Hitting the road for a scenic drive can be a surprisingly relaxing experience. Unfortunately, you're not always guaranteed a good trip. The weather can ruin the experience in a moment, not to mention the traffic.

Luckily, with Google Street View, you can comfortably explore the world from your desk. But if you want to take a tour of the streets from your computer, Google Maps doesn't have any tools to support you.

Thankfully, there are tools that can change that. Here are five of the best.

1. Animated Route Maps

A Screenshot of Animated Route Maps Landing Page

First on this list is Animated Route Maps. Animated Route Maps is a web service which allows you to map out a route on Google Maps and then experience the route via Street View.

The interface here is a little outdated and can be somewhat confusing to work with, but the end result is surprisingly robust. First, you'll need to adjust the setting to your liking.

Related: Tricks to Help You Use Google Maps Like a Pro

The most important settings here are the start address and destination address. As you might expect, these will determine where your trip will both start and end.

From there, you can adjust a wide range of other options to your liking. The travel mode and animation update intervals are some of the more interesting ones.

From there, you need to click on the Create Your Directions Map button and navigate down to the View Map button, and you’re good to go.

2. Directions Map

A Screenshot of Directions Maps Landing Page

Next up on this list is Directions Map. Directions Map is great if you’re looking for the same virtual tour experience with a little more information.

Getting started with Directions Map is easy. The webpage should load an example route for you, which makes it easy to get an idea of how everything works if you want.

You’ll see the Street View, satellite view, and a closer view as well. When you start the animation, all three will move in tandem to show you the route that you’ve chosen.

You can edit the route by clicking the button near the top, labeled as such. All you need to do is inter a new start and destination address.

3. RouteView

A Screenshot of RouteView Landing Page

If you’re looking for a more powerful tool to take an auto-guided tour, then RouteView might just be your best bet.

RouteView has very impressive options to set up your route exactly how you want it. You can even adjust the step intervals and speed, the thickness of the route and plenty of others.

More than anything else, though, RouteView looks good when it works. This leads into RouteView’s biggest problem.

Related: How to Create Shared Collaborative Google Maps

RouteView is difficult to set up. Creating a website like this requires a Google Maps API key, and that isn’t something the creator has. Instead, you’ll need to get your own.

Doing so is entirely free unless you end up using the API a lot. But, bear in mind, it is difficult to acquire a key all the same.

4. Google Street View Movie Maker

A Screenshot of Google Street View Movie Maker's Landing Page

If you’re happy with a little extra work, or already have your Google Maps API key, then there are other options available to you as well.

Google Street View Movie Maker is a project you can access from GitHub. If you know nothing about programming but have always wanted to learn, this could be an interesting way to do so.

Regardless, you’ll have to set the project up yourself. You’ll also need that pesky Google Maps API Key.

Once you do, though, it’s all worth it. You can tweak and add and adjust the Street View player whenever you want. You’re the one in charge of the code, after all.

5. Frame Synthesis Driving Simulator

A Screenshot of Frame Synthesis Driving Simulator's Landing Page

Finally, we have Frame Synthesis Driving Simulator. This entry is a bit of a departure from the other options on this list, but is certainly the most unique.

With Frame Synthesis Driving Simulator, you can take a tour of any street on Google Maps. The only difference is that now you’re in the driving seat.

Related: How to Use Google Street View

By default, the camera will place you above the car. For a more immersive tour of the landscape, you can adjust the camera so that you’re looking at it head on.

You can go to any location that Google Maps supports this way, and enjoy the scenery without worrying about traffic or pollution.

Where Are You Going to Travel?

As you see, it doesn't take big bucks to go around the world. The Internet can take you places you never knew existed. And while you're there, why not explore them; it's almost as if you were there for real.

Google Maps is a more powerful tool than it appears on the surface, and there's a lot that you can achieve once you have the right tools.