For me (global travel editor Annabel Grossman), there's nothing like the thrill of having miles of road ahead of me as I embark on a long drive through a new destination. A few weeks ago, I set off from Washington DC on a loop of Virginia by car, taking in the breathtaking mountains of Shenandoah National Park, down to the coast of Virginia Beach and then along the shores of the barrier islands. With the right music and a few good podcasts, this is very often my favourite way to travel. In the past few years I've toured around Tuscany, driven through France and travelled the length and breadth of California by road. The freedom to stop where you want, change your route on a whim and be immersed in new landscapes is irresistible.

My colleagues have shared with me their own epic experiences and dreams of the open road. Simon Calder tells me of travelling across the Mexican peninsula of Baja California, something he describes as "the closest most of us will come to lunar motoring: a crumpled moonscape of craters and pinnacles". He says: "I was looking forward to the 70-mile bus ride from the sleepy resort of Los Barriles to the handsome state capital, La Paz. But I misread the timetable, and had little option but to start hitchhiking beside a gas station. Within a few minutes, a moustachioed, reflective-sunglass wearing driver pulled up in a cloud of dust in a Ford SUV. Through terrain best negotiated sedately, he drove super-fast and expertly in the manner of the Stig's Mexican cousin. We arrived in the big city within an hour; the thrill stayed with me for weeks."

Meanwhile, travel writer Amelia says next year she hopes to tick off parts of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, a route that stretches 1,600 miles of rugged coastline with prehistoric sites, windswept beaches and charming villages like Doolin. At Independent Travel, our writers have travelled far and wide by road, from exploring Vietnam's untouched landscapes by motorbike to tackling Scotland's NC500 route in an electric vehicle. Below are some of our favourite trips to read about.

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South to north

Greenville South Carolina to Louisville Kentucky makes an excellent five-day drive – with highlights including the spectacular Biltmore estate in Asheville and the original Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin – now a fast-food museum.

Island hopping by bus

Is this Europe's greatest bus ride? Route 300, the Lofoten Express, takes seven hours to meander from the Arctic city of Narvik all the way along the spectacular archipelago of the Lofoten Islands to the village of Å.

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From balloon rides above the Blue Ridge to oyster tastings knee-deep in the Lynnhaven River, Virginia offers a world of unforgettable experiences for travellers in search of something truly special

READ

Peaks to coast

This laidback road trip through the state of Virginia winds its way through mountains, beaches and marshlands. 

EXPLORE

Motorbike thrills

Vietnam's Ha Giang loop is considered one of the most scenic (and challenging) motorbike trails in southeast Asia. This is what it's like to drive it.

From Ha Giang, we followed a wide highway, traversing an emerald rainforest as a sea of hump-shaped hills rose in the distance. Then we began ascending into the clouds, pine-carpeted mountains piercing through the cold, biting mist.

Laura French

Travel writer

READ 

Drive on

These pretty towns – from hilltops to coast – are all within two hours' drive from Europe's biggest cities.

DISCOVER

Under-the-radar route

This stretch of Scotland's beautiful coast is less well known than the famous North Coast 500 – but filled with breathtaking landscapes.

TRAVELSMART WEEKLY

Watch now: Embrace your wanderlust with The Independent's expert travel series

Beyond Route 66: Overlooked road trips that show US soul

Driving Scotland's NC500 in an EV: The joys and challenges

The best driving detours in France to discover new destinations

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Keep your suitcase organised and nab £15 off these Antler packing cubes.

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Best women's wellies for outdoor adventures

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