Does your daily commute seem a little bland? Are you left uninspired by driving down the same boring stretch of road? It may be time to rediscover the pleasures of driving with the ultimate road trip. Check out six of the world’s most extreme roads for a driving experience that really is like no other.

The windiest road

Lombard Street in San Francisco is often, incorrectly, called the ’steepest street in the world’. While not the steepest incline (we’ll get to that one later), the often-photographed Lombard Street is the windiest road in the world. A series of sharp switchbacks in this California neighbourhood makes this street a huge tourist attraction as well as a test of your car’s agility.

The longest road

For an epic road trip that requires no navigating, take the Pan-American highway: a one-street shot from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA to the southern tip of South America. The highway is 47,958 kilometres (29,800 mi) long and cuts through fourteen countries. Something to keep in mind when you pack: the highway passes through a globe’s worth of environments, from deserts to rainforests to snowy mountains.

The shortest road

Ebenezer Place is so short that you’ll be well past it before you even realize you’ve found it. Located in Wick, Caithness, Scotland, the road is measured at a mini 2.06 metres (6 feet 9 inches) long. There is only one address on the street: the No. 1 Bistro, part of Mackays Hotel. If it weren’t for the one door needing an address, the road would be the junction of Union Street and River Street.

The highest road

Perched atop the mountains of Tibet is Semo La, the highest motorable pass in the world. The pass has been measured at 5,565 metres (18,258 feet) above sea level. The pass connects central Tibet to the western Chang Tang region. It’s mostly used when the southern, more popular, pass is muddy and dangerous.

The lowest road

If the thought of driving along the world’s highest road gives you vertigo, try the world’s lowest: Highway 90 in Israel. A section of the highway runs past the Dead Sea at an elevation of 393 metres (1,289 feet) below sea level. This stretch of road is also home to several attractions, including Ein Gedi Spa and the Qumran Caves.

The steepest road

When New Zealand was first colonized by England, many of the cities were designed by planners still in London. Of course, it can be difficult to plan a city you’ve never visited and occasionally the plans did not take into account geographic features of the land. It was one of these oversights that resulted in Baldwin Street: the steepest street in the world.

Baldwin Street is located in Dunedin, New Zealand. The best way to visit the steepest street in the world, and the other crazy and unique roads in New Zealand, is to pick up a car hire in Christchurch, where most South Island visitors arrive. For visitors arriving in the North Island, Auckland car rentals are readily available from the airport.