Mongolia is one of those wild, mythic places that seems more imagined than real, a country defined not by cities, but by sky, space, and silence. It’s one of the least populated and most naturally beautiful places on our planet. If you’ve ever dreamed of pointing your wheels toward the horizon with nothing ahead of you but dirt tracks and desert, this is your kind of trip.
Can You Road Trip in Mongolia?
Yes.
In fact, it’s one of the best ways to experience the country and become more popular (and accessible) year after year.
But should you? If you’re even a little adventurous, even a little curious, even a little tired of over-structured tours…then yes, a thousand times yes.
Planning a road trip in Mongolia isn’t easy. Mongolia doesn’t care about your itinerary. The weather changes in an instant. There are no road signs. The gas stations are 300 kilometers apart. Navigation can be a challenge.
But that’s also why it’s worth it.
Fortunately, planning a road trip in Mongolia is easier than ever thanks to AVIS. Offering 4×4 rentals equipped with all the camping gear you need to be totally self-sufficient, as well as easy to navigate self-drive tour routes, you have an abundance of options.
Let’s dig into what it really takes to road trip in Mongolia, and why we always tell people that the best way to see the country is from behind the wheel.
What Are Mongolia’s Roads Actually Like?
Let me be real with you: calling them “roads” is generous. Outside of Ulaanbaatar and a few inter-city routes along what they call the “Ring Road”, Mongolia doesn’t really do paved highways. Year by year, this is changing. More and more asphalt is being poured to connect popular destinations. But don’t come into the country expecting it.
You’ll find a handful of main paved roads connecting provincial capitals, but most of the time, you’re on dirt tracks, gravel, or just following tire ruts through open steppe. In the Gobi Desert, especially, roads turn into riverbeds, sand pits, and rock-strewn plains with zero signage. Navigation means following the tracks laid before you.
That said, it’s not dangerous in the traditional sense. You don’t have to worry about traffic or other drivers much at all outside of the major cities.
Because of the many river crossings you’ll encounter, renting a 4×4 is a must. The AVIS fleet is reliable, rugged, and built for the abuse these “roads” dish out.
What Are the Biggest Challenges of Road Tripping Here?
Road tripping in Mongolia is not easy. Here are the biggest obstacles you’ll need to be ready for if you choose to road trip in Mongolia.
1. Navigation Is Tricky
Forget about Google Maps. It might work in cities, but out on the steppe? No signal, no street names, no problem, if you’re using offline GPS and are equipped with an adventurous attitude. Okay, still a little bit of a problem. One of the biggest issues is deciding which set of off-road tracks to follow. Sometimes it seems like they are going in the correct direction, but then they veer off into the steppe, never to reconnect with where you thought you were headed.
Most Mongolian drivers navigate by memory or by asking herders for directions (which, yes, is a real and very effective method).
You could opt for a self-drive tour package with AVIS instead. This allows you to navigate via a preplanned GPS route and skip all the stress of having to navigate by map and compass.
2. Distances Are Massive
It may look like a short distance on the map, but that 100-kilometer stretch might take you eight hours depending on the terrain and how many water crossings you have to navigate. That’s not even to consider if the weather decides to change on you. This is yet another reason self-drivers appreciate a well-planned route by experts who have navigated the terrain before.
Plan for slow travel and allow for miscalculations in your itinerary. Mongolia rewards the patient.
3. Fuel Stops Are Far Apart
In some parts of the Gobi or the west, gas stations can be 250–300 kilometers apart. Always top up your tank and carry a spare jerry can. This isn’t a country where you can wing it. One of the many reasons I appreciated AVIS? They give you a spare can, recovery gear, and full prep before hitting the road on request.
4. Weather Can Flip in Minutes
One minute it’s sunny and hot, the next you’re dodging hail or a sandstorm. Especially at altitude, conditions are unpredictable. In summer, flash floods can wash out tracks. In spring and fall, snow is possible. Always check weather forecasts before embarking on long or especially treacherous sections of the road, and then assume they’re only half-right.
5. Breakdowns Happen
Even the most seasoned drivers get stuck in sand, pop tires, or stall in riverbeds. This is where renting from a company like AVIS Mongolia becomes crucial. Their support network is countrywide, and if anything goes wrong, they can connect you with help, which isn’t something you get from just any local rental.
Who Should Consider a Mongolian Road Trip?
If you prefer clean, comfortable, and predictable travel, consider booking a group tour. There’s no shame in that. But if you’re a:
- seasoned overlander looking for your next epic adventure
- group of friends craving an outdoor-centric getaway
- wedding party searching for a unique and ICONIC stag-do
- lover of photography who wants to immerse in nature
- couple of travelers who want to experience Mongolia like a local
- group hoping to explore Mongolia on a deeper level and have an itinerary filled with nature and cultural experiences
…then a Mongolia road trip was made for you.
What Are the Benefits of Road Tripping in Mongolia?
We’ve discussed the challenges, but why go through the trouble? Why not just hop on a guided tour and let someone else deal with the dust and detours?
Because road tripping in Mongolia gives you something no guided tour ever will: freedom and true exploration.
1. Total Flexibility
Want to spend an extra day watching wild horses at Hustai National Park? No problem. Want to camp at the foot of Khongoryn Els and catch sunrise without a tour bus in sight? You can. When you drive yourself, the itinerary is yours to build, break, or completely abandon.
2. Access to Remote Gems
Most tour routes hit the same major stops. But when you’ve got a rugged 4×4 and a full tank of gas, you can detour to hidden canyons, hot springs no one’s mapped, and mountain lakes where you won’t see another human being for 24 hours. There are just certain destinations in Mongolia you can only reach if you drive yourself.
3. Cultural Encounters on Your Terms
You’ll pass nomadic herders tending goats, kids racing on horseback, and families who will invite you in for milk tea with no common language between you. These encounters are spontaneous, authentic, and unforgettable, and they happen because you’re out there on your own, not just following a tour route.
4. It’s a Photographer’s Paradise
You can take all your photos without holding up a group of strangers! The skies are massive. The landscapes change from green alpine valleys to red cliffs to white-sand deserts, all within a few hours. And the best shots? They are found in places that no tour gets to by golden hour.
What’s It Like to Drive in Mongolia?
Let me paint you a picture.
You’re behind the wheel of a Land Cruiser, tires crunching over gravel as the golden light stretches across a horizon so wide it feels unreal. A herd of yaks crosses your path, slow and stubborn, and you wait, because time doesn’t move the same way here.
You set up camp beside a river, cook noodles under the stars, and fall asleep to absolute silence. No sirens. No city hum. Just the whisper of wind through the steppe.
It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s exhausting. But every single moment feels like something you’ve earned. And that’s what makes it unforgettable.
It’s impossible to truly describe what it’s like to self-drive in Mongolia because the trip is different for everyone who takes it.
What If I Want Less of a Challenge But Still Want to Self-Drive?
Not everyone wants to go full Mad Max in the Gobi, and that’s totally valid.
If you’re excited by the idea of driving in Mongolia but nervous about navigating and choosing the best destinations along the way, AVIS Mongolia also offers self-drive tour packages. These come with a pre-planned GPS route, reserved accommodations at ger camps, and 24/7 support.
You still get all the freedom and flexibility, you’re behind the wheel after all, choosing your pace, but you also have the comfort of knowing someone’s got your back if you hit a snag.
It’s the perfect hybrid for first-time overlanders or rightfully cautious adventurers. Or simply those with limited time to road trip in Mongolia.
So, Should You Road Trip Mongolia?
Yes!
If you’re asking the question, “Can I road trip in Mongolia?”, you’re already halfway there. The answer is yes, with the right preparation, a spirit of adventure, and a sturdy 4×4, this is one of the most powerful and adventurous travel experiences you can have.
By the end, you’ll gain a kind of respect — for the land, for the nomadic culture, and for yourself — that few places can offer travelers.
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