Road trips are a veritable American pasttime. Since the 1950s, millions of people have hit the highway in their family vehicles and traversed the country with road games, goofy songs, and french fry wrappers. If you’re looking to continue this tradition, plan ahead for a memorable–not chaotic–road trip.

Avoid the “Blue Highways”

This nickname was made popular by author William Least Heat-Moon in a book surrounding back roads in America. It’s basically a requirement to travel the country on some back roads, as interstates can take you around some of the most beautiful parts of America. However, these backroads can be nothing more than fast food restaurants, strip malls, and housing developments. Most updated U.S. road maps have recommended scenic routes so you can actually see the mountains, forests, and oceans. Make sure you veer off the interstates for a few hundred miles at least so you can say you’ve truly seen the heart of America. [Read more…]