13 road travel books to inspire you to hit the highway

Moon travel 50 Best Road Trips in the United States covers the best cruises across the country. With suggested tours like the Apache Trail in Arizona and the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Appalachians, this book invites you to cross state borders.

If you’ve got a budding explorer craving an atlas, this one from National Geographic Kids is geared toward the backseat. With fun maps and wacky facts, this atlas is a great companion for a family trip.

Only have a weekend to explore? No worries, this guide is perfect for a one or two night trip. Inside, there are 106 three-day itineraries, all located within a six-hour drive of 20 major US cities. Travel outlines relieve a ton of planning stress; all you have to do is start driving!

If you prefer road trips where you can relax and navigate, try a scenic drive, where sights offer adventure. Inside, handy tips detail mileage, nearby attractions, and the best seasons to travel.

They don’t call it Mother Road for nothing. Route 66 is packed with attractions, sights, and other stops, which this book expertly presents. As one of America’s most influential roads, it’s important to take your time and soak it up along the way.

The hardest part of a road trip is knowing where to go. This National Geographic book describes 100 different discs, associated with 5,000 to-do ideas, which could help get the planning started.

This adventure follows former President Harry Truman and his wife Bess as they embark on a road trip to New York City as an ordinary couple, with no security or escort. Their attempts at anonymity are tested by their fame, but it’s a fascinating look at the man many call America’s last citizen-president.

This adventure follows two Brits and their attempt to trek from New York to California. Their travels take them on back roads through small towns while traveling in the world’s worst car, Josephine. It’s a classic American road trip told from a hilarious British point of view.

If you think visiting 47 US national parks in two months on a budget sounds crazy, you are right. That’s why it’s amazing how the writers got it, living in a truck, to boot. The book contains information on equipping your vehicle with a mini-RV and travel logistics to keep things efficient and profitable. Buckle up and enjoy!

The Midwest is more than cornfields and cow farms – this guide shows you many beautiful parts of the heartland. Whether you’re interested in lighthouses along the Great Lakes, Minnesota waterfalls or Kansas canyons, there is something for everyone.

The west coast is full of things to do on a road trip, and this atlas narrows it down to a manageable guidebook. Inside, there are details of roadside attractions, off-road sites, and in-depth dissections of major cities.

If the east coast beckons you, check out this guide from Lonely Planet which features the best road trips in New England. With gorgeous photos and detailed routes, it’s a wonderful companion as you explore the hidden gems of the North East.

Of course, there are also great trips to be taken outside of the United States. National Geographic’s exploration experiences span the globe, and this book compiles the most incredible journeys on the planet. So if your thirst for road mileage is to be satisfied on a global scale, this book is for you.