There is something about the open road that makes a big trip feel more personal. You set the pace, pick the detours, and chase the views in your own time. It is no surprise that many travellers are planning bucket list road trips as their big 2026 adventure.
The routes below are classic, tried and tested, and very doable with a bit of planning. No hardcore expeditions, just spectacular drives with good infrastructure, plenty of places to stay, and endless chances to pull over for photos. Think of this as your short list for 2026.
1. Pacific Coast Highway, USA (California to Washington)
Few drives feel as cinematic as the Pacific Coast Highway. Cliffs, surfers, vineyards, foggy forests, and small towns that seem built for coffee breaks and slow evenings.
Most people spend 7 to 14 days on this route, starting in San Diego or Los Angeles and drifting north through Big Sur, San Francisco, the redwoods, and into Oregon and Washington. It works well for first‑time visitors to the US West Coast who want a mix of beaches, cities, and nature.
This is a mid‑range to splurge trip, depending on where you stay. Coastal inns and wine country stops push costs up, but there are also campgrounds and simple motels. One‑way rentals are common, so book early.
For deeper planning, the book PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY BUCKET LIST 2025-2026 is packed with suggested stops and itineraries. If you like to list and tick off places, it suits that style of trip.
Best time: Late April to October
Why it is bucket list worthy: Iconic coastal views, Big Sur bridges, and giant redwoods, all in one journey.
2. Ring Road, Iceland
If you prefer waterfalls and lava fields to beaches and bars, the Ring Road feels like a different planet. Highway 1 loops around the whole island, and in 10 to 12 days you can see glaciers, black sand beaches, steaming geothermal areas, and small fishing towns.
The driving itself is straightforward, although the weather can change in minutes. Car hire is simple, and the road is well signed, but you need to check daily conditions and be flexible. This is a mid‑range to splurge trip, as food and fuel are not cheap.
Summer gives you long days and easy driving. Early autumn can add a chance of northern lights. Winter driving is more serious and better suited to confident drivers who know how to handle ice and snow.
Best time: June to September for most travellers
Why it is bucket list worthy: You get a highlight reel of glaciers, volcanoes, and wild coasts in one loop.
3. North Coast 500, Scotland
The North Coast 500 has become a modern classic, and for good reason. Think winding single‑track roads, empty beaches with Caribbean‑style turquoise water, and tiny pubs that feel like the heart of each village.
The route is around 500 miles, starting and ending in Inverness. Many people give it 5 to 7 days, although a slower 10‑day version feels calmer and gives you time for detours to Skye, Torridon, or Assynt.
Budget can be kept in check with guesthouses and simple inns. Wild camping is possible if you follow local guidance, but book popular spots well ahead for 2026 as demand is high.
Best time: May to early October
Why it is bucket list worthy: It combines raw coastal scenery with history, castles, whisky, and very human scale moments.
4. Garden Route, South Africa
For a road trip that blends beaches, mountains, and wildlife, the Garden Route is hard to beat. The classic stretch runs between roughly Mossel Bay and Storms River, often linked with Cape Town and the Winelands.
You can do the core section in 5 to 7 days, but a 10‑day plan leaves room for game drives, whale watching, and time in small towns like Wilderness or Knysna. Driving is on good highways, and it is left‑hand traffic, which British drivers may find familiar.
This is one of the more budget‑friendly bucket list road trips, especially if you choose guesthouses and self‑catering apartments. Safety is better than headlines suggest if you stick to well known stops and avoid night driving.
Best time: November to March for summer weather, June to November for whales
Why it is bucket list worthy: You can combine road trip freedom with safari lodges and coastal walks in one holiday.
5. Great Ocean Road, Australia
The Great Ocean Road is shorter than most trips on this list, but it packs a lot into a few days. Dramatic cliffs, surf towns, koalas in roadside trees, and the famous Twelve Apostles rock stacks all sit along this curving coastal road.
Most people drive from Melbourne to Port Fairy or Adelaide, taking 3 to 5 days for the main section. It is easy to blend with time in Melbourne or a longer loop through the Grampians.
Costs are mid‑range, with classic Aussie motels and holiday parks keeping things flexible. The road is popular, so longer days help you catch big sights early or late when the crowds thin.
Best time: November to March
Why it is bucket list worthy: It feels like a postcard of Australia brought to life, with ocean views almost the whole way.
6. Atlantic Ocean Road & Fjords, Norway
Photo by Monika Balciuniene
Norway takes scenic driving to another level, and the Atlantic Ocean Road looks almost unreal, with its leap‑frog bridges across small islands. The best way to enjoy it is to fold it into a longer fjord trip, linking Ålesund, Geiranger, and Trollstigen.
Allow 7 to 10 days for an easy loop with time for short hikes and fjord cruises. Car ferries, tunnels, and toll roads are part of the experience, so you need a bit of patience and an eye on your route.
Norway is a splurge‑worthy country, with high prices for fuel, food, and drink, but wild or basic camping can bring the cost down. The pay‑off is astonishing scenery and long, glowing evenings.
Best time: June to August
Why it is bucket list worthy: It feels like driving through a painting of mountains, sea, and sky.
7. South Island Loop, New Zealand
The South Island rewards slow travellers. A classic loop starts in Christchurch, heads down through Lake Tekapo to Queenstown and Fiordland, then returns via the West Coast glaciers and Punakaiki.
Ten to 14 days is ideal. This gives you time to stop in small towns, visit wineries, and add a cruise in Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. Roads are simple to drive, though you will want to stop constantly to photograph lakes and peaks.
This is a mid‑range trip for most people, with lots of choice from hostels to lodges. Summer is busy, so book key stays early. Driving in winter can be stunning, but you need to be happy with snow and icy mornings.
Best time: November to March
Why it is bucket list worthy: Some of the most photogenic mountains and lakes on earth, all tied together by one coherent route.
8. Icefields Parkway, Canada
The Icefields Parkway is only about 230 kilometres, but it feels like a condensed hit of the Canadian Rockies. You drive between Banff and Jasper past turquoise lakes, hanging glaciers, and broad valleys where you may see bears or elk by the roadside.
A simple version fits into 3 or 4 days, but linking it to a longer Alberta or British Columbia trip makes sense if you are flying a long way. Stops like Peyto Lake, Athabasca Falls, and the Columbia Icefield are classics for a reason.
Costs are mid‑range to splurge, especially in Banff and Jasper. Prepare for limited phone signal in places and book campsites or hotels months ahead for 2026.
Best time: June to early October
Why it is bucket list worthy: One of the most scenic mountain highways on the planet, with very accessible viewpoints.
9. Utah’s Mighty Five Loop, USA
If you like red rock and big skies, southern Utah feels almost unreal. A popular loop threads together the five national parks, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, often starting and ending in Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.
Ten to 14 days gives you time to drive, hike, and enjoy sunrises and sunsets without rushing. Daytime driving is easy, but summer heat can be fierce, so you may plan walks early in the morning.
This can be a budget‑friendly road trip if you camp or stay in basic motels. Park entry fees and permits for certain hikes are the key extra costs. If you enjoy planning, you may find ideas in long‑form guides like this detailed West Coast road trip list that also covers nearby areas.
Best time: April to May and September to October
Why it is bucket list worthy: Five distinct national parks, all linked by scenic highways and small western towns.
10. Road Trip Across Hokkaido, Japan
Hokkaido feels like a wilder, slower side of Japan, with broad roads, farmland, forests, and hot spring towns. A classic loop links Sapporo, Furano, Biei, the Shiretoko Peninsula, and the eastern lakes.
Plan at least 10 days, as distances are longer than they look and you will want to linger. Driving is on the left, and apart from busy city areas the roads feel calm. In summer you get flower fields and clear skies, in autumn golden forests.
This is mid‑range overall. Toll roads add up, but rural guesthouses and business hotels keep things reasonable. You may want an international driving permit and a navigation app that can search by phone number, as many Japanese GPS systems use this trick.
Best time: June to September, or October for autumn colours
Why it is bucket list worthy: A rare mix of Japanese culture, quiet roads, and wide open scenery.
Final Thoughts: Picking Your 2026 Bucket List Road Trip
Planning bucket list road trips for 2026 is part daydream, part logistics puzzle, and that is half the fun. Each route here blends big, cinematic views with simple things, good coffee in a roadside diner, the first sight of a mountain pass, a last light stop at a quiet beach.
Start with what pulls you most, ocean, mountains, wildlife, or culture, then shape your budget and time around that pull. Your 2026 road trip does not need to cover everything, it just needs to feel like a story you will still be telling in ten years.
