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{{short description|Long-distance journey on the road}}
:''This article is about the idiom. For the 2000 film, see [[Road Trip|Road Trip (film)]].''
{{for|the [[Girl Authority]] 2007 album|Road Trip (album)}}
{{Other uses|Road trip (disambiguation)}}
[[File: NM 124 and US 66 WB near Budville NM.jpg|thumb|right|Historic Route 66 in New Mexico, USA]]
{{ dablink|This article previously contained information about the road movie genre, for the genre see [[Road movies]] }}
{{worldwide}}
{{Original research|date=March 2008}}
A '''road trip''' is a journey via automobile, sometimes unplanned or impromptu, or a journey involving sporting game(s) away from home <ref>"road trip." Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7). Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 05 Aug. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/road trip>.</ref>, thus encompassing any journey by automobile, regardless of stops en route.


A '''road trip''', sometimes spelled '''roadtrip''', is a long-distance [[Travel|journey]] traveled by [[automobile]].
==Origins of the Road Trip==
The first recorded road trip was attested in stele in the court of [[Ramses II]]. He was said to "come down on the Medeans in his chariot after driving allnight from Memphis." Road trips were important throughout antiquity. Alexander's march into India was described the historian Nearchus. During the [[Roman Republic]], it was not uncommon for young patrician men to gather together to tour the Roman world. [[Jung]] even identified the Road trip as a persistent element of human culture.


==History==
Although the modern road trip can trace its roots to post-WWII America, road tripping in general began long before [[The Great War]].


===First road trips by automobile===
The first successful North American transcontinental trip by automobile took place in 1903, and was piloted by [[H. Nelson Jackson]], Sewall Crocker, and a canine by the name of Bud. The trip was completed using a 1903 Winton Touring Car, dubbed “Vermont” by Jackson. The trip took a total of 63 days between San Francisco and New York, and cost US$8,000. The total cost included items such as food, gasoline, lodging, tires, parts, other supplies, and the cost of the Winton.
[[Image: Motorwagen Serienversion.jpg|thumb|The ''Benz Patent-Motorwagen Number 3'' of 1888, used by Bertha Benz for the highly publicized first long-distance road trip by automobile (of over 106&nbsp; km / 60 miles)]]
[[Image:Ramsey 01.jpg|thumb|right|Alice Huyler Ramsey in 1909]]
The world's first recorded long-distance road trip by the automobile took place in [[German Empire|Germany]] in August 1888 when [[Bertha Benz]], the wife of [[Karl Benz]], the inventor of the first patented motor car (the ''[[Benz Patent-Motorwagen]]''), traveled from [[Mannheim]] to [[Pforzheim]] (a distance of {{convert|106|km|mi|abbr=on}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jaqjwnoubtjswpwi|title=Motorradtour Mannheim - Bertha Benz Memorial Route Hinfahrt - GPSies|author=GPSies®, Klaus Bechtold, Berlin|work=GPSies.com}}</ref> in the third experimental Benz motor car (which had a maximum speed of {{convert|10|km/h|mph}}) and back, with her two teenage sons Richard and Eugen, but without the consent and knowledge of her husband.
Although many would make the trip after 1903, the first woman to cross the American landscape by car was [[Alice Huyler Ramsey|Alice Ramsey]] and 3 women passengers in 1909. Ramsey left from Hell's Gate in Manhattan, New York and traveled 59 days to San Francisco, California.

Her official reason was that she wanted to visit her mother. But unofficially, she intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention (which had only been used on short test drives before), which succeeded as the automobile took off greatly afterward and, the Benz's family business eventually evolved into the present-day [[Mercedes-Benz]] company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecarisborn.com/index.html|title=The Car is Born|work=thecarisborn.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609084901/http://www.thecarisborn.com/index.html|archive-date=2011-06-09}}</ref>

Presently there is a dedicated signposted scenic route in [[Baden-Württemberg]] called the [[Bertha Benz Memorial Route]] to commemorate her historic first road trip.<ref>[http://www.bertha-benz.de/indexen.php?inhalt=home Bertha Benz Memorial Route] (official website)</ref>

===Early road trips in North America===
[[File:HoratioJacksonNelson.jpeg|thumb|right|Jackson driving the ''Vermont'' on the 1903 cross-country drive]]
The first successful [[North American]] transcontinental trip by automobile took place in 1903 and was piloted by [[H. Nelson Jackson]] and [[Sewall K. Crocker]], accompanied by a dog named Bud.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/horatio/index.html|title=Horatio's Drive - PBS|work=pbs.org}}</ref> The trip was completed using a 1903 [[Winton Motor Carriage Company|Winton]] Touring Car, dubbed "Vermont" by Jackson. The trip took 63 days between San Francisco and New York, costing US$8,000. The total cost included items such as food, gasoline, lodging, tires, parts, other supplies, and the cost of the Winton.

The [[Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest]] was a road trip from New York City to Seattle in June, 1909.<ref>{{cite news | title = Ford No. 2 in the Lead: New York to Seattle Automobilists Reach Baker City| newspaper =[[New York Times]] | pages =8 | date =June 21, 1909 | url = http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/06/21/101887038.html?pageNumber=8| access-date = September 13, 2016}}</ref> The winning car took 23 days to complete the trip.

The first woman to cross the American landscape by car was [[Alice Huyler Ramsey]] with three female passengers in 1909.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/auto.htm|title=Early Adventures with the Automobile|work=eyewitnesstohistory.com}}</ref> Ramsey left from Hell's Gate in Manhattan, New York and traveled 59 days to [[San Francisco]], California.
Ramsey was followed in 1910 by [[Blanche Stuart Scott]], who is often mistakenly cited as the first woman to make the cross-country journey by automobile East-to-West (but was a true pioneer in aviation).
Ramsey was followed in 1910 by [[Blanche Stuart Scott]], who is often mistakenly cited as the first woman to make the cross-country journey by automobile East-to-West (but was a true pioneer in aviation).


The [[1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy]] was a road trip by approximately 300 United States Army personnel from Washington, DC to San Francisco. [[Dwight Eisenhower]] was a participant. 81 vehicles began the trip which took 62 days to complete, overcoming numerous mechanical and road condition problems. Eisenhower's report about this trip led to an understanding that improving cross-country highways was important to national security and economic development. <ref>{{cite web |title = Ike's Excellent Adventure |url = https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2019/8/8/ikes-excellent-adventure-coast-to-coast-in-two-months?rq=Ike |website = The Attic | date=8 August 2019 |access-date = 5 November 2019}}</ref>
===Expansion of Highways===
{{Details|U.S. Route 66}}


===Expansion of highways in the United States===
New highways in the early 1900’s helped propel automobile travel, primarily cross-country travel. Commissioned in 1926, and completely paved near the end of the 1930’s, [[U.S. Route 66]] is a living icon of early modern road tripping.
{{Further|U.S. Route 66|U.S. Highways}}
[[File:PieTownGasPumpsPickup.jpg|thumb|left|Pie Town gas station and garage in 1940]]
New highways in the early 20th century helped propel automobile travel in the [[United States]], primarily cross-country. Commissioned in 1926 and completely paved near the end of the 1930s, U.S. Route 66 is a living icon of early modern road-tripping.


Motorists ventured cross-country for holiday as well as migrating to California and other locations. The modern road trip began to take shape in the late 1930’s and into the 1940’s, ushering in an era of a nation on the move.
Motorists ventured cross-country for holidays as well as migrating to California and other locations. The modern American road trip began to take shape in the late 1930s and into the 1940s, ushering in an era of a nation on the move.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/vintage-photos-of-the-great-american-road-trip |title=15 Vintage Photos of Iconic American Road Trips |publisher=Conde Nast Traveler |date=May 6, 2020 |access-date=May 30, 2023 |first=Meredith |last=Carey }}</ref>


The 1950s saw the rapid growth of ownership of automobiles by American families. The automobile, now a trusted mode of [[transportation]], was being widely used for not only commuting but leisure trips as well.
==The Modern Road Trip in North America==
The 1950’s saw rapid growth of ownership of automobiles by American families. The automobile, now a trusted mode of [[transportation]], was being widely used for not only commuting, but leisure trips as well.


As a result of this new vacation-by-road style, many businesses began to cater to road-weary travelers. More reliable vehicles and services made long-distance road trips easier for families, as the length of time required to cross the continent was reduced from months to days. The average family can travel to destinations across [[North America]] in one week. For example, Maryland journalist Kevin James Shay drove his two kids, Preston and McKenna, across the United States and back in roughly two weeks in 2013, visiting the [[Grand Canyon]], [[Mount Rushmore]], and other top attractions during the 6,950-mile trip.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://medium.com/globetrotters/the-last-magic-road-trip-e1f7575c1ca4 |title=The Last Magic Road Trip/Road Tripping with Kevin Shay |publisher=Globetrotters/Lake Highlands Today |first=Lindsay |last=Baronoskie |date=July 23, 2014}}</ref>
As a result of this new vacation-by-road style, many businesses began to cater to road-weary travelers. Such businesses include the [[Howard Johnsons]] hotel chain, among others. These new types of establishments sought to provide travelers of American highways one thing: Consistency. By creating business chains, restaurants and hotels were soon able to provide not only a familiar name, but familiar quality with travelers of American roadways.


The biggest change to the [[United States|American]] road trip was the start and subsequent expansion of the [[Interstate Highway System]]. The higher speeds and controlled access nature of the Interstate allowed for greater distances to be traveled in less time and with improved safety as highways became divided.
More reliable vehicles and services made long distance road trips easier for families, as the length of time required to cross the continent was reduced from months to days. Within one week, the average family can travel to destinations across [[North America]].


Travelers from [[Europe|European]] countries, [[Australia]], and elsewhere soon came to the United States to take part in the American ideal of a road trip. Canadians also engaged in road trips taking advantage of the large size of their nation and close proximity to destinations in the United States.
The greatest change to the American road trip was the start, and subsequent expansion, of the [[Interstate Highway System]]. The higher speeds and controlled access nature of the Interstate allowed for greater distances to be traveled in less time and with improved safety as highways became divided.
[[Image:Abandoned gas station arizona.JPG|thumb|right|An abandoned gas station off of Interstate 8 in Arizona.]]


Some took to the road for years. After their home in [[Pasadena, California]], was destroyed in a [[wildfire]] in 1993, [[Megan Edwards]] and Mark Sedenquist lived in a custom-built motorhome they called the Phoenix One for six years. They later settled in [[Las Vegas]] and started a website, RoadTripAmerica.com,<ref>{{cite web |title=Road Trip America|url=https://www.roadtripamerica.com |access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref> to network with other road-trip advocates.
===Road Tripping Today===
Today, modern road tripping is a fast growing hobby, and not just a means of vacationing. Groups dedicated to the art of the road trip, known either as professional road trippers or road enthusiasts, are becoming prevalent online.


Others began to see how fast they could reach all 48 states in the [[Contiguous United States]]. Texas insurance agent Jay Lowe and two associates set the record in 1994 of just under five days, and they were mentioned in the [[Guinness Book of Records]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jun/16/its-not-your-average-road-trip |first=Alison |last=Boggs |title=Trio plans to hit 48 states in 96 hours |publisher=The Spokesman Review |date=June 16, 2010}}</ref> After others beat that time, Lowe and his partners again eclipsed the record in 2019, driving 6,619 miles through the 48 states in just under four days. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good-colleyville-man-takes-off-record-setting-road-trip/213979 |first=Deborah |last=Ferguson |title=Colleyville Man Takes Off on Record-Setting Road Trip Across the Continental U.S. |publisher=KXAS-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth NBC affiliate |date=July 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Journo |url=https://www.journohq.com/journo/3-days---all-the-way-67711 | date=July 18, 2019}}</ref>
Road tripping, to some, has indeed become an art. Road enthusiasts frequently debate on proper gear, attire, and electronics. Other frequent debates include type of road trip (a ‘moseying’ road trip vs. a set schedule), use of in-vehicle [[DVD]] players to pacify young passengers, and, to a lesser extent, destinations.


==Possible motivations==
Professional road tripping has spawned other activities, including [[dashboarding]], caravanning (multi-vehicle road trips), [[Recreational vehicle|RV-ing]], [[county collecting]], welcome sign photography, and other facets of the road tripping hobby.
Many people may go on road trips for [[recreation]]al purpose (e.g. [[sightseeing]] or to reach a desired location, typically during a [[vacation]] period; e.g., in the US, driving to [[Disneyland]] from [[Oregon]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=All the reasons to go on a road trip|url=https://howtobookyourtrip.com/reasons-go-on-a-road-trip/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Howtobookyourtrip|date=11 November 2019 }}</ref> Other motivations for long-distance travel by automobile include visitation of friends and relatives, who may live far away, or relocation of one's [[Home|permanent living space]].<ref name=":0" />


In a January 2022 survey conducted by OnePoll, 2,000 American drivers were polled. The results revealed that, on average, individuals have embarked on approximately seven road trips throughout their lives. Over 78% of Americans have reported discovering special destinations such as restaurants (46%), historic locations (40%), and roadside attractions (38%), during their journeys that might have gone unnoticed if they had chosen an alternative mode of travel. Respondents also highlighted the additional benefits of road tripping, such as quality bonding time with family and friends (51%), the flexibility to make stops (48%), and the financial savings associated with this more economical method of travel (46%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Americans Prefer Road Trips to the Destination — Especially Spontaneous Ones, Survey Finds |url=https://people.com/travel/americans-love-road-trips-survey/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref>
==The Road Enthusiast==
Those who look upon road trips not as a method of travel but rather a hobby frequently describe themselves as ''Road Enthusiasts'' or ''Professional Road Trippers''. These motorists take the concept of road trips very seriously, some have devoted time and resources to the pursuit of the hobby. Although there are many personalities in the Road Tripping Community, many road enthusiasts advocate sharing the roadways, preservation of historic places and natural spaces, and safe driving. Much like [[backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]], many road enthusiasts also subscribe to the ideas of [[Leave No Trace]].


==In popular culture==
The goal of road trip enthusiasts is to experience the culture, nature and history of the route, and to celebrate the open road.


'''Literature'''
==As a Rite of Passage==
*[[Bill Bryson]], ''[[The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America]]'' (1989)<ref>{{cite book |author=Bryson, Bill |title=The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America |date=1989 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10539.The_Lost_Continent?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr}}</ref>
Today many [[adolescence|teen]]s and young adults see a road trip as a [[rite of passage]], their first solo journey from home, frequently across state boundaries. It is the idea of shedding authoritive boundries (such as [[parent]]s and [[teacher]]s) and taking that great leap out on one’s own that attracts many young [[men]] and [[women]] to saddle up and head out on the open road. This is due in part to the feeling of [[liberty|freedom]] some people get when traveling the open roads.
*[[F. Scott Fitzgerald]], ''The Cruise of the Rolling Junk'' (1924)<ref>{{cite book |last=Fitzgerald |first=F. Scott |title=The Cruise of the Rolling Junk |date=1924 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13198856-the-cruise-of-the-rolling-junk}}</ref>
*[[Victor H. Green]] published annually ''[[The Negro Motorist Green Book]]'' (also referred to as ''The Negro Traveler's Green Book'' or simply as ''The Green Book'')
*[[William Least Heat-Moon]], ''[[Blue Highways]]'' (1982)<ref>{{cite book |author=Heat-Moon, William |title=Blue Highways |date=1982 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63832.Blue_Highways}}</ref>
*[[Jack Kerouac]], ''[[On the Road]]'' (1957)<ref name="smithsonianmag">{{cite news|author=Theroux, Paul|date=September 2009|title=Taking the Great American Roadtrip|work=Smithsonian magazine|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-Long-Way-Home-USA.html|access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Vladimir Nabokov]], ''[[Lolita]]'' (1955)<ref>{{Cite web|title = Lolita|url = http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7604.Lolita|website = Goodreads|access-date = 2016-01-09}}</ref>
*[[Mary Roberts Rinehart]], ''Through Glacier Park in 1915 / Seeing America first with Howard Eaton (With Illustrations)''
*[[John Steinbeck]], ''[[Travels With Charley|Travels With Charley: In Search of America]]'' (1961)<ref name="smithsonianmag" />
*[[Hunter S. Thompson]], ''[[Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream]]'' (1971), a [[roman à clef]], rooted in autobiographical incidents
*[[Mark Twain]], ''[[Roughing It]]'' (1872)


'''Photography'''
==Road Trip Technology==
*In ''The Open Road: Photography & the American Road Trip'' (2014), the photography writer [[David Campany]] introduces the photographic road trip as a genre,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://lightbox.time.com/2014/09/24/road-trip-america-photobook/#1 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140926065238/http://lightbox.time.com/2014/09/24/road-trip-america-photobook/#1 | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 26, 2014 | first = Myles | last = Little | date = 24 September 2014 | access-date = 15 March 2015 | publisher = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | title = Go on an American Road Trip with the World's Greatest Photographers}}</ref> the first book to do so.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/interviews/david-campany-the-open-road/ | date = 21 October 2014 | access-date = 15 March 2015 | publisher = [[Leica Camera]] | title = David Campany: the Open Road}}</ref>
One topic of frequent discussion amongst professional road enthusiasts is the latest Road Tripping technology. This includes new technology, as well as some old familiars. Items of frequent discussion include mobile [[internet]], [[cellular phones]], laptops, [[GPS]] units, Digital Mapping Programs, CB/Wireless Radios, and of course, vehicles.
*[[Robert Frank]], ''[[The Americans (photography)|The Americans]]'' (1958) – [[Sean O'Hagan (journalist)|Sean O'Hagan]], writing in ''[[The Guardian]],'' about the inclusion of ''The Americans'' as the starting point in Campany's ''The Open Road: Photography & the American Road Trip,'' said "Swiss-born Frank set out with his Guggenheim Grant to do something new and unconstrained by commercial diktat. He aimed to photograph America as it unfolded before his somewhat sombre outsider’s eye.<ref name="ohagan-guardian-2014">{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/30/open-road-photography-america-david-campany-review | date = 30 November 2014 | access-date = 15 March 2015 | first = Sean | last = O'Hagan | author-link = Sean O'Hagan (journalist) | work = [[The Guardian]] | title = The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip review – a survey of photographers' journeys}}</ref>
*[[Ed Ruscha]], ''[[Twentysix Gasoline Stations]]'' (1963)
*[[Stephen Shore]], ''Uncommon Places'' (1982) and ''American Surfaces'' (1999)


'''Films'''<br />
==International Road Trips==
{{Further|Road movie}}
Road tripping, or motoring, is not only an American hobby, it is enjoyed the world over. Although the history of road trips may be different in each country, the idea, concept, and methods remain realitively unchanged world-wide. For this reason, it can be fairly easy to conduct a road trip on foreign soils. Many travelers from [[Europe]]an countries, and [[Australia]], flock to the United States to take part in the American idea of a road trip, and frequently Americans travel abroad to travel foreign motorways. Unlike some other methods of travel, the automobile allows travelers to customize their trip and set their own pace.
Many movies and other forms of [[Media (communication)|media]] have been made that focus on the topic of road trips, including the namesake. Many tend to be comedic, although [[road movie]]s such as ''Easy Rider'' and ''Thelma and Louise'' exemplify the [[American dream]].<ref>Road Trip Movies Exemplify the American Dream, Theresa Knudsen, suite101.com</ref>
*''[[Easy Rider]]'' (1969), an American road movie
*''[[National Lampoon's Vacation (film series)|National Lampoon's Vacation]]'' (1983-2015), a comedy film series initially based on filmmaker/writer [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]]' short story "Vacation '58", that was originally published by [[National Lampoon magazine|'' National Lampoon'' magazine]]. The series is distributed by Warner Bros, and consists of seven films.
*''[[Planes, Trains and Automobiles]]'' (1987), an American comedy-drama film
*''[[Thelma & Louise]]'' (1991), an American crime drama film
*''[[Road Trip (2000 film)|Road Trip]]'' (2000), an American road comedy film
*''[[RV (film)|RV]]'' (2006), an American road comedy film
*''[[The Bucket List]]'' (2007), a comedy-drama film
*''[[The Fundamentals of Caring]]'' (2016), a comedy-drama film


'''Music'''
==Impact of Automobile Associations==
*"[[Born to Be Wild]]" by [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]]
In many countries Automobile Associations play a major part in facilitating long distance road trips. Automobile Associations, such as [[American Automobile Association|AAA]] and [[Canadian Automobile Association|CAA]] in North America, AA in the United Kingdom, among just a few, provide their members with services and materials to make road trips more enjoyable. Many of these groups offer some sort of [[Emergency road service|Roadside Assistance]], coming to the aid stranded motorists, as well as travel materials, such as guide books, maps, destination guides, and even road trip gear. Such associations allow a motorist to venture further from their home, and as long as they are in an area serviced by the association or an affiliate, can use the local association for booking lodging or entertainment tickets, roadside assistance, or get new travel guides and maps. This allows travelers to have a sense of comfort that they will have access to these services when they travel.
*"[[Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen song)|Born to Run]]" by [[Bruce Springsteen]]
*"[[Have Love Will Travel]]" by [[The Sonics]]
*"[[Here I Go Again]]" by [[Whitesnake]]
*"[[Life is a Highway]]" by [[Tom Cochrane]]
*"[[Radar Love]]" by [[Golden Earring]]
*"[[Roadhouse Blues]]" by [[The Doors]]
*"[[Roadtrip (Dream song)|Roadtrip]]" by [[Dream (YouTuber)|Dream]]
*"[[Road Trippin']]" by [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]
*"[[Route 66 (song)|Route 66]]", a popular rhythm and blues song about the cities and towns through which [[U.S. Route 66]] passes. Since it was released, it has been recorded by many musical artists, such as [[Aerosmith]], [[Bing Crosby]], [[Chuck Berry]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Them (band)|Them]], [[Asleep at the Wheel]], and [[Depeche Mode]].<ref>
{{cite web| url = http://www.allmusic.com/song/route-66-mt0011910044
| title = The Rolling Stones: Route 66 – Song Review| last = Unterberger| first = Richie| author-link = Richie Unterberger| work = [[AllMusic]]| publisher = Rovi Corp.| access-date = March 27, 2015}}</ref>
*"[[Take it Easy]]" by [[The Eagles]]
*"[[Truckin']]" by [[The Grateful Dead]], recognized by the United States Library of Congress in 1997 as a national treasure.


=== Tourism ===
==Sample Road Trip Routes==
The major piece of a road trip is the route. Different routes offer not only different views and attractions, but also different highway conditions. These are a sample of major road trip routes in North America that offer great historic and scenic value and are also well documented. Many of these routes have more than one travel guide published strictly regarding the topic route.
*[[US 101]], The Pacific Coast Highway. [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/pacificcoast/pacificcoast.html]
*The Pan-American Highway, [[Interstate 5]]
*The [[Great Ocean Road]] (Victoria, Australia) [http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/]
*Mexico to Canada Route- [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/bordertoborder/bordertoborder.html Arizona to Montana]
*Mexico to Canada Route- [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/roadtonowhere/roadtonowhere.html Texas to North Dakota]
*In a legendary VW Westfalia- [http://www.roadtrip-online.com/mexique/en/index.php Road trip from Canada to Mexico]
*[http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/greatriver/greatriver.html The Great River Road]
*[[Trans-Canada Highway|The Trans Canada Highway]]
*[[Interstate 10]], Jacksonville to Los Angeles
*[[Appalachian Trail]] [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/appalachiantrail/appalachiantrail.html]
*[http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/atlanticcoast/atlanticcoast.html Atlantic Coast route]
*[[US 2]], The Great Northern [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/greatnorthern/greatnorthern.html]
*Oregon Coast to Cape Cod, Massachusetts [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/oregontrail/oregontrail.html]
*San Francisco to Chesapeake Bay [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/loneliestroad/loneliestroad.html]
*The Southern Pacific Route [http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/southernpacific/southernpacific.html]
*[[U.S. Route 66]][http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/route66/route66.html]


* [[2023 Accra-London road trip]]
This list is only a sample of some well-known routes.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Driving]]
*[[U.S. Highways#History|History of U.S. Highways]]
*[[Grand Tour]]
*[[List of roads and highways]]
*[[List of roads and highways]]
*[[List of longest highways]]
*[[Roadgeek]]
*[[U.S. Route 66]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->
# "Road Trip." Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7). Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 05 Aug. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Road Trip>.
# [http://www.openroadinternational.org International Road Trip Enthusiasts Association]
# [http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/ America on the Move]
# [http://www.pbs.org/horatio/index.html PBS: Horatio's Drive, America's First Road Trip]
# [http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/auto.htm Early Adventures with the Automobile]
# [http://www.tripwiser.com Road Trip Planner]
# [http://www.roadtripamerica.com Road Trip America]
# [http://www.ultimatefamilyroadtrip.com ultimatefamilyroadtrip]
# [http://www.toureagle.com Toureagle Road Trip Search]
# [http://www.roadtripamerica.com/dashboarding/solutions.htm Dashboarding at RTA]
# [http://www.roadsideamerica.com Roadside America]
# [http://www.welcometoamerica.us Roger Johnson's Welcome to America]
# [http://www.imin.com Help in planning the perfect road trip with friends]
# [http://jointhetrip.com/ "Join The Trip" - share your car and trip expenses]
# [http://www.roadtrippr.com Find Road Trip destinations]


==External links==
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Tips for road trips}}
*[http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/ America on the Move]

{{Tourism|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Road Trip}}
[[Category:Driving]]
[[Category:Driving]]
[[Category:Roadology]]
[[Category:Tourist activities]]
[[Category:Tourist activities]]
[[Category:Travel]]
[[Category:Transport culture]]
[[Category:Types of travel]]

[[sv:Road trip]]
[[Category:Road transport|Trip]]

Latest revision as of 20:07, 20 April 2024

For other uses, see Road trip (disambiguation).
Historic Route 66 in New Mexico, USA

A road trip, sometimes spelled roadtrip, is a long-distance journey traveled by automobile.

History[edit]

First road trips by automobile[edit]

The Benz Patent-Motorwagen Number 3 of 1888, used by Bertha Benz for the highly publicized first long-distance road trip by automobile (of over 106  km / 60 miles)

The world's first recorded long-distance road trip by the automobile took place in Germany in August 1888 when Bertha Benz, the wife of Karl Benz, the inventor of the first patented motor car (the Benz Patent-Motorwagen), traveled from Mannheim to Pforzheim (a distance of 106 km (66 mi))[1] in the third experimental Benz motor car (which had a maximum speed of 10 kilometres per hour (6.2 mph)) and back, with her two teenage sons Richard and Eugen, but without the consent and knowledge of her husband.

Her official reason was that she wanted to visit her mother. But unofficially, she intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention (which had only been used on short test drives before), which succeeded as the automobile took off greatly afterward and, the Benz's family business eventually evolved into the present-day Mercedes-Benz company.[2]

Presently there is a dedicated signposted scenic route in Baden-Württemberg called the Bertha Benz Memorial Route to commemorate her historic first road trip.[3]

Early road trips in North America[edit]

Jackson driving the Vermont on the 1903 cross-country drive

The first successful North American transcontinental trip by automobile took place in 1903 and was piloted by H. Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker, accompanied by a dog named Bud.[4] The trip was completed using a 1903 Winton Touring Car, dubbed "Vermont" by Jackson. The trip took 63 days between San Francisco and New York, costing US$8,000. The total cost included items such as food, gasoline, lodging, tires, parts, other supplies, and the cost of the Winton.

The Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest was a road trip from New York City to Seattle in June, 1909.[5] The winning car took 23 days to complete the trip.

The first woman to cross the American landscape by car was Alice Huyler Ramsey with three female passengers in 1909.[6] Ramsey left from Hell's Gate in Manhattan, New York and traveled 59 days to San Francisco, California. Ramsey was followed in 1910 by Blanche Stuart Scott, who is often mistakenly cited as the first woman to make the cross-country journey by automobile East-to-West (but was a true pioneer in aviation).

The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy was a road trip by approximately 300 United States Army personnel from Washington, DC to San Francisco. Dwight Eisenhower was a participant. 81 vehicles began the trip which took 62 days to complete, overcoming numerous mechanical and road condition problems. Eisenhower's report about this trip led to an understanding that improving cross-country highways was important to national security and economic development. [7]

Expansion of highways in the United States[edit]

Further information: U.S. Route 66 and U.S. Highways
Pie Town gas station and garage in 1940

New highways in the early 20th century helped propel automobile travel in the United States, primarily cross-country. Commissioned in 1926 and completely paved near the end of the 1930s, U.S. Route 66 is a living icon of early modern road-tripping.

Motorists ventured cross-country for holidays as well as migrating to California and other locations. The modern American road trip began to take shape in the late 1930s and into the 1940s, ushering in an era of a nation on the move.[8]

The 1950s saw the rapid growth of ownership of automobiles by American families. The automobile, now a trusted mode of transportation, was being widely used for not only commuting but leisure trips as well.

As a result of this new vacation-by-road style, many businesses began to cater to road-weary travelers. More reliable vehicles and services made long-distance road trips easier for families, as the length of time required to cross the continent was reduced from months to days. The average family can travel to destinations across North America in one week. For example, Maryland journalist Kevin James Shay drove his two kids, Preston and McKenna, across the United States and back in roughly two weeks in 2013, visiting the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and other top attractions during the 6,950-mile trip.[9]

The biggest change to the American road trip was the start and subsequent expansion of the Interstate Highway System. The higher speeds and controlled access nature of the Interstate allowed for greater distances to be traveled in less time and with improved safety as highways became divided.

Travelers from European countries, Australia, and elsewhere soon came to the United States to take part in the American ideal of a road trip. Canadians also engaged in road trips taking advantage of the large size of their nation and close proximity to destinations in the United States.

Some took to the road for years. After their home in Pasadena, California, was destroyed in a wildfire in 1993, Megan Edwards and Mark Sedenquist lived in a custom-built motorhome they called the Phoenix One for six years. They later settled in Las Vegas and started a website, RoadTripAmerica.com,[10] to network with other road-trip advocates.

Others began to see how fast they could reach all 48 states in the Contiguous United States. Texas insurance agent Jay Lowe and two associates set the record in 1994 of just under five days, and they were mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records.[11] After others beat that time, Lowe and his partners again eclipsed the record in 2019, driving 6,619 miles through the 48 states in just under four days. [12][13]

Possible motivations[edit]

Many people may go on road trips for recreational purpose (e.g. sightseeing or to reach a desired location, typically during a vacation period; e.g., in the US, driving to Disneyland from Oregon).[14] Other motivations for long-distance travel by automobile include visitation of friends and relatives, who may live far away, or relocation of one's permanent living space.[14]

In a January 2022 survey conducted by OnePoll, 2,000 American drivers were polled. The results revealed that, on average, individuals have embarked on approximately seven road trips throughout their lives. Over 78% of Americans have reported discovering special destinations such as restaurants (46%), historic locations (40%), and roadside attractions (38%), during their journeys that might have gone unnoticed if they had chosen an alternative mode of travel. Respondents also highlighted the additional benefits of road tripping, such as quality bonding time with family and friends (51%), the flexibility to make stops (48%), and the financial savings associated with this more economical method of travel (46%).[15]

In popular culture[edit]

Literature

Photography

  • In The Open Road: Photography & the American Road Trip (2014), the photography writer David Campany introduces the photographic road trip as a genre,[21] the first book to do so.[22]
  • Robert Frank, The Americans (1958) – Sean O'Hagan, writing in The Guardian, about the inclusion of The Americans as the starting point in Campany's The Open Road: Photography & the American Road Trip, said "Swiss-born Frank set out with his Guggenheim Grant to do something new and unconstrained by commercial diktat. He aimed to photograph America as it unfolded before his somewhat sombre outsider’s eye.[23]
  • Ed Ruscha, Twentysix Gasoline Stations (1963)
  • Stephen Shore, Uncommon Places (1982) and American Surfaces (1999)

Films

Further information: Road movie

Many movies and other forms of media have been made that focus on the topic of road trips, including the namesake. Many tend to be comedic, although road movies such as Easy Rider and Thelma and Louise exemplify the American dream.[24]

Music

Tourism[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ GPSies®, Klaus Bechtold, Berlin. "Motorradtour Mannheim - Bertha Benz Memorial Route Hinfahrt - GPSies". GPSies.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "The Car is Born". thecarisborn.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09.
  3. ^ Bertha Benz Memorial Route (official website)
  4. ^ "Horatio's Drive - PBS". pbs.org.
  5. ^ "Ford No. 2 in the Lead: New York to Seattle Automobilists Reach Baker City". New York Times. June 21, 1909. p. 8. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "Early Adventures with the Automobile". eyewitnesstohistory.com.
  7. ^ "Ike's Excellent Adventure". The Attic. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  8. ^ Carey, Meredith (May 6, 2020). "15 Vintage Photos of Iconic American Road Trips". Conde Nast Traveler. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Baronoskie, Lindsay (July 23, 2014). "The Last Magic Road Trip/Road Tripping with Kevin Shay". Globetrotters/Lake Highlands Today.
  10. ^ "Road Trip America". Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Boggs, Alison (June 16, 2010). "Trio plans to hit 48 states in 96 hours". The Spokesman Review.
  12. ^ Ferguson, Deborah (July 11, 2019). "Colleyville Man Takes Off on Record-Setting Road Trip Across the Continental U.S." KXAS-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth NBC affiliate.
  13. ^ "Journo". July 18, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "All the reasons to go on a road trip". Howtobookyourtrip. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  15. ^ "Americans Prefer Road Trips to the Destination — Especially Spontaneous Ones, Survey Finds". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  16. ^ Bryson, Bill (1989). The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America.
  17. ^ Fitzgerald, F. Scott (1924). The Cruise of the Rolling Junk.
  18. ^ Heat-Moon, William (1982). Blue Highways.
  19. ^ a b Theroux, Paul (September 2009). "Taking the Great American Roadtrip". Smithsonian magazine. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  20. ^ "Lolita". Goodreads. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  21. ^ Little, Myles (24 September 2014). "Go on an American Road Trip with the World's Greatest Photographers". Time. Archived from the original on September 26, 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  22. ^ "David Campany: the Open Road". Leica Camera. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  23. ^ O'Hagan, Sean (30 November 2014). "The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip review – a survey of photographers' journeys". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  24. ^ Road Trip Movies Exemplify the American Dream, Theresa Knudsen, suite101.com
  25. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Rolling Stones: Route 66 – Song Review". AllMusic. Rovi Corp. Retrieved March 27, 2015.

External links[edit]

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