Exploring desert highways can reveal some of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth. These roads, stretching through vast, open deserts, offer stunning views that range from towering sand dunes to rugged mountains. Each highway on this list showcases the unique beauty of its surroundings, making them must-drives for anyone seeking adventure and natural wonder.
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Route 66 (Arizona, USA)
Stretching across the Arizona desert, Route 66 provides an iconic American road trip experience. Historic sites, ghost towns, and stunning desert landscapes line the highway, creating a journey steeped in nostalgia. As you drive, you’ll encounter landmarks like the Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater, each adding to the road’s charm. The wide-open spaces and endless skies offer a perfect escape into the American Southwest’s rugged beauty.
Death Valley Scenic Byway (California, USA)
Traversing Death Valley, this scenic byway takes you through one of the planet’s most extreme environments. Towering sand dunes, expansive salt flats, and colorful badlands define the stark, dramatic landscape. The valley’s desolate beauty is unparalleled, with unique geological formations that captivate the eye. At sunrise or sunset, the desert transforms under the shifting light, making the drive an unforgettable experience.
Great Ocean Road (Victoria, Australia)
Though best known for its coastal views, the Great Ocean Road also cuts through arid, desert-like landscapes. The contrast between the dry inland areas and the rugged coastline offers a visual feast. Towering limestone cliffs and the iconic Twelve Apostles punctuate the scenery, making every turn of the road a new discovery. This highway showcases Australia’s natural diversity, winding through national parks teeming with unique flora and fauna.
Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road (Al Ain, UAE)
Ascending the UAE’s second-highest peak, Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road offers panoramic desert views that captivate and awe. The road’s smooth tarmac winds through rolling dunes and rocky outcrops, gradually revealing rugged mountain terrain. Each curve in the road opens up new vistas, making it a favorite among driving enthusiasts. As you reach the summit, the desert below stretches endlessly, a breathtaking sight that rewards the climb.
Karakoram Highway (Pakistan to China)
The Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world, traverses the harsh yet stunning landscapes of the Karakoram Range. Cutting through mountains, deserts, and valleys, this highway is an engineering marvel. The Hunza Valley’s lush greenery contrasts sharply with the surrounding arid peaks, creating a dramatic backdrop. Each bend in the road unveils the scale and majesty of these remote desert stretches. For those who dare, this road offers an adventure like no other.
Baja California Highway (Mexico)
Stretching from the U.S. border to the tip of the Baja Peninsula, this highway offers a stunning juxtaposition of desert and sea. Vast expanses of sand and rugged mountains dominate the landscape, with towering cacti standing sentinel along the road. On one side, the Sea of Cortez sparkles under the sun, while on the other, desert vistas stretch as far as the eye can see. The vivid colors and stark contrasts make this route a photographer’s paradise.
Oodnadatta Track (South Australia)
The Oodnadatta Track, a legendary outback road, takes you deep into Australia’s remote desert regions. Following the old Ghan railway line, the track is dotted with remnants of a bygone era. Red sand dunes, salt lakes, and sparse vegetation characterize this harsh yet captivating landscape. Despite its isolation, the route is rich in Aboriginal history, offering a unique cultural experience.
Desert Road (North Island, New Zealand)
Cutting through the barren Rangipo Desert, New Zealand’s Desert Road offers an unexpected contrast to the country’s lush landscapes. This stretch of State Highway 1 is flanked by volcanic terrain and the imposing presence of Mount Ruapehu. Sparse vegetation and rugged mountains dominate the view, creating a starkly beautiful landscape. In winter, the road is often blanketed in snow, adding to its dramatic appeal.
Draa Valley Road (Morocco)
Winding through Morocco’s Draa Valley, this road takes travelers on a journey through a landscape rich in both natural beauty and cultural history. The lush palm groves along the Draa River stand in sharp contrast to the surrounding desert, creating a picturesque scene. Ancient kasbahs and traditional Berber villages punctuate the route, offering glimpses into Morocco’s storied past.
Tizi n’Test (Morocco)
Tizi n’Test, a high mountain pass in the Atlas Mountains, offers a breathtaking descent into the desert plains of Morocco. The road is narrow and winding, with sharp bends that challenge even the most seasoned drivers. As you navigate the twists and turns, the barren landscape gives way to the occasional village, where terraced farms cling to the mountainside. The descent reveals vast, open desert plains, creating a striking contrast to the rugged terrain above.
Eyre Highway (Australia)
Spanning the Nullarbor Plain, Eyre Highway takes you across one of the world’s most desolate landscapes. This long, straight road stretches endlessly across flat, treeless plains, where the horizon seems to melt into the sky. The stark, almost hypnotic beauty of the Nullarbor is enhanced by the sheer isolation of the area. Travelers here experience a true sense of solitude, broken only by the occasional roadhouse.
Route 12 (Utah, USA)
Known as Scenic Byway 12, this route in Utah offers a drive through some of the most spectacular desert landscapes in the American Southwest. The road passes through national parks like Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, where red rock formations, deep canyons, and mesas dominate the scenery. The vibrant red rocks stand out against the deep blue sky, creating a visual masterpiece at every turn. Each section of Route 12 reveals new and stunning vistas, making it a road trip that continually surprises.
Highway 89A (Arizona, USA)
Running through northern Arizona, Highway 89A offers a scenic drive through some of the Southwest’s most iconic landscapes. The road winds through Oak Creek Canyon, where red rock cliffs tower above the lush, green valley below. As you climb higher, the landscape opens up to reveal sweeping views of the desert and distant mountains. Each twist and turn of the highway offers new perspectives on the rugged beauty of Arizona.
This article originally appeared on MyCarMakesNoise.
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