (they’re all different types!).
It’s an epic choice, even if you are crowd-averse. On our most recent road trip around California, we ended up exploring incredible, totally empty lava tube caves on the border with Oregon, lonely alpine lakes along Highway 395, and isolated, crazy rock formations in Lone Pine. Just avoid Lake Tahoe on Independence Day – we made that mistake and regretted it!
If you are looking for a trip with jaw-dropping scenery, fantastic food, insane hikes, great non-alcoholic beverages, quality accommodations ($$$), and the ability to drive from vast empty deserts to alpine peaks in half a day, then this is your place. There’s no option quite like it.
I’ve road tripped California for more than six months and still haven’t really scraped the surface.
Why Road Trip California?
So I mentioned that California is a bit pricey (and it is). However, if you’re on a budget (like us), there are tonnes of epic camping opportunities to keep the costs down in national forests, parks and other public lands. Even on the outskirts of San Fransisco, you can find camping with vast views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline, at Kirby Cove Campground.
California is home to nine national parks, which is more than any other state. I’ll say it again, but this state is seriously diverse. It’s a nature-lover’s paradise.
Along with Utah, California is a haven for adventure seekers. There are world-class climbing opportunities, backpacking trips and extreme hiking routes. If you get lucky with a permit (and are fit enough – prep is essential), consider hiking Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States!
Personally, I love the cities in California, too. They’re the most vibrant and diverse in the United States, and I’ll be a fan forever. Los Angeles could easily be my second home (if I could ever afford it). They are well suited to having your own vehicle, too (although parking fees can be steep).
You should road trip California purely because it’s California. This state is epic – ask anyone who’s been there!
How Long and Where to Go?
You cannot ‘do’ California, it’s just too big. However, if you want to explore a section of it, a week or two would be a good start; our favourite area is Highway 395 and the Sierra Nevada range.
Our most recent trip was six weeks which was a great amount of time to traverse a big chunk of the state. We’ve designed a loop that takes you around all the best bits while avoiding the touristy spots so, if you’re interested, take a look.
Bonus: Yorkshire (and North England)
So, just a quick mention for the place I spend at least three months a year – Yorkshire!
The north of England’s rolling, craggy hills are goddamn incredible for driving. If you’re looking for an alternative trip with your own wheels, check routes through the Yorkshire Dales, the Pennines, the Moors, head up to Northumberland, or my personal favourite, the Lake District.
Explore the tiny town of Whitby with its gothic history, visit York and its Harry Potter-esque Shambles and impressive Minster, or even come and visit me in Leeds – the metropolis of Yorkshire, surrounded by stately homes, banging shopping, diverse cuisine (we have amazing dosas here) and classical architecture reminiscent of London.
That alone would take quite a few weeks.
I love London with all my heart, but when we’re talking about road trips, Yorkshire and the north wins it – hands down.
Why Road Trip Yorkshire?
I live here, so obviously it’s amazing.
The north of England has the tallest mountains in the country, the prettiest lakes, arguably the best pubs, and is actually mostly covered by national park land!
There are some really cool, challenging roads, with steep inclines, single lane passing and blind corners. It has all that typical British roady fun.
It’s also more affordable in the north than in the south of England.
We have loads of sheep and pubs here.
How Long and Where to Go?
I’ve never actually taken one single trip around Yorkshire. However, I reckon I’d want to spend at least two weeks exploring the region’s small villages, national parks, towns and pubs.
Places we Really Want to Visit (for your inspiration!)
We haven’t seen much of the world (most people haven’t really – it’s a big place).
If you’re still here looking for more inspiration, then below are the spots that are currently high on our list. So, if you fancy even more encouragement to book a trip, take a look:
⬩ Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan: crazy mountains, few people, off road camping fun, second highest road in the world (this is for next summer!).
⬩ New Zealand: nice roads, campervan adventures, mountain and glacier scenery.
⬩ Ladakh, India: insane mountain scenery, great for motorbikes, relatively unvisited by foreign tourists.
⬩ Patagonia: JUST ALL THE SCENERY.
⬩ Laos: a perfect motorbike route top to bottom.
⬩ Norway: scenery, legal wild camping, great roads, not too hot in summer. We’ve done parts of the north, but want to see more.
⬩ Iceland: campervan fun, unique geology, good for short trips, easy access from Europe.
⬩ Namibia, Angola and Botswana: empty, vast, offroad adventures, camping, self-drive safaris, unique.
⬩ South Africa: wine, safaris, diverse scenery, beach penguins.
⬩ Iraqi Kurdistan: untouched adventures, hospitable, way underrated, unrivalled history and culture.
⬩ Mongolia: off road, really adventurous, vast scenery, unvisited.
⬩ Scotland: right next to where I live in Yorkshire yet I’ve never done a road trip there, which is a total travesty.
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Where to Next?
We hope you’ve managed to take a sprinkling of inspiration from this list of incredible countries, and maybe you’re even considering planning a trip somewhere because of it.
We are always in the midst of organising various road trips (including a few from the wish list above at the moment). We’re also always photographing and writing about road trips (including Japan and Slovenia, which are in the works right now). It’s my favourite topic in the entire world, so collating this list was a pleasure.
If you’re planning on taking a road trip, have a read about why we only ever use one rental company now, all over the world. Also, hear about how it is possible to get a car literally stuck down a street in Sicily. Like, totally wedged.
Have a great day!
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
Great list! I’ve done a couple of these countries by car, and it really makes me want to try the others. So many awesome landscapes to explore.