Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) -- Best American Coastal Drive
Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles is the standard by which American scenic drives are measured. The route offers relentless ocean views, dramatic cliff edges, and stops including Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and San Simeon. Elephant seal colonies, sea otter sightings, and redwood forest detours add natural interest beyond the coastal panorama. The drive is best done southbound to keep the Pacific on your side. Spring and fall avoid peak summer crowds and keep prices reasonable at the route's many boutique hotels and campgrounds.
Check price on Amazon →Top road trips recognized by Conde Nast Traveler for scenery, drive quality, and destination payoff. From Pacific Coast Highway to the Scottish Highlands.
A great road trip is defined by the quality of what you see out the window as much as the destination waiting at the end. Conde Nast Traveler has consistently ranked certain routes above others for combining dramatic scenery, interesting stops, and genuinely rewarding driving experiences. The five routes below represent the best of those recommendations across different continents and driving styles.
| Route | Location | Best Season | Drive Length | Rating |
|—|—|—|—|—|
| Pacific Coast Highway | California, USA | Spring/Fall | ~400 miles | 4.9/5 |
| Amalfi Coast Drive | Italy | May/September | ~30 miles | 4.9/5 |
| Scottish Highlands Route | Scotland, UK | Summer | ~300 miles | 4.8/5 |
| Ring of Kerry | Ireland | Summer | ~110 miles | 4.7/5 |
| Garden Route | South Africa | Year-round | ~190 miles | 4.8/5 |
Our testing process
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) -- Best American Coastal Drive | Check price | ||
| Amalfi Coast Drive -- Best European Coastal Drive | Check price | ||
| Scottish Highlands Route -- Best Wild Landscape Drive | Check price | ||
| Ring of Kerry -- Best Circular Scenic Route | Check price | ||
| Garden Route, South Africa -- Best Year-Round Drive | Check price |
Reviewed in detail
Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) -- Best American Coastal Drive
Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles is the standard by which American scenic drives are measured. The route offers relentless ocean views, dramatic cliff edges, and stops including Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and San Simeon. Elephant seal colonies, sea otter sightings, and redwood forest detours add natural interest beyond the coastal panorama. The drive is best done southbound to keep the Pacific on your side. Spring and fall avoid peak summer crowds and keep prices reasonable at the route's many boutique hotels and campgrounds.
Amalfi Coast Drive -- Best European Coastal Drive
The Amalfi Coast road is compact but visually overwhelming. Driving the SS163 above the Tyrrhenian Sea with cliff-top villages, lemon groves, and azure water below is an experience Conde Nast readers consistently rate among Europe's finest. The road is narrow and demanding, particularly in summer when traffic peaks. Hiring a local driver or taking the route early in the morning eliminates stress and lets you focus on the scenery. Stops in Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi itself provide food, culture, and lodging across a comfortable two to three day itinerary.
Scottish Highlands Route -- Best Wild Landscape Drive
The North Coast 500, Scotland's answer to the Pacific Coast Highway, circles the Scottish Highlands from Inverness through extreme northern Scotland and back. Loch-side roads, ancient castles, remote beaches, and near-empty single-track lanes make this one of the most atmospheric road trips in the world. Driving standards differ from continental Europe (left-hand drive), and passing etiquette on single-track roads has local norms worth learning before departure. Summer provides the most daylight, though shoulder seasons offer dramatic light and fewer caravans.
Ring of Kerry -- Best Circular Scenic Route
Ireland's Ring of Kerry traces 179 kilometers around the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, passing through mountain passes, glacial lakes, and Atlantic coastal scenery. The route works best traveling counter-clockwise to avoid tour bus traffic. Killarney National Park and the town of Kenmare are standout stops. The Irish landscape changes character rapidly on this route -- from rocky Atlantic headlands to green valley floors -- which sustains visual interest throughout the day. A single comfortable day drive or a leisurely two-day loop with a night in Waterville or Sneem.
Garden Route, South Africa -- Best Year-Round Drive
The Garden Route between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth offers the most ecologically diverse road trip on this list. Dense indigenous forest, whale-watching coastline, ostrich farms, and the dramatic Tsitsikamma National Park appear across a route that can be driven in two days but rewards a week-long exploration. South Africa's well-maintained N2 highway makes the driving straightforward, and accommodation options range from backpacker lodges in Knysna to serious luxury hotels around Plettenberg Bay. Conde Nast Traveler readers consistently rate it one of the best value road trips in the world.
How to choose
What to consider
Match the route to your driving confidence and time availability. The Amalfi Coast demands alert, experienced driving in a small vehicle; the Garden Route is friendly to drivers of all experience levels. Consider seasonality carefully -- the best Conde Nast-ranked routes are popular, and peak season brings crowds that reduce the experience quality significantly. Offline navigation is essential on all five of these routes, as mobile coverage is unreliable in remote sections. Budget accommodation time generously: underestimating drive time is the most common road trip planning mistake.
What to consider
For more travel inspiration, browse our [best conde nast caribbean resorts](/articles/best-conde-nast-caribbean-resorts) guide for post-road trip beach recovery destinations, or check our [best conde nast luxury caribbean resorts](/articles/best-conde-nast-luxury-caribbean-resorts) article. Our evaluation methodology is available at [/methodology](/methodology).
Common questions
Conde Nast Traveler road trip rankings combine editorial expertise with reader feedback, evaluating routes for scenic quality, the diversity of stops along the way, driving conditions, and overall travel experience. Routes that offer a compelling mix of natural landscape, cultural stops, and accommodation quality tend to earn top recognition.
Essential road trip gear includes a reliable navigation device or offline maps, a quality car mount for your phone, a portable power bank, a cooler for food and drinks, an emergency kit, and comfort items for long stretches between stops. High-quality sunglasses are important for long drives into the sun, particularly on coastal west-facing routes.