Road travel allows you to travel at your own pace, stopping only for the specific attractions that interest you. In addition, it is often during car trips to unfamiliar and never-visited places that the most authentic and memorable travel experiences can take place. Because they are a great way to explore a new destination, we have toured the world’s best countries for car travel.

1. Canada

Canada is a must for lovers of the great outdoors and unspoiled nature. The Trans-Canada Highway is probably the most famous road in the country, and since this stretch of road crosses all ten Canadian provinces, it is a recommended route for anyone visiting the country for the first time and wishing to discover as much as possible about this magnificent country.

This route takes you to St. John’s, Newfoundland, Gross Morne National Park in Quebec, and the turquoise Lake Louise in Banff National Park (above), where you can expect incredible encounters with a host of wildlife, including moose, elk and bears, in close proximity to the snow-covered Canadian Rockies.

 

2. Spain

The majestic mountain ranges, miles of heavenly beaches and a varied and vibrant cultural heritage make Spain one of the most popular and visited tourist destinations in the world. And since this great country has more than 16,500 km of highways, there is no better way to explore Spain than to rent a car and set off on an adventure.

Because the country is so vast, you will probably have to choose a region to focus your trip on. Andalusia, in the south of Spain, is one of the recommended itineraries for travel in Spain: Cadiz (below), Malaga, Granada, Sierra Nevada National Park and Seville.

 

3. USA

The United States is undoubtedly the largest country in the world for road travel, but it is also the Mecca for road lovers. Offering miles of vast, virtually endless highways, traversing classic American landscapes and cities of varying sizes and character, American roads were built for road travel.

From the iconic Route 66 connecting Chicago to California to the epic California State Route 1 (below) along the Pacific coast from San Diego to San Francisco, to the stunning Hana Highway on the island of Maui, the options for unforgettable road trips are as numerous as they are beautiful.

 

4. South Africa

Beautiful landscapes, a great diversity of ecosystems and well-maintained national roads make South Africa the best country on the continent for car travel.

Although the world-famous Garden Route, which runs along the southern coast of the country between breathtaking coastlines and spectacular mountain peaks, is considered one of the most beautiful roads on the planet, South Africa offers a number of other impressive routes that are certainly worth exploring by car.

The scenic route through the eastern province of Mpumalanga is one such option. This route is dotted with beautiful waterfalls, spectacular natural formations such as the Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Potholes (below) and even a viewpoint aptly named God’s Window. This is a stretch of highway that should definitely be added to the list of adventures not to be missed.

 

5. Ireland

Picturesque villages, picturesque countryside and imposing natural scenery make the Emerald Island an ideal destination for car trips. A recommended itinerary for people visiting Ireland for the first time is to drive west from Dublin towards the arty Galway and then back to the Irish capital along the island’s rugged coastline. Don’t forget to include the famous Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, the Dingle Peninsula (below) and the Ring of Kerry.

 

6. New Zealand

New Zealand is a country with so many incredible natural marvelous and singular attractions that this island nation is undoubtedly ideal for vehicle exploration. Both the North Island and the South Island offer a multitude of amazing sights that will please everyone.

If you wish to tour the North Island by car, don’t forget to include Cape Reinga, Lake Taupo and Tauranga in your trip. If you are travelling to the South Island, be sure to add the Southern Panoramic Road (above) to your road itinerary. This world-renowned road, considered one of the most beautiful in New Zealand, includes Cape Reinga, Lake Taupo and Tauranga. If you are travelling to the South Island, be sure to add the Southern Scenic Route (above) to your itinerary. This world-renowned route, considered one of the most beautiful in New Zealand, includes the adventure capital, Queenstown, and the beautiful Fiordland region, including the famous Milford Sound.

 

7. Iceland

Iceland is a country full of phenomenal natural beauties and attractions, almost from another world. Route 1, or Ring Road as it is commonly known, is a circular highway more than 1300 km long that circles the island. It passes through not only its largest urban areas, but also its main natural attractions, including the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, the beautiful Dyrhólaey Peninsula and the famous Jökulsárlón (above), a glacial lagoon filled with icebergs in the southeast of the country.