When I imagined a cross-county road trip with my family, I imagined stops at roadside attractions, sleeping in mom-and-pop hotels and eating home-style food in small town diners.
When it came time to plan, I knew there was one trusted resource that I could turn to; Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways. I’ve referred to the nearly 1,000 page guidebook many times in the past and knew it wouldn’t steer me wrong.
Road Trip USA highlights 11 classic road trips, ranging from the Appalachian Trail, the Atlantic Coast, Route 66 and all of the amazing stops one must make along the way.
On our cross-country trip to California, I reserved a vehicle, determined our target destination and printed directions from Mapquest in case our GPS went down. I tucked my copy of Road Trip USA in my purse, along with my cell phone and some of my favorite travel apps and felt prepared to tackle the road ahead. I was ready for an adventure, which is exactly what our trip became. A beautiful adventure, with surprises along each and every bend in the road.
As my husband drove, I was able to sit back, flip through the pages of the book and read the mile-by-mile highlights of each town and city along the route. If something in the color-coded pages caught my eye, I’d share it with my husband, who would stop only if it also appealed to him and our three passengers in the back seats. Well, that’s not entirely honest. We did make a couple stops, like the one to Cadillac Ranch, that didn’t necessarily excite our kids.
Road Trip USA helped us to discover many fun and incredible stops as we traveled along parts of Route 66 while learning a bit of history of each town. The author also lists side trips that are worth a detour. We followed his suggestion to visit the Grand Canyon National Park, which became one of our favorite stops.
What I Love about Road Trip USA:
- Each of the 11 road trips are color coded by the route which makes finding your place in the book easy.
- The front and back covers fold out to display full color maps showing the course of the routes across America, along with highlights of each route.
- The book is broken up with large headings, color photos, tip boxes, maps and a detailed index, which make the book easy to flip through and read.
- The book provides hundreds of possible itineraries.
- Directions, addresses and phone numbers are listed where appropriate so it’s important to make sure you have the most up to date edition of Road Trip USA.
I referred to Road Trip USA throughout our entire trip. Originally, I only planned to refer to it as we drove along parts of Route 66 but the book also came in handy when we reached the end of our road, continued along the Pacific Coast and eventually began our long drive towards home.
This book is ideal for anyone who wants to take a break from the busy interstates and discover America one road trip at a time.
Where to purchase Road Trip USA
Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways
by Jamie Jenson sells for $20.39 for a paperback version or $17.99 for the Kindle version.
Follow Road Trip USA on Facebook or on Twitter.
While I already owned a copy of Road Trip USA, a review copy of the sixth edition of the book was provided to me to facilitate this review.
© 2013 – 2017, Tonya Prater. All rights reserved.
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
This looks like an awesome book!
Jennifer Halstead says
Last summer I took the kids on a road/camping trip up the west coast. We started in San Diego and drove up into Washington, camping along the way. It was AWESOME!!! I think this summer I’d like to try the Old Route 66 trip. Don’t know that we’d camp this time, but it looks like it would be a great one.
Tonya says
Camping is so much work. I’m not sure I’d have the energy to camp and road trip- though every camping experience is memorable! We talked about camping on our trip, but decided to save it for the next time around.
Claire says
The Road to Nowhere!
Katie Smith says
I love to see new things and really think that I would enjoy driving the Appalachian trail 🙂
Debra F says
The Road to Nowhere sounds intriguing!
Amanda K says
The Lonelist Road, except it’d have to start in Florida 🙂
Carla S says
I would want to do number seven the most and number three second because those are the last few states I haven’t visited yet and I would love to see them.
Kim Kenny says
We’ve always wanted to drive the Great River Road.
Holly Mitkowski says
number 9 or 6!!
Alexa C says
I would go to the pacific coast!
Heather says
I would love to take the Pacific Coast road trip. I live in Southern CA and have never really traveled. Exploring my own state along with the other two Pacific Coast states would be a blast… just not sure I could handle that long of a trip in the car with my three very rambunctious boys. I better start stocking up on the patience and meditation techniques now. 🙂
Juli says
My 10 yr. old daughter and I are moving from Phoenix, AZ. to upstate NY mid 2014. This guide would make the trip so much more enjoyable. I don’t know if we would head north to the Oregon Trail, or stick with Route 66.
Tonya says
Yes, Juli! This would be perfect! You wouldn’t need to spend a great deal of time planning- especially with a move- and you’d find some great places to stop. It would make a memorable move.
I loved Rt 66. It’s so fun and quirky. One day I’d like to drive the entire route.
Elizabeth H. says
I want to take them all!!! This is so inspiring!
Ally says
I think we’d love 10–we love visiting the south!
Kassie H says
Well, really, the answer is ALL of them but I have always thought that Route 66 would be a lot of fun!
Pat says
I would enjoy the Atlantic Coast.
Kirby says
Pacific coast! Eventually all would be amazing!
Paige Kelley says
The Oregon Trail!
Shawna says
My Mom and I take a road trip every year. We’ve been known to flip a coin to go a certain direction. I love books like this so we can find things to do along the way.
Dianna @ Oy Vey a Day says
Oh – and I would LOVE to do all of the trips in the book. There are some really interesting ones in there! I think, however, we would probably start with the Appalachian Trail.
Dianna @ Oy Vey a Day says
My husband and I have been talking about doing a cross-country road trip with our kids when they get a bit older. I like the idea of getting a book like this that shows several routes and what you will see along the way. It would make planning a trip so much easier.
Jenn says
This looks great for planning a summer road trip. My husband would especially like that the itineraries are all ready planned!
Anne says
Road trips are so much fun!
Leah Shumack says
I’ve not see any parts of the BETWEEN LAKE ITASCA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO section so would love to do that!
Josh says
We are doing an “Out West” trip next summer for 4 weeks and going to be on a couple of the designated trip plans! Extra resources and places to stop for sure!
Tonya says
This really will be the perfect resource for your road trip, Josh. I loved that we could easily find places to stop even after to detoured from our original plan.
amy Muller says
I would love to take a road trip down the coast of California to Mexico.
Debra Guillen says
I would love to do the Oregon Trail; between the Oregon Coast and Prrovincetown, Massachusetts
phxbne says
Atlantic Coast
Kat Emerick says
I would love to go up the east coast to Maine.
Darlene Owen says
I would like the PACIFIC COAST
Marsha H. says
I would like to go to Yellowstone in Wyoming. Been there once and would love to go back.
[email protected] says
I’ve always wanted to take a road trip across country
Cheryl Pitt says
That’s so hard!! For my geographic location, definitely The Loneliest Road. For the homeschooler in me The Oregan Trail. For my wanderer’s heart, Coast to Coast!! 🙂
Dominique-Midwest Guest says
I love these types of guides! The quirkier the travel attraction, the better 😆
Tonya says
And that is why I love reading your site, Dominique. We both have similar interests.
Linda says
I would love to do ALL of these roadtrips…I’m hoping for a 50 (states) in 365 (days) trip someday! But if I had to choose, I think I’d like to do the Rt. 66 one. I’m glad there’s a guide like this to help us figure it all out!
Tonya says
Linda, I LOVE the 50 states in 365 days trip. That would be amazing! Route 66 was really fun. I would love to plan another trip and start in Chicago and follow it to the end some day when I had more time available. I’m afraid some of those small towns won’t be around forever.
Traci says
I am supremely jealous of your road trip adventure. So there.
Tonya says
I know how you feel. I was green when you saw the gnome. 🙂 I thought of you a couple times. We saw the world’s largest rocking chair and world’s largest wind chime- how could we pass those up?