The Best & Worst Countries for Road Trips

There’s nothing I love more than a road trip. And my second favorite thing is a place ticket. Mix those two together, and it ends with taking a fair amount of road trips around the globe. 

And I’ve made all the mistakes. Tickets in Europe. Flat tires in Scotland. Ripping the mirror off twenty seconds after leaving the airport in New Zealand. Oops. 

Some places are best explored on the road, while others are a headache waiting to happen. Here are my picks for the best and worst countries for road trips: 

Best: Iceland 

There is only one way to explore the best of Iceland: renting a car. I’ve been to Iceland three times, two were road trips, and the other was taking a tour. Organized tours in Iceland are nothing but a disappointment. Better yet, Iceland is one of the easiest countries to drive in. It’s one of the best countries to do on your own. You won’t regret it! 

Best: United States

Coming to the U.S. to see New York and Los Angeles is just…not it. I mean, sure, those are iconic global cities that you’ll likely want to visit, but they shouldn’t be your only stop in the United States. In my opinion, the best way to explore the states is a road trip. If you are nervous about driving in the city, fly into a smaller regional airport like Jackson Hole, Moab, or Kalispell, where some of the best National Parks are within a few hours, and there is no big city driving. 

Worst: Italy 

Italy is a hectic country for road trips in a few ways. If you take a road trip there, I am willing to bet you will get one (or three) traffic tickets in the mail a few months after your trip. Italy’s traffic laws can be highly confusing to foreigners. For example, we got a traffic ticket for going into a specific part of the city during “restricted hours,” but there was no good way to know that tiny square in the tiny town was restricted in any way unless you were familiar with Italian laws. You also need an international driver’s license to drive there, which is an extra headache. Public transportation is widely available throughout Italy, and is much easier than renting a car. 

Best: Australia 

Funny enough, I am writing this blog from the bush of Australia. It’s my third time in this country, but my first time doing a proper road trip. Not many travel beyond the cities when visiting this country, which is a big mistake. The best places are beyond the beaten path here. The roads are easy to navigate, there are tons of free camping areas, and there aren’t many restrictions on where you can/can’t camp. 10/10! 

Worst: Indonesia 

Renting a bike to get around daily in Indonesia is common, but I wouldn’t ever recommend renting a scooter and exploring the country. The streets are chaotic, even if you are a seasoned motorbike rider. Worse yet, it just doesn’t make much sense as a method of transportation with luggage. And I wouldn’t even consider renting an actual car. 

Best: Norway

Norway is the best country in the world for free/wild camping. There are little to no restrictions, and you’ll find people traveling the country in campervans or their car camping setups everywhere you go. You can go find an actual campsite, or simply use a pulloff on the side of the road for the night. The driving is easy, and there is more than enough open space for everyone to spread out and enjoy the landscapes, even during peak season.

Best & Worst: New Zealand

Right before being in Australia, we were in New Zealand. It’s probably the most well-known country to explore by campervan, but we surprisingly found it very unfriendly for camping and road tripping. There are heavy restrictions on where you can free camp, which fill up quickly during the busy season. Many of the most popular tours and attractions have little-to-no free camping nearby. Certain vehicles and campers aren’t allowed to camp there, as you must be ‘self-contained’ to be there. 

With that being said, there is really no other way to do New Zealand properly. Hotels are few and far between. A campervan in New Zealand has some incredible advantages. If you do a campervan rental, here are my biggest tips: 

1. Make sure your rental is ‘self contained’ 
2. Get to free campsites early during high season 
3. Make a campsite reservation as early as possible 

Worst: Thailand  

There would never be a reason I would rent a car to road trip in Thailand. This is for a few reasons: 

1. Flights are cheap between destinations. Wanting to get from Chai Maing to Bangkok? Easy. 
2. Taxis/Ubers are cheap. Save the headache and use rideshare apps to get around. Rides are typically between $2-$15. 
3. There is really nowhere that a car would be needed. 

But traveling Thailand by sailboat? HIGHLY recommend. I hosted a group trip through G Adventures that was this itinerary…and it was one of my favorite trips to date. 

Best: Chile/Argentina (Patagonia) 

Patagonia is similar to Norway with its easy driving, expansive landscapes, and high volume of free camping options. It’s also ideal for a road trip because there are large distances between must-see destinations. Without a car, you’ll be stuck to either expensive flights or unreliable public transport. We took one bus from El Calafate to El Chatlen, and that itself was a headache. It’s also an extremely safe area, so safe that many people still opt to hitchhike!

Best: Spain

Spain has to be one of the best countries to road trip in Europe, and all my favorite places in the country are located outside the main cities of Madrid and Barcelona. It also allows the freedom to visit some of the most beautiful towns in the country, including Montefrio, Ronda, Nerja, and Setenil de las Bodegas. The roads are easy to navigate, and great for beginners taking their first road trip abroad. From the coastline to the mountains, you can't go wrong!