The 10 Most Popular Countries For Road Trips, and How Much Gas Costs in Each

It might come as a surprise that the US reigns supreme as the happiest place for drivers. The US has the highest car ownership rate globally, with an estimated 80 percent of the population having access to a vehicle. This widespread car ownership makes road trips and scenic drives highly accessible. The nation has a staggering almost four million miles of roads. This vast network offers us so many options for a road trip, from scenic byways to steep and thrilling routes and historic cross-country drives through ghost towns.

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The study also reveals that the average price of gas in the US sits at around $0.91 per liter, while diesel comes in slightly higher at $1.05 per liter. This translates to an average cost of $0.98 per liter. So you can drive happy this summer across many major road trip routes knowing that you’re getting one of the best deals compared to many other countries.

Moneybarn’s study also identified other countries that scored highly for driver happiness. Here’s the top ten:

• 1. United States ($0.98 per liter)
• 2. Norway ($2.04 per liter)
• 3. Japan ($1.06 per liter)
• 4. Canada ($1.26 per liter)
• 5. Iceland ($2.28 per liter)
• 6. Australia ($1.15 per liter)
• 7. Spain ($1.67 per liter)
• 8. Sweden ($1.78 per liter)
• 9. France ($1.94 per liter)
• 10. Finland ($1.91 per liter)

Photo: Olena Tur/Shutterstock

Norway comes in second. The average price of gas and diesel is $2.04 per liter, but the breathtaking scenery and a focus on sustainable transportation solutions may play a role in Norway’s driver satisfaction.

Norway’s fjords were made for road trips. Some of the most popular routes take drivers through The Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway, along The Atlantic Road on the west coast, known for its series of bridges that seem to defy gravity, and past The Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway.

Coming in third was Japan. Efficiency and culture of courtesy on the roads could be contributing factors to Japan’s ranking, as well as epic routes along the Shimanami Kaidō with views of the Seto Inland Sea, the coast-to-coast across the entire island of Hokkaido, and the temple viewing road trip on the island of Shikoku.

Similar to the US, Canada has some of the best road trips in the world, but the average price of gas and diesel is higher, costing around $1.26.

Following Canada is Iceland. And while nothing is cheap in the country, including gas ($2.28 per liter), Iceland is a great place to explore by car. The island has a well-maintained main road, Route 1, also known as the Ring Road, that circles the entire country. This makes it easy to plan a road trip and see all the major sights.