Ranking the most family-friendly road trips around the world

The Atlantic Coast in Portugal scooped first place, scoring 61 out of 80 points for how family-friendly this road trip is. The stops include scenic Porto, Coimbra, Nazare, Sintra, and finally, Lisbon.

The Atlantic Coast is an alluring mix of first-rate surf camps and breathtaking towns which are filled with pretty white buildings, authentic seafood restaurants, and golden beaches.

Some highlights of the Atlantic Coast road trip include the Aveiro coast with its endless stretches of golden beaches and curving sand dunes, the Alentejo region, Lisbon with its beautiful coast, Monte do João Roupeiro, São Teotónio, and Tres Marias near Vila Nova de Milfontes.

• Total Distance (Miles): 244
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 49
  
• Total Time (Hours): 4:23
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 0:52
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 483
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 11
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 3,166
  
• The number of Activities 'Good For Kids': 607

The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland came in second place and scored 57 out of 80 points for how family-friendly this road trip is. The Wild Atlantic Way road trip goes through the counties of Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, and Cork.

This road trip boasts enchanting villages along the coast, as well as ancient monuments behind every bend on this magnificent coastal highway.

Among the top attractions, families are sure to love visiting the Connemara National Park Visitor Centre, Killarney National Park, King John's Castle, and the Terra Nova Fairy Garden.

• Total Distance (Miles): 328
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 41
  
• Total Time (Hours): 7:39
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 0:57
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 519
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 5
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants': 1,790
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 754
  

The Amalfi Coast in Italy placed third and scored 55 out of 80 points for how family-friendly the road trip is. This route typically goes through breathtaking Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and finally Salerno.

Amalfi includes some of the peninsula's most beautiful seaside towns. Visitors can drive past the glamorous beaches of Positano to the tucked-away villas of Ravello. Even though the drive itself doesn't take too long, there will be photo-worthy opportunities around every corner.

Some of the best things to do and see on the Amalfi Coast in Italy include the hiking trail Il Sentiero Degli Dei, nature reserve Valle Delle Ferriere, Villa Cimbrone Gardens, and the Centro Storico Salerno neighborhood.

• Total Distance (Miles): 51
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 10
  
• Total Time (Hours): 2:23
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 0:28
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 263
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 4
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 538
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 242
  

Andalucia in Spain ranked fourth and scored 46 out of 80 points for how family-friendly the road trip is. The route usually goes through the cities of Marbella, Ronda, Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Seville, Cordoba, and Granada.

Andalucia is Spain's most southern area and has a Moorish influence, which can be seen in the food and historic architecture of the region's mountains and coastline. A family road trip in Andalucia will allow visitors to experience some of Spain's most romantic cities and the iconic Pueblo Blancos (white towns).

Among the top attractions, families are sure to love the Cathedral complex in Sevilla, which is the Andalusian capital's touristic mainstay, and the Mezquita in Códoba which comprises whitewashed alleyways and stately homes, and finally, the Alhambra Palace in Granada, which is Spain's most visited monument.

• Total Distance (Miles): 425
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 61
  
• Total Time (Hours): 8:17
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 1:11
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 285
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 7
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 2,267
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 367
  

The iconic Route 66 — also known as Will Rogers Highway — in the United States came in fifth place and also scored 46 out of 80 points for how family-friendly the road trip is. As the inspiration behind many a film and novel, Route 66 is the epitome of the American driving holiday and takes your family east to the west.

Typical stops along Route 66 include Chicago, Springfield, St Louis, Joplin, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Gallup, Flagstaff, Needles, and finally Los Angeles.

The highway opened in 1926; however, much of the route was not paved until decades after. It represents a plethora of American ideologies, such as freedom, the migration west, and the loneliness of the US heartland.

Some highlights of Route 66 for families include the Oklahoma State Capitol Building, Devil's Elbow Bridge on the original Route 66, the Cadillac Ranch, and New Mexico's Santa Fe.

• Total Distance (Miles): 2,198
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 169
  
• Total Time (Hours): 33:11
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 2:33
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 632
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 284
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 4,816
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 675
  
  

The Pacific Highway in Australia placed sixth and scored 45 out of 80 points for how family-friendly the road trip is. The road trip typically starts in Brisbane and goes through the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Hunter Valley, and finally Sydney.

The Pacific Highway road trip allows visitors to experience some of Australia's most beautiful tropical beaches and lush rainforests. Families will also drive through quaint coastal towns and two bustling state capital cities.

Some iconic stops not to miss along the Pacific Highway for families include the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Mountains, Daintree Rainforest, Great Ocean Road, Scenic Rim, Purnululu National Park, and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

• Total Distance (Miles): 650
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 93
  
• Total Time (Hours): 12:24
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours):1:46
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 460
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 13
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 3,246
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 661
  

Norfolk in England ranked seventh place and scored 42 out of 80 points for how family-friendly the road trip is. It is recommended that a road trip in Norfolk should go through Norwich, Wroxham, Winterton, Cromer, Hunstanton, Sandringham, and Kings Lynn.

Norfolk is home to some of the most beautiful countryside Britain has to offer, and going on a road trip here will mean you're never too far from a stately home, sprawling gardens, or lush verdant landscapes.

Among the best things to do in Norfolk with children include Holkham Beach, spotting seals in Horsey, the Norfolk Broads National Park, Thetford Forest, and finally, exploring the Fens of Norfolk, a marshland area that extends into Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

• Total Distance (Miles): 113
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 16
  
• Total Time (Hours): 3:25
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 0:29
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 61
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 1
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 427
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 128
  

Bavaria in Germany ranked in eighth place and scored 36 out of 80 points for how family-friendly it is. We recommend stopping at Wurzburg, Rothenburg, Ludwigsburg, Burg Hohenzollern/Bisingen, Fussen, Oberammergau, Linderhof/Ettal, Munich and Chiemsee/Rosenheim.

Bavaria is in the southeast of Germany and is a great location for a family road trip as it is the land of fairytale castles, meaning that the kids will love it. For the adults, there is the beer festival Oktoberfest, and, as well as this, the region also has challenging alpine roads which are exciting to navigate, along with rolling green countryside.

Top places of interest in Bavaria for families include cycling in the Bavarian Forest, going swimming at the Osserbad leisure complex at Lam, spending the day at Arbersee Lake, exploring Munich, and hitting the funfair rides at Bayern Park.

• Total Distance (Miles): 439
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 49
  
• Total Time (Hours): 9:13
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 1:01
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 185
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 6
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 1,647
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 182

The Unlimited Adventures road trip in Canada placed ninth and scored 32 out of 80 points for how family-friendly it is. The stops of this road trip include Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Clearwater, Gold Bridge, Whistler, Pacific Rim/Tofino, Victoria, and finally Vancouver.

The Canadian road trip has mesmerizing scenery and famous views of the Rocky Mountains. Families also have the chance to stay in world-class resorts and visit the cities of Calgary, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Recommended highlights of this road trip for families include the city of Calgary, which sits between the wild prairies and the Rocky Mountains; Jasper National Park, which has over 4,000 square miles of mountains, lakes, glaciers, and forests; Wells Gray Provincial Park, which is a breathtaking nature reserve; and finally, Whistler, which is best known as a popular winter sports resort.

• Total Distance (Miles): 1,363
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 136
  
• Total Time (Hours): 35:04
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours): 3:30
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 247
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 82
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants': 2,195
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 574
  

The North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland came in 10th place and scored 24 out of 80 points for how family-friendly it is. Typical stops include Inverness, John O'Groats, Durness, Lochinver, Ullapool, and Torridon.

The North Coast 500 road trip offers families remarkable coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages, wildlife, museums, heritage sites, and a whole array of hidden gems.

Some of the best activities to do and see for families on the North Coast 500 include surfing at Dunnet Beach, gorge scrambling in the Highlands, guided walking adventures in the lovely village of Ullapool, and finally taking a boat trip departing from the world-famous Inverewe Garden.

• Total Distance (Miles): 427
  
• Average Distance Between Each Stop (Miles): 61
  
• Total Time (Hours): 10:02
  
• Average Times Between Each Stop (Hours):1:26
  
• The number of 'Family-Friendly' Hotels: 103
  
• The number of 'Kids Stay Free' Hotels: 2
  
• The number of 'Child-Friendly' Restaurants: 276
  
• The number of 'Good For Kids' Activities: 125