Few travel experiences are more classically American than the road trip. With a sprawling transcontinental highway system linking almost every state, there’s no better way to travel the country, but the activity has changed dramatically throughout the last century. From the first cars, camper vans and RVs to today, here’s what the great American road trip looked like in every decade until the 2020s.
Click through the gallery for a nostalgic look back at the great American road trip...
Although the first car was invented in 1886, it wasn’t until a couple of decades later that automobiles became more popular and widespread in America. This was thanks to a game-changing invention: Henry Ford’s Model T, which launched in 1908. It ran on gasoline, which made it cheaper and meant it could travel further distances than the electric vehicles that had previously been used. In this photograph from the 1910s, a family poses by their brand new Model T.
You might be surprised to learn that the world’s first recreational vehicle, or RV, was invented way back in 1915. The 25-foot (7.6m) long automobile was created by Roland Conklin’s Gas-Electric Motor Bus Company and dubbed the Gypsy Van. It was kitted out with a kitchen, sleeping berths, folding tables, various small appliances, a generator and lighting. It was used by the Conklin family to travel from Huntington, New York to San Francisco, California on a journey that captured the attention of national media.
When the first national parks were established in the late 1800s, Americans began to develop a greater appreciation for the natural beauty in their backyard. The arrival of cars made it easier to access them – although it was still a privilege available to the wealthy few who were lucky enough to own one. Pictured here is a group of visitors on a guided 'Two National Parks in Two Weeks' tour that swept through Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone National Park.
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As cars became increasingly efficient and powerful, they began to be used to haul small trailers. In 1919, a group known as the Tin Can Tourists of the World (TCT) was established by trailer enthusiasts who aimed to create safe and clean campgrounds for travellers. The name is believed to have originated from the Ford Model T, or 'Tin Lizzie', which was the preferred vehicle for many TCT members at the time. This campground in Gainesville, Florida, was one of the first to be set up.
We wouldn’t dream of cutting a hole in a giant sequoia today, but back in 1881 a tunnel big enough to drive through was carved in the towering Wawona Tree in Yosemite National Park. Intended to be a tourist attraction, the 227-foot (69m) tree certainly drew in plenty of early road trippers such as this family. Sadly, the 2,100-year-old beauty fell in 1969, partly due to the fact the tunnel had weakened its base.
The Great Depression shook the automobile industry, leading to a significant decline in sales throughout the 1930s. Despite the economic hardships, the allure of road trips remained strong for many Americans. Those who could afford it still enjoyed the freedom of the open road, travelling to the coast, the mountains and beyond. Here, road trippers consult a map while passing through the state of Georgia.
As people began to undertake longer journeys by car, the need for a place to store their belongings and equipment became evident. This led to the creation of the car boot (or trunk in the US). Early examples were quite basic, involving a trunk or suitcase attached to the back of the car – hence the name. However, by the 1930s, built-in storage compartments became common in many vehicles. In this photograph, a couple is shown loading the boot with luggage for a trip.
The year 1936 saw the invention of the iconic Airstream Clipper, a mode of transport that would shape the image of the American road trip for decades to come. Despite costing a minimum of $1,465 at the time (equivalent to $30,300 or £23.3k in today’s money), sales soared, and the iconic silver trailer became popular with celebrities and political figures, who had theirs customised with a variety of luxury finishes.
The striated peaks of the Badlands, South Dakota are just as striking in this rudimentary colour photograph as they are today. The national park (then a national monument) was located close to US Highways 14 and 6, so when roads were built through it during the 1930s and 1940s there was a significant uptick in visitor numbers.
Although cars had been available for a few decades, the Great Depression and the Second World War stunted the growth of the automobile industry and made car ownership unaffordable for most people. However, in the postwar years, cars became increasingly accessible, enabling many families to own them for the first time. This increased affordability revolutionised travel, making road trips a popular activity for a broader audience.
The national parks remained popular road trip destinations throughout the 1940s, as you can see from this black-and-white image of a car driving through Yellowstone in 1941. Parks’ infrastructure began to improve and families’ disposable income rose dramatically, making holidays more accessible for many.
By the 1950s, the road trip had become a quintessential part of American culture. The postwar era saw a sustained boom in car ownership across the country, complemented by significant improvements in road infrastructure. In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin developed the three-point seatbelt, the kind we're familiar with today, which greatly enhanced road safety. Pictured here is a road-tripping couple checking their map.
Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel On The Road inspired countless readers with its vivid depiction of spontaneous cross-country travel and the pursuit of freedom. The allure of the open road was further glamourised by celebrities like Marilyn Monroe. Pictured here in 1956 with her husband at the time, playwright Arthur Miller (centre) and their friend Milton Green (right), the trio are about to take a trip from New York to Connecticut in a Thunderbird convertible.
Now that more Americans were taking to the road during their vacation time, they needed a place to stay, and the neon signs of motels and diners became an increasingly common sight along the country’s highways. A classic 'mom-and-pop' motel would offer affordable lodgings, a place to park up for the night and often a diner serving home-style food.
The first all-weather road between the Midwest and the Pacific Coast, Route 66 revolutionised the road trip. It shaved some 200 miles (322km) off the journey between Chicago and Los Angeles, making it easier for people in the rural west to get to cities in the midwest and northeast. In 1960, Route 66, an American TV series that followed the escapades of a pair of young men travelling the route, aired on CBS. As the so-called Mother Road continued to crop up in popular culture, America's fascination with her grew.
In the early 1960s, Aristocrat was the premier manufacturer of RVs in the country and its lo-liner model, which could fit into a standard garage, was especially popular. Although the company was in business for less than two decades, its trailers were so well-made – using aircraft construction methods and high-quality metals – that they can still sometimes be seen on the road today.
Camper vans became a big thing in the 1960s, when they were increasingly associated with the hippie counterculture of the time. Popular models included Volkswagen’s Type 1 and Type 2 Transporters and Dodge & Chevy’s Dodge A100. Seen here is a van parked up by the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming.
Released in 1967, the Volkswagen Type 2 became an iconic symbol of the hippie trail during the late 1960s and 1970s, as many travellers embarked on this overland journey from Europe to South Asia in the distinctive van. The VW Type 2 wasn’t just reserved for bohemian types; it was also popular with adventurers staying closer to home. Its spacious interior and versatility made it ideal for long road trips and living on the move, resonating with the free-spirited lifestyle of the era. It’s pictured here on the shores of Little Duck Key in the Florida Keys.
As motorhome and RV ownership grew, so did the need for more sites in which to park up. The successful management of public land, such as national parks and state parks, also helped to fuel camping’s popularity in this time. Seen here, a group of campers sit around by their trailer.
The iconic Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, after newer, faster routes such as the Eisenhower Interstate made it obsolete. Businesses along the highway, such as the Bel Air drive-in cinema in Mitchell, Illinois (pictured) suffered, and many fell into disuse. However, 85% of the road remains and many road-trippers looking to revisit its nostalgic past still use it today.
Opened in 1959, Daytona International Speedway quickly became a top venue for car and motorcycle events throughout the 1960s, attracting a wide array of spectators. Pictured here are enthusiastic NASCAR fans – in their cars, camper vans and even rented U-Haul vans – gathered to watch the 1985 Pepsi Firecracker 400 race. The speedway's reputation for thrilling races and its vibrant, diverse audience have cemented its place in motorsport history.
After a dip in the 1970s due to the oil crisis, the RV industry boomed once more during the 1980s. Popular movies including National Lampoon's Vacation and The Blues Brothers, whose storylines heavily featured the motorhomes, helped to cement the RV's place in popular culture. The iconic RV of the decade was the Fleetwood Bounder, released in 1985 – the first of its kind to include basement storage, now a common fixture in these vehicles.
Made popular by the Beat Generation in the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s, central California’s Big Sur is one of the most popular road trips in the country. Highway 1 is the iconic route which takes travellers along this rugged coastline, with the most visited stretch running between Santa Barbara and Monterey. Here, a classic 1990s compact car drives alongside the sun-splashed cliffs.
The Winnebago Adventurer (pictured) became increasingly popular throughout the 2000s and was the top-selling motorhome by 2012, according to data from Statistical Surveys. The Class A gas-powered RV had spacious and comfortable interiors, a well-equipped kitchen and ample storage space, making it a great choice for many families.
By the 2000s, the historic Route 66 had become a tourist attraction in its own right, with plenty of motels, diners and even a museum profiting off its storied past. At this section near Prewitt, New Mexico, photographed in 2003, the road runs parallel to Interstate 40. It seems a fitting visual metaphor, given the road was ultimately surpassed by the high-speed interstate highway system.
GPS technology became an integral part of many cars in the 2000s and 2010s, meaning many drivers swapped old-school maps for sat-navs. Meanwhile, Google Maps first appeared on a smartphone in 2007, providing even more navigation options – while also raising some safety concerns around drivers looking at their phones while driving. Pictured is a car driving through the scenic Monument Valley, Arizona using a sat-nav.
Thankfully, modern technology has made road-tripping greener. Embracing renewable energy, Airstream released models of its classic trailers equipped with photovoltaic (PV) panels on their roofs and add-on solar packs. This innovation allowed campers to harness solar energy, providing off-grid power and reducing environmental impact. Pictured here is an Airstream trailer with a solar kit in Ojo Caliente, New Mexico.
By 2010, rapid improvements in Electric Vehicles (EVs), combined with the installation of new charging points across the United States, made electric-powered road trips increasingly viable. By the end of the decade, a new cross-country network of EV charging points, running from Los Angeles, California, to Washington DC, made refuelling easier than ever. Pictured is a motorway sign for a charging point along Southern California’s Pacific Coast Highway.
In 2020, the travel industry faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Popular destinations such as Las Vegas (pictured) saw their tourism revenue drastically reduced as lockdowns were enforced and flights were cancelled. However, as domestic travel within the USA resumed, road trips experienced a resurgence. Many travellers preferred to avoid airports and flying due to health concerns, finding the open road a safer way to satisfy their desire to explore.
Another unexpected result of the pandemic was the rise in remote working, making long-term 'workations' a viable option for many. According to a 2024 survey by Progressive Insurance, 54% of all RVers are now active remote workers, highlighting the growing trend of blending work with travel. Looking ahead, awareness of the environmental impact of flying means more travellers are seeking different types of trips. Driving through dramatic landscapes, with the flexibility to stop anywhere, offers an ecological and enriching alternative. It seems the freedom of the road will always beckon.