Best Road Trips In The World For 2024 | Anywhere We Roam

Fasten your seat belts as we unveil the best road trip destinations in 2024. Experience sublime scenery, exotic wildlife encounters and diverse cultures on the best road trips in the world.  

LAST UPDATE: 22 Dec 2023

Anywhere We Roam is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support – Paul & Mark.

We love a good road trip.

The joy of crossing wide open spaces, with complete freedom. The ability to be where we want when we want, and discover new places on our own timetable.

A well-crafted road trip enables you to catch sunrise or sunset, beat the crowds, and generally pile as many experiences as possible into each precious day.  

We’ve put together our favourite road trips to help inspire your next adventure. From winding mountain roads to sun-kissed coastal highways, here are some of the best road trips in the world.  

NAMIBIA

Namibia may be the best road trip country in the world. Easy-to-drive gravel tracks crisscross a vast wilderness of remarkable wildlife and natural wonders.

At Sandwich Harbour towering sand dunes drop into crashing oceans. In Sossusvlei, dead black trees are baked into the earth. Fish River Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the world.

Etosha National Park is an exciting and affordable safari park. The Skeleton Coast has vast open horizons, shipwrecks and a huge seal colony.

Namibia has worked hard to conserve its wildlife. Take a road trip there and you’ll learn about their conservation sacrifices and help support their progress.

Read more – 2-week Namibia itinerary.

ICELAND

Iceland is a unique destination. Perched on the mid-Atlantic ridge where the Earth’s crust is thin, it’s a volcanic wonderland. Black lava fields drop from towering volcanos, sulphurous vents scar the land and colourful mountains rise above crystal-blue lakes.

There are various road trips in Iceland based on your level of adventure.

Visit geysers, waterfalls, the Fagradalsfjall eruption site, and geothermal pools in the southwest. Alternatively, complete the Ring Road over 10 days where you’ll visit glacial lagoons, whale-watching hot spots, black beaches, and ice caves.   

If you’re feeling adventurous, hire a 4×4 and head into the central highlands.

We have more suggestions in our Iceland itinerary guide.

USA CANYONS & RED ROCK

In our opinion, the best road trip in the USA is through the canyons and deserts of Utah and Arizona. Start in Las Vegas before heading across to the Grand Canyon.

Stop off at the mesmerizing mesas of Monument Valley, then continue on to Canyonlands which has some of the best hiking in the country. Just across the highway, Arches National Park has thin arches of rock that somehow defy gravity.

Looping back toward Vegas, pass the white sandstone cliffs of Capitol Reef, and the slot canyons of Escalante, before reaching Bryce National Park.

Finally, head to Zion Canyon to attempt the treacherous Angels’ Landing hike before returning back to Vegas.

ITALIAN DOLOMITES

Is there any better mountain scenery in the world than the Italian Dolomites?

Soaring spires of rock rise above swaying alpine meadows. Turquoise lakes reflect dark forests and jagged peaks.

The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and can easily be explored on a 7-day Dolomites road trip.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is your base for hiking the three towers of Tre Cime di Lavaredo and rowing on the waters of Lago di Braies.

At Val di Funes beautiful churches sit amongst the fields still using traditional farming techniques. While at Val Gardena cable cars rise to the highest alpine meadow in Europe and an other-worldly scene of jagged peaks.

NC 500

The NC500 loops around the coast of northern Scotland. Approximately 500 miles long, it starts and ends in Inverness. In between, the single-lane track traverses blind summits, 180-degree hairpins, and steep gradients.

The views are staggering with wild craggy mountains on one side and the surging sea on the other. There are castles to explore, white sand beaches, and photogenic highland cattle. Try a tipple from the local distillery and take a journey on the Harry Potter steam train.

The most dramatic section of the entire NC500 loop is in northern Assynt between Kylesku and Lochinver.

ATLAS MOUNTAINS

Morocco is a surprisingly excellent road trip destination.

After starting in Marrakech, follow the old camel train over the Atlas Mountains to find traditional Berber villages nestled into the foothills of spectacular snow-covered mountains. Dropping over the high passes, you’ll encounter deep gorges of red rock, green oasis and medieval walled towns.

Head deeper into the mountains to discover how villages survive with just basic essentials.

The end of the road is the mighty Sahara and an endless sweep of sand dunes.

Driving in Morocco is much easier than you may think. Navigation outside the cities is easy and the roads are always getting better.

After the earthquake in 2023, a Morocco road trip is a great way to support the recovery.

NORWAY’S FJORDLAND

Norway is renowned for its majestic fjords. These deep, narrow inlets of the sea, flanked by steep cliffs and mountains make a scenic destination for a road trip.

The roads are in excellent condition and there’s a great mix of medieval towns, modern art, and dramatic viewpoints.

Hike to ledges peering over narrow fjords, search for Musk Ox and Arctic Fox on wild plateaus, kayak through narrow fjords or hike across glaciers.

It’s one of our favourite road trip destinations. We completed a 10-day Norway road trip a few years ago and loved it so much we are heading back in 2024.  

GREAT OCEAN ROAD

The Great Ocean Road is one of the most awe-inspiring road trips in the world. Meandering along Australia’s southern coast, it showcases charming beach towns, lush rainforests, and dramatic cliffs.

The undisputed highlight is the Twelve Apostles, towering rock formations that rise tall against the backdrop of the Southern Ocean’s surging waves.

But there’s much more to enjoy than just the stunning coastal scenery. Hike to breathtaking waterfalls, spot indigenous wildlife (like koalas and kangaroos), explore the rainforest on an adventure tour, or take surfing lessons on some of Australia’s best waves.

The road trip only takes 3 days. But you could team it with a few nights in Melbourne or head up to Sydney for an excellent city break.