Travel Bucket List: 10 Most Beautiful Roads

It takes a lot for a road to become famous.  Most famous roads lead to prominent places, but some earn their fame simply on their own beauty.  What makes a road beautiful?  For some it is the scenery the road traverses, in others it is the awe-inspiring feat of its construction, and yet other roads become beautiful for a driver by their challenge and the skill they require.  The following 10 beautiful roads should be on the bucket list of any traveler who loves to drive.

Highway 1, California, USA

The stretch of US Highway 1 which runs through the Big Sur region of California's Pacific coastline is possibly the most famous stretch of roadway in the USA.  Dramatic and sometimes dangerous; the coastal scenery, state parks, and redwood forest you pass along this stretch of Highway 1 make it a must-drive road.

The Atlantic Road, Norway

Looking like something out of a science fiction movie, this National Tourist Route in Norway floats your car across islands and sherries, and snakes over the blue ocean with an organic beauty that defies man-made concepts.  Originally proposed to be a railway line, the Atlantic Road dances across several causeways, viaducts, and 8 bridges, creating a driving experience that feels very exposed to the elements.

Stelvio Pass, Italy

If you are one who marvels at modern motor vehicles and loves to put their amazing engineering to the test you will not want to miss the chance to drive Italy's Stelvio Pass at some point in your life.  Hairpin turns on the edge of a dramatic hillside have made this stretch of road in the Eastern Alps popular with car and driving enthusiasts around the world.

Great Ocean Road, Australia

Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0

Millau Viaduct, France

Traversing rainforests, beaches, limestone cliffs, and several tourist attractions along Australia's south-eastern coast, the Great Ocean Road is itself a tourist attraction.  The road is the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I, and it was constructed by returned soldiers.

Stretching across the Tarn River in Southern France stands the world's tallest bridge, the Millau Viaduct.  The beauty of this road is in its simplicity and scale; a shining feat of construction stretched over a patchwork landscape.

Milford Sound Road, New Zealand

The breathtaking scale and wonder of Milford Sound Road in New Zealand makes for an epic Kiwi road trip.  

Red River Gorge Scenic Byway, USA

Passing through Kentucky's historic Daniel Boon National Forest, the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway is lush and rocky, navigating over, aournd, and through Kentucky's beautiful rock formations.  The area is home to Natural Bridge State Park, and not far from Cumberland Falls and Mammoth Cave.  

The Million Dollar Highway, Colorado

The mountains of Colorado offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the USA.  Drive through the pines and white, snowy peaks on your way to an outdoor adventure in beautiful Colorado.

The Overseas Highway, Florida Keys, USA

The closest you could get to driving on the water, the Overseas Highway crosses great expanses of turquoise waters to connect the Florida Keys.  Zipping across the ocean from one popular dive spot to another, the Overseas Highway is any marine-lover's ideal road trip.

Seward Highway, Alaska

Experience legendary Alaskan wilderness through the windows of a car rental on the Seward Highway.  Among the shimmering lakes and azure glaciers along this highway there are several great attractions worth stopping at, such as the ski Chalets of Mount Alyeska, Chugach State Park, and even the Gulf of Alaska which is frequented by beluga whales!