People love using the famous phrase, “It’s the journey, not the destination.” There are millions of miles of roads worldwide, and some provide incredible views of the surrounding landscape. Sometimes, the roads themselves are a work of art.
We’ve come up with the ultimate list of the world’s most beautiful roads to prove that sometimes the journey is much more captivating than the destination. These roads range from oceanside cruises in Hawaii to treacherous hairpin turns in the Swiss Alps.
01. The Valley Of Fire Road In Nevada Passes Through Beautiful Red Sandstone Formations That Look On Fire When Reflecting The Sun.
Jeff Banke/Shutterstock
02. The Atlantic Road In Norway Stretches Across Seven Bridges And Offers A Beautiful View Of The Atlantic Ocean. If You Drive In Calmer Weather, You Might See Whales And Seals.
Ivan Tsvetkov/Shutterstock
03. India’s Rohtang Pass Offers A Spectacular View Of Glaciers, Peaks, And Rivers. Be Warned — It’s Also Known For Its Massive Landslides.
Iryna Rasko/Shutterstock
04. Interstate 70, Which Runs Through Utah, Is Most Beautiful In Winter, Especially When It Winds Through The Snow-Covered Spotted Wolf Canyon.
Colin D. Young/Shutterstockk
05. The Karakorum Highway Was Bulldozed In The 1960s And ’70s And Now Connects Pakistan And China.
Yongyut Kumsri/Shutterstock
06. The Milford Road In New Zealand Winds For 144 Miles Through Fiordland National Park, In The Heart Of The Southern Alps. It Also Connects To Milford Sound, One Of The Filming Locations For The “Lord Of The Rings” Trilogy.
Yongyut Kumsri/Shutterstock
07. The Blue Ridge Parkway Runs From North Carolina To Virginia And Is Known For Its Views Of Rugged Mountains And The Appalachian Highlands.
Chee. hong /Flicker
08. Chapman’s Peak Drive In South Africa Is About Five Miles Long With 114 Curves And Offers Stunning 180-Degree Mountain And Sea Views.
MarkVanDykePhotography/Shutterstock
09. Along Australia’s Beautiful Great Ocean Road, You Can Find The Famous Limestone Stacks Called The Twelve Apostles, Whale Lookouts, Rain Forests, And Beautiful National Parks.
Matej Hudovernik/Shutterstock
10. Col De l’Iseran In France Is The Highest Paved Road In The Alps. This Scenic Route Is Open Only In The Summer And Has Been Used Several Times In The Tour De France.
Dmitriy Komarov/Shutterstock
11. The North Yungas Road In Bolivia Is Beautiful But Also Known As The World’s Most Dangerous Road Because Of Its Single Lanes, Tight Turns, And Steep Drop-Offs.
Soumei Baba/Flickr
12. Hana Highway In Hawaii Travels Along Maui’s Coastline With 620 Sharp Turns And 59 Bridges. You’ll Experience A Variety Of Views, Including Waterfalls, Rainforests, And, Of Course, The Ocean.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
13. Ruta 40 Stretches Over 3,000 Miles From Argentina’s Northern Border To Its Southern Tip. It Crosses 18 Rivers And Passes 20 National Parks, Making It A Perfect Scenic Drive.
Ted/Flickr
14. The Trollstigen Road In Norway Means “Troll Ladder,” And That Name Is Very Fitting For This Extremely Narrow And Steep Winding Road. If You Reach The Top, You’ll Be Rewarded With Views Of The Stigfossen Waterfall, A 1,050-Foot Waterfall That Tumbles Over The Mountains.
Wybren/Flickr
15. Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road In Abu Dhabi Leads To Jebel Hafeet Mountain, The Second-Tallest Mountain In The United Arab Emirates—The Road Winds Through The Craggy Limestone, Making Up The Mountain Until It Reaches The Summit. Try To Take This Drive In The Late Afternoon To Catch The Sunset From The Top Of The Mountain.
Awiemuc/Flickr
16. The Overseas Highway In Florida Connects Mainland Florida To The Florida Keys, Consisting Of 42 Overseas Bridges Across 113 Miles. You’ll Feel Like You’re Driving On The Surface Of The Ocean. Try To Catch A Sunrise Or A Sunset, As The Sun Casts A Beautiful Reflection On The Water.
Nepenthes/Wikimedia Commons
17. The Long, Remote A82 Road In Glencoe, Scotland, Brings You Breathtaking Scenic Spaces And Beautiful Sights Like The Rannoch Moor Bridge.
Sathish S/Flickr
18. Cabot Trail In Nova Scotia Is One Of The Most Scenic Drives In Canada, Winding Around The More Significant Part Of Cape Breton Island And Offering Views Of The Woods And The Ocean. Check The Water Occasionally — You Might Spot A Pod Of Whales Swimming Past.
Targn Pleiades/Shutterstock
19. Scenic Byway 163 Stretches From The Arizona Border Through Monument Valley In Utah. During The 45-Mile Drive, You Can Admire The Beautiful Red Rocks And Desert.
Natalia Bratslavasky/Shutterstock
20. The Oberalp Pass In Switzerland Is A Mountain Road In The Swiss Alps 6,706 Feet Above Sea Level. The Road Is Only Open During The Summer, But You Can Take A Train Ride Across The Pass In The Winter.
Al King/Flickr
Like what you’re reading? Subscribe to our top stories.
Discussion about this post