Whether you’re a seasoned road tripper or dreaming of your first big adventure, the world’s most scenic routes offer an unforgettable way to explore stunning landscapes, rich cultures, and hidden gems. From the sun-scorched deserts of the American Southwest to the misty highlands of Scotland, these legendary highways promise views that no postcard could ever do justice. We’ve put together the ultimate guide to the world’s most iconic drives — so buckle up, hit play on your favorite road trip playlist, and let’s go.
Using the HEX Picker program and the Color Thief plugin, we analyzed the dominant colors found in the landscapes along each route — from the vivid blues of Australia’s coastline to the deep emerald tones of the Scottish Highlands. Think dried tobacco rocks, burnt caramel sand dunes, moonstone-gray mountain peaks, and melon-hued sunsets. Ready? Our first stop is the iconic Route 66.
1. U.S. Route 66 — The Mother Road
Few roads in the world carry as much cultural weight as U.S. Route 66. Stretching from the heart of Chicago all the way to Los Angeles, this legendary highway cuts through eight states and offers an unparalleled window into the soul of American culture. From roadside diners frozen in time to sweeping Mojave Desert vistas, Route 66 is a bucket-list drive like no other.
- Distance: 2,400 miles (Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA)
- Estimated duration: 2–3 weeks
- States covered: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
- Highlights: Cadillac Ranch, the Petrified Forest, Wigwam Motel, and the Santa Monica Pier
- Dominant colors: Sepia, peach blossom, chicory coffee, and golden citrus skies at sunset
- Best time to visit: Spring (April–May) or Fall (September–October) to avoid extreme desert heat
Make sure to carry extra batteries, a physical road map, and plenty of water — some stretches are beautifully remote.
2. The Gobi Desert Road, Mongolia — Asia’s Ancient Wilderness
The Gobi Desert is one of the most remote and awe-inspiring destinations on Earth. Beginning and ending in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, this week-long journey takes you through vast sand dunes, rugged mountain ranges, and sweeping valleys that seem lifted straight from another world. As Asia’s largest desert and a renowned site of dinosaur fossil discoveries, every mile feels like a page torn from prehistory.
- Starting point: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Estimated duration: 7–10 days
- Highlights: Khongoryn Els sand dunes, Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag), Yolyn Am canyon, and Bactrian camel encounters
- Local experience: Staying in traditional gers (yurts) and sampling camel milk cheese
- Dominant colors: Moonstone, soy sprout green, turtledove wing, and calcareous tuff
- Best time to visit: Late spring (May–June) or early autumn (September) for milder temperatures
A 4×4 vehicle is strongly recommended, as the terrain can be unpredictable and road markings are sparse across much of the route.
3. South Island Highway, New Zealand — The Adventure Capital of the World
New Zealand’s South Island is a paradise for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. With towering mountain ranges, active volcanoes, glacier-fed lakes, and fiords stretching as far as the eye can see, driving through the South Island is as dramatic as road trips get. The winding roads offer a constantly shifting palette of light gray cliffs and cardamom-hued asphalt cutting through some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet.
- Estimated duration: 2–3 weeks for a full circuit
- Top destinations: Queenstown, Milford Sound, Aoraki/Mount Cook, and the Catlins
- Adventure activities: Bungee jumping, skydiving, canyon swinging, white-water rafting, and glacier hiking
- Dominant colors: Light gray, airy monocolor peaks, and cardamom seed-toned roads
- Best time to visit: December–February (Southern Hemisphere summer) for optimal road conditions
- Tip: State Highway 80 along Lake Pukaki toward Aoraki/Mount Cook is one of the most photogenic stretches
4. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia — The World’s Largest Salt Flat
Salar de Uyuni is unlike any destination on this list — or on Earth, for that matter. Spanning roughly 4,000 square miles in southwest Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat transforms dramatically with the seasons. During the dry season, the cracked salt crust forms a geometric mosaic of muted purples, pale blues, and blue quartz tones. Come the rainy season, a thin layer of water turns the entire flat into a mirror so perfect it reflects the sky above, blurring the line between earth and heaven.
- Size: Approximately 4,000 square miles
- Location: Potosí and Oruro departments, southwest Bolivia
- Highlights: Isla Incahuasi (cactus island), flamingo-filled lagoons, and the Train Cemetery near Uyuni town
- Dry season colors: Blue quartz, pale blue, muted purple, and cracked-earth white
- Rainy season experience: A perfectly reflective mirror surface stretching to the horizon
- Best time to visit: November–April for the mirror effect; May–October for the iconic cracked salt patterns
- Getting around: A 4×4 vehicle is essential; alternatively, book a guided tour through a reputable local operator in Uyuni
Don’t forget to look up — the sky here takes on shades of banana yellow and burnt amber that you’ll never forget.
5. Iceland Ring Road (Route 1) — Fire, Ice, and Endless Horizons
Iceland’s Route 1, better known as the Ring Road, is the ultimate Nordic road trip. Circling the entire island, this 825-mile route leads through lava fields, past towering waterfalls, over mountain passes, and along dramatic fjords. The sky above shifts between beige, peach, and the most vivid auroras you’ll ever see — while chartreuse-green mountains with deep purple and steel-blue peaks frame every turn.
- Total distance: 825 miles (full ring circuit)
- Estimated duration: 7–14 days depending on stops
- Top stops: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Mývatn geothermal area, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- Dominant colors: Beige and peach skies, chartreuse volcanic fields, deep purple and steel-blue mountain peaks
- Best time to visit: June–August for 24-hour daylight; November–February for Northern Lights hunting
- Tip: The road is open year-round, but winter driving requires a 4×4 and experience with icy conditions
6. Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway — Driving Through the Sea
Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road has earned its nickname — “the Road in the Ocean” — with good reason. This engineering marvel stretches five miles across a series of islands and skerries, connected by eight bridges that arch dramatically above the crashing waves below. The landscape shimmers in tones of opal, lemon yellow, and deep methyl blue, while sections of the road genuinely resemble a roller coaster, dipping and curving over the water with the occasional wave splashing onto the tarmac.
- Total distance: 5 miles (Averøy to Eide)
- Number of bridges: 8, including the famous Storseisundet Bridge
- Highlights: Panoramic ocean views, sea fishing spots, storm-watching in autumn, and the Eldhusøya rest area
- Dominant colors: Opal, lemon yellow, methyl blue, and deep ocean blue
- Best time to visit: Summer for calm, sunny drives; autumn for dramatic storm-watching
- Tip: Drive slowly and use the designated viewpoints to take in the coast — this is a road best savored, not rushed
7. Great Ocean Road, Australia — Sun, Surf, and Limestone Giants
Australia’s Great Ocean Road is one of the most celebrated coastal drives in the world. Stretching 150 miles along the southeastern coastline of Victoria, this sun-drenched route passes golden beaches, lush rainforest hinterland, and the iconic Twelve Apostles — a collection of towering limestone sea stacks rising dramatically from the Southern Ocean. The palette here is dazzling: vivid blues, toffee sands, muted aqua water, and lemon light near the coast.
- Total distance: 150 miles (Torquay to Allansford)
- Estimated duration: 3 days (leisurely pace recommended)
- Top stops: The Twelve Apostles, Lorne, Apollo Bay, Otway National Park, and Torquay
- Activities: Surfing at Torquay and Lorne, koala spotting in the Otways, and wildlife watching along the inland roads
- Dominant colors: Vivid blue ocean, toffee sand, muted aqua, and lemon coastal light
- Best time to visit: March–May or September–November to avoid summer crowds and scorching heat
- Wildlife tip: Head inland for a chance to spot kangaroos bounding through dark green coastal grassland
8. Badlands National Park, U.S. Route 240 — 75 Million Years in the Making
Back in the United States, Badlands National Park offers one of the most otherworldly drives in North America. U.S. Route 240 winds through 39 miles of sculpted rock formations, sharp spires, and ancient prairie that took 75 million years to form. The colors are extraordinary — ecru, curry yellow, and dried tobacco hues layered into the canyon walls like a geological painting. This is also one of the best places in the US to spot endangered wildlife in its natural habitat.
- Total distance: 39 miles (Loop Road through the park)
- Number of attractions: 16 official points of interest within the park
- Highlights: The Door Trail, Notch Trail, Pinnacles Overlook, and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center
- Wildlife: Black-footed ferrets, bighorn sheep, bison, and swift foxes — all endangered or vulnerable species
- Dominant colors: Ecru, curry yellow, dried tobacco, and Baltic Sea blue skies
- Best time to visit: May–September for dry roads and wildlife activity; avoid July–August peak heat if possible
- Tip: Drive with the roof down or windows open to fully immerse yourself in the panoramic views and fresh prairie air
9. North Coast 500, Scotland — Britain’s Answer to Route 66
Often called “Scotland’s Route 66,” the North Coast 500 is a spectacular 516-mile circular route starting and ending in Inverness. This celebrated Highland road trip packs in dramatic sea cliffs, remote beaches, ancient castles, and some of the most jaw-dropping mountain scenery in Europe — all within a surprisingly compact loop. The landscape unfolds in a patchwork of yellow-green moorland, dove gray stone, and earthy brown heather, while the sky above transforms into deep navy blue with soft cotton candy streaks at dusk.
- Total distance: 516 miles (circular, starting from Inverness)
- Estimated duration: 5–7 days
- Top stops: Applecross Peninsula, Smoo Cave, Dunrobin Castle, Torridon, and the Isle of Skye (short detour)
- Activities: Whisky distillery tours, sea kayaking, white-water rafting, puffin and sea eagle spotting
- Dominant colors: Yellow-green moorland, light gray stone, gray-brown heather, and cotton candy dusk skies
- Best time to visit: May–September for the best weather and long daylight hours; July–August for the famous Highland Games
- Tip: Book accommodations well in advance — this route has become enormously popular and smaller villages fill up fast
10. Transfăgărășan Highway, Romania — Europe’s Most Dramatic Mountain Road
Named by Top Gear as “the best road in the world,” the Transfăgărășan Highway is a masterpiece of engineering and scenery in equal measure. This spectacular 93-mile spiraling route carves its way through the heart of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, connecting Curtea de Argeș in the south with Sibiu in the north. Every hairpin bend reveals a new postcard view — waterfalls, glacial lakes, medieval fortresses, and rolling summer meadows painted in jasmine yellow, elven forest green, spindle-tree pink, and purple-blue.
- Total distance: 93 miles (Cârtișoara to Bascov)
- Estimated duration: 1 day to drive; 2–3 days recommended to explore properly
- Top stops: Bâlea Lake (glacial lake at the summit), Poenari Fortress (Vlad the Impaler’s castle), and Vidraru Dam
- Dominant colors: Jasmine yellow, spindle-tree pink, elven forest green, and purple-blue mountain haze
- Best time to visit: June–October only — the high-altitude section is closed during winter due to heavy snowfall
- Heads up: The tight switchbacks and steep gradients can cause motion sickness — travel-sickness bands or medication are a wise precaution
- Tip: Allow extra time at the Bâlea Lake viewpoint at the top — the panoramic views across the Carpathians are truly spectacular
Inspired to hit the road? Before you set off on your next great adventure, make sure your car is fully road-trip ready.
Published March 25, 2021 • 10m to read
