Drivers AtlasThe world's best roads

Journeys

Famous road trips, planned properly

The drives people ask about most, with the numbers that actually matter. How far it is direct, how far the scenic version runs, how many days it really takes and what you will spend on tolls before you have booked a single hotel.

Every journey lists the great roads worth threading in, sensible overnight stops and a way into the planner if you want to change the shape of it.

The list

Pick a journey

United Kingdom to Italy

London to Lake Garda

The classic run south from England to the Italian lakes, taken the long way through the Alps rather than straight down the autoroute.

1680 km · 1043.9 mi · 4 days

United Kingdom to Italy

London to The Dolomites

The best pass driving in Europe sits at the end of this one, reached through Germany and Austria rather than Switzerland.

1720 km · 1068.8 mi · 4 days

United Kingdom to Monaco

London to Monaco

Straight down France and into the Alpes Maritimes, with the Route Napoléon and Col de Turini as the finale.

1520 km · 944.5 mi · 3 days

United Kingdom to United Kingdom

London to The Scottish Highlands

No ferries, no vignettes, and some of the best single track driving in Europe waiting at the end of the A9.

1050 km · 652.4 mi · 2 days

Germany to Italy

Munich to Lake Como

A short journey with an outrageous amount of great road packed into it, including the Stelvio if the season allows.

690 km · 428.7 mi · 2 days

Italy to Italy

Milan to The Amalfi Coast

The length of Italy, from the industrial north to the tightest coast road in the country.

980 km · 608.9 mi · 3 days

Switzerland to France

Geneva to Nice

The Route des Grandes Alpes, sea to lake, and arguably the finest continuous stretch of pass driving anywhere.

700 km · 435 mi · 3 days

United Kingdom to United Kingdom

Edinburgh to The North Coast 500

Two and a half hours to the start line at Inverness, then the full 830 km loop around the top of Scotland.

1080 km · 671.1 mi · 6 days

Netherlands to Germany

Amsterdam to The Black Forest

Down the Rhine and into the Schwarzwald, with the Nürburgring an easy detour on the way.

780 km · 484.7 mi · 2 days

Spain to Spain

Barcelona to The Picos de Europa

Across northern Spain to the mountains most drivers overlook, via the Pyrenees if you have the time.

1010 km · 627.6 mi · 3 days

Norway to Norway

Oslo to The Atlantic Road

Fjords, ferries and the Trollstigen hairpins, finishing on the causeway that hops between islands into the Atlantic.

780 km · 484.7 mi · 3 days

United States to United States

Los Angeles to San Francisco

Highway 1 through Big Sur, the coast drive every other coast drive gets compared with.

750 km · 466 mi · 2 days

United States to United States

Washington DC to Asheville

Skyline Drive into the Blue Ridge Parkway, 1000 km of ridge top tarmac with no lorries on it.

1010 km · 627.6 mi · 4 days

United States to United States

Nashville to The Great Smoky Mountains

Country music to 318 curves in 11 miles, taking in the Cherohala Skyway on the way.

520 km · 323.1 mi · 3 days

United States to United States

Denver to Moab

Over the Rockies on Independence Pass, down the San Juan Skyway, then out into red rock country.

900 km · 559.2 mi · 4 days

United States to United States

Las Vegas to The Grand Canyon

Sandstone, switchbacks and a tunnel with windows cut in the rock, on the long way to the North Rim.

720 km · 447.4 mi · 3 days

United States to United States

San Francisco to Portland

Redwoods, the whole Oregon coast and the Columbia Gorge to finish, on the quiet half of the west coast.

1250 km · 776.7 mi · 4 days

United States to United States

Seattle to Glacier National Park

The North Cascades Highway east, then the shelf road under the hanging valleys of Glacier.

1080 km · 671.1 mi · 3 days

United States to United States

New York to Acadia National Park

New England at its best, the Kancamagus Highway, Mount Washington and a granite coast at the end.

1050 km · 652.4 mi · 4 days

United States to United States

Miami to Key West

Forty two bridges, one road and turquoise water on both sides for the last hundred miles.

300 km · 186.4 mi · 2 days

United States to United States

Chicago to Los Angeles

Route 66 end to end, with the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Angeles Crest folded into the last stretch.

3940 km · 2448.2 mi · 10 days