Long-distance car travel with multiple stops, typically through scenic routes. American tradition that experienced renaissance in 2010s-2020s driven by social media documentation and pandemic travel shifts.
Classic Routes
Route 66 (Chicago to Santa Monica, 2,448 miles) - Historic highway decommissioned 1985, maintained as nostalgic tourist route. Neon signs, retro diners, roadside attractions.
Pacific Coast Highway (California SR 1) - San Francisco to San Diego, 655 miles. Big Sur cliffs, Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls. Peak season traffic jams.
Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia/North Carolina, 469 miles) - Fall foliage, Appalachian vistas. America’s most visited National Park unit (15M/year).
Going-to-the-Sun Road (Glacier National Park, Montana, 50 miles) - Opens July-September only, snow-covered most of year. Logan Pass, mountain goats.
Overseas Highway (Florida Keys, 113 miles) - Miami to Key West, 42 bridges including Seven Mile Bridge. Hurricane vulnerability.
Alaska Highway (1,387 miles) - Remote wilderness, wildlife, limited services. Summer-only for RVs.
Economic Impact
AAA reported 700M+ US road trips annually pre-pandemic. Average spending: $244/day for family of four.
Gas, food, lodging drove rural economy along scenic routes. Some towns exist primarily for road trip tourism (Williams, AZ - “Gateway to Grand Canyon”).
Pandemic Boom
2020-2021: International travel restricted, domestic road trips surged 34%. National Park visitation records broken despite capacity limits.
RV rentals increased 650% summer 2020 vs 2019. Rental prices doubled ($150-400+/day for motorhomes). Used RV prices jumped 30-50%.
Remote work enabled extended road trips (month+ vs week).
Planning Tools
Roadtrippers app (2012) - Route planning with POI suggestions, estimated costs, mileage tracking
Google Maps integration - Download offline maps for service-dead zones
iOverlander - Free camping spots, gas stations, border crossings (popular for international trips)
GasBuddy - Cheapest gas prices along route (saved $50-100 on cross-country trips)
Social Media Aesthetic
Instagram road trip tropes:
- Dashboard perspective with road ahead
- Feet out car window
- Gas station snack hauls
- Roadside attraction signs
- Motel neon signs
- Sunset over highway
- Maps with route highlighted
Influencers monetized road trip content with van conversion sponsors, outdoor gear partnerships, tourism board collabs.
Environmental Concerns
Average road trip carbon footprint: 2,500 miles = 1.2 tons CO2 (assuming 25 MPG). Long-distance driving’s climate impact conflicted with nature appreciation.
Electric vehicle road trips limited by charging infrastructure (improved significantly 2020-2023 with Tesla Supercharger network and federal investment).
Sources: AAA road trip surveys, National Park Service statistics, RV Industry Association data