It’s 6:30am on a Monday morning and you’re climbing into your car, ready to battle the traffic in order to get to work. I hate driving, you think, and then a thought occurs. You don’t hate driving; you just hate driving to work. You love driving – in fact, you want to go on a road trip for this year’s holiday.
Does this sound like you? Every year many people decide to take a road trip, for all kinds of reasons. They might choose to drive a specific route in their own country, drive across the continent, or travel to another country and rent a car on arrival. In many places, driving is an incredibly convenient way to get round, and allows you a lot of freedom in your travel plans.
Get ready before you go
Grab some friends, family and loved ones, shout ‘ROAD TRIP!’, and get planning where to go this summer. Think about what you want to see, how much time you have, how much money you want to spend, how far you want to travel, who you’re travelling with, etc.
Always make sure that you are legally able to drive in the country that you plan to visit. Check the requirements for renting a car, as the rules can vary. Ensure that you have all the necessary equipment in your car, such as a warning triangle or a fire extinguisher.
There are a few different options for how you go about your road trip. You can go it alone by taking your own car with you, or renting a car while you are there, and planning your own route and stops. If you’d rather be shown the way, you can join on to a driving tour in your preferred country or region. Try searching the internet or speaking to a travel agent to find out more about good driving tours.
If you would like to travel freely without worrying about having to book into hotels and guesthouses, you should look into buying or hiring a motor home/RV, or travel on a route where you are likely to find plenty of camping sites where you can pitch your tent for the night.
An important thing to consider before planning a road trip is how long you want to be on the road for. Some trips will require you to spend two weeks or more to get the full impact, while others can be completed in a few days. If you are running on a tight schedule, make sure you travel on a route that will allow you to easily turn back.
Best places to go
The USA is like heaven for any road trip enthusiasts. As a large country with a built up road system, including many stretches of famed open road, it offers a plethora of opportunities for you to drive to your heart’s content. The USA’s neighbour, Canada, also has many wonderful roads to cruise along.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile road that runs through Virginia and North Carolina. There is a lot to see and do on this road trip, whether you drive the entirety of the road or just part of it.
America’s southern states are also a prime destination for road trippers. A classic Deep South tour might include Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans. Along the way you could explore national parks, enjoy blues and BBQ, and learn about the history of the South.
A driving trip in the Canadian Rockies is an exciting and liberating experience. It is best to go during summer and autumn, as making the trip in the winter months will be far more difficult, stressful and potentially dangerous.
South and Central America also have many great routes for a driving holiday, filled with fantastic scenery and rich culture.
Europe is known for its fantastic driving routes. The United Kingdom has a well-developed road system, and is a great place to drive. A trip to the Alps is a great option for a road trip, especially if you want to combine driving with another hobby, such as skiing. Driving through magnificent mountain passes will allow you to marvel at the beauty of nature.
Heading further north, you might want to Scotland, particularly the Highlands. You could plan your road trip around whisky distilleries, ancient castles, or the local wildlife. Scotland is the ideal destination for history enthusiasts. Scotland has a fantastic reputation in recent years as a foodie’s paradise, so you could drive around trying to find the best restaurants available.
Heading even further north, if you feel like having a new experience, head to Scandinavia and drive on the Arctic Highway in Norway. This road stretches for 1500km, all the way to the Russian border. This road is more modern and well-developed than you might anticipate for such a remote area, meaning that while driving this road will of course be a challenge, it is not as arduous as it could be.
A transcontinental road trip is bound to excite many travellers. The easiest way to drive from Europe to Asia is to drive from Bulgaria or Greece to Turkey. Exploring the entire Asian continent from there would be tricky, but it is relatively simple to drive across to the Asian side of Turkey to experience a different place. If you are already in Asia then there are many exciting routes to take that will give you a great driving experience and some beautiful scenery.
A great option for a stunning Japanese road trip is on the island of Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Scenic Byway encompasses many beautiful areas of the island, and the best tourist attractions. On these routes you will see volcanoes, national parks, mountains, farms, stunning scenery, and towns and cities with a vibrant culture.
A journey through the Tibetan Highlands is high on the list of many travellers wishing to explore Asia by road. Along the way you will observe mountain passes, valleys, Buddhist monasteries and nunneries, farms, glaciers, beautiful countryside, and shrines. This trip is likely to take quite a long time, so this is likely to be a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip.
While Africa may not be the first continent that comes to mind if you are planning a road trip, it is a possibility for those with an adventurous streak who are willing to leave some of their creature comforts at home. An overland trip in Africa is unlikely to be as simple as simply turning up and hiring a car, and may take some more careful planning and effort. There are many tour companies who could help you plan a journey. If you are intent on planning your own trip, make sure to seek advice about your trip.
The vast and beautiful country that is Australia provides many opportunities to have a driving holiday. How could you resist scenic routes with names like the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, The Great Ocean Road, and the Pacific Coast?
Driving in the Australian Outback is not recommended, especially for casual tourists. You should plan a road trip that does not require going into the Outback, or plan incredibly carefully if you do plan on driving there. Keep track of the distance and the temperature, and make sure you have enough food and water in the car, as well as medical supplies, as you are likely to be far away from a hospital. Before you set off, find out if anyone else is driving the same way as you, and consider driving in convoy with them to increase safety.
Good to know safety tips
Always be aware of what the local driving laws are, and what the laws are regarding passing between countries. Be vigilant and respectful while crossing members, and make sure that you have any appropriate documents – whether identification, insurance details, or visas – to hand at all times.
Think about what type of road you are used to driving on, and what type of driving you are used to doing. Don’t put yourself or others in danger by attempting to drive all the way across an unfamiliar country when you’ve only ever driven on short trips. If you are not the most confident driver, travel with a few other people who can drive so that you can split the responsibility.
Especially if you are heading to a remote area, or an area where the weather is unpredictable, make sure that you have taken all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and facilitate rescue should the worst happen. Trips to remote regions will require more rigorous planning than a casual cruise in a well-developed area.
If you stay safe, you may find that an epic road trip is one of the best experiences of your life, and you certainly won’t regret your decision.
Cover photo: tumblr.com
Road trips are the absolute best! Great list. I also love driving highway 1 from L.A. to Portland – amazing trip along the Pacific. While short, during autumn the drive across the bottom of Vermont via Route 9 is also incredible.