The great American road trip is something millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers all have enjoyed, and now it seems Gen Z is getting into the act as well. As more members of Gen Z[1] get their driver’s licenses they are getting out onto the open road as well.

Whether it’s traveling Route 66 to visit the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon or taking a weekend trip to a more recreational[2] state, there is no better way to see the United States than by loading your car up with friends and munchies and hitting the road.

In the 60s and 70s our parents scanned the am/fm radio for whatever road tunes they could find. Things got easier in the 80s, 90s, and 00s, because cassettes and CDs made planning the perfect travel playlist a cinch. New eras bring new trials and triumphs though. Gen Z can listen to their favorite podcasts [3]or to any song that has ever been recorded. This can happen all the while their passengers have in their earbuds so they can play Fortnite.

Gen X began taking literary themed road trips[4]. They have followed non fictional paths laid out by Jack Kerouac, Hunter Thompson, and Cheryl Strayed[5] to find enlightenment and understanding. You can start out in Independence, Missouri, to experience Tom and Huck’s[6] adventure, travel southeast stopping in Lebanon[7] -- the fictional town of Landover[8] and Corinth, and on to Mansfield where Laura Ingalls Wilder[9] penned her Little House books.

There’s something for everyone -- quirky B&Bs[10] that cater to Route 66 enthusiasts, photo opportunities like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, (perfect for Instagram) and all the historic landmarks[11] that you can argue with your racist relatives about during the holidays.

Boomers may have invented the road trip, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of us shouldn’t try to make it our own. Turn your next trip to a festival into a cross-country glamping adventure. The next time you go to Branson to visit granddad’s trophy wife. take your car so you can get the hell out of there as fast as possible and hit the outlet stores.

Don’t like long car rides? There is no reason that your road trip has to be long. Pick someplace a few hours away and enjoy the open road.

So, whether you’re looking for romance, relaxation, or recreation, the great American road trip[12] has something to offer you.

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffwhitmore/2019/09/13/how-generation-z-is-changing-travel-for-older-generations/#17fcfc0278f7

[2] https://www.wikileaf.com/thestash/cannabis-road-trip/

[3] https://www.afar.com/magazine/download-and-buckle-up-these-are-the-best-podcasts-for-your-next-summer-road

[4] https://www.carrentals.com/blog/your-guide-to-literary-road-trips-across-america-infographic/

[5] https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/this-map-shows-the-ultimate-literary-road-trips-across-america/

[6] https://familyroadtripguru.com/2018/07/10/road-trip-itinerary-in-the-footsteps-of-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/

[7] https://www.visitlebanonmo.org/p/about/history

[8] https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-York/e/B073ZPQV9W?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1578856923&sr=8-1

[9] https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/08/12/bcst-thread-books-laura-ingalls-wilder-road-trip

[10] https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/25155963?source_impression_id=p3_1578855027_Gjhk5KJeXo73KSE3