March 13, 2024
Exploring the world's most famous road trips by car, bike and horse
- Introduction
- The Results
- Route 66, USA
- Atlantic Highway, England
- Atlantic Road, Norway
- Blue Ridge Parkway, USA
- Cabot Trail, Canada
- Carretera Austral, Chile
- Central Hokkaido, Japan
- Dragon's Spine, Wales
- Garden Route, South Africa
- Great Ocean Road, Australia
- Great St Bernard Pass, Switzerland/Italy
- North Coast 500, Scotland
- Pula to Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Ring of Kerry, Ireland
- Romantic Road, Germany
- Methodology
- Top related locations
As we are in the car rental business at DiscoverCars.com, it makes sense that we might have a favorite way to travel. But even though we love a road trip by car more than anyone, we thought it would be interesting to see how long 15 of the most famous journeys in the world might take, when traveling using some less popular means of transportation. We examined destinations around the world, including well-known road trips that have been traveled for decades, as well as some you may not have heard of before.
We've worked it out using the rural speed limits in the countries featured in the list and assumed that cyclists would travel at 13 miles per hour, with horses trotting at 10 miles per hour. To work out how many days each journey would take, we have followed safety guidelines about how long is appropriate to travel in a day, by car, bicycle and on horseback. We've also included how often you should stop for a rest break.
In our calculations, we haven't factored in any particular stops - only how long we think you could travel in a day. We think to do any of these journeys properly, you would definitely want to pause to see the sights, explore the local area and take some snaps on plenty of occasions along the way. And bear in mind that we understand routes along highways would not be suitable for horses or bicycles - this is all in good fun.
We've worked it out using the rural speed limits in the countries featured in the list and assumed that cyclists would travel at 13 miles per hour, with horses trotting at 10 miles per hour. To work out how many days each journey would take, we have followed safety guidelines about how long is appropriate to travel in a day, by car, bicycle and on horseback. We've also included how often you should stop for a rest break.
In our calculations, we haven't factored in any particular stops - only how long we think you could travel in a day. We think to do any of these journeys properly, you would definitely want to pause to see the sights, explore the local area and take some snaps on plenty of occasions along the way. And bear in mind that we understand routes along highways would not be suitable for horses or bicycles - this is all in good fun.
The Results
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Free to use when crediting DiscoverCars.com using a do-follow hyperlink.
So without further ado, we pose the question to you: how long would it take to travel Route 66 on a horse?
Route 66, USA
Route 66 is the stuff of legends. It's now known as the Historic Route 66, having been officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985.
2,448 miles long, it begins in California, passing through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, before finishing in Illinois.
2,448 miles long, it begins in California, passing through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, before finishing in Illinois.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
(By bike, you would probably want to take the U.S. Bicycle Route 66, a special version of the journey mapped out by keen cyclists!)
Let's try another!
Let's try another!
Atlantic Highway, England
This gorgeous view of the coast can be found at Tintagel Castle, one of the most popular stops along England's Atlantic Highway. This 70-mile stretch of the A39 road goes through Devon and Cornwall, taking in spectacular cliffs, picturesque fishing harbor towns, and perfect beaches.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Atlantic Road, Norway
While it is only 5 miles long, the Atlantic Road in Norway has been well-renowned for its stunning views since it was built in 1989. Does it look familiar? It's been featured in films like James Bond: No Time To Die as well as plenty of car advertisements - just looking at it makes us want to jump into the driver's seat!
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Blue Ridge Parkway, USA
This gorgeous journey takes you 469 miles, between Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, through the countryside of Virginia and North Carolina. Work began on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1936 - it was designed from the outset to be a scenic route that would show off the natural beauty of this area of the US.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Cabot Trail, Canada
Canada's Cabot Trail is a 185-mile circular route around the island of Cape Breton, which sits at the northeastern edge of Nova Scotia. Roadtrippers on the Cabot Trail get to see first-hand the craggy mountains and lush forests of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The drive also hugs the coast in places, giving amazing views of the sea.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Carretera Austral, Chile
Does the picture above make you wish you were out there cycling the Carretera Austral in Chile - or would you rather travel by car? This 770-mile journey has been described by Condé Nast as "the world's greatest road trip", and travelers witness a wide variety of incredible landscapes, including rainforests, volcanoes and glaciers.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Central Hokkaido, Japan
There are several road trip routes for visitors to Hokkaido, the second-largest island of Japan. One of the routes recommended by the Hokkaido Tourism Organization's website is Central Hokkaido Route 1. It's 167 miles long and focuses on the views of the sea, mountains and rivers you can find on this beautiful island.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Dragon's Spine, Wales
The Dragon's Spine in Wales is an 186-mile journey that begins in the Welsh capital of Cardiff - traveling north through the center of the country to the pretty medieval town of Conwy on the coast. One of the best things about this route is that it includes two National Parks - Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Garden Route, South Africa
Don't worry! If you were to drive the Garden Route in South Africa you wouldn't have to go over the railway bridge! This disused bridge is just one of the striking views you would see from the road. The 190-mile Garden Route begins in the town of Mossel Bay and then runs along the south coast all the way to Port Elizabeth - it also passes through the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Great Ocean Road, Australia
Another coastal beauty, this winding road trip is on the Australian National Heritage List. The Great Ocean Road is 150 miles long and travels along the southeastern coast, starting at Torquay to finish at Allansford. Between these two Victorian towns, it runs through rainforests and rock foundations. It is technically the world's largest war memorial, as it was built in memory of the soldiers who died in WWI.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Great St Bernard Pass, Switzerland/Italy
The Great St Bernard Pass, which connects Switzerland with Italy through the Western Alps, is an ancient route, which people used to travel as far back as the Bronze Age. However, what it's perhaps most famous for is a more recent development - the brave and loveable St Bernard dogs who would lead monks of the nearby monastery of St Bernard to lost travelers in need of help. At 46 miles long it's one of the shorter routes in our list.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
North Coast 500, Scotland
The North Coast 500 starts and ends at Inverness Castle in Scotland, taking drivers on a 516-mile journey all around the coast of Scotland. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, from craggy mountains to beautiful beaches. Passing through areas of peaceful wilderness, you might see wildlife like puffins, deer or even dolphins.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Pula to Dubrovnik, Croatia
This Croatian road trip takes you all the way from Pula to Dubrovnik. This journey of 443 miles shows off the phenomenal scenery of Croatia. There are plenty of opportunities to stop at some fantastic towns and cities, such as the historical city of Split, two-thirds along the way.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Travelers on this journey will see all the beauty of the southwest Irish countryside. The Ring of Kerry is a 111-mile circular route beginning and ending in Killarney, around the Iveragh Peninsula. This part of the country combines gorgeous white beaches with dramatic mountain scenery, as well as rolling fields of farmland.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Romantic Road, Germany
Finally, the Romantic Road is one of Germany's most famous road trips. Pictured here is the Neuschwanstein Castle in the village of Schwangau, just one of the many beautiful places to see along the way. This journey is 290 miles long, and connects the historic city of Würzburg to the town of Füssen, passing through medieval towns and alpine villages.
Days on the road
Travel time in hours and minutes
How many breaks you would need
Methodology
We worked out how long it would take to drive each road trip using each country's rural speed limit, and then broke this down into days on the road using the guideline that you should not drive more than 8 hours a day.
We used 10 mph as the average speed for a horse and worked out how far you could travel in a day on horseback using the guideline that a horse should not travel more than 25 miles in a day.
13 mph was used as the average speed for a cyclist. We followed guidelines that suggested 40 miles in a day would be how far it would be reasonable to cycle.
'Days on the road' have been rounded up to the nearest day.
Guidelines suggest a horse needs to have a rest every 4 hours, and that a driver should have a rest every 4.5. Sources in the cycling community suggest casual cyclists will benefit from a break every 25 miles. Breaks have been rounded up or down to the nearest complete number - where the journey time is only just over the amount of time required to have a single break by 15 minutes or less, the break has been omitted.
Disclaimer
Speed limits and information are correct as of the time of publication.
We used 10 mph as the average speed for a horse and worked out how far you could travel in a day on horseback using the guideline that a horse should not travel more than 25 miles in a day.
13 mph was used as the average speed for a cyclist. We followed guidelines that suggested 40 miles in a day would be how far it would be reasonable to cycle.
'Days on the road' have been rounded up to the nearest day.
Guidelines suggest a horse needs to have a rest every 4 hours, and that a driver should have a rest every 4.5. Sources in the cycling community suggest casual cyclists will benefit from a break every 25 miles. Breaks have been rounded up or down to the nearest complete number - where the journey time is only just over the amount of time required to have a single break by 15 minutes or less, the break has been omitted.
Disclaimer
Speed limits and information are correct as of the time of publication.
Top Related Locations
Here are some other great road trips to consider traveling — whether by car, bike or horse — and the best airport to fly into to start with.
- Tirana to Saranda, Albania (Tirana Airport): Travel from Albania's capital to the stunning Ionian coast for a mix of culture and seaside bliss.
- Sydney to Melbourne, Australia (Sydney Airport): Coastal drives and inland routes connect these two vibrant cities, with plenty of natural beauty in between.
- Austrian Wine Route, Austria (Vienna Airport): Sip and savor your way through the rolling vineyards and quaint wineries that dot the countryside.
- Island Hopping, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada Airport): Ferry between islands and take in the lush, volcanic landscapes of this Atlantic paradise.
- Mallorca Scenic Drive, Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca Airport): Wind through mountainous terrain, olive groves, and coastal roads in the Mediterranean sun.
- Florianopolis Circuit, Brazil (Florianopolis Airport): Known as the 'Magic Island,' enjoy stunning beaches and lush forests in a loop around the island.
- Vancouver Island Exploration, Canada (Vancouver Airport): Cross over to the island and enjoy the drive through its rainforests, coastline, and mountains.
- Gran Canaria Tour, Canary Islands, Spain (Gran Canaria Airport): A diverse journey from sandy beaches to pine forests and rugged ravines.
- Front Range Loop, Colorado (Denver Airport): Circle from Denver through mountain towns, historic landmarks, and national parks.
- Costa Rican Coast to Coast, Costa Rica (Juan Santamaria International Airport): Travel from the Pacific to the Caribbean, through cloud forests and eco-reserves.
- Adelaide Wine Regions, Australia (Adelaide Airport: Meander through the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley, tasting some of the world's best wines.
- Provence and the French Riviera, France (Nice Airport): Explore lavender fields, seaside towns, and the glamour of the Côte d'Azur.
- Route des Grandes Alpes, France (Geneva Airport): A high mountain drive that takes you through the French Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean.
- North Island Adventure, New Zealand (Auckland Airport): Experience geothermal wonders, Maori culture, and the Hobbiton movie set.
- Transfagarasan Highway, Romania (Bucharest Airport): A thrilling drive through the Carpathian Mountains, with hairpin turns and incredible views.
- Athens Riviera, Greece (Athens Airport): From the historic city center, head down the sun-drenched coast to Cape Sounion.
- Ring Road, Iceland (Keflavik Airport): Circle the entire island to see waterfalls, glaciers, and geysers.
- Amalfi Coast, Italy (Naples Airport): Wind along the cliffside roads from Sorrento to Salerno with stunning views of the Mediterranean.
- Andalusian Circuit, Spain (Malaga Airport): Start in Malaga to explore Andalusia's white villages, historic cities, and coastline.
- Costa Smeralda, Sardinia (Olbia Airport): Explore the luxurious coast of Sardinia with its clear turquoise waters, stunning beaches, and glamorous resorts.
Aleksandrs Buraks
Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
Aleksandrs has over 10 years of experience in marketing with a focus on creating stellar content that provides topical insights using data. Having taken five road trips across Europe and one in the U.S., he is passionate about traveling by car. His favorite countries to visit are Denmark and Thailand. You can find him on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.
