What are the most scenic roads in the world?

Have you ever dreamed of embarking on a road trip that transcends the ordinary? Beyond the monotonous commutes and routine highways lies a realm of breathtaking beauty, daring adventure, and awe-inspiring landscapes – these are the world's most scenic drives.

The world's most scenic drives

While countless roads serve as mere conduits from Point X to Point Y, the ones chosen by the daring travelers of dangerousroads.org are something entirely different. Fasten your seatbelt because you're in for a spectacular ride.

As you start contemplating your next vacation or journey, let your imagination roam across this selection of the planet's most extraordinary roads. From heart-pounding coastal routes to spine-tingling mountain passes, these ribbons of road artfully navigate through some of Earth's most exquisite landscapes, leaving indelible images in your rear-view mirror. It's not just about the destination; sometimes, the journey itself is an unforgettable experience.

We've combed the globe to bring you a collection of the most beautiful, intriguing, and off-the-beaten-path road trips. Each road tells its own story, beckoning adventurers with promises of unique encounters and unforgettable moments.

Strada della Forra, Italy

This narrow Italian road burrows its way through the mountain in the ravine formed by the river Brasa. Unforgettable experience however if you are not experienced driver this might become very unpleasant and stressful experience.

 

Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway

With a length of 8274 meters (5,1 miles), is part of Norwegian national road 64 (Rv 64). It’s a very popular tourist attraction in the country. Driving along the Atlantic Road is like teetering on the edge of the sea.

 

Passo dello Stelvio, Italy

Particularly challenging to drive due to the presence of 48 hairpin bends, with the road becoming exceedingly narrow at some points, and some very steep inclines, the road climbs up to 2.757 m (9,045 feet).

 

Combe Laval, France

Frequently recognized as the most magnificent road in the French Alps, this road through Combe Laval was constructed between 1861 and 1898 and originally served for the transportation of timber from the Forêt de Lente to St-Jean-en-Royans (France).

 

Gorges du Dadès, Morocco

Located in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Gorges du Dadès is a gorge carved out by the Dadès River. The area is known for the stunning rock formation and the kasbahs along the gorge.

 

Transfagarasan, Romania

The Transfăgărăşan is the most dramatic and second-highest paved road in Romania. Built as a strategic military route, the 90 km of twists and turns run north to south across the tallest sections of the Southern Carpathians.

 

ER101 Antiga, Portugal

It is the oldest and most beautiful road of the island. Due to Madeira' s dramatic coast line, the road has many curves, narrow passages and steep climbs and descents. It's rugged, slow and old. 

 

Overseas Highway, USA

The Overseas Highway is where the visitors from Florida's mainland can cross countless coral and limestone islets through that special world of the Florida Keys.

 

Hana Highway, USA

Located in Maui, the Hana Highway is reputed to have over 600 curves and 54 bridges many of them single lane crossings. 

 

Million Dollar Highway, USA

This is one of the most beloved roads in the country. This classic stretch of two-lane blacktop snakes its way through the San Juan Mountains, the wildest and most rugged peaks in the Rockies.

 

Bealach-na-ba, Scotland

Similar to the great mountain passes in the Alps, with very tight hairpin bends which switch back and forth up the hillside, with gradients approaching 20%. 

 

Going-to-the-sun Road, USA

Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most amazing highlights of Glacier National Park. This engineering marvel is the only road that crosses the park, going over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. 

 

Great Alpine Road, Australia

The Great Alpine Road runs for 303 km, winding through mountains, valleys and forests, and past rivers, vineyards and farms. 

 

Carretera de Sa Calobra, Spain

Imagine dropping a long piece of wet spaghetti on the floor. The pattern it makes looks something like what the road looks. The road, designed by the Spanish engineer Antonio Parietti, was built in 1932 manually, without the help of any machine. 

 

Col du Chaussy, France

Through a series of 17 tight corners, drivers will beat a vertical drop of 400 meters in just 3 miles away. The mountain is exactly where you do not want your brakes fail. Before leaving, check the brake fluid level and condition of your pads. 

 

Route de Presles, France

It’s a succession of open tunnels and passages, carved directly into the rock, resulting low and narrow lanes, blind corners and potential landslides. 

 

Col de Turini, France

With 34 tight hairpins to challenge you and jaw-dropping scenery, the Col de Turini is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and coolest motorcycling roads in Europe. 

 

Cabot Trail, Canada

The Cabot Trail is a 3-5 day experience. It's more than a magnificent world-renowned drive – it is an experience…One to delight in…one to be savoured.

 

Great Ocean Road, Australia

The Australian Great Ocean Road (B100) is one of the most incredible coastal drives in the world. It’s an outstanding coastal journey and one of the Australia’s most famous road-touring routes, with awe-inspiring limestone cliffs and incredible rock formations. 

 

Icefields Parkway, Canada

The Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. It’s one of the most beautiful journeys on the planet. It’s rated as one of the top drives in the world, going through big mountains, glaciers, deep blue lakes, numerous hikes. It has it all. 

 

Chapman's Peak Drive, South Africa

Running from Noordhoek to Hout Bay, the twisting 9km drive has 114 curves and gives you spectacular 180° views of the Atlantic coastline. It’s located at the south-western tip of South Africa. 

 

Suhua Highway, Taiwan

The Suhua Highway is one of the most scenic drives in Asia. The road hugs the cliffs of Taiwan's east coast, from Su'ao to Hualian. With a portion built alongside very steep cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean, it is a dangerous yet scenic drive.

 

Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

Causeway Coastal Route is an epic tour of the Northern Ireland coast. Known as ‘one of the world’s great road journeys’ the route follows a majestic coastal road starting in Belfast and ending in Derry~Londonderry.

 

Ring Road, Iceland

Route 1, commonly known as Ring Road, is 830 miles of adventure and surprises. A road trip like no other, running the entire country and connecting the most populous parts, including Reykjavík, the capital of the country. It’s the most travelled route around Iceland. Driving the Ring Road is a unique experience. The total length of the road is 1,332 kilometres (828 mi). 

 

Ruta CH-265, Chile

Located in the Chilean Patagonia, the Ruta CH-265 follows the shores of the General Carrera Lake. Unpredictable, grueling, unsafe and tough, but yet captivating, charming and strikingly beautiful! The road is 124 km long. The surface of the road includes excessive dirt, stone and sand. This route has some parts kind a like a roller coaster.

 

Over-Water Highway, China

Located in central China, the Over-Water Highway links XingshangCounty and the ZhaojunBridge in Hubei province. In order to avoid cutting through the woods, about 4.4 kilometers of the 10.9-kilometer highway has been constructed above a river that runs through picturesque mountains. Works began in 2013 and finished in 2015. The new road shows that drivers are literally traveling over water as the motorway is built in the middle of a river valley. The road is built on top of a bridge that follows the curve of the river valley.

 

Port Jackson Road, New Zealand

Port Jackson Road is a pretty rugged road located in the north of the CoromandelPeninsula in the North Island of New Zealand. The road is 25.7 km long along the coast, with stunning coastal views.  On one side of the drive you will enjoy the extensive hilly surrounding and on the other side you will have awesome views of the rough, wild ocean. During the Christmas holiday season it is recommended that beginner riders avoid this road.

 

Ruta de los Volcanes, Spain

Located within the Timanfaya National Park in the Canary Islands, Ruta de los Volcanes is an extraordinary and unforgettable journey, where you will enjoy awe-inspiring views over volcanic cones, look down into craters, see dunes of picón or lapilli and have a glance into lava tubes.

 

Mount Barrow Road, Tasmania

Mount Barrow Road, is a 14km long, unsealed spur route. The road to the summit is periodically closed in winter due to snow, with the snow line located at around 1.100 metres (3,609 ft) metres.

 

Glacier Point Road, USA

Located in Mariposa County, in the U.S. state of California, the Glacier Pointis a famed overlook known for sweeping, top-down views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra. The road is open to cars approximately late May through October or November, depending on conditions. 

 

Forgotten World Highway, New Zealand

This highly memorable driving journey is remote and mysterious to the extreme. This scenic route winds over four mountain saddles, alongside the spectacular Tangarakau Gorge and passes through the 220-metre-long, single lane, Moki tunnel.