I only build roads from my base(s) down to the shore. Most of my travel in this game is sailing since it is far faster than walking. Roads in this game don't let you travel faster than in places that don't have roads and taking the time to cut down the trees and break the rocks uses up the time you save.

I prefer to use portals in combination with sailing. I use portals to move everything but ore and smelted metals and sail the ores when I have a nearly full shipload.