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Considering taking a vacation by car? You will undoubtedly be itching to take a seaside drive at some time if your preferred location has a waterfront. Why not? Road excursions that veer around the ocean can be among the most picturesque. Indeed, the backdrop for the remainder of the vacation is frequently a golden ribbon of sand or a glittering sea against imposing rocks. However, where else in the world can you follow some of the most breathtaking and spectacular roadways along the ocean?
USA’s Pacific Coast Highway
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway on America’s west coast is one of the most well-known road trip destinations in the world. beginning in San Francisco and driving south keeps you in the lane closest to the ocean, even if heading north out of San Diego is a popular beginning place. The 950-kilometer (590-mile) journey takes about ten hours to complete.
Australia’s Great Ocean Road
Snaking around the rugged and windswept Southern Ocean, the Great Ocean Road is another of the world’s most picturesque coastal roads, spanning 240 km (149 mi) between the cities of Torquay and Allansford in Victoria.
Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road
The 8-kilometer (5-mile) Atlantic Ocean Road, one of Norway’s principal tourist routes, links Averøy and the mainland via a system of eight bridges that span a network of tiny islands and islets.
Peak Drive in Chapman, South Africa
Chapman’s Peak Drive, named for a peak on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, is 9 km (5.5 mi) long and offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean between Hout Bay and Noordhoek in Cape Town.
Australia’s Grand Pacific Drive
The Grand Pacific Drive meanders south from the Royal National Park near Sydney, passing through some of New South Wales’ most picturesque coasts, and winds its way to Wollongong and beyond before arriving to the Sapphire Coast, 140 km (86 mi) distant.
Italy’s Amalfi Drive
The journey from the Sorrento peninsula to Salerno in southern Italy is spectacular. One of the most picturesque coastal routes in Europe, the Amalfi Drive is a 50-kilometer (31-mile) two-lane blacktop road that hugs the cliffs and bays of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
USA’s Overseas Highway
Key Largo and Key West are connected by the renowned 181-kilometer (113-mile) Overseas Highway in Florida, a contemporary wonder with 42 bridges that leapfrogging from key to key across a stunning turquoise and emerald wash.
Spain’s Cap de Formentor
There are incredibly lovely views of the remote northern coast of Majorca, the largest island in the Balearics, from the corkscrew drive to the lighthouse at Cap de Formentor.
USA’s Hana Highway
Traveling 83 km (51 mi) down the Hana Highway along the northeastern coast of the Hawaiian island of Maui will take you through tropical vegetation and around sheer sea cliffs.
Canada’s Cabot Trail
The Cabot Trail is a beautiful route on Cape Breton Island in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The route runs through and along the Cape Breton Highlands and Cape Breton Highlands National Park, forming an effective 298-km (185-mi) loop around the island’s northern tip.
Portugal’s Escarpa Street
Located 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Lisbon is the serene Serra da Arrábida, which features forests, sheer sea cliffs, and breathtaking beaches. The Estrada de Escarpa (N379) snakes through the heights of this pristine area, providing stunning views.
Italy’s SP 227 di Portofino
The village of Rapallo and Portofino, on the Gulf of Tigullio, are connected by this quick 12-kilometer (7-mile) trip. Every turn presents the finest of the Italian Riviera and provides opportunity for breathtaking photographs.
