For many reasons I am not a fan of the USA which I am happy to expand upon at another time, but I do believe it is the finest destination in the World for a Road Trip.

So just what is a road trip?

A Road Trip has to be more than just a long drive but instead is a journey with distinctive qualities that set it apart from routine travel.

To start with it’s a journey by car, van, camper or motor bike and in many ways the vehicle becomes part of the experience. Your own vehicle gives one the freedom to change your plan, explore a new route that you discover and go where it takes you.

It is not a journey from A to B but rather a trip with multiple stops to explore, sightsee and rest. This will often  involve an element of discovery visiting new destinations and landscapes and experiencing local cultures.

A Road Trip will typically span multiple days and cover a meaningful stretch of geography and varied landscapes between different regions and sometimes crossing borders.

And finally, there is a social element, often travelling with friends, family or a partner.

And as soon as one says the words ‘Road Trip’ there are recurring motifs that come to mind such as Gas stations, Motels, Snacks, Coffee on the go and scenic overlooks.

The concept of a Road Trip can be a ‘coming of age’ step or perhaps a break later in life or indeed just a vacation and has been captured by numerous films and novels.

Films like Easy Rider, Thelma and Louise and Rain Man immediately come to mind but don’t forget Little Miss Sunshine, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Dumb and Dumber and The Motorcycle Diaries.

Writers have often used Road Trips as a metaphor for freedom, rebellion and self discovery. One immediately thinks of ‘On the Road’, ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’.

So, by the definitions above, the 8000 mile trip I undertook in just under 6 weeks in the Autumn (Fall) of 2004 qualifies as a classic road trip!

For the last two years since our kids sold the that our family company had previously owned, I have had clothes, over 100 framed pictures, 7 carpets and furniture stored in historic Staunton located in the beautiful Shenendoah Valley, Virginia. These had originated from the offices we had in Staunton from 1987 to 2015 and the house that our employees and then family used from 2005 until it was sold in 2023.

We had been paying storage charges month after month and it was time to ship the pictures and carpets to the UK and Thailand or bring them back to Vancouver, Canada where our daughter has a very successful vintage and collectables store Georgia General.

So I flew to Vancouver BC where we have a home, commandeered our 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and drove to Seattle Airport to collect my friend Ampai.

And all the key ingredients for a road trip were in place.

A long journey of 6 weeks through different regions with many varied landscapes. A close friend for shared experiences and could there be a more perfect and comfortable vehicle for long journeys and challenging terrain than a Jeep Grand Cherokee? It was perfect for long drives on the freeway and off road tracks.

I planned an itinerary across the USA to Virginia and returning via the  southwest to include some of the few famous destinations in the USA that I had not previously visited such as Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Nashville and Memphis. And I wanted to give Ampai at least a taste of the spectacular landscapes of the Desert Southwest.

And those recurring motifs of Roadside Diners, Motels, Scenic overlooks (over 15 in a day in the spectacular Badlands National Park) and coffee were ever present as we drove.

And why do I think the USA is an unrivalled destination for Road Trips?

To start with the USA has a wonderful range of varied and contrasting landscapes. The Freeway system is without rival in the world and it is possible to get up, have breakfast and easily drive 200 miles in 3 hours before stopping and exploring a destination and then drive another 100 or 200 miles in the late afternoon and early evening without feeling the least bit tired.

And although Americans are continually complaining about rising prices, high inflation and expensive petrol the reality is this is largely because Americans are part of one of the most insular and inward looking nations on the planet with little or no knowledge of what is happening in the rest of the world. Most Americans fail to appreciate that all the world’s economies are linked, and post covid inflation only occurred in the USA!

The reality is petrol is just about the cheapest in the world and accommodation is plentiful and affordable. Indeed, the USA is a very easy and affordable destination in which to travel and has an unrivalled collection of magnificent and spectacular user friendly National Parks with one thing in common – they are all well worth visiting.

I will post some subsequent articles on different regions and the magnificent and spectacular landscapes that we discovered and explored but what follows is a selection of images portraying the ‘Road’ element of my 2024 American Road trip.

Articles on the specific destinations and landscapes will hopefully follow at a later date.

Enjoy (the images!)