The World’s Most Spectacular Coastal Road Trips for Summer — and the Beaches to Stop At

Summer road trips are classic, providing the perfect way to explore backroads with scenic views and hidden spots that are often missed when you fly to a destination. The journey is the adventure itself. You can stop when you want, linger longer in places you love, and tweak your plans if your mood or the weather changes.

But with so many options for coastal road trips during the summer, choosing which one to take can be challenging. As I’m the type of traveler who prefers to explore independently by car, I’ve enjoyed many of them, from the U.S. to Europe, New Zealand, and beyond. To help you make your decision easier, these are some of the best I’ve found, complete with beautiful beaches to stop at along the way.

California’s Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) traditionally starts in or near Fort Bragg in Mendocino County and concludes at Dana Point in Orange County, spanning over 650 miles. But it’s also possible to take it in sections with the 123-mile stretch between Monterey and Big Sur often named among the world’s most scenic drives. You’ll pass giant redwood trees on one side with waves crashing against seaside cliffs on the other, while beaches like Pfeiffer with its purple-tinted sands to stop at along the way. 

If you start in Fort Bragg, visit famous Glass Beach with its colorful sea glass and wander through the Victorian village of Mendocino. It’s surrounded by Mendocino Headlands State Park where you can hike scenic trails along the bluffs and down to Portuguese Beach. Other highlights include the Point Reyes National Seashore, home to an iconic lighthouse and three herds of tule elk, a subspecies found only in California.

In Santa Cruz you’ll find all sorts of amusements at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, including rides like a historic wooden roller coaster and a long, sandy beach. South of Big Sur is Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Morro Bay with six miles of sandy beach, dozens of sea otters, and outstanding whale watching. Stop in Malibu for some celebrity spotting and stunning beaches like El Matador followed by Venice Beach, one of Southern California’s most iconic.  

The Amalfi Coast Road is often ranked among the world’s most spectacular drives. While it’s not for the faint of heart, you’ll enjoy some of the most awe-inspiring views while traveling along the steep cliffs. That not only includes the endless glistening cobalt waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, but terraces covered with vineyards, olive groves, and lemon trees. The vistas seem to get more breathtaking with every turn. 

One of the best viewpoints can be enjoyed at Conca dei Marini, just after the Belvedere Hotel. Take time to savor the panoramic view of the coast, dramatic cliffs, the Emerald Grotto, and the town of Amalfi in the distance. Conca dei Marini Beach below is the perfect place for a relaxing break. Other noteworthy stops include Positano’s Marina Grande beach and Maiori Beach, the largest stretch of sands on the coast.

A rugged and wild route, the North Coast 500 is an iconic Highlands drive. It’s best enjoyed slowly over five days or more, covering the northern coast and many picturesque beaches backed by mountains. Driving counter clockwise, start from Inverness and travel north along the east coast for a scenic build-up. While you can do a full circle back to Inverness, many culminate the trip in Applecross. Some of the most impressive stretches are on the west coast between Ullapool and Applecross, providing a grand finale. 

Highlights include Chanonry Point where you can watch for bottlenoise dolphins and the French-style Dunrobin Castle. When you reach John O’ Groats, you’ll want to stop to see the massive Duncansby sea stacks. Nearby, Dunnet Head is the northernmost point of mainland Britain, with outstanding birdwatching and a lighthouse. Continuing west toward Thurso along the northern coast, you’ll pass many beaches and dunes. Durness is worth a stop with particularly stunning white Caribbean-like beaches and Smoo Cave, a huge sea cave with a waterfall inside.

From Durness to Applecross, stop to see the ruins of the 15th-century Ardvreck Castle before enjoying lunch at Lochinver Lardr in Lochniver. It’s famous for its handmade savory and sweet pies. Before concluding, visit Corrieshallock Gorge, one of the UK’s most spectacular gorges, complete with a suspension bridge and waterfall.

One of the most famous road trips in Australia, the Great Ocean Road is a 150-mile route along the southeastern coast of Australia between Torquay and Allansford. Flying into Melbourne, you’ll be just over an hour’s drive from the official start, where you can expect awe-inspriing views of dramatic cliffs and the Pacific while winding through a cool climate rainforest. Some of the best beaches to stop at include Fairhaven Beach, just a 30- to 40-minute drive from Torquay. It’s the longest of the journey at nearly four miles in length, ideal for stretching your legs before continuing.

The drive between Lorne and Apollo Bay is one of the most breathtaking. Stop at Lorne where you can admire the nearly 100-foot-high Erskine Falls tumbling into a lush tree-fern gully. It’s a feast for the eyes from there, with caves crashing onto the beaches tucked below sheer cliffs. Apollo Bay Beach is a must-stop with its golden sands and calm, turquoise water safe for swimming. Just over 50 miles further, you’ll reach Port Campbell National Park, world-famous for its wind- and wave-sculpted rock formations, including London Bridge, the Arch, and 12 Apostles, which soar uas high as 200 feet. You’ll find many spots in the area to stop and swim, surf, or watch for wildlife like kangaroos, koalas, and penguins.

Driving the Wild Atlantic Way is an epic coastal adventure covering approximately 1,600 miles from the Kinsale in County Cork to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal. While you can travel the entire route over two or three weeks, most take it in sections with some returning to tackle the rest on future trips. No matter where you go you’ll enjoy a dramatic blend of golden sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, and charming villages. 

The Ring of Kerry is a arguably the most popular part of the drive, traveling roughly 111 miles around the Iveragh Peninsula, through Killarney National Park and the wild west coast. Just off the official route is the tiny village of Portmagee where you can take a boat tour to Skelling Michael topped by an ancient monastery and featured in several “Star Wars” films. Slea Head Drive is another one of the most iconic sections of the Wild Atlantic Way, a circular route that begins and ends in the town of Dingle featuring historical sites and some of the best coastal views in the country. 

The Ring Road is a bucket-list drive in Iceland that encircles the country, covering more than 800 miles along Route 1. You need at least a week, but 10 days or more is best. You’ll start in the capital of Reykjavik where you can take in a panoramic view from the top of Hallgrimskirkja Church. Continue to the Golden Circle route highlight geysers, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park, home to the only place on the planet where you can snorkel or dive between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. 

From the Golden Circle, venture to the South Coast where just a few of the top sights include black sand beaches, waterfalls, and the famous glacier lagoon. As you make your way back north, key stops are Lake Myvatn and its remarkable geothermal features, Husavik (the Whale Watching Capital of Europe), and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, “Iceland in Miniature,” encapsulating nearly everything Iceland is known.

The ominously named Skeleton Coast is littered with shipwrecks. Located where the crashing waves of the Atlantic meet vast desert sands, it stretches for 300 miles, providing a much different experience compared to the other destinations on this list. It’s one of the driest places on the planet with cold ocean currents often forming dense fog that covers the shoreline, something that confused many captains over the years, with the skeletons of their ships left behind.

There are some 500 that can be seen along the way, along with a wealth of wildlife. Highlights include Cape Cross with its seal colony and Skeleton Coast National Park, home to elephants, giraffes, lions, hyenas, rhinos, and more. One thing is sure, you’ll have endless inspiration for photos.

The scenery in New Zealand is legendary, but the South Island is truly a dream. One of the best road trips is the drive between Westport and Greymouth, known as the Great Coast Road. It’s only about 63 miles in length, taking 90 minutes to two hours without stops, but you’ll want to take your time. It’s highly acclaimed as one of the world’s top coastal drives, providing jaw-dropping views of the Tasman Sea, vast stretches of driftwood-strewn beaches, lush forests, and towering mountains.

Some of the best stops along the way include the Punakaikiki Pancake Rocks, limestone formations that look like stacked pancakes, with blowholes that can be seen at high tide. Stretch your legs with a short and easy walk on the Truman Track that winds through lush rainforest, leading to an idyllic beach. Be sure to stop at Barrytown, an eclectic community that serves as the gateway to adventures in Paparoa National Park and offers locally-made artisan crafts. If you’re here at dusk, watch for the little blue penguins that like to nest along the rocky shores nearby.

For abundant sunshine, white sand beaches, and warm turquoise, take a road trip on the Overseas Highway. Spanning just over 110 miles from mainland Florida near Miami to Key West, the country’s southernmost point, it crosses more than 40 trans-ocean bridges along the way. You might stop to snorkel the vibrant coral reefs at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. It’s one of the best places for the activities, with tropical fish like parrotfish and angelfish, sea turtles, and spotted eagle rays.

Some of the top beaches en-route include Anne’s Beach in Islamorada and the beaches at Bahia Honda State Park. Once in Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park offers the best overall beach and another top snorkeling site with water like glass that can be easily accessed from shore. 

The drive from Falmouth to Provincetown is quintessentially scenic, spanning the length of Cape Cod while traveling by beaches along the Cape Cod National Seashore and many seaside towns. It takes 90 minutes to two hours to cover the approximately 70-mile route, with the most picturesque views enjoyed by taking Route 28 east from Falmouth towards Chatham. From there, catch Route 6A, a historic road that runs along the outer Cape, from Sandwich to the extreme northern tip, showcasing views of lighthouses, Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic. 

Convenient beach stops along 6A include Mayflower Beach in Dennis, Sandy Neck Beach in Sandwich and Barnstable with coastal dunes, and Skaket Beach in Orleans with calm water for swimming.