The road trip has etched itself deep within the identity of the United States, associated with images of a wide empty road stretching forever across the valleys of California, the ghost towns of Texas, the Louisiana Bayou and historic Route 66. As a cultural touchstone, the road trip has become immortalized through movies such as “Thelma & Louise” and “Paris, Texas,” the written works of Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson and the songs of Paul Simon and Jim Morrison. Many people hold close memories of road trips with family or friends.
Today, road trips are more popular among baby boomers and members of Generation X rather than millennials and members of Generation Z. Older generations are seemingly motivated by nostalgia while younger generations are encouraged by something else entirely: social media. Surveys show that 40% of young travelers choose their vacation destination because of its “Instagrammability,” or its ability to impress others by one-upping them. It is therefore unsurprising that younger vacationers would find road trips antithetical to this thought process. There are numerous reasons why they should reconsider.
For one, the U.S. is an incredibly diverse country, geographically and culturally. Perhaps we take this quality for granted. More than half of Americans have been to 14 U.S. states or less in their lifetimes. While states such as Florida, New York and California are visited the most, there are plenty of benefits in seeing the states less traveled.
An increase in polarization has defined the 21st century. We desire to coexist with people similar to us, both geographically and digitally. According to a 2022 study by economists Ethan Kaplan, Jörg Spenkuch and Rebecca Sullivan, the U.S. is more geographically polarized by ideology today than at any point since the Civil War. Additionally, our digital lives are defined by social media algorithms that send users into spiraling echo chambers. Now is an important time to actively seek out people and experiences that are different from what we are used to.
College students can particularly benefit from road trips. Universities are frequently labeled as echo chambers, marked by ideological homogeneity and increasing intolerance for respectful disagreement. While it is true that colleges and universities actively seek diversity in admitting incoming students, they are still far from being representative of the rest of the country ideologically or socioeconomically. An experience such as a road trip could be a good opportunity for college students to physically come across more people they disagree with.
On another note, many current trends in travel are simply unsustainable. Given that only a select few destinations are tremendously popular, these locales can become immensely overcrowded and suffer environmental damage. The island city of Venice, Italy, is a notable example: The city recently enacted a five euro per day fee to enter the city in an attempt to combat the over-tourism pushing permanent residents out. France — the most visited country in the world — placed limits on the number of visitors to natural sites. Miami, a perennial spring break destination, discouraged visitors in 2024, urging them to not come in a marketing video paid for by the city.
Meanwhile, the cost of visiting these popular destinations is higher than ever in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, these sky-high costs are not dissuading everyone — more than one-third of U.S. travelers say that they plan to travel into debt. Meanwhile, credit card debt has surged to a record balance of over $1 trillion. Both over-tourism and overpaying for vacations are concerning. Luckily, a road trip side steps both of these trends, skirting record airline prices and other miscellaneous costs.
In today’s digitally driven world, where social media often dictates travel choices and exacerbates ideological divides, the road trip presents a refreshing opportunity to break free from group polarization and engage with the diverse places that America has to offer.
By venturing off the beaten path, travelers can discover the richness of lesser-known destinations while forging meaningful connections with people and places beyond their usual sphere of influence. In essence, the road trip embodies the spirit of exploration, fostering empathy, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the mosaic of American life. It’s time to embrace the open road and embark on a journey of discovery, one mile at a time.
Hayden Buckfire is an Opinion Columnist who writes about technology and American culture. He can be reached at haybuck@umich.edu