A good road trip itinerary does more than list sights. It tells you how long each drive really takes, where to sleep so the next day isn’t a slog, and which famous stops are worth skipping. The best ones come from bloggers who have driven the route themselves and come back with honest notes.
Here are seven classic road trips on four continents, each paired with a blogger’s itinerary I’d actually use to plan the drive. The photos belong to the creators credited beneath them, and every entry links to the full original guide.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Road conditions, closures and park rules change by season. Always check the official road and park sites before you set off.
1. Iceland’s Ring Road with Earth Trekkers
Julie at Earth Trekkers lays out a 7 to 10 day loop around Iceland’s Ring Road, which she gives as 1,332 km (828 miles). Each day lists the driving distance and time, so you can see at a glance where the long days are. She recommends driving clockwise and saving the south coast for last, so the scenery keeps getting better as the trip goes on.
What I value most is the honesty. She explains how to shorten the route to 7 days, warns about the dangerous sneaker waves at Reynisfjara, and calls one heavily promoted stop the most overrated attraction in Iceland. If you’re going in winter, read our guide to driving in Iceland in February too, because conditions are very different from summer.
Photo: Tobi &Chris / Pexels (illustrative). Read The Perfect 7 to 10 Day Iceland Ring Road Itinerary on Earth Trekkers
2. Utah’s Mighty 5 with Bearfoot Theory
Bearfoot Theory’s nine-day route links Utah’s five national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. It starts with the big hikes in Zion, including Angel’s Landing and the Narrows, and includes a bonus option for Escalante.
The planning sections are what make it worth bookmarking. It covers the best seasons to go (summer heat is a real factor here), where to start and end, and why a one-way car rental can save you a long backtrack.
Read the 9-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip on Bearfoot Theory
3. Route 66 with Between England and Everywhere
Route 66 is the road trip most people dream about and fewest plan properly. This 16-day itinerary from Chicago to California answers the first question everyone asks, which is how long the drive actually takes, and it covers a detail that catches people out: the time zone changes along the way.
Sixteen days might sound slow, but the whole point of Route 66 is the small towns and roadside stops between the big cities. Rushing it in a week means spending most of your time on the interstate.
Read the 16-Day Route 66 Itinerary on Between England and Everywhere
4. California’s Pacific Coast Highway with Unseen Beaches
Unseen Beaches drives the PCH from San Diego to San Francisco over eight days. The route takes in Malibu’s beaches, Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Hearst Castle, and the big Big Sur stops including Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls.
Two sections set it apart from the usual PCH listicle: car prep tips they say they “learned the hard way,” and a total cost breakdown. Real numbers from a real trip are more useful than any estimate.
Read the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip on Unseen Beaches
5. Scotland’s North Coast 500 with Love from Scotland
The NC500 loops around the far north of the Scottish Highlands, and Love from Scotland’s 7-day itinerary is written by someone who clearly knows the region. Each day comes with suggested places to stay, and day four gives you a choice between Cape Wrath by ferry and the walk to Sandwood Bay.
Many stretches of this route are single-track roads with passing places, and you drive on the left. If that’s new to you, our guide to driving on the left in Ireland covers the same skills, and our driving abroad guide explains permits and rental rules.
Read The North Coast 500: A 7-Day Itinerary on Love from Scotland
6. Australia’s Great Ocean Road with Salt and Charcoal
Salt and Charcoal’s three-day plan runs from Melbourne to Apollo Bay via Torquay, then on to Port Campbell, then back via London Bridge and the Grotto. Each day lists the distance and driving time, which helps on a coast road where the stops are what take up your day.
It suits first-timers who would rather not squeeze the coast into a single rushed day trip from Melbourne. It also includes a free downloadable map, camping notes and the best time of year to go.
Read the 3-Day Great Ocean Road Itinerary on Salt and Charcoal
7. Fifteen more routes with Finding the Universe
For the bigger picture, Laurence and Vanessa at Finding the Universe rank their 15 favorite road trips in the world. The list includes Canada’s Icefields Parkway, New Zealand’s West Coast and Milford Sound, South Africa’s Garden Route, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road and Argentina’s Ruta 40.
Use it to pick your next drive, then find a detailed day-by-day guide like the ones above. Their section on how they plan a road trip makes a sensible point: book popular routes well ahead, and sort out the car, the rules and the maps before you go.
Read Best Road Trips in the World on Finding the Universe
Before any road trip abroad
Each of these routes is worth planning properly. Check whether the country needs an International Driving Permit as well as your license, and if you’re driving in the Americas, my guide to road tripping safely in Mexico covers routes, checkpoints and why to avoid driving after dark.
- Check whether you need an International Driving Permit. Some countries require one alongside your license.
- Read the rental terms. Look for insurance excess, one-way fees, and restrictions on gravel or unpaved roads.
- Plan realistic daily distances. Every itinerary above shows driving times. Mountain and coast roads take longer than the map suggests.
- Know the local rules. Speed limits, headlight rules and required in-car equipment differ by country. Your government’s travel advice page for the country usually has a section on road travel.
Whichever route you pick, build in one spare day. Weather, roadworks and the stop you didn’t want to leave are what usually break a road trip schedule.
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