9 Most Instagrammable roads in the world

There’s nothing quite like a good road trip, is there? What better way to explore a new part of the world, see the sights and get to experience magical scenery on your way? England has some great road trips to offer, such as Somerset’s Cheddar Gorge and the Peak District’s Snake Pass, but look a little further afield and a world of excitement awaits.

From Chile to California and Scotland to Australia, the world’s most famous roads can be found scattered around the planet and they’re sure to take your Instagram feed to the next level. Boasting unmatched scenery, historic architecture and much more, these roads are perfect for a quick pic.

But which roads are the most popular? The road experts at Instarmac take a look at some of the world’s most famous roads on Instagram and advise which is the best to help make your feed look fantastic! 

Some things never change. Even though Route 66 was officially removed from the US Highway System almost 40 years ago, it remains one of the world’s most popular and culturally significant roads. 

Many sections of the road feature in the United States’ Register of Historic Places, highlighting just how important Route 66 is to American identity. A must-visit for any road enthusiast, Route 66 is the most-Instagrammed road in the world, with over 2.1 million posts using the hashtag #route66.  

One thousand six hundred miles long, the Wild Atlantic Way traverses much of Ireland’s west coast and is Europe’s most westerly road. With panoramic views stretching out over the Atlantic Ocean, this winding road is home to stunning natural rock formations like the Cliffs of Moher and Slieve League, as well as historic man-made features like the lighthouse at Fanad Head and the Baltimore Beacon.

Another of the world’s most beautiful coastlines is Big Sur, on California’s Central Coast. The Coast Highway in this area is one of the world’s most stunning drives, and at just over 70 miles, you can experience it in a single day.

The Big Sur Coast Highway is home to a number of extremely Instagrammable features, such as Bixby Creek Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach (home to Keyhole Rock), McWay Falls and the Pine Ridge Trail. Well worth a visit for the budding road-tripper, particularly if you can get there in the quieter months outside of the school or summer holidays!

Sprawling 150 miles across Australia’s south-easterly coast, the Great Ocean Road is an incomparable drive for any road trip enthusiast. It is also the world’s largest war memorial, making it a poignant and beautiful expedition.

Built between 1919 and 1932 by Australian soldiers on their return from the First World War, the Great Ocean Road links the towns of Torquay and Allansford.

One of the major roads of Miami’s world-famous South Beach, Ocean Drive is home to a stunning collection of Art Deco architecture. A hotspot for supercars and A-listers alike, Ocean Drive serves as Miami’s main cultural centre. It recently reopened to traffic use after being made pedestrian-only during the COVID-19 pandemic. Well worth an excursion if you’re visiting Miami!

Home to perhaps the most famous image in music history—the Beatles album cover—Camden’s Abbey Road is near the Lord’s Cricket Ground. It’s one of the few roads on this list that doesn’t feature because of its driving charm!

Abbey Road is a pilgrimage site for Beatles fans around the world, most of whom look to recreate the iconic crossing photo! The studio where the Beatles recorded their eleventh album still remains active today.

Traversing deep into the mountainous forest peaks of Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway has been dubbed “America’s favourite drive,” and it’s easy to see why. The mountains the road is named after are known as "blue" due to isoprene released into the atmosphere by trees.

For spectacular vistas across the Appalachian Mountains and dreamy wildlife, look no further. There are plenty of places to park up and explore—you can even experience an early 1900s mill! 

Chile’s Route 7 is also known as the Carretera Austral, which translates to the Southern Way. This 770-mile road provides access to Chilean Patagonia and is one of Chile’s most sparsely populated areas—with fewer than one person per square kilometre on average! 

Carretera Austral has a range of scenery to enjoy, from the vast rainforest of Pumalín Park, to fjords and the hanging glacier in Queulat National Park.

Scotland’s answer to the Wild Atlantic Way, the North Coast 500—usually tagged as #NC500—is so named because of its 516-mile length. It traverses Scotland’s far north in a loop, starting and ending at Inverness Castle.

Winding, meandering country roads and the finest views Scotland has to offer come together for an unparalleled driving experience that’s sure to give your Instagram feed a boost. Just off the road itself, you’ll find stunning natural scenery like Duncansby Stacks, as well as quirky finds like the miniature Hermit’s Castle.

So, if you’re looking for the perfect snap of a road (or road trip) to take your Instagram feed to the next level, Instarmac has you covered. Next step—booking your flights and finding a rental car. If you’re lucky enough to live near one of these stunning roads, be sure to make the most of it!