Travel in all its forms is illuminating. It enhances the mind; it frees the spirit. But nothing captures the essence of true freedom quite like the good old-fashioned road trip.
Unlike travel by plane or by train, road tripping isn’t just about getting from Place A to Place B. It’s about the journey between the two. The road IS the destination, and each small town, weird sculpture and quirky museum is a discovery along the way.
If you’re looking for some encouragement to hit the road and seize the summer road trip season, or need some inspiration to get you jazzed up for the journey you’re about to take, these quotes should do the trick.
“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.” – Once Upon an Ever After, Angela N. Blount
It’s metaphorical, but can also be quite literal. Like that time we visited Luxembourg by accident while getting detoured between France and Germany, or took the wrong exit in a roundabout and ended up at the best pastry shop in the entirety of France.
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”- Amelia Earhart
Yeah, sure. Only if you want to, like, soar and become a legend.
“Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” – Stephen R. Covey
Hear it. Internalize it. Live it.
“That’s why I love road trips, dude. It’s like doing something without actually doing anything.” – An Abundance of Katherines, John Green
Ain’t it, though? I mean, except for the driver. If you drivin’, you got work.
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” – Erol Ozan
Yup. And, unless you’ve got the world’s worst sense of direction or are piloting that baby, you can’t get lost in an airplane.
“Now, on this road trip, my mind seemed to uncrinkle, to breathe, to present to itself a cure for a disease it had not, until now, known it had.” – The Year of Pleasures, Elizabeth Berg
That’s it. That’s the entire thing.
“Every hundred feet the world changes.” – 2666, Roberto Bolaño
And every few hundred miles, you need to stop for gas and snacks.
“Road trips required a couple of things: a well-balanced diet of caffeine, salt and sugar and an excellent selection of tunes – oh, and directions.” – Books Can Be Deceiving, Jenn McKinlay
The essential ingredients. Except for the directions. Those are optional.
“And just like that, we’re on our way to everywhere.” – Open Road Summer, Emery Lord
The essence of freedom.
“I take to the open road; healthy, free, the world before me.” – “Song of the Open Road,” Walt Whitman
The essence of freedom x2. (And this was written before cars!)
“The freedom of the open road is seductive, serendipitous and absolutely liberating.” – Aaron Lauritsen
The essence of freedom x3.
“There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” – On the Road, Jack Kerouac
Freedom might be a theme here.
“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” – On the Road, Jack Kerouac
Kerouac again. Maybe just read On the Road. It’s kind of one long road trip quote.
“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” – Babs Hoffman
In road trips, and in life.
“It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Moby Dick, Herman Melville
False, but lovely.
Also, I knew Idaho didn’t really exist.
“The Earth was made round so that we would not see too far down the road.” – Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen
And the dash was made flat so we could see over the steering wheel.
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” – Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
What makes a true road trip a true road trip. Destinations are for suckers.
“Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.” – Confucius
Told ya.
“The greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.” – Tamed, Emma Chase
True facts.
“Road trips are the equivalent of human wings. Ask me to go on one, anywhere. We’ll stop in every small town and learn the history and stories, feel the ground and capture the spirit. Then we’ll turn it into our own story that will live inside our history to carry with us, always. Because stories are more important than things.” – Victoria Erickson
It ain’t just blather. Studies have repeatedly shown that experiences make us far happier than material possessions. So instead of adding that spoiler to your ride to impress your friends, try putting that money into the tank and taking them on an adventure.
“The road is there, it will always be there. You just have to decide when to take it.” – Chris Humphrey
So, what are you waiting for?