Meteorologist reveals the road trips around the world with the best driving weather
New research from car leasing expert Autotrader, the UK’s number one car marketplace, reveals the road trips around the world that are the most reliable at delivering the best driving weather, from the Amalfi Coast to the mountainside lanes of the Icefields Parkway.
With ‘road trip’ searches hitting 8.1 million* worldwide in the past month alone (up by 80%), motorists are well underway in planning out their driving adventures this year. Autotrader partnered with the founder of the British Weather Services, and Senior Meteorologist Jim R N Dale, to find out which routes across the globe have the best weather conditions for driving year-round.
Jim helped define the weather conditions that make driving feel easiest and safest, saying that visibility is “No.1 in the hierarchy of perfect driving conditions”. Using his expertise, Autotrader created a Perfect Driving Weather index across five factors: road surface conditions, visibility and clear days, wind speed, ground temperature and humidity comfort.
The World’s Top 10 Roads with the Best Road Trip Weather
Why South Africa’s Garden Route is as close to perfect as driving weather gets
South Africa’s Garden Route ranks first in the global list with a near-perfect score of 90.6 out of 100. The 300km stretch between Mossel Bay and Storms River has clear skies, gentle winds and comfortable temperatures for most of the year according to the data. Driving along the Indian Ocean coast, and weaving between the forest and mountains, the meteorological conditions for driving are as close to perfect as it gets.
America’s most well-known road, Route 66, takes second place with a score of 87.3. Sections through the American Southwest, particularly New Mexico and Arizona, have dry conditions, low rainfall and strong sunshine for most of the year, making them great for road trips.
Also in the USA, the Pacific Coast Highway rounds out the global top three with a score of 86.1, thanks to central California’s microclimate keeping extremes of heat and cold in check. With Hawaii’s Kahekili Highway in 9th, the USA takes the crown for the country with the most routes in the world’s Perfect Driving Weather top ten ranking.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast Road scores 81, with a warm, dry Mediterranean climate giving excellent visibility and comfortable temperatures for much of the year.
Spain’s Costa Brava Coastal Roads follow in 5th (76.3), with cliff-hugging bends and beautiful sea views accompanying its reliable weather, making it a must to visit this spring or summer.
Expert tips for planning your perfect trip
Autotrader’s experts have shared their advice on how to make the most of the world’s best roads this year:
Every 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. We wanted to find out which of the world’s 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.
"Whether you’re 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."
For more information on the world’s roads with the best weather conditions for driving, visit: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/cars/leasing/perfect-driving-weather-roads
Methodology
To identify the roads with the best meteorological conditions for road trips, Autotrader used historical weather data from WeatherSpark to source representative conditions on, or near, well-known roads and popular global driving routes. Autotrader partnered with Senior Meteorologist Jim R N Dale from British Weather Services to define the ideal weather thresholds and weighting for five key factors.
Scores were combined into a Perfect Driving Weather Score out of 100:
Scores are based on annual averages. Drivers are advised to always check local travel and safety advice before planning a trip. Data correct as of February 2026.
*According to Google Search Trends, data correct as of 3rd March 2026.
For more information, please visit: https://plc.autotrader.co.uk/
Jim R N Dale is a Senior Meteorologist and founder of British Weather Services, a leading independent weather consultancy. Jim has over 40 years’ experience in meteorology and is a regular media commentator on weather-related topics.
Media Contacts: auto-trader-pr@propellernet.co.uk
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