3 Dream Road Trips Every Backpacker Should Sample

Every seasoned backpacker or casual traveler will have a few places they want to visit – a bucket list. After reading hundreds of glossy travel magazines and watching hours of travel shows, it is only natural that everyone has formed a mental image of what their vacation should look like.

For many, these mental images often include dream road trips through scenic landscapes and winding roads.

If once-in-a-while travelers have a list of places to visit on their mind, seasoned backpackers will most certainly have their dream road trips planned. If you ask some of the regulars which road trip they would like to take, you will most definitely hear about these three places.

1. Road Trip Through Africa

One of the most popular road trip destinations is Africa, and not without good reason. Most backpackers start their journey across Africa from Tunisia.

From Tunisia, they head towards Egypt, exploring the wonders of Luxor and enjoying the scenic beauty of the River Nile. They drive along the beautiful river, cross the vast desert expanse, and finally reach the border with Ethiopia.

On the way, you will be able to visit the Langano Lake, make acquaintance with African people, explore the coast, see Mount Kilimanjaro up close, and see some of the animals that call the Masai Mara National Park their home – the perfect place for an African safari.

You can also drive from Johannesburg to Lesotho along the Sani Pass and through the Tsitsikamma Forest to reach Cape Town, which offers an authentic South African experience.

Africa is a continent that offers its guests a wealth of experiences—from spellbinding forests to arid deserts, indigenous people to extraordinary wildlife, and accommodations to fantastic food—everything one could ask for.

2. New Zealand's North Island

Many travelers choose New Zealand as a favorite destination. Its ethereal locations, serene landscapes, unblemished villages, and stunning scenery are truly magical to behold and experience.

One of the North Island of New Zealand's most popular road trip routes is from Auckland to Wellington, where you can rent a campervan like this from either end and start exploring.

This route spans the entire length of the North Island, making it the perfect way to explore the spectacular landscape. It will follow the steps of the magical world of "The Lord of the Rings" and bring fantasy to life.

A road trip on this route will take you through the worlds of Hobbiton, Bree, Huapai, Lake Tuapo, Kaimananwa Forest Park, Bodega, and Karori Sanctuary.

In addition to these fascinating places, you can also experience the rugged landscape of New Zealand, which draws people to its shores: volcanic footprints, rainforests, lakes, rolling hills, and stunning villages.

3. Legendary Route 66

This list would be incomplete without mentioning the legendary Route 66 in California. Crystal clear blue skies, warm sunshine, landmarks, coasts, deserts, and lots of sea, sand, and surfing to catch up with – that is the California road trip for you.

Go from east to west – start your journey from the Anza–Borrego Desert State Park and finish at Santa Monica Beach. Or, you can drive off from the oceanfront city of Santa Monica and take a final break at the desert park.

Either way, don't forget to catch Universal Studios Hollywood, the museums in Pasadena, the art collection at the Huntington Library, and take a detour towards San Gabriel and San Bernardino to catch your breath in a small town where artifacts of the original Route 66 migration are on display. You can also visit the Mojave National Park before cooling off at Palm Springs.

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This post was brought to you by Tom at Backpackerboy.com.