Road Trip Ideas: Routes With Real Distances and Gaps

Choose a route by three numbers: the total distance, the longest gap between fuel stops, and the season window. Divide the distance by 300 to 450 km a day to get the driving days, then add one spare day per week. A route that needs 10 days of driving and gives you 7 will not work, however good the photos look.

Then check the closure risk. Mountain passes, coastal cliffs and highland tracks close more often than main roads. Pick routes with an alternative road or a place to wait, and avoid routes with one road in and out unless you have a spare day.

All figures are rounded planning numbers. Check current road reports and fuel availability before you go.

1. Icefields Parkway, Banff to Jasper (232 km)

A paved mountain road between Lake Louise and Jasper, with glacier views and wildlife on the roadside. Allow a full day, with the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Falls as stops. Services are thin and fuel is limited, so fill up at the ends. A national park pass is required. Fallback: if the road closes, hold in Lake Louise or Jasper and use the Yellowhead Highway to go round.

2. Highway 1, San Francisco to Los Angeles

The coast road passes Monterey, Big Sur and Santa Barbara. Driving time is about 12 hours in all, but allow 2 to 4 days, because the Big Sur stretch is slow, winding and prone to landslide closures. Check the Caltrans road report before you commit, and keep Highway 101 as the inland fallback. Skip it in the weeks after storms.

3. Route 66, Chicago to Santa Monica

About 3,900 km across eight states, much of it now broken into short historic sections beside interstate highways. Plan 10 to 14 days with two long driving days at most. Summer heat in the Mojave and Arizona is real: carry 4 litres of water per person and avoid midday driving. Fallback: switch to Interstate 40 for a day and rejoin the old road later.

4. Iceland Ring Road, about 1,320 km

Route 1 circles the island and is paved. Plan 7 to 10 days. Wind, ice and storms close sections, mostly outside June to August; check Road.is and the weather office daily. F-roads in the highlands need a 4×4, and river crossings are rental-contract issues. Fuel stations are further apart in the north and east, so fill up at half a tank. Fallback: shorten to a half loop and drive back.

5. Garden Route, Cape Town to Gqeberha

The route follows the south coast of South Africa through Mossel Bay, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, about 750 km in total. Legs are short, fuel is easy and driving is on good roads, which makes it a good first long trip. Weather can bring fog or rain, and holiday weeks fill accommodation. Fallback: use the inland N2 highway to skip a wet coast section.

6. Stuart Highway, Adelaide to Darwin

About 3,000 km straight through the Australian interior, passing Coober Pedy, Alice Springs and Katherine. Roadhouses are 150 to 250 km apart, so fill up at each one. Do not drive at dusk or night because of wildlife and road trains. Heat is extreme from October to March; plan May to September. Carry extra water, a spare tyre and a means to call for help. Skip this if you have under 8 days.

Popular routes fill up between 10:00 and 16:00 in summer. Start before 08:00 to get lighter traffic, better wildlife viewing and cooler air. Book accommodation in gateway towns early for July and August, and keep two nights unbooked in the middle of the route as buffer.

Fuel, charging and shops close early in remote areas. Fill up at a half tank and never plan to arrive on empty. In desert and highland routes, carry at least 3 litres of drinking water per person per day.

Most routes work with a standard car. Iceland’s highlands need 4×4, outback tracks need a vehicle rated for gravel, and mountain roads in winter need winter tyres or chains. Read the hire contract: gravel, river crossings, ferries and one-way drop-offs can void insurance or add fees. Carry a licence and an international permit where required. Rules change, so check them with the hire company.

Sleep in towns with fuel and a choice of beds at the end of the longest legs: Jasper or Lake Louise for the Parkway, Monterey or San Luis Obispo for Highway 1, Alice Springs or Katherine for the Stuart Highway. Avoid arriving after dark in remote areas.

Skip Route 66 and the Stuart Highway if you have under a week; the distances are too long. Skip the Ring Road in winter without confidence in ice driving. For a short break, choose the Icefields Parkway, a stretch of Highway 1 or the Garden Route.

What is the best road trip for a first-timer?

The Garden Route in South Africa and the Icefields Parkway are good first routes: paved roads, short legs and clear fuel stops. Highway 1 is also popular, but check for closures at Big Sur. Choose a route you can drive in 4 to 6 hours a day.

How many days do you need for a road trip?

Divide the route length by 300 to 450 km a day, then add one spare day for each week. A 1,300 km loop such as the Ring Road needs 7 to 10 days. A 232 km mountain road like the Icefields Parkway works as a single long day.

What is the best time of year for a road trip?

It depends on the route. June to September suits mountain and northern roads, spring and autumn suit coastal roads and Route 66, and May to September suits the Australian interior. Avoid winter on routes with passes and highland roads unless you can handle ice.

Do you need a 4×4 for a road trip?

Most popular routes are paved and work with an ordinary car. You need a 4×4 for Iceland’s highland F-roads and for some outback tracks. Check the hire contract and the road type before you book, because the wrong vehicle can void your insurance.