Epic Road Trips

Photo credit: Bodie Bailey

There are scores of lists of the best road trips in the world, but no one seems to list the greatest epic road trips. There are only a handful of road trips in the world that fall into this category. These are the type that take at least a month to complete at a reasonable pace, and will likely result in a book.

1. The Long Way Down
As chronicled by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in their second book (which sadly has generally poor reviews), a trip from the top of Europe to the bottom of Africa. This might be one of the most dangerous road trips possible as you contend with political instability, corrupt cops, disease, remote areas, etc etc. Toss that element of adventure in there with spectacular sites and the chance for some great local interactions and you’re looking at one heck of an adventure.

2. Across Eurasia
Follow the tracks of Marco Polo, driving all the way across the biggest continent. The famed Mongol Rally would be a good example of this, but they stop a bit short of reaching the Pacific Ocean. Along the way you get to get to explore the rich history of Europe and explore remote Central Asia Steppes. There are some fun options for this trip on a train as well, but for a real adventure, grab your own wheels.

3. Pan-American Highway
Perhaps the most travelled of the epic road trips on this list, and the one that seems to invite the most variety of vehicles, from vegi-oil powered Japanese fire trucks to tandem bicycles. But being comparatively well trod doesn’t mean this is an easy or dull trip. You drive through he Rockies, along the Caribbean, past the Amazon, and down the Andes to the end of the earth. You also have to deal with some pesky problems like the Darien Gap, where the road ends in the jungles of Panama and doesn’t start again until well into Columbia. Good luck with that.

4. Around Oz
I would think that any Australian adventurer worth his or her salt would have done this in a small car in 2 weeks, but it seems to mostly be done with a camping rig over couple of months. The thrill stems from a gorgeous and sparsely populated country, without the hassle of border crossings of any of the other trips.

5. Around the Mediterranean
The Romans were on to something. The whole area around the Mediterranean Sea is beautiful and varied. For the modern traveller also offers a chance to wander through the history of ancient empires, world wars, and a handful of holy lands. There are a couple of challenges, like Algeria, but for the bulk of your journey you get to kick back and enjoy some fairly nice beaches.

Of course there is another category of road trip beyond these: the drive around the world.