Best Books about Road Trips and Favorite Road Trip Movies
A road trip can mean different things to different people: piling the kids in a station wagon to go see Grandma, a group of buddies in a sports car driving to Las Vegas for a fun weekend, or a family packing up in an RV to spend a quiet week together exploring National Parks.
No matter how you define a road trip, you’ve probably been on one and (hopefully) have some fond memories of the special snacks you loaded up on, the games you and your siblings played to keep yourselves entertained, or the fun stops you made along the way.
As we gear up road trip season in the United States, below are some of my favorite books about road trips and road trip movies to inspire you, help you plan, or maybe help you explain to the kids what’s about to come. I tried to be somewhat of a road trip purist about what to include on the list (I hadn’t realized how many books about motorcycle trips are out there–that might be a list in the future!), but there is a little bit of a mix, particularly since road trips are a mostly American thing and most stories take place in North America.
For more background, I recommend the online class “The Great American Road Trip,” with Allen Pietrobon, assistant professor of Global Affairs at Trinity Washington University and former professorial lecturer of history at American University. He talks about the history of road trips and how changes in America have changed road trips.
Ten Books about Road Trips
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Romance
Places Featured: Road Trip from California to Connecticut, United States
Amy Curry is a junior in high school when her life turns upside down: her father passes away in a car crash and her mother decides they should leave California and move to Connecticut. It then becomes Amy’s duty to drive their car across the country (even though she hasn’t driven a car since her father’s death). So her mother recruits Roger, a family friend and boy Amy doesn’t know, to help Amy with the drive. And while exploring many states with several unexpected detours, Amy learns about a lot more than just the United States.
Note from Jen: I read this book in 2022 and it’s one that will stick with me as I really enjoyed it; the characters are so well-developed and it just really evoked a lot of emotions. As a bonus, some other fans have created a playlist to accompany the book as described in the story.
Blue Highways
Author: William Least Heat Moon
Genre: Nonfiction, Autobiography/Memoir, Travelogue
Places Featured: Road Trip through the United States
In 1982, William Least Heat-Moon (whose name comes from his Osage lineage) lost his teaching job and separated from his first wife. So he took to the road for a three-month road trip–and he specifically took to the backroads, avoiding cities and chain restaurants and interstates and stopping in towns he thought had interesting names. (The roads were known as blue highways because they were often drawn in blue on maps and in atlases, hence the book title.) In this book about his road trip, he describes what he learned about himself and all of the interesting people he met along the way. The book is often thought of as a classic travel book and Forbes magazine actually named it one of the fifteen travel books that “will change the way you see the world.”
Don’t Make Me Pull Over!: An Informal History of the Family Road Trip
Author: Richard Ratay
Genre: Nonfiction, History, Autobiography/Memoir
Places Featured: United States
Don’t Make Me Pull Over is a humorous nostalgic look at the history of family road trips from the 1950s to the 1980s. Ratay shares stories about his own family’s road trips alongside facts about how the evolution of cars, highways, and roadside attractions have affected families and travel throughout the years. It’s a great trip down memory lane for those who took family road trips during those years and it’s also a fascinating look at road trip (and American) history.
Drive Nacho Drive: A Journey from the American Dream to the End of the World
Author: Brad Van Orden and Sheena Van Orden
Genre: Nonfiction, Adventure, Autobiography/Memoir, Travelogue
Places Featured: Road trip from Arizona to Argentina (North America, Central America, South America)
Brad and Sheena Van Orden did what many of us dream about (at least I do)–they quit their jobs, jump into their Volkswagen van affectionately named “Nacho”, and go on the adventure of a lifetime driving from Arizona to Argentina. They run into many adventures along the way ranging from car trouble to treacherous roads, unique cultural festivals to foreign foods. I will warn that the book is self-published so may not be as polished as other road trip books on this list, but if you’re interested in books about van life or books about traveling through Central/South America, it’s a good choice.
Driving Miss Norma: One Family’s Journey to Saying “Yes” to Living
Author: Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle
Genre: Nonfiction, Autobiography/Memoir, Travelogue
Places Featured: United States
Just months after her husband’s death, Norma Bauerschmidt was diagnossed with terminal cancer. And instead of undergoing challenging treatments, she decides she wants to travel across the United States instead. Accompanied by her son Tim, daughter-in-law Ramie, and their dog, Ringo, Norma embarks on a road trip in an RV, experiencing life’s adventures to the fullest. The book captures her spirit of resilience and joy, sharing stories of their travels, the kindness of strangers, and the meaningful moments that define their journey. It’s a heartwarming tale of living life on one’s own terms.
On the Road
Author: Jack Kerouac
Genre: Fiction
Places Featured: United States
On the Road really is considered a book that defines a generation and is included on many lists of famous American novels and travel books. Many would name On the Road as the inspiration for their own trips and other travel books, shows and movies. The book chronicles the travels of Sal Paradise and his friend, Dean Moriarty, across the United States in the late 1940s. The novel is about their search for meaning, adventure, and self-discovery. Fueled by jazz, poetry, and a desire for freedom, they encounter a diverse array of characters and experiences. The narrative, based on Kerouac’s own travels with friends like Neal Cassady, is a spontaneous, free-flowing depiction of their journey through America’s vast landscapes and urban settings, highlighting the essence of youthful rebellion and counterculture.
Road Trip Rwanda: A Journey Into the New Heart of Africa
Author: Will Ferguson
Genre: Nonfiction, History, War/Military, Autobiography/Memoir
Places Featured: Rwanda
I debated on including this book on the list, because it is a challenging one–there’s a lot of violence, but it’s all true and it’s a story that should be told…and, ultimately, the story is hopeful. (I’m also not totally sure if it should be counted as a road trip.) Road Trip Rwanda is the story of the author’s travel experiences through Rwanda intertwined with the country’s history and recovery after the 1994 genocide. Through personal anecdotes, historical insights, and encounters with locals, Ferguson provides a nuanced and heartfelt portrayal of Rwanda’s journey towards healing and the enduring spirit of its people.
Tilly and the Crazy Eights
Author: Monique Gray Smith
Genre: Fiction
Places Featured: Road Trip from Vancouver, Canada to Albuquerque, New Mexico (United States)
Tilly has agreed to drive eight Indigenous elders (the Crazy Eights) from Canada to the Albuquerque Gathering Nations Pow Wow. Each elder has their own reasons for joining the trip carrying personal dreams and unresolved issues. Along the journey, they visit culturally significant sites, heal old wounds, and forge deeper connections, so the trip is much more than a road trip. It’s actually a short book, but covers some heavy topics and can have some interesting insight into Native American traditions.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
Author: Dan Gemeinhart
Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure, Drama
Places Featured: Road Trip from Florida to Washington, United States
Coyote Sunrise and her father, Rodeo, have spent the past five years traveling the United States in a converted yellow school bus. When Coyote’s grandmother shares some news about a park in her old neighborhood, Coyote realizes she needs to get back home–in a short amount of time–and she knows she can’t tell her father why. So as she develops a plan, the two set off again, pick up some travelers along the way and do their best.
Note from Jen: This was an unexpected heart-felt story about family, friends, love, grief, and adventure. While it is clearly a middle grade story, I stayed up all night to read it and it was one of those books that leaves you with an emotional hangover, but a hopeful one. Definitely one of the top books I read in 2023.
Travels with Charley: In Search of America
Author: John Steinbeck
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography/Memoir
Places Featured: Road Trip through the United States
Travels with Charley: In Search of America is another travel book classic. It’s the story of the famous author’s road trip across America with his dog in the 1960s wanting to meet Americans around the country. He covers a lot of ground on his trip (around 10,000 miles) and the trip has been emulated many times. Along the journey, Steinbeck makes a concerted effort to speak to locals, but he often finds himself pretty disillusioned as the America he knows is undergoing a lot of change. It’s worth reading as a part of history, but do remember that it is history (there’s definitely some outdated language) and many now wonder how much of it is actually fictional, too.
Bonus Books about Road Trips:
- America for Beginners by Leah Franqui
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
- Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeo
- Monkeys on the Road: One Family’s Vanlife Adventure South in Search of a Simpler Life by Mary Hollendoner
- The New American Road Trip Mixtape by Brendan Leonard
- The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain by Bill Bryson
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
Bonus Children’s Books about Road Trips:
- The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Car Trip by Stan and Jan Berenstain
- The Vanderbeekers on the Road by Karina Yan Glaser
- Road Trip with Max and his Mom by Linda Urban
- Spot’s Road Trip by Eric Hill
For all the Road Trip Books in one place, be sure to check out my Bookshop list.
Ten Road Trip Movies
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Places Featured: Road trip from Illinois to California, United States
This 1983 movie is the one that started them all–in this one, the Griswold family, led by the idealistic Clark played by Chevy Chase and his always loyal wife Ellen played by Beverly D’Angelo, all pile into an oversized station wagon to drive across the country to Walley World, “America’s Favorite Family Fun Park.” The family makes stops along the way and, of course, have a few mishaps, but they do finally make it…though their destination doesn’t quite live up to their expectations.
Note from Jen: I’m a fan of the National Lampoon Vacation series and debated on between including this original movie AND the European Vacation one on this list because I also love that movie about the family’s trip through Europe, which is mostly a road trip. I did include both of them on my list of Funny Travel Movies.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Places Featured: United States
Some may not consider this one a road trip movie because it isn’t a “pure” road trip, but it is about a trip across the United States using a few different types of transportation. Bad weather has grounded flights over the Thanksgiving holiday, but Neal (played by Steve Martin) needs to get home, so he does everything he can to get there…and somehow the annoying Del (played by John Candy) seems to always be there. Travel is anything but easy for the two, so the movie is about their misadventures across the country.
Note from Jen: This is a holiday classic for me and I watch it pretty much every Thanksgiving. It’s included on my list of Holiday Travel Movies, too.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Crime
Places Featured: United States
The movie Thelma & Louise is iconic–it was a critical and commercial success and it was a breakthrough moment for how women are represented in movies. The movie follows two friends, played by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, who embark on a weekend getaway to escape their mundane lives. Their trip takes a dark turn when Louise kills a man attempting to assault Thelma. Fleeing to Mexico to avoid arrest, they experience liberation and freedom as the dangerous pursuit continues and the film culminates in a dramatic and iconic ending at the Grand Canyon.
Note from Jen: I actually sometimes forget the dark reasons for this road trip as I really just think of the amazing friendship and freedom the two women have. And, I was excited to discover on my recent trip to Utah that movie lovers could recreate the trip themselves.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Musical
Places Featured: Australia
This movie, about a drag queen (played by Hugo Weaving), a drag queen in training (played by Guy Pearce), and a transexual (played by Terence Stamp) who travel across Australia in a tour bus named “Priscilla” performing in small towns and meeting interesting characters along the way, quickly became a cult classic. With a positive LGBTQ story that was ahead of its time, a fun soundtrack, and Academy Award winning costumes, it’s a funny movie with a heartwarming story underneath. (Another road trip movie about three drag queens called To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar came out just a year later and is also worth a watch.)
Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Places Featured: Mexico
Y Tu Mamá También is a Mexican coming-of-age film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. It follows two teenage friends, Julio and Tenoch, who embark on a road trip with Luisa, an older woman seeking escape from her troubled life. As they journey to a fictitious beach, their relationships and personal identities are tested, revealing deep-seated insecurities and desires. The film explores themes of friendship, sexuality, and social class against the backdrop of Mexico’s political and economic landscape–it’s a beautiful, powerful movie. The movie was nominated for several awards as a Foreign Language Film, but also for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. (And, warning: there was some controversy that this movie should have been NC-17, so be aware that the nudity and drug use might be more than you’re used to.)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Places Featured: Road trip from New Mexico to California, United States
Little Miss Sunshine is another cult classic because it’s just a funny sweet movie about a somewhat dysfunctional family traveling together in their yellow Volkswagen van to support young Olive who has qualified for the “Little Miss Sunshine” beauty pageant. What makes the movie such a success is the ensemble actors who all give amazing performances: Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, and Alan Arkin. The film was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and although it didn’t win, it did win for Best Original Screenplay and Alan Arkin won for Best Supporting Actor.
We’re the Millers (2013)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Places Featured: Mexico and the United States
In We’re the Millers, Jason Sudeikis plays a marijuana dealer in Denver who needs to smuggle drugs from Mexico into the United States in order to pay back his drug supplier. Hoping to not look too suspicious, he convinces his neighbors (a stripper played by Jennifer Aniston, a runaway played by Will Poulter, and an abandoned teenager played by Emma Roberts) to pose as his family, so they can easily make the trip across the border in an RV. Of course dealing with drug dealers and making the trip isn’t easy, so the road trip is a bit chaotic, but hilarious.
The Leisure Seeker (2017)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Places Featured: Road trip from Massachusetts to Florida, United States
Based on a novel of the same name by Michael Zadoorian, the movie follows an elderly couple, Ella and John Spencer (played by Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland), who embark on a final road trip in their vintage RV, nicknamed “The Leisure Seeker.” Escaping their adult children’s worries and the confines of medical care, they journey from Boston to the Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West. Along the way, they confront their fading memories, health issues, and shared past, embracing love and adventure in the twilight of their lives.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Places Featured: United States
Green Book is a powerful movie. Inspired by a true story, it’s about the unconventional friendship formed by African American pianist Don Shirley and Italian American bouncer and later actor Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, who served as Shirley’s driver and bodyguard on a road trip tour across the Deep South in 1962, a time when Black Americans were not treated equally. In fact, the movie is named after a guide book that was published in the United States from 1936 to 1966 helping African Americans know about safe and black-friendly places in the United States. The movie which stars Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali won several awards including three Academy Awards in 2019: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Support Actor.
Nomadland (2020)
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Places Featured: United States
Nomadland is another film based on a book that isn’t purely about a specific road trip, but it’s about a woman on the road. The movie is about Fern, a woman in her sixties who loses everything in the Great Recession. Living in her van, she becomes a modern-day nomad, traveling through the American West in search of work and community. Directed by Chloé Zhao (who became the first Asian woman and second woman ever to win Best Director at the Academy Awards) and starring Frances McDormand (who became the first person to ever win an Academy Award as both producer and performer for the same film), the movie explores themes of resilience, freedom, and the transient nature of life, portraying a poignant and realistic portrait of those living unconventional lives.
Bonus Movies about Road Trips:
- Get on the Bus (1996)
- Road Trip (2000)
- Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
- RV (2006)
- Away We Go (2009)
Bonus Children Movies about Road Trips:
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