The 5 best countries for road trips worldwide

While road trips are often a great way to travel, they can also backfire. Factors such as fuel costs and road conditions make a big difference when it comes to this type of travel.

So that the holiday is a success, we give an overview of the best countries for road trips.

Road trips have been popular for decades. However, due to the pandemic, this way of traveling has really become a trend. You meet fewer people on the way, you can isolate yourself and explore remote areas. And last but not least, clear your head on long journeys. But not all countries are suitable for a road trip. So that bad road conditions, boring gravel roads and high petrol prices don’t spoil your mood, we present you with a ranking of the booking platform Holidu.

Holidu compared road quality, fuel prices and landscape diversity in 118 countries and published the “Cross-Country Road Trip Index”. To measure how much there is to see in a country, Holidu used the UNESCO World Heritage List and the number of cities in the world’s top 100 rankings as determined by the BestCities.org website. The result is a list of the five countries that are best suited for road trips.

The five best countries for road trips

5th place: Argentina

Argentina is the second largest country in South America after Brazil, so there is a lot to discover. Buenos Aires is also one of the “100 best cities” in the country. Argentina’s capital offers a vibrant nightlife, cobblestone streets and ornate mansions. But Argentina isn’t just cosmopolitan, it’s also home to the Yacutinga Rainforest, the Andes Mountains, the Patagonian desert and countless beaches.

4th place: Malaysia

The Asian country Malaysia occupies fourth place in the ranking. In one area it was even more convincing than the countries in first to third place: value for money. Malaysia is the seventh cheapest country for petrol in the world with currently only 0.43 euros per liter. You can also stay overnight there very cheaply. Here, Malaysia is in tenth place with average accommodation costs of 74 euros per week.

Places one to three were able to convince with more UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but Malaysia offers a varied landscape: jungle in the Cameron Highlands, beautiful sandy beaches along the coast and glaciers on its highest point, Mount Kinabalu.

3rd place: Canada

The third best country in the world for a road trip is Canada. Holidu particularly emphasizes the natural treasures of the country and mentions beaches as well as the large national parks such as Banff National Park, Moraine Lake and Niagara Falls. But it’s not just the nature that makes a trip to Canada worthwhile. The country ranked second behind the United States for the number of cities in the “Top 100” list. Toronto scored the highest, followed by Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa and Edmonton. But travelers will also be happy about the good roads.

2nd place: Mexico

Although Mexico is the second best country for road trips overall, it managed to dominate the ranking in some areas. About the landscapes. The Lacandon Jungle or Selva Lacandona on the border with Guatemala should be interesting for road trippers. In addition to the landscape, vacationers in Mexico can also discover countless cultural sites. With 35 Unesco World Heritage sites, it has the seventh most in the world. Among them are the cities of Morelia and Guanajuato, as well as several Mayan city ruins and Aztec ceremonial sites. Perhaps the most well-known is Chichen-Itza, an ancient Mayan city brimming with sacred temples, great pyramids, and ceremonial cenotes.

1st place: United States

The best country in the world for road trips is the USA. As the third largest country in the world, there is also a lot to discover in terms of area. In addition, 29 of the 100 “Best Cities in the World” are in the United States. In addition, it is important to explore the diverse landscapes of the USA – mountains, deserts, beaches, glaciers and forests.

Another advantage of road trips through the USA is that it is one of the countries with the best infrastructure in the world. So it’s unlikely that you’ll lose your rental car deposit because of that annoying flat tire or broken suspension. And: you can also refuel comparatively cheaply here.