This is the second part of the series of articles featuring some of the world’s best driving roads. If you’ve missed the first part, you can find it here. The roads featured below have become popular with motorists because of their challenging layout, great scenery, and brilliant driving conditions. Take a look at what the world’s best driving roads have to offer.
11. Going to the Sun Road, Montana
Photo by Ken Thomas / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
Going to the Sun Road winds through Montana’s Rocky Mountain Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Marked by frequent hairpin turns and breathtaking views of the forested and snow-capped Rockies, the road has a speed limit of 50 mph and a length that takes two hours to drive from start to finish. It shares its name with the mountain range that sits directly to its east. The state’s highway and transportation department monitor it regularly for hazardous and icy driving conditions, with its driving status updated regularly on the state’s website. Thrill seekers be warned: stay off the road during stormy winter weather.
12. Amalfi Coast, Italy
Stretching 30 miles from Sorrento to Salerno, Amalfi Coast is a route that hugs the coastline of southern Italy. Speed limits are held to 50 mph, which allows you to take in captivating views of the blue ocean and rocky seaside coasts. The route has plentiful hairpin turns that put your driving skills to the ultimate test. Be warned however, as the stretch is often plagued by high coastal winds. The route passes through some of Italy’s most scenic and historic villages, providing you ample opportunities to sample the local culture and cuisine. Also, we advise traveling it during the tourist off-season, so you can enjoy the route without it being crowded.
13. Death Valley, California
Photo by CGP Grey / Flickr / www.CGPGrey.com / CC BY 2.0
Death Valley in California is home to some of the world’s most challenging and dangerous roadways. One of these roads, CA-190, winds through the valley’s painted desert scenery. As scenic and captivating as the highway views are, however, you should prepare for extreme desert temperatures that can take their toll on both you and your car. State officials warn drivers to prepare for driving through the Death Valley roadways by bringing along a charged cell phone, a powerbank, and plenty of fresh water. The highways like CA-190 stretch for as long as 20-plus miles and have speed limits that range from 50 to 70 miles per hour.
14. The Great Alpine Highway, New Zealand
Photo by Karsten Sperling / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
Stretching 158 miles from Christchurch, New Zealand, the Great Alpine Highway travels through some of the most scenic landscapes in the country. The highway takes around three hours to drive from start to finish. It is surrounded by views of the forested mountains and gorges located in Craigieburn Forest Park and Arthur’s Pass National Park. It also passes through some of New Zealand’s most welcoming villages and farmlands where you can stop to relax and enjoy hospitality at any of the bed and breakfasts or backpacking lodges found along the highway.
15. Route Napoleon, France
Photo by Fr.Latreille / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / CC BY-SA 2.5 / CC BY-SA 2.0 / CC BY-SA 1.0 / GNU FDL 1.2
The Route Napoleon is a 93-mile French road that follows the historic march undertaken by Napoleon from Elba to Grenoble. France opened the road in 1932 and since then, it has gained a reputation as one of the world’s best driving roads. As it winds through the French Alps, it is hallmarked by views of the steep drop-off cliffs and deep mountain valleys. Despite its winding turns and gorge-hugging zigzags, the Route Napoleon is remarkably smooth to drive. It features a newly paved surface and is cordoned by railings that prevent drivers from careening into the mountainsides and the deep rocky gorges.
16. Grossglockner Pass, Austria
Photo by Wald1siedel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
The Grossglockner Pass is a mountain highway that traverses through the Austrian Alpine mountain range. Its highest elevation reaches 2504 meters and it is surrounded by views of snow-capped mountains and rolling pastures in the valleys. The highway features numerous hairpin curves that lead up to Hochter Pass. It also includes a scenic pass that goes through the highway’s alpine tunnel and a visitor’s center that sits at an elevation of 2369 meters.
17. A535 from Holmes Chapel to Alderley Edge, England
Photo by michael ely / Geograph.co.uk / CC BY-SA 2.0
The A535 from Holmes Chapel to Alderley Edge is a secondary highway that is located in England and runs from Holmes Chapel to Alderly Edge in Cheshire. The route spans a little more than 10 miles and traverses through some of England’s most scenic farm country. While you enjoy the scenic views of the rolling hills and idyllic countryside, you can also enjoy navigating rounded curves that weave in and out of tunnels. The road also passes by the Jodrell Bank Observatory, which was built in 1966 and home to five different telescopes.
18. Black Forest High Road, Germany
Pixabay.com / CC0 1.0.
The Black Forest High Road (called Schwarzwaldhochstraße in German) gets its name from the Black Forest Mountains in which it is located. Starting at the town of Baden-Baden, this federal highway ends in the town of Freudenstadt and travels through the cities of Zuflucht and Alexanderschanze, both of which are located in the Schliffkopf and Kneibis mountain ranges. With its unguarded zigzags and tight hairpin curves, this mountain highway takes tourists to sightseeing locations like the luxury hotel at the top of the mountain range, a point called Buhlerhohe. While the highway is sometimes plagued by problematic weather like high winds, heavy fog, and snow, it also allows for some of the best views of the Black Forest mountains as well as its forested valleys that are riddled with rippling clear blue lakes.
19. Nihon Romantic Road, Japan
Photo by Σ64 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / GNU FDL 1.2
The Nihon Romantic Road in Japan is indeed quaint and romantic with its remote location, narrow dimensions, and numerous curves that weave in and out of the mountains. While not on the to-do list of many tourists, this two-lane highway provides the perfect challenge to driving enthusiasts who want to test their vehicles’ capabilities and enjoy captivating views of the forested mountains at the same time. Spanning from Ueda City to Utsunomiya City, the road takes between three to five days to drive from start to finish. It passes by tourist hotspots like active volcanoes, the Kusatsu hot springs, and the Nikko world heritage sites.
20. Touge Road, Japan
Photo by Missile shot / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / CC BY-SA 2.5 / CC BY-SA 2.0 / CC BY-SA 1.0 / GNU FDL 1.2
Located in the Mount Fuji range, Touge Road in Japan stands out as one of the factors that brought motorsports into mainstream popularity in that country. The road itself looks like a quiet and safe country lane that ambles through the scenic mountains. However, with its tight and rounded curves and sparsely guarded sides, Touge, or “Pass,” Road puts your car and your driving skills to the test. Locals urge people to avoid driving the Touge Road at nighttime because of its challenging if not dangerous curves and narrow dimensions.
These roads offer a wide range of activities to all motorists; be it you are there for taking in the sights and visiting local attractions, or you wish to put your driving skills to the ultimate test, you won’t be disappointed. Take a break from the usual highway travel and plan a visit to some of these locations.
The post The World’s Best Driving Roads – Part II appeared first on Proctor Cars Magazine.