50 Roads You Need To Cruise Down Before You Die

If you feel like going on a getaway vacation, few can be more spontaneous than a road trip, which for many is the perfect way to travel. You just grab some food and water, fill up the tank and hop in the car. But a trip down some roads take a lot of preparations and, sometimes, courage.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, known as the "Roof of Japan," includes a highway that cuts through walls of snow. The road passes through the regal scenery of Mt. Tateyama in the Japanese Alps.  This is probably the most popular attraction in Toyama, Hokuriku. The full route is open only from mid-April until the end of November.

The high mountain pass, located in the Himalayas, is at an elevation of 13,054 feet above sea level. The biggest challenge for people traversing the road is clearing it from the layers of snow. However, landslides are a risk. Cars are only allowed on the road from May to November.

This treacherous road was carved into the cliffside to connect the mountaintop village of Guoliang with the rest of civilization (previously, the only access was via a steep stairway called the "Sky Ladder"). After years of their pleas for a road falling on deaf government ears, local villagers took matters literally into their own hands and hand-carved a 0.75-mile tunnel that's 16 feet tall and 13 feet wide. The roadway twists, turns and dips unpredictably.

Alaska's 414-mile James Dalton Highway is the land link between the Arctic Sea oil fields and civilization. Truck traffic picks up during the long, dark winter, when Arctic winds batter the highway and 12 percent grades turn into treacherous miles-long Slip'N Slides. During the summer, beware the rocks and dust kicked up by the speeding trucks.

The well-known Amalfi Coast route follows the shoreline from Sorrento south to Salerno in Italy. This is one of the best coastal drives in the entire country. After all, the stunning Amalfi offers nothing but beautiful scenery all around. The road is famous for its hairpin bends, zigzags, and the narrowness in some parts, according to Dangerous Roads. Built at a very steep angle, it winds along the cliffs.

Chapman's Peak Drive in Cape Town takes drivers on a 5.5-mile winding route from Hout Bay to Noordhoek, according to South Africa Tourism. It is commonly referred to as one of the most scenic stretches of road on the planet. Some of the vantage points are up to 1,945 feet above sea level. You can often see whales and dolphins dancing in the ocean below.

The 50-mile road cuts the Glacier National Park in half and it's a National Historic Landmark. You will see forests, lakes, deep ravines, and a variety of wildlife in one trip. Don't be intimidated by the tall mountaintops all around. But don't look up so often because the road can get quite narrow at times.

It's often referred to as the most magnificent road in the French Alps. It used to be an important transportation route, but now it is mostly a cyclists' heaven. They like the challenge of a steep climb while looking at the stunning Vercors region. One of the most famous stretches of the road is between St. Jean-en-Royans and Col de la Machine.

The Hana Highway is Hawaii's most famous and treasured road. Explore the almost 65 miles of pure beauty and thrill. You'll drive by steep sea-cliffs and see flourishing mango trees. Stop along the way to soak in views that look like they are from the Jurassic Park movies – breathtaking waterfalls and lots of swimming holes. If you go all the way, you'll make more than 600 turns and drive through shorelines, bridges and hills.

It's also called Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road. It's onlt about seven miles long but the highest point of the road is at 4,265 feet above sea level, and the lowest point is 656 feet. To reach to the top you have to drive along the Avenue toward Heaven, which has 99 turns. This is supposed to symbolize that Heaven has nine palaces.

The serpentine "Troll's Way" winds through 11 hairpin turns at grades of up to 9 percent on its way up to a 2,790-foot mountain pass. Try not to be distracted by the 1,050-foot Stigfossen waterfall that tumbles down alongside the route and into the valley far below.

The road trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound is certainly among the most beautiful experiences you can have in New Zealand. You'll pass right through the heart of Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage area.

The 110-mile Overseas Highway, which includes the famous Seven Mile Bridge, connects the Florida Keys to the U.S. mainland. It only takes two-and-a-half hours to drive from Key Largo south to Key West. Those who drive along the Overseas Highway quickly discover why the Florida Keys are unlike anywhere else on Earth.

The Oberalp Pass links Disentis/Muster in Canton Graubünden with Andermatt in Canton Uri.The 6,706-foot altitude pass is the highest point on the route of the Glacier Express, according to My Switzerland. Shortly before the top of the pass, the Oberalp lake comes into view. The road is often closed because of weather and snow accumulation between October and December.

Rising 4,070 feet, Jebel Hafeet is the emirate's highest peak. This towering rocky height, which stands guard over Al Ain and borders Oman, is forged out of craggy limestone that has been weathered over millions of years, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. Significant fossil discoveries have been made in the area – more than 500 ancient burial tombs dating back 5,000 years. You can drive or bike to the top via the highway.

This is the main road through the Valley of Fire State Park, which is a must-see spot for any outdoor enthusiast visiting Vegas. Explore this geologic wonderland with 2000-year-old petroglyphs. The 10.5-mile route connects the east and west entrances of the park and was designated as a Nevada Scenic Byway in 1995.

The series of rugged wadi gorges carved out by the Dadès River are impressive. The heart of the valley is a haven of otherworld landscapes. The best time go is in the spring when the area is overflowing with an exceptionally thriving nature.

This winding Transfagarasan alpine road – the second-highest paved road in Romania will have you pass through medieval cities, and maybe stay in a restored castle, and visit a fortified church. The road crosses the southern section of the iconic Carpathian Mountains.

This is the highest paved route in Europe, according to signs along the way – 8,907 feet – although Pico de Veleta in Spain is higher. You will see more bikers than cars along the way, which is not a bad thing at all. Col de la Bonette, located in the French Alps, near the border with Italy, has been a part of Tour de France many times.

Try taking the road by bike. It has a series of switchbacks, which actually make the ride one of the most demanding in the region, according to Andes by Bike. "Wind combined with the high altitude will make for some pretty slow going." The Argentine side of the pass is of a gentler grade and much better maintained but it has more traffic and tourists. The summit is at 12,598 feet.

Situated in the Timanfaya National Park in the Canary Islands, the unforgettable road, which is just over 6 miles long, will take you to see absolutely awe-inspiring views over volcanic cones and craters. You can even see lava tubes. The road, which also gets quite busy in the summer, is paved but very narrow, especially in the rocky desert.

The Pan-American Highway is also known as the "longest motorable" road in the world. It's a 30,000 mile trip from North America to South America through some of the most intense landscapes ever created. Your skills will be put to the test; drive carefully when entering the jungles, mountains, deserts and glaciers.

Drive along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. If you make it the entire way, you will see Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Whether weaving its way round deeply indented bays or skirting scree-covered mountains, there's scarcely a single boring stretch.

The 6,860-foot mountain pass in the Alp's heart passes the Saint-Gotthard Massif and connects the northern and southern parts of the country. This is the most direct link between Zürich and Lugano. The pass' unique location is challenging. The climb in elevation is thousands of feet.

No such list is complete without the iconic Route 66. Nicknamed, "The Main Street of America," the 2,451-mile Route 66 was the main highway to the U.S. West Coast when the iconic road first opened in 1926. "The Mother Road" slices through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Riders can still get their kicks on Route 66 at kitschy mom-and-pop roadside motels, neon-lit diners, old-time soda fountains, and remnants of old-school service stations and times gone by.