The Top 5 Road Trip Destinations

Whether you drive a car, a motorbike or a motorhome, there is nothing better than hitting the open road to explore some of the most incredible places on earth, and there are a few road trips that every travelling enthusiast must experience in their lifetime.

If you are creating your road trip bucket list and cannot decide where to go first, let someone else do the hard work for you with this destination decision maker. It has been designed by Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays, road trip experts and experienced adventurers.

Whether you love the feeling of driving down long and winding roads, have a passion for nature or are simply looking for a new kind of adventure, these five trips should be making their way onto your road trip bucket list.

Avenida 9 de Julio – Argentina

Argentina may not be the first country you’d think of for an incredible road trip, but trust me: it offers a sensational road trip experience that you will never forget. The country has everything you’d expect of South America, with a unique culture alongside amazing rainforests and scenery. In fact, there is so much to take in in Argentina that you’ll want to revisit it over and over again to try and see it all.

Most road trips through Argentina will start in the capital, Buenos Aires, which happens to boast the world record for the world’s widest road, the Avenida 9 de Julio. If you plan your itinerary well, you can work your way around the country before finishing your trip near Iguazú Falls in the depths of the jungle. Whilst you’ll see plenty of incredible scenery along the way, you may also want to visit Mendoza, the home of Malbec wine, the Andes or one of the country’s many national parks.

If you’ve never visited Argentina before, you may be surprised to hear that you can find elephant seals and penguins in the same country as big cats including ocelots and cougars. Some of this diverse wildlife is unique to South America and makes Argentina a must-see road trip destination for those who want to witness all kinds of wildlife in their natural habitat amongst dazzling scenery. You may even be lucky enough to spot the national animal, a bird called the rufous hornero.

Islands of Adventure – New Zealand

New Zealand may be a relatively small country, but it offers an unforgettable road trip, especially if you are willing to island-hop and experience all four of the main islands. It offers explorers the chance to meet native Maori tribesmen, see enormous volcanos and take part in water sports. The physical make-up of this amazing country means you can experience anything from calming boat trips to extreme white-water rafting, with some of the best facilities and trainers available in the world today.

Culture fanatics will find that the history of the Maori is well presented; you can even take in some of their ancient carvings over the course of your road trip. Though New Zealand is a modern country with contemporary cities, it is the incredible history and rich heritage that will have you hopping on ferries and crossing bridges from place to place to witness everything it has to offer.

Trans-Canada Highway – Canada

Canada has a well-earned reputation as the USA’s friendly northern neighbour. Its outgoing people and awe-inspiring scenery combine to ensure that it offers an equally incredible but entirely different road trip experience to those available further south. Of course, the first thing that people think of when it comes to Canada is the breath-taking Niagara Falls, where the crashing water will leave you astounded by the immense power of nature, but there is so much more to the country.

An unforgettable road trip is on offer for adventurers, who can take the time to explore one of the Great Lakes, learn about the history of the First People or travel along the Trans-Canada Highway. This is the longest road in Canada and takes you through all ten provinces, crossing the entire country (and also the continent of North America).

If you want a road trip that focuses on nature at its very best, Canada should be on your bucket list for sure. When you plan your trip, ensure you take some time to visit the Rocky Mountains. You’ll also have a chance to check out some amazing national parks, and a highlight of the trip is likely to be a close encounter with a moose – or, if you know where to look, a gigantic grizzly bear!

Southern African Safari – Africa

There are few places on earth that can compete with Africa when it comes to getting back to nature and seeing wildlife at its very best. The Serengeti Plains and The Kruger National Park are perhaps the two most famous nature reserves in the world; both are in Africa, and neither should be missed off your bucket list. We’d highly recommend taking in the Kruger if you’re interested in seeing rare rhinos in their natural surroundings or elephants and lions, which also freely roam the park. 

The wildlife will provide you with plenty of photo opportunities, with the best way to witness them being a safari. Alternatively, ask your guides as there are often specially designed viewing spots at popular watering holes that ensure visitors do not disrupt the animals. If capturing phenomenal moments on film is your passion, one of the most amazing moments of your life could be an action shot of a dolphin leaping out of the water and through the air. There are just a few places you can do this in Africa; one option would be to go on a boat tour at Swakopmund as part of your adventure.

It isn’t just nature on offer in Africa, though; you can experience a little piece of life as a Zulu if you spend the night in a beehive hut in Shakaland. This will provide you with an insight into how these people live their lives and the culture they nurture. The locals in each area often have deeply different cultures and beliefs, but one thing you will realise is how many Africans feel connected to one another. This feeling, almost like being part of a continent-wide family, is unknown in other parts of the world. Whilst it certainly feels alien to many Europeans, it’s a beautiful part of the African experience and is something you need to see for yourself as part of your bucket list. 

Pan-American Highway – The Americas

North America has a lot to offer, and one way to go from top to bottom is to drive along the Pan-American Highway, which is the world’s longest road at 48,000km. It would take you 36 days, driving 24 hours a day, to drive from Alaska all the way down to Ushuaia in Argentina, with only a short break on the entire journey due to the Darién Gap, which is a tiny part of the original section in Panama. 

Whilst the original road simply ran through Panama, the largest country on the new route is the USA. The USA has so much to offer motorists, so careful planning is key to ensuring that you have the best experience possible. 

A reason why perhaps many Americans don’t have passports is that you can see so much variety and experience so many cultures without ever having to leave the country. Visiting Mount Rushmore is a must to gain a sense of the country’s history and experience the pride the USA takes in building and maintaining the ideal of the American dream.

There are so many amazing places to explore on this earth and there is no better way to do so than setting off on the open road and embarking on the road trip of a lifetime. These five incredible destinations need to be on your bucket list – but of course there are many more that we just couldn’t fit into our shortlist. This shortlist outlines some of the world’s most incredible bucket list destinations and we hope you’ll be looking through it again for inspiration about where to go on your next road trip.