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21 Life-changing Trips Everyone Should Experience at Least Once
From African safaris to must-visit cities, these once-in-a-lifetime trips will make you want to plan your next great adventure.
Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.
What's next on your travel list? With so many places worth traveling to, it can be hard to narrow down your top spots to visit.
Sometimes, it's the famous attractions, delicious food, and stunning hotels that draw us to a certain destination, and other times, it's the bragging rights that come with checking off every continent, country, or state. Whatever your motivation, we've rounded up 21 incredible trips, complete with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and iconic sights you won't find anywhere else in the world.
So, what makes a trip truly life-changing? That answer varies from traveler to traveler, but one thing is for sure: From African safaris to classic road trips, this list will make you want to plan your next great adventure.
Deciding between the historic cities of Rome, Venice, Naples, and Florence for the top destination to visit feels impossible, so the entire country of Italy deserves a spot on your list. Start in the Eternal City and head north through the rolling hills of Tuscany to visit Florence, followed by Milan or Venice, or go south to the beaches of the beautiful Amalfi Coast and Sicily.
New York, New York
Visiting the Statue of Liberty , standing at the top of the Empire State Building, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge: These are just a few of the things you can only do in New York City. Whether you dream of visiting all the places you've seen on screen, catching a Broadway show, or eating your way through the city's diverse neighborhoods, there's no doubt that NYC deserves a spot on your list.
Tokyo, Japan
Old and new come together in Japan's bustling capital city. Historic temples and shrines, busy shopping districts, delicious food, and some of the world's best theme parks and attractions — whatever your interests, there's something for you in Tokyo.
Paris, France
From watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle and viewing famous works of art at world-renowned museums to eating delicious French pastries, there are innumerable reasons that Paris deserves a spot on your list. Of course, other dreamy French destinations like Mont-Saint-Michel, Chamonix, and the Riviera are well worth a visit, too.
Busy medinas, intricate architecture, and a unique combination of cultural influences make Morocco unlike anywhere else on the planet. Whether you're traveling to bustling Marrakesh, pretty coastal cities, or remote desert towns (or hopefully, all three), a trip to Morocco is bound to be one to remember.
Monica Farber/Travel + Leisure
From the whitewashed homes of Santorini to the Ios party scene to the relaxing atmosphere of Milos, there's a perfect Greek Island for every type of traveler. Island hopping gives you the chance to experience more of what the country has to offer, but plan to spend a couple of days in Athens at the beginning and/or end of your trip.
T+L Backpack Quiz
Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure
Machu Picchu
Seeing the historic ruins of the Incan Empire set among the breathtaking Andes at Machu Picchu is an undeniably life-changing experience. The stunning citadel ruins of Machu Picchu are worth the journey — and for some travelers, that trip, often taken by train or on foot as a multi-day trek , is a big part of the experience. Editor’s note: Machu Picchu is currently closed due to civil unrest in Peru. Visit the official website for the latest news and reopening details.
African Safari
Seeing majestic animals like lions, elephants, and rhinos in the wild is a dream best accomplished with an African safari . South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya are among the most popular safari destinations — and in each of those countries, you'll find incredible lodges and tour operators who can help you spot these creatures in their natural habitat.
Whether you dream of cruising down the famed Nile River, seeing the Pyramids of Giza, or visiting the ancient Valley of the Kings, Egypt's historic wonders make the destination completely unique (and worthy of a spot on your travel list).
Unlike many of the action-packed trips on this list, the Maldives is synonymous with relaxation, luxury, and romance. A stay in an overwater bungalow set atop turquoise blue waters is the ultimate getaway that's worth the long-haul flight and oftentimes pricey accommodations.
Antarctica Cruise
Hoping to visit all seven continents? Cross Antarctica off your list with a cruise. Several major cruise lines have journeys to Antarctica, offering incredible views of the ice and wildlife from the comfort and safety of a ship. Travelers typically fly in and out of Buenos Aires en route to Ushuaia (where most cruises depart from); we recommend spending a few days in the fascinating Argentine city before your expedition.
Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure
Dubbed one of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is a can't-miss for many wildlife lovers. Of course, Australia's gorgeous coastline, the iconic Sydney Opera House, and fuzzy creatures like kangaroos and koalas are also reasons to head to the destination. Fly into Sydney and spend a few days there before heading out to explore more of this expansive country teeming with natural beauty.
Galapagos Islands
Incredible and diverse plant and animal species make the Galapagos Islands another must-visit for nature-loving travelers. This stunning archipelago off the coast of Ecuador is best explored by cruise, so you can take in as many breathtaking landscapes and animals as possible during your trip.
Like the other countries on this list, India has countless destinations worth exploring, but one of the most famous attractions that travelers dream of seeing for themselves is the Taj Mahal. This 17th-century white marble mausoleum has drawn visitors to Agra for years. Luxury travelers might consider a train trip aboard the Maharajas' Express (with a stop at the Taj Mahal) as the ultimate experience. Travelers planning to visit the Taj Mahal or take the luxurious train ride will want to fly into Delhi, India's capital territory.
Petra, Jordan
The stunning ancient city of Petra is made up of several impressive structures carved into sandstone rock faces, including the famous Al-Khazneh. The city dates back thousands of years, making this UNESCO World Heritage site a must-visit for history buffs.
Passing through India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan, and Nepal, the Himalayas are home to some of the world's highest peaks — and that means breathtaking mountain views, too. For adventurous and active travelers, climbing Mount Everest (or at least trekking to Everest Base Camp) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
American National Park Road Trip
The classic American road trip is a mainstay on many travelers' lists — and for good reason. The country's incredible national parks , including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite, are best explored on road trips with stops at charming small towns and kitschy roadside attractions.
Great Wall of China
Stretching across China for thousands of miles, with sections dating back nearly 2,000 years, the Great Wall is regarded as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Visitors can hike along parts of the wall — some areas are located within driving distance of Beijing, so it's a perfect day trip from the city.
Easter Island
The hundreds of monolithic moai statues have drawn curious visitors to Easter Island for years. This remote Polynesian island is worth the lengthy trip for travelers hoping to see these impressive human figures, while also soaking in some incredible coastal views.
Northern Lights Trip
Catching a glimpse of the elusive northern lights is possible in several destinations close to the Arctic Circle, including Alaska, Iceland, Canada, Greenland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway. All of these places have incredible viewpoints (and even hotels where you can see the phenomenon from your bed ), in addition to great, wintry scenery. (The lights are best viewed from late fall through early spring.)
Thailand and Vietnam
A trip through Southeast Asia is a must for any traveler, especially foodies who love street eats. While you could spend weeks in each of these countries, Thailand and Vietnam can easily be paired for an exciting trip packed with lush scenery, cultural experiences, and delicious food. Have a little extra time to spare? Add Cambodia to the mix and include a visit to expansive Angkor Wat.
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23 Incredible Road Trips in the U.S.
Whether you’re looking for sweeping views of the pacific ocean or a multiday adventure through national parks, these road trips provide plenty of opportunities to explore the united states..
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Glacier National Park is one of many scenic places you can visit on an American road trip.
Photo by Zack Frank / Shutterstock
In a country as large as the United States, there’s no shortage of destinations and detours to explore by car . Whether your idea of the perfect American road trip entails an epic, cross-country journey or a shorter jaunt through a few of its most iconic national parks , your options are as large and varied as the country itself.
Even if you don’t have the time to drive cross-country, there are plenty of road trip routes (ranging from three days to a week or longer): classic California itineraries , New England routes that shine especially well in the fall, scenic East Coast adventures, and a variety of Midwest journeys for folks farther from the coasts.
No matter your mode of transportation—be it van, RV, motorcycle, or four-door sedan—these are 21 of the best road trips in the nation to consider.
Plan your next Route 66 trip around thirst-quenching stops.
Photo by Peek Creative Collective/Shutterstock
There are many ways to do a cross-country road trip in the USA, but these two itineraries will take you through some truly iconic American places.
1. Chicago to Los Angeles: A Whiskey Road Trip on Route 66
It doesn’t get more American than a 2,000-mile drive along the entirety of Route 66. There are endless ways to take this legendary trip (including an EV version —but to take your cross-country road trip to the next level, we recommend exploring another American pastime: whiskey.
Starting in Chicago and ending in L.A., you’ll stop by some of the leading craft distilleries in the United States, like Few Spirits in Chicago, Still 630 in St. Louis, and Red Fork Distillery in Tulsa. In between tastings, make time for detours to natural attractions, like the Grand Canyon, and quirky roadside curiosities, like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Just remember to drink responsibly—this is a road trip after all.
Plan your trip
The full itinerary: Put a New Twist on Route 66—Make It an American Whiskey Road Trip
No cars are allowed on Mackinac Island, so you need to park before taking the ferry to this spot.
Photo from Shutterstock
2. Bangor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington: The Great Northern on U.S. Route 2
Covering both the U.S. and Canada, a cross-country trip along U.S. 2 is ideal for anyone who wants to experience the vast diversity and expansiveness of North America. This drive runs the entire top border of the U.S. and showcases otherworldly natural wonders like Acadia National Park in Maine, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, and Mackinac Island in Michigan. The route also passes through Canada, taking road-trippers through Ontario into Quebec—this route may focus on nature, but you won’t want to miss a stop in Montreal or Ottawa.
You’ll also get to explore Montana and Glacier National Park ( reservations may be required ) before passing the Columbia Plateau and ending in the Pacific Northwest’s largest city, Seattle. Don’t miss spending time in the Olympic Peninsula (home to Olympic National Park) for a peek at one of the most scenic places on the West Coast.
3. Dana Point to San Francisco: Driving California’s Pacific Coast Highway
The seemingly endless views of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) are what road trip dreams are made of, and exactly what makes this California road trip so popular. However, with so many stops along the 655-mile stretch, we pulled together a list of the ones well worth pulling over to view. Don’t miss the perfect surfing waves in Santa Cruz, seasonal cuisine in Malibu, an afternoon a the boardwalk in Santa Monica, or a night in Big Sur as you drive between Dana Point (just south of Los Angeles) and San Francisco.
- The full itinerary: The Best Stops for a Road Trip on the Pacific Coast Highway
- The AFAR Guide to San Francisco
The seaside town of Monterey was the setting for John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row .
Photo by Denise Lett/Shutterstock
4. Big Sur to Mono County: A Literary Road Trip Through Northern California
Yes, this itinerary requires you actually put down your book to drive, but seeing some of the pivotal places that shaped American authors will be so worth it. Follow in the footsteps of writers like Jack Kerouac, Maya Angelou, and Amy Tan on this road trip that takes you through literary landmarks in Northern California, such as Caffe Trieste, a meeting place for Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Alan Watts, and other bohemian writers and thinkers. This 12-stop itinerary is perfect if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area because you’ll be able to stay make these trips in one or two days.
The full itinerary: The California Road Trip All Book Lovers Should Take
Arizona may take its nickname from the Grand Canyon, but the state has far more natural wonders than just that one.
Courtesy of Shutterstock
5. Phoenix to the Grand Canyon: An Iconic Arizona Road Trip
This 240-mile Arizona road trip takes travelers along some of the state’s most iconic highlights, including its most famous one, the Grand Canyon. A great itinerary for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, it offers plenty of opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, and biking—as well as tasty food along the way. Hike the 2,704-foot-tall Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale or take in the beautiful red rocks of Sedona on a hike to Cathedral Rock while exploring the Grand Canyon State.
- The full itinerary: The Classic 5-Day Arizona Road Trip
- Grand Canyon guide: The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon
- Where to eat in Phoenix: A Chef’s Guide to the Best Restaurants
- Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Arizona ; The Best Airbnbs in Sedona
The Delicate Arch living up to its name in Utah’s Arches National Park
Photo by tusharkoley / Shutterstock
6. Zion to Grand Canyon: A National Parks Road Trip in the Southwest
If you’re looking to visit as many national parks as possible in one road trip, this southwestern itinerary is for you. This journey through Utah and Arizona lets you hike Angel’s Landing in Zion, feel tiny under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, explore Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon, and, of course, raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon remain on the rim, but take at least four days to venture within the canyon and take advantage of the trails and river rafting.
- The full itinerary: The Ideal Road Trip Through U.S. National Parks
- Utah’s 8 Best National Parks and Monuments
- 10 Best National Parks and Monuments in Arizona
- The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon
Stop and admire the winding roads of the San Juan Skyway.
Photo by Anh Luu/Shutterstock
7. San Juan Scenic Skyway Road Trip: An Adventure Through Southwestern Colorado
This Colorado trip takes you along the 232-mile loop of the San Juan Scenic Skyway, where you will see plenty of alpine forests, mining towns, and craggy peaks. And for anyone looking to enjoy refreshments after a long day of driving, this route features many opportunities to stop at some of the best breweries in Colorado , such as Ska Brewing Co. in Durango.
- The full itinerary: The Ultimate Southwestern Colorado Road Trip
- Five Classic Colorado Road Trips To Take This Year
In small-town Buena Vista, the riverfront Surf Hotel offers front-row seats to Colorado-style adventure seekers.
Courtesy of the Surf Hotel
8. Denver to Montrose: A 420-Mile Road Trip Through Colorado
Want to explore even more of the Centennial State? Head out on this weeklong road trip where you can fish for salmon in Colorado’s largest reservoir, visit numerous small towns, like Paonia and Crawford, with thriving art scenes along the Colorado Creative Corridor , and explore Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the least visited national parks in the nation.
- The full itinerary: Art Stars, High-Altitude Wines, and a Remote National Park: The Ultimate Colorado Road Trip
- Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Colorado
- The AFAR Guide to Denver
Portland may be Oregon’s largest city, but with a population of some 652,000 (or 2.5 million in the larger metropolitan area), it isn’t intimidatingly large.
Photo courtesy of Travel Portland
9. Portland to Astoria: An Oregon Coast Road Trip for Outdoor Lovers
If you love the outdoors, then this six-day road trip along the coast of Oregon is for you. After driving to Coos Bay from Portland, travelers will meander along Oregon’s dramatic, rocky coastline, discovering some quintessentially Pacific Northwest vistas along the way: evergreen forests, seaside dunes, and marine ecosystems. Between stops, there are ample opportunities to stretch your legs hiking, kayaking, or strolling around the region’s small towns—like the historic old town in Florence.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Oregon road trip without a stop (or three) at a craft brewery, such as Fort George Brewery in Astoria, or cozy coffee shop, like Bread & Roses in Yachats.
- The full itinerary: An Outdoor Lover’s Road Trip on the Oregon Coast
- The AFAR Guide to Portland
The State Capitol Building in Nashville marks the end of this road (trip).
Photo by photo.ua / Shutterstock
10. Seneca Falls, New York, to Nashville, Tennessee: Follow the Path of the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Starting in New York’s Finger Lakes region and ending at the State Capitol Building in Nashville, this road trip traces the route of the national women’s suffrage movement. Highlights include stops at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House ; Union Square in New York City, which was the site of the first suffrage march; and the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington, D.C.
- The full itinerary: Celebrate Women’s Suffrage on an Epic, Self-Guided Road Trip
- Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Nashville
- The AFAR Guide to Nashville
- The AFAR Guide to Washington, D.C.
Asheville is one must-stop on a North Carolina road trip.
Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com
11. Charlottesville to Asheville: A Scenic Road Trip Through Virginia and North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the country. Beginning in the soft hilly meadows of the Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park down into the Blue Ridge Mountains, then into the Great Smoky Mountains, this five-day road trip is best done at a slower pace, which is perfect for admiring the dramatic outlooks and green plateaus. This eclectic itinerary features stops at an art museum, a dairy farm, and plenty of hiking trails.
- The full itinerary: The Ultimate Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
- Where to stay: 12 Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins You Can Rent on Airbnb and Vrbo
- 8 U.S. National Park Road Trips to Take in Your Lifetime
Dowa:kwe dance group from Zuni Pueblo in 2019
Courtesy of Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
12. Albuquerque to Las Cruces: Discover New Mexico on This Three-Day Road Trip
This route steers you away from New Mexican tourist hot spots like Taos and Santa Fe and instead takes you on a three-day adventure with places that teach you about Pueblo history. You’ll stop at Indian Pueblo Kitchen (formerly known as Pueblo Harvest), a restaurant inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that features Indigenous cuisine ; pick up peppers at Three Brothers in Hatch; and slide down the dunes in White Sands National Park.
- The full itinerary: This New Mexico Road Trip Is the Perfect Introduction to the Land of Enchantment
Historic Fort Martin Scott is one of the places travelers can visit to learn about Fredericksburg’s history.
Photo by Mark König/Unsplash
13. A Five-Day Scenic Road Trip Through Texas Hill Country
This Texas road trip starts and ends in San Antonio with stops in small towns like Bandera, Boerne, and consider a stop in Fredericksburg, which is one of AFAR’s best places to go in 2024 ). Over five days, you’ll find opportunities to stroll in a Japanese tea garden in San Antonio, relax along the Sabinal and Frio Rivers by inner tube, and eat as many tacos as you want. Seriously: You could eat tacos for every meal on this road trip and not get tired of them.
- The full itinerary: Tree Houses, Tubing, and Tacos: The Ultimate Texas Hill Country Road Trip
Mount McKinley looms large on a drive through Denali National Park.
Photo by warnsweet / Shutterstock
14. A Weeklong Road Trip Through Alaska’s Most Majestic Sights
This weeklong drive in Alaska starts and ends in Anchorage. You travel along four scenic byways; explore Wrangell–St. Elias wilderness, the largest U.S. national park; catch sight of Denali, the tallest peak in North America; and enjoy the surprisingly stellar food scene of McCarthy, a one-road town with only a couple dozen residents.
- The full itinerary: Glaciers, Mountain Peaks, and Organic Farms: The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip
- Which Alaska National Parks Should You Visit?
More than geothermal pools, Kirkham Hot Springs features a piping-hot waterfall.
Courtesy of Idaho Tourism
15. Boise to Sun Valley: Explore Idaho’s Scenic Byways
Even a short road trip can be packed with adventure, good food, and scenery, which is exactly what this trip from Boise to Sun Valley along Idaho’s Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway offers. Although the drive only takes six hours, we recommend taking a few days to explore all the stops and detours along the way. One can’t-miss spot is the Kirkham Hot Springs , where you can stand under a waterfall that will splash you with 135-degree mineral water year-round.
- The full itinerary: The Little-Known Idaho Road Trip You Need to Drive
- Things to do: The Best Outdoorsy Things to Do in Idaho
Grand Portage State Park is the only state park jointly managed by a state and a Native American band.
Photo by Shutterstock/QZ
16. Duluth to Grand Portage State Park: A Scenic Minnesota Sampler
Although there are many appealing road trips throughout the Midwest, this 143-mile, three-hour circuit, which starts and ends in Duluth, Minnesota, is worth keeping in mind. Meandering north on MN-61 with this itinerary, you will enjoy prime views of Lake Superior and towns like Grand Marais, as well as Grand Portage State Park, home to waterfalls, hiking trails, and opportunities to learn about the Ojibwe community who occupy the land today. Once back in Duluth, enjoy a beer at Canal Park Brewing Company before checking into the waterfront Canal Park Lodge nearby.
- The AFAR Guide to Minnesota
Wind your way through colorful foliage in New Hampshire.
Photo by Shutterstock
17. Kancamagus Highway: A Quintessential New England Drive
Yes, you can take a road trip in New England at any time of the year , but this region shows off its best colors in the fall, when locals and tourists alike head out into the country to view the changing colors of the trees. Join other admirers of fall foliage on this popular, 34.5-mile road trip along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway, colloquially known as the “Kanc,” for picturesque ponds, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks.
- Plan Your Fall Getaway With This Peak Foliage Prediction Map
Ogunquit is home to the small, postcard-perfect harbor of Perkins Cove.
Photo courtesy of QualityHD / Shutterstock
18. Maine’s “Lobster Trail”: Travel Route 1 Along the Coast
Traveling Route 1, affectionately known as “the lobster trail,” along Maine’s jagged coastline is an exercise in indulgence. Sample lobster dishes in all forms—buttered, steamed, on a roll, or even in a decadent mac-and-cheese.
The trip starts in the quaint small town of Ogunquit , with its rare (for the area) 3.5 miles of white-sand beach. Make your first lobster of the journey count, steamed with a side of drawn butter at Barnacle Billy’s in picturesque Perkins Cove harbor. Stop at Big Daddy’s for a cone on your way to the shipbuilding center—and summer home of George H. W. Bush—Kennebunkport. Stay at the recently redesigned 150-year-old classic White Barn Inn , and consider a sailing trip for an afternoon. With lobsters cooked in ocean water, the legendary lobster roll at the Clam Shack is a must.
- 8 Scenic East Coast Road Trips to Take This Year
Throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont region, innovative restaurants, shops, and restaurants like Leah & Louise in Charlotte, above, are creating a buzz.
Photo by Peter Taylor Photography
19. Raleigh to Charlotte: A 4-Day Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core
North Carolina’s Piedmont region extends from the coastal plain to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and includes farmland and rolling wooded hills, especially on the 1-40 stretch near Hillsborough. Starting in Raleigh, drive the short distances to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte to see how these cities are innovating through art, food, and a celebration of the past. Take your time—four days should do—to experience downtown arts districts, James Beard Award–winning restaurants, and civil rights museums that speak truths. Plan your trip
- A Road Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core
Scenic South Walton is part of the Emerald Coast of Florida.
20. Scenic Highway 30A: A Sunday Drive Through South Walton, Florida
Florida is full of places to cruise with the top down, but it’s hard to beat a Sunday (or any day) drive along Scenic Highway 30A through northwest Florida, home to a postcard-perfect stretch of seaside towns known as South Walton.
The roughly 28-mile route through South Walton County kisses the coast for nearly all its length, taking you through gorgeous residential Gulf-front communities like Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, and Blue Mountain Beach . Roll down the windows and let the emerald-hued views in.
Pull over to explore, too—maybe to admire the New Urbanism architecture in Alys Beach or to swim in the clear waters at Grayton Beach State Park . (The beach here has been lauded among the best in the world.)
- The full itinerary: The Florida Road Trip You’ve Been Missing
Stand-up paddleboarding is just one way to enjoy a Florida Keys sunset.
Shutterstock
21. The Florida Keys: An Island-Hopping Getaway
For a sunny road trip itinerary in Florida, skip Miami and head farther south. Beginning in Key Largo and ending in Key West, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is often overlooked for more well-known routes up north, but it is well worth going out of your way to experience.
As the name suggests, this route is very scenic, so plan to spend at least a few days exploring it and numerous stops along the way. Some highlights include driving across the impressive Overseas Highway, stopping to admire art in the town of Islamorada, and enjoying the historic sites, food, and (of course) beaches in the city of Key West.
- The full itinerary: How to Road Trip in the Lesser-Known Florida Keys
Sun Studio in Memphis was the site of the famous Million Dollar recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.
Photo by f11photo on Shutterstock
22. Memphis to Bristol, Tennessee: A Music-Driven Adventure
If you have about a week to spare and a deep appreciation for music, take a road trip from one side of Tennessee to the other, starting in Memphis and ending in Bristol. The eastbound trip spans genres, including rock ( Graceland ), blues ( Beale Street) and, of course, country (did you really go to Tennessee if you didn’t go to Dollywood ?). Nashville serves as the halfway point on your journey—so consider penciling in an extra 48 hours to fully explore the state capital’s greatest hits.
- The full itinerary: 5 Great American Road Trips For Music Fans
The stunning coastline near Cueva del Indio has been the backdrop of star-studded films.
Photo by Alexsf.gr/Shutterstock
23. Arecibo to Condado, Puerto Rico: A Lesser-Known Side of a Well-Loved Island
In the minds of many, trips to Puerto Rico bring images of stunning beaches , delicious foods , and maybe a bioluminescent bay or two . But there’s plenty of history to be found here, too, as Puerto Rico was home to an Indigenous population known as the Taino, a heritage many Puerto Ricans embrace. That history can be explored via a road trip. Starting in the northern town of Arecibo, travel south to Ponce, then back north to Condado—along the way you’ll encounter petroglyphs, Indigenous sites, and breathtaking natural spots.
- The full itinerary: A Puerto Rico Road Trip That Puts Indigenous Culture First
Additional road trip planning resources Picking the route for your road trip is only one part of your planning. From what snacks to pack to which podcasts to listen to, these additional resources will help you prepare for your next adventure:
- Best road trip snacks
- Road trip planning apps
- Podcasts and audiobooks to download
- What to pack for a road trip
This article originally appeared online in August 2020. It was most recently updated on April 4, 2024, to include current information. Additional reporting by Jessie Beck, Erika Owen, Ray Rogers, Terry Ward, and Sheryl Nance-Nash.
The 100 Most Inspirational Travel Quotes Of All Time
- Quotes , Travel Tips
- November 8, 2020 November 17, 2020
- 12 min read
If you’re planning a holiday, fighting post-trip blues, or just scrolling through instagram travel photos, you can be sure there’s a quote about traveling out there that hits the spot for you.
Travel quotes to discover yourself, travel quotes to motivate your next journey, fantastic travel quotes to drive you to live your best life and more. We can all relate to inspirational travel quotes, making them so fun to read.
In this article, I gathered some of the most popular travel quotes (and my personal favourites). I hope you’ll find these incredible travel quotes inspiring, and they’ll make you want to go out and see the world.
Famous travel quotes
1. “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”–Andre Gide
2. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” – Helen Keller
3. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
4. “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled.” – Mohammed
5. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” –Mark Twain
6. “Surely, of all the wonders of the world, the horizon is the greatest.” – Freya Stark
7. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
8. “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu
9. “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign” – Robert Louis Stevenson
10. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” –Saint Augustine
11. “Life is meant for good friends and great adventures” – Anonymous
12. “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” –Susan Sontag
13. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by” —Robert Frost
14. “Once a year, go somewhere you have never been before.” –Dalai Lama
15. “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” –Tim Cahill
16. “Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” – Anita Desai
17. “Don’t listen to what they say. Go see.”-Anonymous
18. “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Seattle
19. “Collect Moment, Not Things.”-Anonymous
20. “Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.” – Lovelle Drachman
21. “We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment.” — Hilaire Belloc
22. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
23. “I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met.” ― Melody Truong
24. “This wasn’t a strange place; it was a new one.” – Paulo Coelho
25. “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet” – Rachel Wolchin
26. “Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” – Michael Palin
27. “We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.” – Ray Bradbury
28. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.” ― Mark Twain
29. “People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck
30. “Travel is never a matter of money but of courage.” – Paulo Coelho
31. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
32. “I travel because it makes me realize how much I haven’t seen, how much I’m not going to see, and how much I still need to see.” – Carew Papritz
33. “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd
34. “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” – Terry Pratchett
35. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
36. “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
37. “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.”― David Mitchell
38. “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley
39. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu
40. “Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live it?” – Caroline Myss
41. “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Anonymous
42. “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” ― Jack Kerouac
43. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
44. “Live life with no excuses, travel with no regret” – Oscar Wilde
45. “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous
46. “And then there is the most dangerous risk of all – the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” –Randy Komisar
47. “I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth, then I ask myself the same question.” –Harun Yahya
48. “Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.” –Unknown
49. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
50. “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
51. “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin
52. “No place is ever as bad as they tell you it’s going to be.” – Chuck Thompson
53. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
54. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
55. “He who would travel happily must travel light.” – Antoine de St. Exupery
56. “To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark
57. “The use of traveling is to regulate imagination with reality, and instead of thinking of how things may be, see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
58. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine
59. “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca
60. “With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.” – Sandra Lake
61. “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Anonymous
62. “Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.” — Peter Hoeg
63. “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor
64. “When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you’re visiting.” – Clint Borgen
65. “The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine
66. “I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.” – Caskie Stinnett
67. “Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman
68. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” – Robert Frost
69. “It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville
70. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
71. “Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” — Lawrence Block
72. “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley
73. “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac
74. “Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comforts of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things — air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky. All things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese
75. “And then there is the most dangerous risk of all — the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” – Randy Komisar
76. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson
77. “To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen
78. “What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do — especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon
79. “Travel makes a wise man better but a fool worse.” – Thomas Fuller
80. “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” – Susan Heller
81. “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” – David Mitchell
82. “Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” – Stephen Covey
83. “Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” – Anita Desai
84. “We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.” – Ray Bradbury
85. “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca
86. “He who would travel happily must travel light.” -Antoine de St. Exupery
87. “And then there is the most dangerous risk of all — the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” – Randy Komisar
88. No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang
89. “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” -Jack Kerouac
90. “Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” -Benjamin Disraeli
91. “Own only what you can always carry with you: known languages, known countries, known people. Let your memory be your travel bag” -Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
92. “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” -Susan Heller
93. “What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon
94. “Conventional wisdom tells us… we take our baggage with us. I’m not so sure. Travel, at its best, transforms us in ways that aren’t always apparent until we’re back home. Sometimes we do leave our baggage behind, or, even better, it’s misrouted to Cleveland and is never heard from again.” -Eric Weiner
95. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” -Robert Frost
96. “There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” – Jack Kerouac
97. “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.” – Anthony Bourdain
98. “At its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding.” –Arthur Frommer
99. “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.” -Oscar Wilde
100. “Live life with no excuses, travel with no regret” -Oscar Wilde
It’s not a matter of where, but when. Time is precious and my time spent living and experience the cultures of this world is what I lust for. This is why I created this website, to share true, genuine experiences and not just typical touristy info. Travel, the love of coffee , and food!
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