The top road trip destinations and trends of 2024

The great Aussie Road trip is a classic. But with the cost of living steeply escalating, thrifty travellers are swapping far-flung vacations for the wide-open road. Here’s where they’re headed.

When it comes to road trips, Australia is truly blessed. There are seemingly endless roads that wind through breathtaking landscapes, from the expansive coast to the iconic red outback. And in an era of rising living costs, budget-savvy travellers can embrace campsites, caravan parks, and apps like Hipcamp to explore the country without breaking the bank.

The Red Centre is a popular road trip. (Image: Tourism NT/Sean Scott)

Youi surveyed over 2,000 Aussies to uncover our road trip habits and our favourite destinations. We’ve broken down the top travel trends, destinations and findings below.

Top Road Trip Travel Trends

There’s a lot of ground to cover on an Aussie road trip. Half of us racked up over 500 kms  on the odometer on our last journey, while a quarter of us logged an incredible 17 hours or more behind the wheel.

Go roadtrippin’ on the iconic Gibb River Road. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

For a third of respondents, budget was a factor in choosing a road trip. On average, their most recent trip cost $1,108, covering fuel, accommodation, meals, and entertainment.

Baby Boomers proved to be the most intrepid road trippers, traveling longer, driving further, and veering off the beaten path more often. While 20% of all respondents travelled over 1000 kms, that figure jumped to 32% for Boomers.

Top Destinations

Queenslanders proved to be the biggest road trippers in the country, with 33% spending over 17 hours on their most recent journey.

As for the top road trip overall, it’s no surprise that a classic took the crown: Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. An impressive 39% of respondents named it their favorite.

Among Victorians, 63% chose the iconic route, while 45% of South Australians also ranked it as their top pick.

Follow the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Meanwhile, travellers from New South Wales singled out the Sydney to Brissy drive as their go-to.

43% of Queenslanders awarded top gong to outback Queensland, whereas West Australians ranked the Perth to Esperance route as their favourite.

On, the Great Ocean Road is a string of perfect coastal towns are threaded together by breathtaking scenery. (Image: Getty/Alexwise)

Wherever you are, Youi has teamed up with Hipcamp to bring travellers five epic, unsung road trips itineraries across Australia, in the states on NSW, Vic, Qld, SA and WA that celebrate the beauty, vastness and diversity of the landscape. It’s time to hit the road!