The World's Best Road Trip Weather? South Africa's Garden Route Beats Route 66

South Africa's Garden Route has been ranked the world's best road for driving weather, beating Route 66 and California's Pacific Coast Highway. In a 2026 study by Autotrader, carried out with a senior meteorologist, the Garden Route scored 90.6 out of 100, the highest of any famous road in the world. Here's what the study found, what makes the Garden Route so special, and how to experience it for yourself.

What did the study find?

Autotrader teamed up with Jim Dale, Senior Meteorologist at British Weather Services, to work out which of the world's most iconic roads most reliably deliver ideal driving conditions. Using historical weather data, each road was scored on five factors: rainfall, visibility and clear days, wind speed, temperature, and humidity.

Visibility carried particular weight. After all, the whole point of a great drive is being able to see where you are.

The Garden Route came out on top with a score of 90.6. Route 66 came second with 87.3, and the Pacific Coast Highway third with 86.1. The Amalfi Coast, Australia's Great Ocean Road and Canada's Icefields Parkway also made the global top ten, but none came close to South Africa.

Why the Garden Route came first

The study focused on the roughly 300 km stretch between Mossel Bay and Storms River, the heart of the Garden Route. It scored highly for clear skies through most of the year, gentle winds and comfortable temperatures.

But the weather is only half the story. What makes the Garden Route special is how much it packs into one journey. In a single day, you can go from golden beaches and Indian Ocean views to ancient forests, lagoons and mountain passes.

Highlights along the Garden Route

Mossel Bay. The traditional start of the Garden Route, with beaches, clifftop hiking on the Cape St Blaize Trail, and the Dias Museum Complex, which tells the story of the first European explorers to reach this coast.

Wilderness. A peaceful village of rivers, lakes and forest, perfect for an easy canoe trip.

Knysna. A lagoon town famous for oysters, sunset cruises and the dramatic sandstone cliffs of the Knysna Heads.

Tsitsikamma. Towering indigenous forest meets a wild, rocky coastline. The Storms River Mouth suspension bridge is one of the most photographed spots in South Africa.

Bloukrans Bridge. Home to one of the highest bridge bungee jumps in the world, for anyone brave enough.

Beyond the Garden Route

Some of the best experiences sit just off the main route:

Route 62 and the Klein Karoo. An inland alternative to the coast road, with vineyards, semi-desert scenery, the ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn and the underground chambers of the Cango Caves.

Cape Agulhas. The southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

Hermanus. One of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching. Southern right whales visit the bay from roughly June to November.

Addo Elephant National Park. At the eastern end of the route, a malaria-free Big 5 safari park home to more than 600 elephants.

When is the best time to drive the Garden Route?

The Garden Route has a mild climate year-round, which is a big part of why it scored so highly. Summer, from November to March, brings the warmest weather and longest days. Spring is lush and green after the winter rains, and from June to November you have the bonus of whales in Hermanus.

See the Garden Route with Encounters Travel

The best part? You don't have to do the driving. On our small group tours, you can sit back and take in the views while we handle the road.

We run five Garden Route tours, so you can choose the length, direction and travel style that suits you:

• The Garden Route - 5 days - our shortest option, setting off from Cape Town and heading east along the coast.
• The Garden Route - 6 days - a round trip from Cape Town, ideal if you're flying in and out of the same city.
• The Garden Route - 8 days - Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, with Cape Agulhas, Route 62 wine tasting, an ostrich farm in the Klein Karoo, canoeing in Wilderness, the Knysna Heads, Tsitsikamma and a Big 5 safari in Addo.
• The Garden Route - 10 days - our most complete Garden Route adventure, with an Addo safari, Mossel Bay and optional thrills like bungee jumping, skydiving and sandboarding.
• The Classic Garden Route - 6 days from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town in 3 to 4-star hotels and guesthouses, with a maximum of 12 travellers. Highlights include Addo, Tsitsikamma, the Cango Caves, Cape Agulhas, whale watching in Hermanus and the African penguins at Stony Point.

FAQs

Is the Garden Route the best road trip in the world?

In terms of weather, a 2026 study ranked the Garden Route #1 in the world for driving conditions, ahead of Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway, with a score of 90.6 out of 100.

Where does the Garden Route start and end?

It's usually described as the stretch of coast between Mossel Bay and Storms River in South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape, around 300 km long. Most tours start in Cape Town, while our Classic Garden Route runs the other way, from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.

How many days do you need for the Garden Route?

Our Garden Route tours range from 5 to 10 days. Eight days gives you time to travel from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth without rushing, including a safari in Addo Elephant National Park.

Which Garden Route tour should I choose?

If you're short on time, our 5 or 6-day tours cover the highlights from Cape Town. The 8 and 10-day tours add more time on the coast and a Big 5 safari in Addo. For hotel and guesthouse stays and a smaller group of up to 12, choose the Classic Garden Route.

Do I need to drive myself?

No. Encounters Travel runs small group Garden Route tours with all transport included, so you can enjoy the views without being behind the wheel.

Can you see wildlife on the Garden Route?

Yes. Highlights include whales at Hermanus from roughly June to November, African penguins at Stony Point, and elephants, lions and the rest of the Big 5 at Addo Elephant National Park.

Source: Autotrader, The Roads with the Best Driving Conditions in the World