Trip inspiration
Road trip destinations
The best road trip destinations aren't just places to arrive — they're places where the drive is the holiday. The right one matches the time you've got, the season and the kind of trip you're after: a wild coastal loop, a string of mountain passes, somewhere dark enough to see the Milky Way, or a bucket-list route abroad. This guide rounds up our favourite road trip destinations, grouped by the kind of trip they make, with a ready-to-drive route attached to each so you can go from "that looks amazing" to a real plan. We've led with the UK and Ireland — most of these are a tank of fuel from home — then added a handful of international classics worth the flight.
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How to choose a road trip destination
Before you pick a place, it helps to be honest about three things: how many days you actually have (including the drive to the start), what you want the days to feel like, and the season. A four-day coastal loop and a fortnight crossing a continent are very different trips, and a mountain pass that's a joy in June can be shut by snow in November. Once you know roughly how long, what vibe and when, the right destination tends to choose itself — and the rest of this guide is sorted by vibe to make that easy.
Match the trip to your days
TimeA long weekend suits a tight loop close to home; a week or more opens up the big multi-region routes. Always count the drive to and from the start in your total, not just the route itself.
Pick a vibe, not just a place
MoodCoast, mountains, dark skies, food and history all make very different trips. Decide what you want the days to feel like first, and the destination follows.
Check the season
TimingHigh passes and remote single-track roads are best late spring to early autumn; coasts can be glorious and empty in the shoulder seasons. Avoid school holidays on honeypot routes if you can.
Coastal road trip destinations
Few things beat a road that hugs the sea. These are the coastal trips where the view from the windscreen is half the reason to go — pack for changeable weather and leave time for unplanned stops at every headland.
The North Coast 500, Scottish Highlands
5–7 days · ScotlandScotland's answer to a Route 66 — a 500-mile loop from Inverness around the wild north coast, past sea lochs, single-track passes and empty white-sand beaches. The definitive UK coastal road trip. Follow our North Coast 500 itinerary to plan the days.
The Northumberland coast, North East England
2–4 days · EnglandCastle after castle strung along huge empty beaches, with kippers, dark skies and the Farne Islands thrown in. A brilliant, underrated weekend coast. Our Northumberland Coastal Route maps the best of it.
The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
1–2 weeks · IrelandThe world's longest defined coastal route runs 2,500 km down Ireland's Atlantic edge — the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, the Burren and a pub session at the end of each day. Drive a stretch using our Wild Atlantic Way route.
The Pacific Coast Highway, California
1 week · USABig Sur's cliff-edge curves, sea otters at Monterey and a string of laid-back surf towns make California's Highway 1 the most cinematic coast drive there is. See our Pacific Coast Highway itinerary for the classic San Francisco–San Diego run.
The Oregon Coast, USA
4–6 days · USAQuieter and moodier than California — US-101 winds past sea stacks, towering dunes and misty old-growth forest from Astoria to the redwoods. Our Oregon Coast road trip covers the whole 101.
Mountains and dramatic driving roads
If the corners matter as much as the views, point the car at the high ground. These destinations are all about the pass, the hairpin and the moment the valley opens up below you.
The Lake District, Cumbria
3–5 days · EnglandWrynose and Hardknott — England's steepest passes — plus mirror-still lakes, drystone-walled valleys and proper mountain scenery within a few hours of most of the country. Our Lake District road trip links the best of it.
Durness to Ullapool, north-west Scotland
1–2 days · ScotlandOne of the most jaw-dropping stretches of road in Britain — Highland sea lochs, the dome of Suilven and Kylesku Bridge, all on near-empty single-track. Follow our Durness to Ullapool drive as a leg of a bigger trip.
Snake Pass, Peak District
1 day · EnglandA short, sinuous classic over the moors between Manchester and Sheffield — perfect for a day's drive when you can't get far. Our Snake Pass guide pairs it with the best nearby stops.
British Columbia to Alberta, Canada
1 week · CanadaThe Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise and Banff — turquoise lakes and glacier-hung peaks make this one of the great mountain drives on earth. See our British Columbia to Alberta route to plan it.
Wild, remote and dark-sky destinations
For the trips where the appeal is having the road to yourself — big skies, few cars, and at night some of the darkest skies in the country. Fuel up when you can and don't rely on a phone signal.
The North East 250, Scotland
4–6 days · ScotlandA quieter loop than the NC500 taking in the Cairngorms, the Moray Firth coast and Speyside's whisky distilleries — big mountains, big skies and far fewer cars. Plan it with our North East 250 route.
The Northumberland 250, North East England
3–5 days · EnglandHadrian's Wall, the empty Cheviot Hills, the coast's castles and the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park all on one loop — one of England's best stargazing trips. Our Northumberland 250 guide has the route.
The South West Coastal 300, Scotland
3–5 days · ScotlandScotland's forgotten corner — Galloway's dark-sky forest, rugged coast and rolling hills, with barely a tour bus in sight. Drive it with our South West Coastal 300 route.
Northern Spain, Atlantic coast
1–2 weeks · SpainGreen, mist-wrapped and a world away from the costas — the Picos de Europa, the Basque coast and pintxos bars make this a wonderfully under-the-radar drive. See our Northern Spain road trip to plan it.
Bucket-list destinations worth the flight
Some road trips justify booking a hire car at the other end of a flight. These are the big international classics — give them the time they deserve and a season that suits.
California, end to end
1–2 weeks · USABeyond the coast, California packs in Yosemite, the giant sequoias, the deserts and the wine country — arguably the most varied single state to drive anywhere. Our California road trip stitches the highlights together.
New England in the fall, USA
1 week · USATime it for late September into October and the six states blaze red and gold — covered bridges, white-steepled towns and the best leaf-peeping on the planet. Plan it with our New England road trip.
The US East Coast, Maine to Florida
2+ weeks · USAA grand north-to-south run from rocky New England shores through the big cities to the Carolinas and the Florida sun — a true epic. See our East Coast road trip for the route.
France, north to south
1–2 weeks · FranceEasy to reach from the UK and endlessly drivable — Loire châteaux, Alpine passes, Provence lavender and a long lunch every day. Our France road trip maps a classic crossing.
Road trip destinations FAQ
What is the best road trip destination?
It depends on your time and the vibe you're after, but for UK drivers the North Coast 500 in the Scottish Highlands is hard to beat for a week — a 500-mile loop of wild coast, mountain passes and empty beaches. For a weekend, the Northumberland coast or the Lake District deliver huge scenery without a long drive to the start. Abroad, California's Pacific Coast Highway and Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way are the standout classics.
What are good road trip destinations in the UK?
The UK punches well above its size for road trips. The North Coast 500, North East 250 and South West Coastal 300 are Scotland's big loops; the Lake District and Snake Pass offer the best mountain driving in England; and the Northumberland coast and Northumberland 250 combine castles, beaches and some of the darkest skies in the country. Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way is an easy add-on by ferry.
Where should I go on a road trip for the first time?
For a first road trip, pick a defined loop close to home so the drive to the start is short and you can't really get lost — something like the Lake District, the Northumberland coast or a single leg such as Durness to Ullapool. A two-to-four-day trip is plenty to learn the rhythm of driving, stopping and finding somewhere to stay without overcommitting.
What is the best time of year for a road trip?
Late spring to early autumn (roughly May to September) suits most UK and European routes, with the longest days and the best chance of open mountain passes. The shoulder seasons of late spring and early autumn are often the sweet spot — quieter roads, cheaper stays and good light. Some destinations have a clear best season of their own: New England peaks for autumn colour in October, while dark-sky trips are best in the longer nights of autumn and winter.
How do you plan a road trip with multiple destinations?
Start by listing the places you don't want to miss, then sketch a sensible order so you're not doubling back. Work out a realistic daily driving distance — three to four hours of driving a day leaves time to actually enjoy the stops — and group your stops into days. A planner like RoadTripPlanner lets you map every stop, drag them into days and export a printable itinerary, so the whole route lives in one place instead of a dozen browser tabs.
What are the best international road trip destinations?
If you're willing to fly, California's Pacific Coast Highway, the wider California state loop, New England in the fall and the US East Coast are the headline North American trips, while British Columbia to Alberta delivers the Canadian Rockies. Closer to home, northern Spain's Atlantic coast and a north-to-south run through France are superb and easy to reach from the UK.