{"id":182714,"date":"2026-04-04T06:42:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T04:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodthingsguy.com\/?p=182714"},"modified":"2026-04-07T06:09:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:09:33","slug":"the-worlds-best-road-trip-is-right-here-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodthingsguy.com\/travel\/the-worlds-best-road-trip-is-right-here-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"The World\u2019s Best Road Trip Is Right Here in South Africa!"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of South Africa\u2019s most iconic drives has just been ranked number one in the world, putting it ahead of some of the planet\u2019s most famous routes.<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Garden Route, South Africa (04 April 2026)<\/em> – You don\u2019t need a passport stamp to experience one of the greatest road trips on Earth. You just need a good playlist, a sense of adventure and a stretch of road that South Africans have been bragging about for years.<\/p>\n

And now, the rest of the world knows about it too.<\/p>\n

In a new global study by Autotrader<\/a>, in partnership with senior meteorologist Jim R N Dale, South Africa\u2019s Garden Route has officially been ranked the best road trip in the world for driving conditions.<\/p>\n

The research set out to understand what really makes a road trip feel effortless and enjoyable behind the wheel. Dale pointed out that visibility is the most important factor when it comes to ideal driving conditions, and from there, the study looked at five key elements: road surface conditions, clear days, wind speed, ground temperature and humidity comfort. All of these were combined into a \u201cPerfect Driving Weather\u201d score.<\/p>\n

The Garden Route didn\u2019t just perform well across those categories. It delivered a near-perfect score of 90.6 out of 100, placing it firmly at the top of the global rankings.<\/p>\n

\"The
Bloukrans Bridge | Photo Credit: Enchanting Travels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Running roughly 300 kilometres from Mossel Bay to Storms River, this iconic stretch offers more than just scenery. It\u2019s a drive where everything seems to align. Clear skies that open up the horizon, gentle winds that don\u2019t interrupt the journey and temperatures that make you want to keep going just a little bit further. Along the way, the Indian Ocean glimmers beside you, forests close in with that deep green calm, and mountain passes add just enough drama to keep things interesting.<\/p>\n

Trailing just behind South Africa are some of the world\u2019s most famous routes. Route 66 in the United States takes second place, followed by the Pacific Coast Highway. Both are known for their long, open stretches and reliable sunshine, while destinations like Italy\u2019s Amalfi Coast, Spain\u2019s Costa Brava and Australia\u2019s Great Ocean Road also feature in the top ten.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Garden Route – South Africa<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Route 66 – United States<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Pacific Coast Highway – United States<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Amalfi Coast Road – Italy<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Costa Brava Coastal Roads – Spain<\/strong><\/li>\n
  6. Great Ocean Road – Australia<\/strong><\/li>\n
  7. Icefields Parkway – Canada<\/strong><\/li>\n
  8. Loire Valley Drives – France<\/strong><\/li>\n
  9. Kahekili Highway – United States<\/strong><\/li>\n
  10. Norwegian Atlantic Road – Norway<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    But even among those globally celebrated drives, the Garden Route was number 1 for a reason.<\/p>\n

    Erin Baker from Autotrader captured the magic of it perfectly, \u201cEvery driver knows the feeling: windows down, the road stretching out under a clear sky, conditions so perfect you could stay behind the wheel all day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWe wanted to find out which of the world\u2019s great roads most often deliver this experience and were pleasantly surprised by just how many countries across the globe have roads that scored highly in our Perfect Driving Weather index.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWhether you\u2019re planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip along the Garden Route or a weekend loop somewhere closer to home, the right conditions and the right car can turn a good drive into an unforgettable one.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    But South Africans knew this already.\u00a0This isn\u2019t a hidden gem or a place you need to discover. It\u2019s a route that families have travelled for generations, where friends have made memories on long weekends and where solo trips have turned into something meaningful along the way.<\/p>\n

    So the next time you find yourself on that road, windows open, music playing, taking in the coastline and everything that comes with it, remember this: you\u2019re not just on a good drive… you\u2019re on the best one in the world.<\/p>\n

    \"The
    Knysna Heads | Photo Credit: Tridadvisor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \n
    Sources: Autotrader\u00a0<\/em><\/h6>\n
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