The great American road trip is experiencing a renaissance fueled by the Route 66 centennial. AAA recently reported that, “According to the nationwide survey, 41% of U.S. adults plan to visit some part of Route 66 in 2026, with another 15% expressing interest after learning about the upcoming Centennial.”

As there has been a marked decrease in international tourism, and the forecast is that this trend will continue thorugh 2026, this is a ray of sunshine. Many communities have invested heavily in centennial celebrations. And they worked tirelessly to ensure that they present a welcoming vibe to travelers.

But will the resurgent popularity of the great American road trip being made manifest in plans for an odyssey along Route 66 continue in 2027, or 2028? Perhaps a look at what initially spawned the passion for road trips can provide ideas and insight.

THe Great American Road Trip

As with the automobile, the earliest road trips were not exclusively American. The first documented road trip is credited to Bertha Benz. She drove her husband Karl’s Benz Patent-Motorwagen 60 miles from their home in Mannheim, Germany) to visit her mother in Pforzheim. 

But it was Americans that embraced the adventure of the road trip with passion bordering on obsession. And it was Americans that, when it came to road trips, found a way to sell everything on the hog including the squeal. From guide books and lodging to automobiles (remember See The USA in Your Chevrolet?) and state tourism, road trip linked promotion became big business.

And So It Begins

Ten businessmen in Los Angeles established the Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC) in 1900. On March 4, 1902 in Chicago, nine regional motor clubs establsihed the American Automobile Association (AAA). With nearly 1,500 members the organization became a powerful lobbying force advocating for better road conditions as well as motorist rights.

The Automobile Blue Book was first published by businessman and automobile enthusiast Charles Howard Gillette in 1901. His original idea had been a guide that focused on routes that connected automobile garages. There was to also be an extensive reference sections on automobile repair and maintenance.

But what made it a best seller was the focus on routes between cities. The first columes included 62 routes connecting northeastern metropolitan areas. Also included was information about attractions, lodging, and dining.

Pioneers

Pioneering automobile manufacturer Alexanded Winton attempted a cross country trip in 1901. Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson, driving a Winton, made the first coast to coast trip by automobile in 1903. In 1909, 22-year-old Alice Ramsey made history as the first woman to drive across the United States. In 1915, Effie Hotchkiss, accompanied by her mother Avis as a passenger in a sidecar, became the first woman to ride a motorcycle across the United States.

These are just a few examples of the pioneers that fueled a growing passion for road trip adventures. One of the most notable “pathfinders” in this era was A. L. Westgard. He began his career as a pathfinder and promoter in 1903.

Shortly after purchasing his first car in 1903, Westgard was employed as field representative for the AAA. Then the Class Journal Company, publisher of the Automobile Blue Book, hired Westgard in 1906 as its official cartographer. Over the course of the next decade he was credited with establishing forty trans-continental routes, including the Lincoln Highway.

Selling The Adventure

Counted among Westgard’s many contributions was mapping a route that became the National Park-to-Park Highway. This was a loop through the some of the most awe inspiring landscapes in the west that connected twelve national parks.

Westgard was more than a just a road mapping pioneer. He was a master storyteller and marketing genius. Articles he wrote about road trips with flourish ignited a hunger for adventure on the open road. He also used photography from his adventures for magic lantern shows that drew huge crowds.

Then there were the best selling books that inspired countless adventures. One of these was By Motor To The Golden Gate by Emily Post published in 1915. Fortunately this book has been reprinted. It is a read that I can highly recommend.

Fast Forward to 2026

Long ago, through marketing campaigns worthy of A L Westgard and Chevrolet, Route 66 evolved from highway to icon. Today it is viewed as the quintesential American road trip. And that is the portal to fueling a passion for adventures on US 6, US 127, and US 50.

Historically, from the Illiad toTravels With Charlie, we see a common pattern. Tales of adventure inspire adventure. The growing fasicination for a Route 66 trip is being fueled by books, adventures shared on Facebook and Instagram, and through events such as the AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Now, think about how A L Westgard inspired road trips and link that with what has transformed a highway, Route 66, into a destination even though the highway officially no longer exists. The Route 66 centennial is a once in a generation opportunity for communities, business owners, and CVB directors everywhere. The key is to share, and to inspire, the advenutre.

Share The Adventure

That, my friends, is at the heart of Jim Hinckley’s America. We do that through books, through presentations, and through our network that is a growing community of folks passionate about road trip adventures. Much of what we do centers on Route 66. That gives us an opportunity to encourage fans, followers, and subscribers to start with that storied highway, and then expand on that adventure.

Consider our weekly podcast on Podbean, Coffee With Jim. Most of our listeners are passionate Route 66 enthusiasts. They tune in and through our conversation with the director discover the wonders of Harold Warp’s Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska, on US 6. Or through our YouTube channel they are inspired to explore the White Cliffs wagon Road trail system just two mile south of Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona.

Let The Adventures Begin

We can ensure Route 66 remains a destination well beyond the Route 66 centennial. And we can inspire a new generation of adventurers to discover the magic of Route 66.

The key is the sharing of adventures. Even better, broaden the scope of your road trips. Avoid a myopic focus on Route 66, even when driving Route 66, Add a side trip of two to the Grand Canyon, to Palo Duro Canyon, or to the village of Supai.

Introduce a generation to young for a drivers license to the magic that is a road trip adventure. Start with books such as the Annie Mouse series. Then add a trip to a museum complex like Greenfield Village. Let them help plan the adventure using maps as well as social media, YouTube and Google searches.

This is how we ensure that the great American road trip is enjoyed for generations to come.