We all have the wish to go on that once-in-a-lifetime road trip… so that we have stories to tell our grandchildren when we grow old. Maybe you want to be the coolest grandparent on the block and tell them, back in the day, you took the longest road trip on Earth.
In that case, we’ve got you covered! Let’s get into it.
Don´t forget one of the most essentials things for your next trip: the right travel insurance! Consider World Nomads or Safety Wings!
The longest road-trip in the world
If you’re fine with taking a ferry for a short distance in the middle, the Pan-American Highway is by far the longest road in the world. Spanning a total of 19,000 miles, it links most of the North and South American nations. From Alaska to the Atacama Desert and farther!
The only break in it is the Darién Gap — a 100-mile swampland that needs to be crossed by ferry. But that just makes the journey all the more thrilling, doesn’t it?
The travel time is between 8 to 16 months, which is more than enough to make for a journey-of-a-lifetime. You can enjoy the carnivals and coffee of Columbia; see the beautiful city of Cuenca and the historic Andean Capital in Quito, Ecuador; and spend days living the traveler’s dream in Argentina!
“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.”
― Roy T. Bennett.
Longest direct road-trip in the world
This one comes with a proviso. It’s the longest road-trip in the world if you are a road-trip purist and want to take the shortest possible route from point A to point B while sticking to the road. That is to say, it’s the longest continuous direct driving road in the world.
Beginning in Sagres, Portugal, it goes all the way to Khasan, Russia — the only Russian town to border North Korea. With no ferries and only two customs checkpoints, it’s an 8726-mile drive that takes about 6 days and 19 hours.
On the journey, you can experience the rich history of Germany portrayed in its colorful architecture, palaces, castles, cathedrals, and monuments; pass through Belarus which is home to stunning landscapes and national parks in the largest remaining primeval forest, the Białowieża Forest; and see most of Russia. Lastly, when you’re older, you can tell your grandchildren that… back in the day, you had to drive 8726 miles to go to school every morning!
Those are the two longest road-trips in the world, depending on the kind of adventurous you’re feeling. They’re filled with countless opportunities of having fun, so make sure to get the most of your journey. Safe journeys!
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More Travel Inspiration: How we book a rental car – A practical guide with tips and tricks!