There’s something indescribable about the vastness of coastlines, where expansive waters collide with sandy shores and splash against mountain bases. When paved pathways meet in between these natural intersections, hungry eyes are fed with magical panoramic views of various paradises as they pass, creating a surreal experience for each onlooker. Check out these routes, where roads follow the most fascinating scenic coastlines around the globe.
The Great Ocean Road
Hana Road
A bucket-list feat that many hope to accomplish, driving the riveting Hana Road on Maui’s east coast is a dream. Officially known as Hawaii Route 360, this thruway cruises past black-sand beaches and waterfall viewpoints and allows for stops at gorgeous hiking paths, such as the Waikamoi Nature Walk. Passing over cliffs and bridges, Hana Road easily travels beyond the expectations of even the most zealous road-trippers.
Tsunoshima Bridge
Connecting the mainland island of Yamaguchi, Japan, and Tsunoshima Island, the Tsunoshima Bridge reaches into the Sea of Japan and paves an over-water path for vehicles to traverse. Though Tsunoshima Island is a wondrous destination on its own, with luscious vegetation and sandy shores, the bridge delivers a stunning perspective of the turquoise and deep azure colors of the expansive sea, with a wide-shot preview of the approaching green island.
The Amalfi Coast
Not for the faint of heart, the winding, mountainside road from the Italian town of Sorrento to Solerno, best known as the Amalfi Coast, provides a spectacular bird’s eye view of the Tyrrhenian Sea below its bluffs. Located along the scenic drive, small towns like Ravello and Positano conjure feelings of amore, with romantic gardens peeking out of the terraces of pastel homes, blending with the lush landscape surrounding them.
Sea-to-Sky Highway Route
Traveling along several bodies of water throughout its 254-mile route, the Sea-to-Sky Highway Route, officially named British Columbia Highway 99, transports road trip travelers through passages of canyons, waterfalls, and historic sites. Beginning at the border of Washington and British Columbia, the best coastal views emerge when the route passes through the peninsula of Stanley Park and climbs north though Vancouver, bordering Howe Sound.
Coastal US Route 1
Not to be mistaken for State Route 1 in California, U.S. Route 1 runs more than 2,300 miles from Fort Kent, Maine, all the way down to the Florida Keys, making it the longest north-south highway in the United States. Though the route veers inland in some states, stopping through major cities, including New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C., it sticks to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean through Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut before reemerging on the coast of Florida and ending in Key West.
Marine Drive of Great Orme
Bordering Great Orme, a limestone headland west of Llandudno, Wales, Marine Drive offers refreshing views of the Irish Sea. Though the drive is a relatively short one, motorists tend to glide slowly along the way to take in the flora and fauna, including the wild Kashmiri goats roaming cliffside, as well as a wealth of seabirds, like puffins and gulls, nesting nearby, often flying toward the water to feed on fish.
