Best Family Road Trips in the World

Secondly, cost. Without the need for a guide or driver (although we can easily arrange guiding at key sites for you), exploring a country becomes a much cheaper option. This frees up your budget to splurge on accommodation, food, activities and attractions instead!

Thirdly, and this is for the Thelma and Louises or Jack Keruoacs amongst you. Family road trips often prove to be the ultimate escape from the humdrum of everyday life. What could be better than just you, your family and the total freedom of the open road?

A qualifier, if we may. The following suggestions aren’t necessarily what you’d think of as iconic Route 66-style trips. These are favourite destinations that we, at Stubborn Mule, know are perfect for self-driving families. They are safe and easy to get around in the modern, comfortable family vehicles (SUVs or similar) that we will provide. They follow tried-and-tested routes and will use clearly-signposted and well-maintained roads.

We’ve taken every care to include boutique-style accommodation choices that exude character. These are overnight stops that we have enjoyed with our own families and can recommend first-hand. We’ve driven these routes with the kids too and we know exactly what does and doesn’t work in terms of pace, manageable distances and navigation systems. Let’s face it, we’ve all been that arguing family on the side of the road at some time or another! It’s our job to ensure that you avoid these pitfalls.

This level of expertise means we can provide you with detailed (and accurate!) trip notes, to ensure your holiday is just that – a holiday. We’ll also suggest en route stops and places of interest that you won’t find in the guidebooks, alongside the ‘must-see’ attractions. It’s these quirky hidden gems we’ve visited with our own families that will boost your experience to something magical and extraordinary!

Now it’s time to buckle up, step on the gas and let loose on the highway! Here’s a Stubborn Mule rundown of what we know to be the best family road trips in the world.

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For those that enjoy large landscapes, windswept deserts and the freedom of the open road, Oman is dream family road trip destination. When our travel consultant Caroline took her own road trip through Oman, she told the team that getting behind the wheel, dropping the tyre pressure, putting her foot down and powering her vehicle over the desert dunes proved to be one of her favourite memories of a lifetime – ‘I felt so unbelievably free!’ she said.

As lovers of high-end, spacious and air-conditioned 4×4 vehicles (thankfully parking spaces are just as generous), the Omanis take their transport very seriously indeed. When hiring these plush wheels, Stubborn Mule travellers truly get the very best out of their itineraries – cruising the country’s quiet and well-signposted highways with ease, enjoying the wild and beautiful landscape as they go. Even the city of Muscat and the larger towns are a breeze to navigate.

Our suggested route is an easy circular one. Starting in Muscat, the capital, you will head first to Nizwa. Here you can explore the mountains, wander through an oasis and explore ancient forts. Then head deep into the desert (cue dune-bashing and starlit desert nights) before visiting the famous Turtle Reserve in Ras al Jinz. Spend a night wild camping on the beach before heading back to Muscat to drop off your vehicle and to relax at your beach resort. The itinerary can easily be done in reverse too and no location is off-limits – although we suggest you don’t replicate Caroline’s white-knuckled, 4-hour off-road deviation through rocky mountain tracks! Keep an eye on that navigation system…

Oman is waiting for you to explore – our only advice is avoid the ‘wadis’ (dried up riverbeds) after heavy rain – they fill up fast!

Take a look at our suggested places to visit, our sample itineraries or our Oman with Kids blog for further inspiration.

2 – Belize

Aaaah, beautiful Belize. As one of the smallest countries in Central America, taking a family road trip here means you can pack a lot in without having to drive any major distance. There’ll be less ‘are we there, yet?’ and more time to wander around ancient ruins, search for wildlife and explore lush rainforest. And to top it off, you’ll have plenty of time to experience what Belize is perhaps most famous for, its world-class, family-friendly snorkelling.

As well as its diminutive size, there’s not much traffic and roads are in good condition. Routes are well signposted and even if you do get lost, English is the national language so you can ask anyone for directions. Further, with your own vehicle you will be able to stop at the many attractions such as waterfalls and coffee and cocoa plantations as you travel from A-B. And a final consideration…..you won’t be tied to hotel restaurants, which can be on the pricey side. Instead, head off and find your own local eatery.

Take a look at our photo blog, our suggested places to visit or be inspired by our Belize Adventure Highlights sample itinerary.

3 – Costa Rica

Picture the scene: Stunning ocean views on one side, lush, tropical jungle on the other. Ahead of you a quiet, well signposted road. You’ll be provided with a mobile phone with navigation apps like Waze and Map Me, so driving around Costa Rica on a family road trip is a breeze. Less time looking at the map, more time to enjoy the scenery and wildlife (sloth spotting never gets old). Furthermore, the travel distances are relatively short and with both a Pacific and Caribbean coastline, a quick stop on a stunning beach is all part of a day’s drive.

There aren’t that many large roads in Costa Rica which makes things easy. Basically there’s a main road along both the Caribbean coast, another along the Pacific coast and just a couple of main roads between the two. One of our most popular family road trip routes takes in the Pacific coast. Heading south from San Jose, you’ll visit Manuel Antonio National Park (famed for its abundant wildlife), Uvita for whale watching and the pristine rainforest of Corcovado National Park. Also on this trip it’s possible to take a ferry to Isla Chiquita, a 90 minute trip across the Bay of Nicoya to a private glamping island. Bliss.

Over on the Caribbean coast, you can enjoy visiting beaches like Playa Cocles, do a guided snorkelling trip off the coast or go hiking in Cahuita National Park. The kids will enjoy generally pootling about, visiting reggae bars for a cooling drink and stopping at roadside fruit stalls. You’ll have to leave your car for a few days on this route when visiting Tortuguero National Park but the family will enjoy the break, and the ‘exclusively-by-boat’ transport.

Read our consultant Charlotte’s travel diary when she travelled there with her Dad to give you a better idea of what’s involved, check out our favourite places to visit or be inspired by our sample Costa Rica itineraries. It’s also worth looking at our Top 10 things to do with kids in Costa Rica

4 – Cuba

Of all our favourite family road trip destinations, Cuba is the least developed when it comes to infrastructure. Yes, the cars are modern, yes, the highways are good but don’t be surprised by potholes, cows or hitch-hikers, even on the main highways. That being said, the freedom of having your own car and getting around under your own steam makes for a wonderful way to explore this fascinating, step-back-in-time Caribbean island.

Rather than going direct from A to B, taking a family road trip means you can meander. Don’t take the direct route but head off the beaten track. Distances are comparatively small, so there’s no long travelling days and roads are well signposted. Most importantly we will provide you with comprehensive trip notes and maps highlighting everything from where to go, what to visit, the best restaurants and even the best meals to order.

A suggested circular route starts in Havana then heads west to the tobacco plantations and limestone scenery of Vinales. From here continue on to Las Terrazas, popular Trinidad (where it’s extremely useful having your own car to explore the surrounding mountains) and Santa Clara before ending the trip at a beach resort in Cayo Santa Maria or Varadero.

For photos and more travel ideas, check out Stubborn Mule consultant Helene Cooper’s Postcards from Cuba, as well as Places to visit, Cuba with kids or our main Cuba family holidays overview.

It might not have the best road surfaces, but what it lacks in tarmac it more than makes up for in jaw-dropping scenery and endless desert horizons.

According to consultants Charlotte and Helene, who drove 3,000 kilometres around Namibia recently, one of the best aspects of having your own vehicle is the ability to self-drive through Etosha National Park. Buy a map at the main visitors centre which will highlight all the best waterholes and decide on your route. If you see elephants at one, stop there; a zebra crossing the road, put the handbrake on and watch.

A typical route goes from Windhoek to Etosha National Park and then continues through the rugged, remote mountain scenery of Damaraland. From here drive on to the coastal adventure hotspot of Swapkopmund stopping for some sand boarding or kayaking amongst sea lions. Further south again you find the largest sand dunes in the worlds at Sossusvlei. The trip ends in Windhoek, although it is possible to travel much further south to Fish River Canyon if you have the time.

Unlike in other ‘family road trip countries’, in Namibia there’s not a lot to do in between A and B except for enjoying the wide-open spaces. So pack a picnic (fridges are in the back of the 4WD), and stock up at local supermarkets. At each lodge, it’s worth talking to the locals about road conditions. They are the ones who will advise on the best way to reach your next destination with up to the minute advice which no map or sat nav can provide.

Take a look at our sample itineraries for more information, our suggested places to visit and our Top 10 things to do in Namibia with Kids blog.

We’d be bonkers to suggest taking a family road trip around the whole of Mexico, it’s far, far too big for that. Nor would we recommend driving around the crazy streets of sprawling Mexico City. Instead, a self-drive trip around the Yucatan Peninsula is a journey packed with family friendly things to see and do. Top of our list are the the nature reserve of Punta Laguna (famed for its spider and howler monkeys) and a little-known underground snorkelling experience through a cave complex near Tulum.

In this area of Mexico, as soon as you leave the coast behind you’ll come across little other traffic. The roads are large and well signposted but do watch out for ‘topes’, Mexico’s answer to sleeping policemen. These are so vicious they can scrape your car’s undercarriage.

Exploring in a spacious, comfy SUV, there’s plenty of room for a family of five, plus bags. Where you go is up to you, but a suggested route would start in Cancun. From here, drive to colonial Valladolid, a great base for visiting the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. After this perhaps visit lively Merida and spend a few days on a traditional sisal plantation hacienda before heading to the  idyllic beaches of Riviera Maya for some R and R.

If you want to go further south, over the border to Belize for world-class snorkelling, this can be arranged as on our Mexico and Belize Itinerary. Want to know more? Have a look at our suggested places to visit, our suggested sample itineraries or the top 10 things to do in Mexico with kids blog.

7 – South Africa

There are lots of choices for a family road trip through South Africa. Understandably popular is the coastal Garden Route from Cape Town up to Port Elizabeth with more vineyards, beaches and wildlife than you can shake a stick at. But you can also head away from the cost into the interior around the spectacular Drakensburg Mountains or head through the much less visited but increasingly popular Kwa Zulu Natal area. Whichever route you choose, you’re guaranteed stunning scenery and well-signposted, great roads with very little traffic once you leave the city behind.

“I’ve never been lost in South Africa, despite not using Sat Nav” says resident Africa aficionado, Claire. The Garden Route is probably the easiest family road trip, packed with heaps of child-friendly activities from trekking, bike hire, penguins and whale watching. And for foodies, Hermanus has just been awarded UNESCO city of gastronomy status, (along with Durban and Cape Town) so is now a firm ‘must-include’ along this route.

Another reason why South Africa is such a great destination for a family road trip is that you can self-drive around Kruger National Park. This doesn’t just make for a much more flexible experience than an organised game drive but a much, much cheaper one, too.

And finally, a couple of enjoyable practicalities. In South Africa, when you stop for petrol, the attendants do it for you (and wipe your windscreen, too). Lazy, yes. Enjoyable, absolutely. And even better, rather than down-at-heel service stations serving forgettable fast food, there’s a plethora of truly outstanding farm shops, restaurants and vineyards which don’t just offer amazing, high quality food but offer views to die for.

Take a look at our suggested places to visit and don’t miss our Top 10 things to do with Kids in South Africa for inspiration.

8 – USA

The quintessential family road trip destination, there’s a reason we’re working hard to put the finishing touches to our US itineraries. We are confident that these will be the best family road trips available. Forget the prospect of spending the night in a dismal motel and instead look forward to gorgeous glamping, wooden beach cabins, charming B&Bs with dramatic views and boutique boltholes.

In a country as vast as the US, it goes without saying that to enjoy the best family road trip, it pays to choose a particular area to explore. It might be the stunning coastal route from San Francisco to LA. On a road trip here you can take in Monterey and Big Sur before heading inland to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, before finishing in Los Angeles…

Or for big wildlife and bigger scenery, perhaps head inland. Start with the bright lights of Las Vegas then drive to the dramatic Grand Canyon and some of Utah’s most spectacular parks. Spend a few days rafting on a remote stretch of river (kids aged 7+) and then finish up in Yellowstone, home to bison, wolves, bears and spouting geysers.

We’re still putting the finishing touches to our USA family road trip itineraries but contact us to find out more and get a sneak preview.

Family road trips start here

If you’d like to know more about our suggested family road trips, we’d love to hear from you. Even if this a dream for the future, we’d be delighted to help you to start planning.  Simply call us on 01728 752751 or use our contact form to get in touch.

Liddy Pleasants, MD Stubborn Mule Travel