The best road trip destinations on a budget

While the idea of hitting the open road is always enticing, some people worry about the cost of taking a trip that spans a considerable distance. New research on road trips from the insurance company, Veygo by Admiral, has revealed that the cheapest countries to do so were found in Europe, combining the costs of both car hire and accommodation for two weeks.

Not only can Central and Eastern Europe be extremely affordable, but they’re also packed with gorgeous natural landscapes, magnificent architecture and rich histories. So if you fancy a road trip that won't break the bank, these are the cheapest countries to do it.

1. Latvia

A tapestry of sea, lakes and woods, Latvia is best described as a vast unspoilt parkland with just one real city – its cosmopolitan capital, Rīga. The country might be small, but the amount of personal space it provides is enormous. You can check it out without too much financial damage as the cost of a two-week trip with car hire and accommodation is £747.34 ($987.31).

2. Lithuania

There's ample space to breathe in Lithuania, with its lakes, forests of birch and pine, and pancake-flat farmland. The historic core of Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, is an eye-pleasing assemblage of bright baroque houses, inviting alleyways and colourful churches built around quiet courtyards, and you will also find lively pubs and bars, hidden terraces and romantic restaurants. A two-week road trip will set you back £818.96 ($1081.71)

3. Turkey

Turkey's diverse landscapes, from Aegean olive groves to eastern steppe, provide a lyrical setting for its many great ruins, which are wonderful to explore. The country's most magical scenery is to be found in Asian Anatolia, where beautiful vistas are provided by the vertiginous Mediterranean coastline. Turkey's landscape will leave a lasting impression, and the cost of a two-week trip there comes to £845.89 ($1117.28).

4. Poland

When it comes to exploring Poland, picturesque cities like Kraków and Gdańsk vie with energetic Warsaw for your urban attention. Away from the big cities, much of Poland feels remote with unspoiled and woods, rivers, lakes and hills. While large swathes of the country are flat, the southern border is lined with a chain of low-lying but lovely mountains that invite days, if not weeks, of splendid solitude. A two-week road trip exploring the country will set you back £963.14 ($1272.14)

5. Slovakia

Slovakia is great to explore as it's a land of castles and mountains, occasionally punctuated by industrial sprawl. Capital city Bratislava draws visitors to its resplendent old town, but Slovakia shines brightest for lovers of the outdoors. It has mirror-still glacier lakes backed by 2000m peaks, and its less-visited east is speckled with quaint churches. The cost of a two-week road trip comes to £987.61 ($1304.46).

In addition, the study ranked the world’s 41 more economically developed countries on factors including the cost of two-weeks car rental and accommodation, the price of fuel, Instagrammability and road safety. It found that the best countries to road trip around are Italy, the US and Japan.

1. Italy

With a network of well-maintained roads that weave through a landscape of snow-capped peaks, plunging coastlines, lakes and historic towns, Italy offers plenty of epic driving. And while some routes are undeniably challenging, they all make for unforgettable experiences. Read here about Lonely Planet's choice of six classic Italian road trips, ranging from gentle Tuscan jaunts to hair-raising mountain adventures.

2. US

The US's expansive and well-kept road system makes it the perfect destination for road trippers. Whether you're flying solo on a motorbike, touring in a campervan with friends or cruising Route 66 with the top down, there are so many iconic drives available for hitting the highway. Check out the USA's Best Trips here, which features 52 amazing road trips, from two-day escapes to two-week adventures,.

3. Japan

Travelling around Japan offers numerous opportunities to connect with the country's traditional culture. It's a long and slender, highly volcanic archipelago and is over two-thirds mountains, with bubbling hot springs at every turn. In the warmer months, there is excellent exploring past cedar groves and fields of wildflowers, up to soaring peaks and ancient shrines.

To check out the full research from Veygo by Admiral, see here.