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There’s nothing like the liberty of a street journey with the ocean as your fixed companion. The world’s coastlines are stuffed with sweeping views, dramatic cliffs, and hidden seashores that make each mile really feel like an journey. Past Europe’s famed Amalfi Coast or the French Riviera, there are numerous drives that provide the identical mixture of magnificence, serenity, and thrill, solely with fewer crowds and extra surprises.
Whether or not you’re gliding previous tropical lagoons, navigating rugged headlands, or cruising by way of sleepy fishing villages, these drives redefine what it means to journey by the ocean. Every one invitations you to decelerate, roll down the home windows, and let the salt air information your journey.
What makes these routes particular isn’t simply the surroundings, it’s the sensation of discovery they encourage. The roads twist and switch by way of landscapes so uncooked and cinematic they’ll make you neglect every little thing else. Native meals stands, hidden viewpoints, and small-town appeal add persona at each cease.
Whereas some routes really feel wild and untamed, others whisper calm by way of mushy waves and limitless horizons. Listed below are 21 coastal drives from all over the world that rival, and in some methods, surpass, Europe’s most beloved seaside escapes.
Pacific Coast Freeway, California, USA
California’s legendary Freeway 1 is a masterpiece of coastal engineering, winding previous cliffs, redwoods, and the limitless blue Pacific. Each stretch gives a brand new postcard view, from Large Sur’s jagged rocks to Malibu’s golden seashores. Vacationers cease for sea lions in Monterey, wine in Santa Barbara, and sundown walks on Bixby Bridge. The street is as a lot about feeling as surroundings, freedom, nostalgia, and the rhythm of the waves. It’s a reminder that the journey itself is the vacation spot.
Every flip reveals a contemporary slice of California dreamscape, from misty mornings to blazing sunsets. Charming roadside diners and surf cities like Carmel and Pismo Seaside invite you to linger. Whether or not you drive it in a convertible or camper van, each cease looks like a reminiscence in movement. Locals say no two drives ever really feel the identical, the sunshine, the ocean, and the sky hold rewriting the view. Few roads on the planet mix magnificence and emotion like this one.
Nice Ocean Street, Australia
Stretching alongside Victoria’s southern coast, the Nice Ocean Street is Australia’s most iconic seaside journey. It hugs rugged cliffs, winds by way of rainforests, and passes sleepy surf cities the place time slows down. The Twelve Apostles rise dramatically from the ocean, framed by golden mild at daybreak and nightfall. Vacationers can spot koalas within the eucalyptus timber or stroll alongside seashores that really feel untouched by time. It’s a wild, liberating drive that captures the soul of Australia’s shoreline.
Between Torquay and Allansford, each curve feels cinematic, limitless horizons, turquoise waves, and sea spray glistening within the solar. Cafés in Lorne and Apollo Bay serve excellent espresso with ocean views, turning pit stops into tiny moments of bliss. Locals and vacationers alike name it a “drive of renewal,” the place stress dissolves with each passing mile. Sunsets right here don’t simply glow, they set the sky on fireplace. It’s a street that stays in your reminiscence lengthy after the wheels cease turning.
Backyard Route, South Africa
The Backyard Route is a stretch of pure coastal magic, operating from Mossel Bay to Storms River by way of lush forests, lagoons, and seaside cliffs. Every city alongside the way in which has its personal persona, Knysna’s tranquil lagoon, Plettenberg Bay’s seashores, and Tsitsikamma’s wild trails. The drive is as numerous as South Africa itself, shifting from dense greenery to open sea vistas. Wildlife sightings, ocean breezes, and mountain backdrops create a street journey that feels each luxurious and uncooked.
Vacationers typically pause for oysters in Knysna or whale watching in Hermanus, the place the ocean feels shut sufficient to the touch. The route invitations curiosity, hidden seashores, artisan markets, and pleasant guesthouses dot the way in which. It’s not only a scenic drive; it’s a journey by way of cultures, ecosystems, and feelings. Each kilometer brings a change of surroundings so breathtaking it looks like one other world. The Backyard Route isn’t about getting someplace, it’s about falling in love with the in-between.
Hana Freeway, Maui, Hawaii
Winding by way of waterfalls, rainforests, and black-sand seashores, Maui’s Hana Freeway is without doubt one of the most mesmerizing drives within the Pacific. The slender street snakes alongside cliffs and thru jungle tunnels, with over 600 curves and 50 bridges. It’s not a quick drive, it’s an expertise designed to be savored slowly. At each flip, the scent of flowers, the sound of surf, and the sight of rainbows remind you why Hawaii is paradise. The street to Hana is much less concerning the vacation spot and extra concerning the rhythm of the island itself.
Tiny fruit stands promote contemporary coconuts and banana bread to vacationers chasing the subsequent waterfall. Locals wave as you move, embodying the spirit of “aloha” in each gesture. The drive is each thrilling and soothing, a steadiness of hazard and serenity that awakens all senses. If you lastly attain Hana, the world feels quieter, extra grounded, and infinitely extra lovely. It’s the type of street that modifications the way in which you see journey, and life.
Cabot Path, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Cabot Path on Cape Breton Island winds by way of highlands, forests, and cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. Each bend reveals a brand new view, moody mist over pine-covered hills or glowing daylight dancing on the ocean. Villages like Chéticamp and Ingonish provide heat hospitality and contemporary seafood that tastes just like the ocean itself. The combo of Gaelic tradition and rugged nature provides the route a mystical, soulful high quality. It’s the type of drive that feels each peaceable and highly effective.
Hikers can discover trails by way of Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park, whereas photographers chase fog and whales alongside the coast. The Cabot Path isn’t nearly distance, it’s about emotion, reminiscence, and the connection between land and sea. Vacationers typically say they arrive for the surroundings however keep for the sensation it leaves behind. Each mile looks like a dialog with nature, filled with quiet classes. It’s a drive that teaches you methods to breathe once more.
Pacific Rim Freeway, British Columbia, Canada
Stretching from Parksville to Tofino, the Pacific Rim Freeway is a wild, rain-soaked masterpiece carved by way of historic forests and misty shores. Towering pines body the street whereas the scent of salt and cedar drifts by way of the air. Eagles circle overhead, and storm waves crash towards the rugged shoreline as if to remind you ways alive the world actually is. Small communities like Ucluelet welcome vacationers with heat lodges and artisan cafés the place time appears to pause. The freeway looks like driving straight into nature’s heartbeat.
Every flip gives a contemporary perspective, one second, you’re surrounded by fog-draped evergreens, and the subsequent, you’re overlooking the roaring Pacific. It’s a photographer’s dream and a soul searcher’s escape rolled into one. Rain or shine, it’s by no means the identical twice; the climate itself turns into a part of the journey. Locals name it a street of renewal, a spot the place folks come to lose stress and rediscover calm. It’s the type of drive that doesn’t simply present you magnificence, it restores you.
Amalfi’s Distant Twin: The North Coast 500, Scotland
Typically in comparison with Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Scotland’s North Coast 500 delivers equally beautiful views, solely with a wilder edge. This 516-mile loop wraps across the nation’s northern tip, mixing dramatic cliffs, lochs, castles, and historic villages. Sheep wander throughout the street, and mist rolls down inexperienced mountains into glassy blue bays. It’s uncooked, untamed, and heartbreakingly lovely. Each mile feels such as you’re discovering a secret nobody else is aware of.
Drivers cease at white-sand coves that appear to be the Caribbean and dine in seaside inns serving contemporary salmon and whisky. The solitude right here is unmatched, some stretches go for miles with out one other automotive in sight. It’s excellent for retirees, photographers, or anybody who craves silence and vastness. The panorama modifications always, from moorland to seashores to mountains, every nook revealing one other masterpiece. The North Coast 500 isn’t only a drive, it’s a pilgrimage by way of Scotland’s wild soul.
Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Eire
This legendary coastal drive runs from Belfast to Derry, weaving previous cliffs, castles, and coastal villages that appear pulled from a storybook. The Large’s Causeway, with its geometric basalt columns, feels virtually otherworldly. Waves crash towards rugged rocks, whereas quaint fishing harbors glow underneath mushy Irish mild. The route is full of historical past, folklore, and jaw-dropping surroundings that retains you mesmerized for hours. Each cease looks like a chapter in a fairytale.
Drivers can detour to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge or Dunluce Fort, perched dramatically on a cliff above the ocean. Cozy pubs alongside the way in which serve hearty stews and stay music that make you neglect the chilliness within the air. The combo of nature and nostalgia makes the Causeway Route not like wherever else. Even wet days add drama, turning the ocean silver and the hills emerald. It’s a coastal drive the place fantasy and actuality blur fantastically.
The Wild Atlantic Means, Eire
Stretching over 1,500 miles, Eire’s Wild Atlantic Means is without doubt one of the world’s longest coastal routes, and simply one of the crucial scenic. It runs from Donegal within the north to Cork within the south, tracing a jagged shoreline stuffed with cliffs, coves, and windswept seashores. Sheep dot the fields, rainbows seem with out warning, and each bend looks like poetry in movement. Small cities and villages alongside the route provide heat fires, mushy beds, and Guinness poured with care. It’s much less of a street journey and extra of a soulful journey.
The landscapes shift always, one second, you’re gazing at sea-sculpted cliffs, and the subsequent, you’re driving by way of tranquil farmlands. Historical stone partitions and Celtic ruins line the way in which, whispering tales of Eire’s deep previous. Locals greet vacationers with smiles and tales that linger lengthy after you allow. Whether or not you’re chasing sunsets or storms, the Wild Atlantic Means provides you each magnificence and which means. It’s the type of drive that stays in your coronary heart endlessly.
The Sea-to-Sky Freeway, British Columbia, Canada
Working from Vancouver to Whistler, this coastal mountain street combines ocean views with alpine grandeur in a single breathtaking sweep. The Sea-to-Sky Freeway curves alongside fjords, forests, and towering peaks that appear to be they belong in a dream. Each overlook is an invite to cease, from Shannon Falls to the Sea to Sky Gondola, the place you’ll be able to soar above the clouds. The street feels each adventurous and meditative, a relentless dialogue between land and sea. It’s fashionable engineering woven seamlessly into uncooked wilderness.
As you climb greater, the ocean provides strategy to glacier-capped mountains and funky, crisp air. Kayakers paddle under, eagles glide above, and waterfalls glimmer within the distance. The drive conjures up each awe and gratitude, proof that among the greatest views require simply 4 wheels and an open thoughts. It’s brief sufficient for a day journey however highly effective sufficient to alter your week. The Sea-to-Sky looks like nature displaying off, and by some means, it by no means looks like an excessive amount of.
Large Island Belt Street, Hawaii
Encircling Hawaii’s largest island, this drive is an ever-changing masterpiece of volcanic landscapes, lush rainforests, and limitless shoreline. You can begin with espresso in Kona, drive by way of lava fields, and finish with waterfalls close to Hilo, all in a single day. It’s one of many few roads on the planet the place you’ll be able to watch the ocean crash towards each new earth and historic rock. The street isn’t simply scenic; it’s alive, always reshaped by nature itself.
Locals love its unpredictability, solar one minute, mist the subsequent, then clear skies over a glowing horizon. The island’s combine of contemporary and conventional life unfolds at each curve, from roadside fruit stands to small Hawaiian temples. The drive feels non secular, a reminder of how the earth breathes and grows. Cease to swim, hike, or just stand in silence and really feel the island’s heartbeat. The Large Island Belt Street isn’t only a route, it’s an awakening.
Cape Peninsula Drive, South Africa
Beginning in Cape City and ending on the Cape of Good Hope, this drive is as iconic because it will get. Desk Mountain looms within the distance, seashores stretch endlessly, and the Atlantic crashes under towering cliffs. Chapman’s Peak Drive, with its sharp bends carved into rock, is each thrilling and cinematic. Penguins waddle alongside Boulders Seaside, whereas vineyards and surf cities fill the areas in between. It’s a journey that captures South Africa’s wild magnificence in a single unforgettable loop.
Every village alongside the way in which feels distinct, Kalk Bay’s bohemian appeal, Simon’s City’s naval historical past, and Noordhoek’s open sands. Vacationers cease for contemporary seafood and sundown views that really feel surreal. The street hugs the sting of the continent, the place two oceans meet and power fills the air. Locals say it’s a drive that by no means will get outdated, regardless of what number of instances you are taking it. Cape Peninsula Drive is the type of route that rewires your sense of surprise.
Nice Lakes Circle Tour, USA
This large route winds round North America’s freshwater coasts, passing by way of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and past. Every stretch feels coastal however with a freshwater twist, seashores, dunes, and charming harbor cities that rival any seaside escape. Lake Superior’s wild shores distinction with Lake Michigan’s mushy, sandy calm. The route gives every little thing from lighthouses to waterfalls, and each cease feels uniquely American. It’s a journey constructed for road-trippers who crave each area and serenity.
Vacationers can fish, kayak, or just admire sunsets that glow pink throughout the water. The Nice Lakes drive isn’t flashy, it’s quietly grand, with magnificence that builds slowly mile after mile. Locals welcome guests with simple smiles and hearty consolation meals that warms even the coldest day. You’ll move by way of small cities the place life strikes at its personal rhythm, untouched by hurry. This drive proves that America’s inland coasts can rival any ocean view on earth.
Coral Coast Drive, Western Australia
Working between Perth and Exmouth, this route delivers a surreal mixture of desert landscapes and turquoise seas. The street looks like a frontier between two worlds, pink sand dunes on one facet, glittering ocean on the opposite. Drivers cease for snorkeling at Ningaloo Reef, the place whale sharks glide gracefully beneath the floor. Tiny cities alongside the way in which provide contemporary seafood, pleasant smiles, and limitless sky. The Coral Coast looks like freedom painted in blue and gold.
Every hour brings a brand new type of magnificence, limestone pinnacles, coral lagoons, or outback vistas stretching endlessly. It’s an offbeat drive, much less crowded than Australia’s east coast however simply as breathtaking. The vastness of the land provides vacationers area to suppose, dream, and breathe. Sundown right here turns the horizon molten orange, whereas the night time sky explodes with stars. It’s not only a street journey, it’s a lesson in stillness and awe.
Pacific Coast of Chile
From La Serena to Puerto Montt, Chile’s Pacific coast gives one among South America’s most beautiful drives. The street weaves by way of desert, farmland, and misty fishing cities the place the Andes meet the ocean. The surroundings feels limitless, cliffs dropping into foaming surf, sea lions lounging on rocks, and lonely lighthouses guiding the way in which. Coastal villages serve contemporary empanadas and ceviche so good it stops dialog. The drive is equal components wild and soulful, stuffed with silence that feels sacred.
As you progress south, the panorama grows greener, and the ocean rougher, a dance between serenity and energy. Small detours result in vineyards, salt flats, and hidden seashores that really feel untouched by time. The street’s rhythm invitations reflection, it’s much less about speeding, extra about absorbing. Locals wave as you move, their calm power mixing with the ocean’s pulse. Chile’s coast is a reminder that magnificence doesn’t must shout to be unforgettable.
Key West Abroad Freeway, Florida, USA
The Abroad Freeway connects Florida’s mainland to the Keys in a series of bridges that skim simply above the turquoise sea. It’s a drive the place the sky and water appear to merge, turning the horizon right into a dreamscape. You’ll cross the well-known Seven Mile Bridge, surrounded by open ocean on each side. Retro diners, pastel motels, and roadside tiki bars line the way in which, providing slices of outdated Florida appeal. It’s the type of journey that looks like summer season bottled endlessly.
Vacationers cease for snorkeling in Bahia Honda or a cocktail at sundown in Key Largo. Each key has its personal rhythm, energetic in some, sleepy in others, all tied collectively by the sound of waves. The street invitations you to decelerate, to breathe, to stay within the second. Pelicans glide overhead because the solar melts into the Gulf. The Abroad Freeway is much less a drive than a floating daydream come to life.
Skeleton Coast Drive – Namibia
Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is starkly lovely and virtually otherworldly, mixing ocean, desert, and the haunting stays of shipwrecks. As you drive alongside the Atlantic shoreline, sandy dunes tumble into the waves on one facet, whereas the limitless ocean stretches to the horizon on the opposite.
The route evokes full freedom, with a always shifting mild that transforms the panorama each jiffy. Alongside the way in which, you would possibly spot colonies of sea lions, deserted wrecks, and eerily quiet surroundings paying homage to an alien world. Skeleton Coast just isn’t about luxurious, it’s for these searching for silence, area, and the uncooked expertise of untamed nature.
Tasman Peninsula Drive, Tasmania, Australia
The Tasman Peninsula Drive gives an adventurous escape alongside one among Tasmania’s most rugged and pristine coasts. Dramatic cliffs rise straight from the roaring Southern Ocean, framing winding roads that snake previous secluded seashores, sea caves, and lookout factors the place the horizon feels limitless. Historic lighthouses and small fishing cities punctuate the journey, including appeal and a way of timelessness. Every flip reveals a panorama extra breathtaking than the final, making each second really feel like a postcard come to life.
Mountain climbing trails lead from the street to hidden bays and forested headlands, whereas the ocean’s ever-changing colours hold your eyes glued to the view. Wildlife sightings are frequent, from playful seabirds to wallabies hopping alongside cliff edges, reminding you that that is actually a wild nook of the world. The mixture of journey, serenity, and awe-inspiring surroundings makes the Tasman Peninsula Drive an unforgettable coastal journey that rivals any European route for sheer drama and sweetness.
Atlantic Street, Norway
Norway’s Atlantic Street is an engineering marvel, a rollercoaster of bridges and causeways that leap between small islands on the nation’s west coast. Waves crash under because the street curves dramatically over open sea, generally disappearing in spray. It’s brief, simply over 5 miles, however each second feels cinematic. Drivers come for the joys, however they keep for the silence that follows when the ocean calms.
The Atlantic Street feels virtually alive, flexing with wind and lightweight. On stormy days, it’s wild and thunderous; in sunshine, it’s surreal and glassy. Locals say it’s a street constructed not simply to attach locations, however to remind folks of nature’s energy. Vacationers cease to {photograph}, fish, or just watch the horizon shift in limitless shades of blue. No European route, not even Amalfi or Côte d’Azur, captures such uncooked drama in such a small spa
Andaman Coast Drive, Thailand
Winding alongside Thailand’s Andaman Sea, this coastal drive looks like a tropical dream come to life. Turquoise waters lap towards dramatic limestone cliffs, whereas hidden seashores invite spontaneous stops for a swim or a picnic underneath swaying palms. Tiny fishing villages dot the route, the place locals greet vacationers with heat smiles and contemporary seafood aromas drift by way of the air. Every curve of the street reveals a brand new vista, from lush mangroves to secret coves that really feel like your individual non-public paradise.
The sunsets listed below are nothing wanting cinematic, casting golden mild throughout the water and reflecting off the jagged cliffs in each attainable shade of orange and pink. Snorkeling stops alongside the way in which present vibrant coral reefs teeming with life, making it not only a drive however a full-on sensory journey. Each mile encourages you to decelerate, breathe, and soak within the quiet magic that makes Thailand’s west coast one of many world’s hidden gems.
Oregon Coast Freeway, USA
The Oregon Coast Freeway, also called Freeway 101, is a scenic masterpiece that hugs the Pacific Ocean for lots of of miles, providing an ideal mix of rugged cliffs, sandy seashores, and forested hills. Every flip reveals a brand new dramatic panorama, tide swimming pools teeming with starfish, hidden coves, and majestic sea stacks rising from the surf.
Quaint coastal cities like Cannon Seaside and Newport invite leisurely strolls, native seafood, and charming artisan outlets that make each cease really feel private. Driving right here is greater than only a journey; it’s a transferring gallery of nature, the place each bend within the street frames a wide ranging view.
Wildlife abounds alongside the way in which, from bald eagles hovering above the cliffs to seals sunbathing on offshore rocks. Mountain climbing trails, lighthouses, and quiet viewpoints dot the route, providing possibilities to pause and absolutely take up the uncooked magnificence. The Pacific mist, crashing waves, and limitless horizons create a way of freedom that lingers lengthy after the drive ends. Oregon Coast Freeway is proof that America’s west coast can rival any iconic European coastal street, with drama, appeal, and pure pure surprise at each mile.
