A new international study has identified several American road trip routes among the world’s most electric vehicle-friendly driving destinations, underlining the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure across key tourism corridors.
Research conducted by Comparethemarket AU ranked some of the globe’s best-known driving routes according to the number of publicly available electric vehicle chargers and the average number of full charges required to complete each journey. The study also incorporated social media popularity through Instagram hashtag activity to assess the broader appeal of each route.
The findings come as electric vehicle ownership continues to rise globally and summer travel demand strengthens, increasing focus on whether long-distance driving routes are equipped to support battery-powered transport.
California’s Big Sur route emerged as the highest-ranked North American destination, taking second place globally behind the Amalfi Coast in Italy. According to the study, drivers travelling along the 74.9-mile coastal route would require an average of just 0.23 full charges to complete the journey.
Despite the route’s challenging terrain and winding cliffside roads, researchers found that six strategically positioned charging stations were sufficient to support EV travel throughout the stretch.
The report also highlighted Big Sur’s broader popularity among travellers, noting that the route has generated more than 1.5 million Instagram hashtags, reinforcing its status as both a tourism hotspot and an increasingly practical destination for environmentally conscious motorists.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast secured the top global ranking due to its short 33.6-mile distance combined with 23 available charging stations, requiring an estimated 0.10 full charges to complete the route.
Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route ranked third overall. Spanning 126 miles, the route offers 75 charging stations and requires an estimated 0.38 full charges, making it one of Europe’s most accessible scenic EV drives.
The study suggests that infrastructure investment across major tourism and transport corridors is accelerating in response to rising demand for electric mobility, particularly in regions dependent on seasonal tourism.
Among the most notable findings was the scale of charging infrastructure along some of America’s longest and most iconic driving routes.
The Pacific Coast Highway ranked 11th globally, with 556 chargers available across its 494-mile route. Researchers said the route requires approximately 1.49 full charges to complete, demonstrating the increasing feasibility of long-distance electric travel along the US west coast.
Meanwhile, the historic Route 66 corridor was highlighted as an example of expanding nationwide EV infrastructure. Although it did not place within the final top 11 rankings, the route was noted for offering 533 charging stations across its 2,309-mile span.
The findings indicate that concerns around range anxiety and charging accessibility are gradually diminishing as public and private investment in charging networks continues.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Greece’s Epirus region secured fourth place, followed by Norway’s Atlantic Road in fifth. Australia’s Great Ocean Road placed sixth despite having only eight charging stations, aided by the relatively short distance required for the journey.
France’s Côte d’Azur, Spain’s Catalonia region and Germany’s Romantic Road also featured prominently in the rankings due to their high charger density and manageable route distances.
Top 11 Most EV-Friendly Road Trips Worldwide
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Big Sur, USA
- Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
- Epirus, Greece
- The Atlantic Road, Norway
- The Great Ocean Road, Australia
- Côte d’Azur, France
- Catalonia, Spain
- Romantic Road, Germany
- Blue Ridge Parkway, USA
- Pacific Coast Highway, USA
The study reflects the growing competitiveness among global tourism destinations seeking to attract electric vehicle drivers through improved infrastructure and sustainable travel initiatives.
With EV adoption continuing to increase across North America and Europe, transport analysts expect charging accessibility to become an increasingly important factor in travel planning, particularly for high-profile scenic routes that rely heavily on seasonal visitor traffic.
The presence of three US routes within the global top 11 also signals the pace at which American charging infrastructure has developed in recent years, positioning the country as one of the leading markets for long-distance electric road travel.
