There's nothing quite like a good road trip, especially when you're exploring new surroundings and enjoying the scenery. And while most travelers agree that seeing the world is about the journey, not the destination, there are roads so spine-tingling they become destinations themselves. Here are 20 routes around the world that should be on the adventurous driver's bucket list.
The ultimate test of a driver's nerve surely includes hairpin turns, and Southwestern China's mountainous 24 Zig Road has them in spades. It also has plenty of history, having served as a crucial link for Chinese troops transporting supplies to Chongqing during the Japanese invasion of World War II. Fortunately, it's not in active use, so curious tourists will have plenty of breathing room while they follow its twists and turns.
Some German drivers may argue that the Autobahn's pedal-to-the-metal reputation is overblown, but the fact remains that for some stretches, there really is no speed limit. And yes, you are likely to encounter performance vehicles doing well over 100 mph — perhaps over even 150 mph — in the left lane. Unless you want to join them, natives recommend staying as far right as you can and keeping pace with the flow of traffic.
The good news about Colorado's Million Dollar Highway? It offers some of the most breathtaking Rocky Mountain scenery you'll ever lay eyes on. The bad news? The road is so steep, narrow, and winding that you might not be able to enjoy all of nature's splendid vistas. Tackle the 70-mile section between Durango and Ouray for the most intense experience, RootsRated recommends. Along the way are plenty of reasons to stop for a break, including hot springs, skiing, and the historic mining town of Silverton.
Atlanterhavsveien, as it's known in Norwegian, withstood a dozen hurricanes during its six-year construction in the 1980s. That gives you some inkling about the fierce display Mother Nature can conjure; during poor conditions, white ocean spray can be seen crashing dramatically over the road. Wait for sunny weather to safely enjoy this marvel of modern engineering, which consists of undulating bridges and causeways connecting small islands to the mainland. There are several scenic viewpoints at which drivers can stop and take in the view.
As its nickname suggests, this ultra-remote stretch of Siberian road has a gruesome history. Also known as Kolyma Highway, it was built by Stalin-era political prisoners rounded up from gulags and forced to work in horrendous conditions. Some froze to death while others were shot, their bodies simply buried beneath or around the road. Today, it's a crucial link to Yakutsk, known as the world's coldest city, but is often all but impassable because of heavy ice and snow in the winter and mud during the very short summer.
If you want a taste of harrowing Fairy Meadows Road, you'll have to jump in a Jeep with a local driver as authorities don't allow tourists to tackle it. Take one look at the winding gravel track and you'll see why — there is exactly zero room for error, or you'll plummet thousands of feet to the valley below. Why would anyone chance such a journey? Once done, you can embark on a half-day hike to a stunning pasture in the shadow of some of the world's highest mountains.
Legendary among motorcyclists who want to test their skills, Tail of the Dragon is an 11-mile portion of U.S. 129 linking Tennessee and North Carolina. The draw here is not the Smoky Mountain scenery — though the surrounding area has plenty, there's little on this road — but a staggering 318 twists and turns through the woods. The road demands complete concentration, and if you have any doubt about the potential danger, take a look at this map plotting dozens of fatalities since 1995.
If you find traffic circles confusing yourself or hate them because no one else knows how they work, you may want to avoid Swindon, England, home of the so-called "Magic Roundabout." It's a nutty mashup of seven traffic circles in one, and for the uninitiated, it seems absolutely bonkers. For residents accustomed to the unique traffic pattern, it's actually a safe, efficient way for them to choose how they want to get from Point A to Point B. For proof, watch Wired's breakdown of how it works.
Driving on Le Passage Du Gois, which links the island of Noirmoutier to mainland France, is all about timing. This causeway's stone-paved, seaweed-covered surface is only driveable for about three hours each day — specifically, 90 minutes before and after low tide. The rest of the day, it's slowly reclaimed by the water and is completely flooded at high tide. Fortunately, there are now rescue poles that you can climb up if the rising tide gives you a nasty surprise.
As Lonely Planet puts it, Route Nationale 5 is "either the worst road in Madagascar, or the best 4WD adventure in the country." Indeed, an adventurous spirit is crucial for anyone who wants to tackle this road along the northeastern coast. Obstacles include mud and sand pits galore, sheer rock, massive potholes, and perilous river crossings that may involve either frighteningly rickety bridges or piecemeal oil-drum car ferries. The reward? Views of some of the world's most beautiful beaches, and glimpses of rare lemurs and humpback whales.
If you're a James Bond wannabe who likes to go fast, there's one road that should be on your bucket list: Switzerland's Furka Pass. Famously featured during a chase in "Goldfinger," this well-kept 19-mile route has loads of hairpin turns and gorgeous Alpine views. And because there's a drive-on train that shuttles travelers through the area more efficiently, Road and Track notes that the Furka is often empty enough for car enthusiasts to really see what their wheels are made of — even if they aren't lucky enough to be behind the wheel of an Aston Martin like 007.
Yungas Road, a treacherous, narrow ribbon clinging to mountainsides in the Andes, is a staple on any list of the world's most dangerous roads. Its nickname, "The Road of Death," gives you a pretty clear idea of why. Roadside memorials are a sobering and frequent reminder that Yungas claims, according to some estimates, as many as 300 lives per year. Fortunately, a safer route is now in place for locals, but that hasn't stopped tourists, many of them cyclists, from flocking here to cheat death — or attempt to, at least.
If you want to be alone with your thoughts, there's a road for that: the 414-mile James W. Dalton Highway, which traverses the most remote parts of Alaska before ending at Prudhoe Bay on the Bering Sea. Made famous on the TV show "Ice Road Truckers," Dalton doesn't even have a single amenity — no gas stations, rest stops, or restaurants — for its northernmost 240-mile stretch. Other concerns include steep terrain, mud, ice, and the windshield-busting rocks kicked up by the massive trucks supplying northern Alaska's oilfields.
When villagers' pleas for a road to their remote town of Guoliang went unanswered, they took matters into their own hands and dug a tunnel through the mountains. The fruits of their labor is a narrow, twisting, 3/4-mile route marked by rock columns and "windows" affording views of the Taihang Mountains. Today, the tunnel is quite the attraction so don't be surprised if around that next blind curve is a tourist bus speeding toward you.
Anointed as one of "the world's scariest roads" by Travel + Leisure, the Karakoram Highway could cause heart palpitations in even the most hard-core drivers. It's the world's highest paved international road, forging a path from Pakistan to China that cuts straight across the Himalayas. How high? You'll hit more than 15,300 feet. Floods, landslides, altitude sickness, and dizzying drop-offs will compete with the mind-boggling views for your attention.
Leave it to Norway to give one of its most famous tourist routes an unforgettable name: Trollstigen, or "The Trolls Road." Fjords, mountains, and waterfalls are all part of the scenery here, but you'll have to loosen your grip on the steering wheel to enjoy it — there are 11 hairpin turns as the road climbs from a lush valley up the slopes. Be sure to stop at the architecturally stunning steel and glass viewpoints.
Its name probably conjures some trepidation about scorching temperatures and empty, endless sands, but the 2,800-mile Trans-Sahara Highway linking Algeria and Nigeria presents more risks than the treacherous desert conditions. There's political instability, the risk of bandit attacks, and sections of road that have been barely (or not at all) maintained, including unpaved sand tracks in Niger.
Think of driving this unique Scandinavian route as an exercise in trust. Drivers get to ditch the ferries that normally traverse Storsjon, or "Big Lake," from roughly January through April and instead drive on the frozen surface of the lake itself. The ice has to be close to 8 inches thick for the ice road to be maintained. Be sure to watch for the flashing lights that alert drivers if conditions aren't safe, and don't pull over to get out and test your best double axel as no stopping is allowed.
The well-trodden Road to Hana is an immensely popular attraction for visitors to Maui, but it has its share of white-knuckle moments with tons of curves, one-lane bridges, and gorgeous coastal scenery that will always be competing for your attention. Certain portions of the road — namely, the road's "backside" — make rental car companies nervous enough that driving on them violates their contracts. Why? They're unpaved, very narrow, and see frequent rockslides and mudslides.
You'll need a 4x4 to tackle the Sani Pass, which links South Africa and the small, mountainous kingdom of Lesotho. The gravel road is steep and rocky, with tons of sharp switchbacks and a decided lack of guardrails. You'll also need to be on the lookout for pack mules and the thick fog that often shrouds the highest parts of the pass. For your trouble, sweeping views await, as does a drink at the highest pub in Africa once you're in Lesotho.
