Every Road Trip We Have Taken, Ranked — From the Balkans to New Zealand

Updated April 2026 | 4 min read

Top road trips at a glance

Road trips have been part of almost every big trip we have taken. Some were the highlight of the entire vacation. Others were a logistical mistake that burned time better spent elsewhere.

Here they are, ranked.

1. New Zealand South Island

Route: Christchurch to Queenstown via Arthur’s Pass, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, and Milford Sound. About 1,200 km over 10 days.

Why it ranks first: The scenery changes every 30 minutes. Glacial valleys, coastal roads, mountain passes, lakeside towns. The roads are well-maintained, traffic is minimal outside of Queenstown, and the freedom camping infrastructure is excellent.

The campervan made this trip. Waking up parked beside Lake Wanaka with no one else around at 6am was one of my best travel moments.

Would I do it again: Absolutely. Would add the Catlins (southern coast) and extend to 14 days.

2. Italy — Rome to Amalfi Coast

Route: Rome to Naples to Positano via the SS163 coastal road. About 300 km.

Why it ranks second: The Amalfi Coast road is terrifying and beautiful in equal measure — hairpin turns on cliffs above the Mediterranean, with Vespas passing on blind corners. The Amalfi Coast section from Sorrento to Positano is only 50 km but takes 90 minutes because every turn reveals another postcard view.

The catch: Driving in Naples is chaos. The city has its own traffic rules that no one can explain. Once you are on the coastal road south of Sorrento, it is spectacular. Getting through Naples is the price of admission.

Would I do it again: Yes, but I would skip driving through Naples entirely and take the train from Rome to Sorrento, then rent a car just for the coast.

3. Balkans — Croatia and Montenegro

Route: Dubrovnik to Kotor to Budva to Split via the coastal road. About 500 km over 4 days.

Why it ranks third: The Adriatic coast between Croatia and Montenegro is staggeringly beautiful. Kotor Bay from the mountain road above is one of the best driving views in Europe. The border crossings are easy, the roads are good, and the whole coast is less crowded than the Italian or French riviera.

The regret: We did not drive far enough into Montenegro. Sveti Stefan beach, Perast, and the Durmitor National Park interior were all within reach and we skipped them to get back to Split. Next time, the route goes deeper into Montenegro and adds Albania.

Would I do it again: Definitely, with a longer route that includes Albania’s coast.

4. South of France — Provence Loop

Route: Aix-en-Provence to Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, back through Luberon. About 200 km loop over 3 days.

Why it works: The Provence hill villages are spaced 15-30 minutes apart by car. Each one is different — Gordes is the photogenic one, Roussillon has ochre cliffs, Bonnieux is quiet and authentic. The lavender fields between villages in June and July make every drive scenic.

The catch: French rural roads are narrow and unsigned. A GPS is essential. Also, almost everything closes from noon to 2pm and all day Sunday. Plan restaurant stops carefully.

Would I do it again: Yes. Would add the Verdon Gorge (the French Grand Canyon) as a day trip.

5. Turkey — Istanbul to Cappadocia

We did not drive this — we flew Istanbul to Kayseri and rented a car locally for Cappadocia. But the 3-day driving portion around Cappadocia was worth it.

Route: Kayseri to Goreme to Uchisar to underground cities to Ihlara Valley. About 200 km over 3 days.

Why it works: The rock formations and cave hotels are concentrated in a small area, but a car lets you reach the less-touristy valleys and underground cities that tour buses skip. Parking is free almost everywhere in Cappadocia.

The catch: Turkish drivers are aggressive. The main roads are fine but the small village roads have livestock, tractors, and no shoulders. Drive defensively.

Road Trips I Would Not Repeat

Bangkok to Krabi by car: We looked into this and wisely flew instead. The drive is 8+ hours through featureless highway. Thailand domestic flights cost $30-50. There is zero reason to drive.

Driving within Bali: Bali’s roads are narrow, chaotic, and congested. Scooter traffic makes driving a car stressful and slow. Hire a driver for the day (about $35-50 including fuel) or use Grab. Driving yourself is the wrong call on Bali.

Road Trip Planning Tips

• Download offline maps before you start. Cell service drops in rural areas everywhere. Google Maps offline works perfectly — download the entire region before departure.
• Rent the smallest car that fits your luggage. Narrow European and NZ roads punish large vehicles. A compact hatchback handles better, uses less fuel, and parks easier than an SUV.
• International Driving Permit. Some countries require one, some don’t, but having one prevents hassle at rental counters and police checkpoints. Get it from AAA before your trip — $20 and takes 10 minutes.
• Book through aggregators, not airport desks. RentalCars.com or the rental company’s website directly are 20-40% cheaper than the airport counter walk-up price.
• Take photos of the car at pickup. Document every scratch and dent before you drive off. This prevents damage disputes at return.

Road trip essentials:

• Phone mount for the dashboard — hands-free navigation is a safety requirement. Do not balance your phone on the dashboard. $20.
• USB car charger + cable — navigation drains your phone battery in 2-3 hours. Keep it plugged in. $15.
• Cooler bag — keeps water and snacks cold on long drives. Saves money on gas station markup. $20.

Search for flights to your road trip starting point on Skyscanner — flexible date search helps you find the cheapest days to fly in and out. And get an Airalo eSIM for the countries you will drive through — roaming charges add up fast when your phone is running Google Maps for 8 hours straight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best road trip in New Zealand?

The South Island route from Christchurch to Queenstown via Arthur’s Pass, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, and Milford Sound covers about 1,200 km over 10 days. The scenery changes every 30 minutes, the roads are well-maintained, and traffic is minimal outside Queenstown. A campervan is the recommended way to do it, giving you the flexibility to wake up beside Lake Wanaka or a glacier with no one else around.

Is driving the Amalfi Coast road difficult?

The Amalfi Coast road from Sorrento to Positano is only 50 km but takes about 90 minutes because of hairpin turns on cliffs above the Mediterranean with Vespas passing on blind corners. The bigger challenge is getting through Naples first, which has its own traffic rules that are hard to follow. The recommended approach is to take the train from Rome to Sorrento and rent a car just for the coastal section.

How long does the Balkans coastal road trip take?

The route from Dubrovnik to Kotor to Budva to Split covers about 500 km and takes 4 days. Border crossings between Croatia and Montenegro are easy, and the roads are good. The main regret from this trip was not spending more time in Montenegro, specifically Sveti Stefan, Perast, and Durmitor National Park, which were all within reach.

What should I know before doing a road trip in Provence?

The Provence loop from Aix-en-Provence through Gordes, Roussillon, and Bonnieux covers about 200 km over 3 days, with the hill villages spaced 15 to 30 minutes apart. French rural roads are narrow and unsigned, so a GPS is essential. Almost everything closes from noon to 2pm and all day Sunday, so plan restaurant stops in advance. The lavender fields between villages are at their best in June and July.

Plan your own trip: guides I actually use

More from this region:

• New Zealand in Spring: 10-Day Wellington to Auckland Itinerary by Train
• Campervan vs Hotel Road Trip — The Real Cost Comparison After New Zealand
• New Zealand: What We Actually Did and What It Cost
• Hobbiton Movie Set: A Day Trip from Auckland Worth Every Kilometer
• How to Survive an 18-Hour Flight — What I Learned Flying to New Zealand

Cards, lounges & insurance:

• Best Airport Lounges I Have Actually Used — From Changi to Istanbul
• Is Priority Pass Worth It in 2026 — My Honest Review After 15 Airports
• Best Travel Credit Cards for 2026: The Cards I Actually Use and Why
• Best Travel Insurance for 2026: What I Actually Recommend After 15 International Trips
• The Credit Card Points Strategy That Funded $15,000 of Travel

Finding cheap flights:

• Going vs Dollar Flight Club vs Thrifty Traveler: Which Flight Deal Service Is Worth It in 2026?
• When to Book Flights by Region — The Booking Windows That Actually Save Money
• How to Find Error Fares and Flight Deals — The Services I Actually Use
• Google Flights vs Skyscanner vs Momondo — Which Actually Finds the Cheapest Flights

Staying connected abroad:

• Best VPN for Travel 2026 — NordVPN vs Surfshark and Why You Need One
• Best eSIM for Travel 2026 — Holafly vs Airalo vs Nomad

Travel gear I actually use:

• Best Portable Chargers for Travel in 2026: Which Size You Actually Need
• My Exact Travel Tech Setup After 15 International Trips
• Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Travel in 2026: Tested on 40+ Flights
• Best Travel Backpacks for 2026: The 5 I Have Actually Used
• Phone Photography Tips for Travel: How to Take Great Photos With Just Your iPhone

Written by Jenna Fattah

I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me