A new study has revealed the world’s most stunning road trips, with America’s legendary Route 66 claiming the crown as the most photographed road on Instagram, gathering an impressive 2.4 million hashtag mentions.
The research conducted by cinch, the UK’s leading online used car retailer, compared hashtag for 40 iconic routes spanning six continents.
And the findings showcase how modern road trippers are creating a digital map of the world’s most photographed drives.
The top ten most picturesque road trips according to Instagram are:
- Route 66, USA, North America – total hashtag count: 2.4 million
- Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland, Europe – total hashtag count: 1.9 million
- Great Ocean Road, Australia, Oceania – total hashtag count: 1.6 million
- Blue Ridge Parkway, USA, North America – total hashtag count: 722k
- North Coast 500, Scotland, Europe – total hashtag count: 695k
- Garden Route, South Africa, Africa – total hashtag count: 634k
- Carretera Austral, Chile, South America – total hashtag count: 581k
- Silk Road, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & China, Asia – total hashtag count: 512k
- Pacific Coast Highway, USA, North America – total hashtag count: 453k
- Hana Highway, USA, North America – total hashtag count: 431k
“Road trips represent the ultimate freedom to explore at your own pace,” explains Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch. “There’s something magical about having the open road ahead of you, with the flexibility to stop whenever you want.
“From stopping to take pictures of a view that takes your breath away to hopping out the car to explore an intriguing village and its local culture, you have the complete control to truly absorb your surroundings.”
The study of 40 road trips around the globe highlights how drivers are spoilt for choice, from Ireland’s rugged Wild Atlantic Way to India’s breathtaking Rotang Pass.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to drive Route 66, and it’s an experience that’ll stay with me forever,” shares Sheehan. “The contrasting landscapes from urban Chicago to the desert approaching Los Angeles, combined with the incredible diners along the way, make it an unforgettable journey for so many reasons. Every mile tells a story.”
From hiring your dream car for an international road trip to taking your used Ford to stretch its legs on one of Europe’s many compelling routes, you can fine-tune your road trip exactly to your liking.
“You might have your heart set on driving a classic Corvette but it’s still worth thinking about the practicalities,” advises Sheehan.
“Not to rain on anyone’s parade but factoring in things like hire car prices, fuel economy and comfort will help you make the most of your journey, both financially and physically. Most of us have budgets and not everyone would want to spend eight hours a day in a hard-riding sports car.”
And to fuel your road trip Pinterest board (or make your decision even harder), here are the top five routes that Instagram users just can’t stop hashtagging.
No.1: Route 66, USA
Route 66 takes first place with over 2.4 million Instagram hashtag mentions in total, proving that you just can’t beat the classics.
This legendary 2,448-mile highway connects Chicago to Los Angeles, cutting right through America’s heartland. Route 66 attracts adventurers seeking authentic American experiences, from major cities to ghost towns and everything in between.
And on a journey that usually takes between two and three weeks, there are plenty of landmarks to check out – from natural wonders like the Grand Canyon to art installations like the Cadillac Ranch.
With a TripAdvisor rating of 4.5, Route 66 earns its place on the list from those who have been there, driven it and got the ‘I love Route 66’ T-shirt.
No.2: Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way secures second place with over 1.9 million Instagram hashtag mentions, mostly driven by the #wildatlanticway hashtag alongside breathtaking coastal imagery.
This amazing 1,600-mile stretch goes from the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, claiming the title of the world’s longest defined coastal route.
The journey usually takes between three and five weeks to complete but it’s well worth taking your time to soak up all the attractions spanning some of Ireland’s most picture-perfect scenery.
And boasting a 4.8 TripAdvisor rating, this route continues to blow visitors away. Maybe you’ll be surprised by how pristine the beaches and emerald green the rolling hills of the Wild Atlantic Way are.
No.3: The Great Ocean Road, Australia
Australia’s Great Ocean Road claims third position with more than 1.6 million Instagram hashtag mentions, led by #greatoceanroad (1,500,000+) and #greatoceanroadtrip (113,000+).
This 150-mile (243km) route from Torquay to Allansford is one of the shorter journeys on the list but it’s definitely worth taking a couple of days to enjoy all it has to offer.
Dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, lush rainforests and the iconic Twelve Apostles are what draw many to the route.
With a TripAdvisor rating of 4.8, the Great Ocean Road lives up to its name, and many recommend driving from east to west to stay on the same side of the road as the ocean.
No.4: Blue Ridge Parkway, USA
The Blue Ridge Parkway secures fourth place with 722,047 Instagram hashtag mentions, with the majority from #blueridgeparkway.
This 469-mile scenic route connects Virginia and North Carolina, linking Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
While the full journey takes approximately 10 hours of driving time, visitors typically allocate 3-5 days to fully explore the parkway’s scenic views and natural wonders.
And the leisurely 45mph speed limit (with some stretches at lower speeds of 25 or 35mph) encourages travellers to take in the mountain vistas slowly and carefully.
Clocking up 6,998 reviews on TripAdvisor and a rating of 4.8, the Blue Ridge Parkway has earned plenty of praise from road trippers for its adventure through nature – away from the busy highways – that changes with every season.
No.5: North Coast 500, Scotland
Completing the top five is Scotland’s North Coast 500, clinching 694,511 Instagram hashtag mentions. Most tend to accompany their scenic Scottish snaps with #nc500 (519,000 uses) and #northcoast500 (175,000).
This 516-mile (hence the name) adventure typically takes 5-7 days to soak up its coastal scenery properly. The views range from white sandy beaches and rugged mountains to remote fishing villages, with plenty of undulating roads in true Scottish fashion.
Beginning in Inverness, the route flows along the North Highlands’ stunning coastal edges, offering glistening beaches, haunting castles, monumental Munros and hundreds of scenic stops.
Securing a 4.7 rating on TripAdvisor, the North Coast 500 is one that fails to disappoint road trippers – especially for animal lovers on the lookout for otters, deer, seals and marine birds.
Methodology for data collection:
To uncover the world’s most picturesque road trips, cinch compiled a dataset of hashtag usage across globally recognised scenic routes on Instagram.
In May 2025, 40 iconic road trips spanning North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and South America were identified. For each route, up to four popular Instagram hashtags were collected. These included the primary name of the route (e.g. #Route66) as well as common variants such as those containing the words “drive” and “roadtrip” and known abbreviations (e.g. #NC500 for North Coast 500).
Instagram’s internal search function was used to manually record the number of public posts associated with each hashtag. Where multiple relevant hashtags were found for the same route, the total number of posts was combined to give an overall figure representing its visual popularity.
This combined total was used to rank the road trips in order, offering a snapshot of the most photographed and shared drives on Instagram as of the time of data collection.
Please note: Hashtag usage on Instagram is dynamic and subject to change. All data represents a point-in-time analysis conducted in May 2025.
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