National Road Trip Day is observed in the United States on the Friday preceding Memorial Day (the last Monday of May), so this year it falls on May 26. There’s a reason ‘The Great American Road Trip’ has become a cliche: the United States is the only country where road journeys are considered holidays in and of themselves. Americans have always enjoyed road trips, whether as a way to honour deceased national heroes by visiting war memorials across the country or as an excuse to get out of town and enjoy a change of scenery. From famous works of literature inspired by the road to beloved songs, road trips mean something to everyone, which is why we are thrilled that the road trip now has its own day. Plus, who wouldn’t want to make the most of the long weekend by leaving town? We’re here to help you alleviate that travel bug itch.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL ROAD TRIP DAY
National Road Trip Day became an official holiday in 2019, due to the largest travel centre operator in North America, Pilot Flying J. They chose the Friday before Memorial Day because of the upcoming long weekend and because May marks the beginning of the summer travel season. It makes sense to observe a day that commemorates travel by road, given that travel is ingrained in American history, with waggon trains heading west in the 1840s and Native Americans exploring the country long before that.
The first recorded road journey across the United States began with a wager in 1903. Someone wagered that physician and automobile pioneer Horatio Nelson Jackson could not travel from San Francisco to New York in less than 90 days. In a 20-horsepower Winston, accompanied by mechanic Sewall K. Crocker and a dog named Bud, they set out to prove them incorrect. Jackson and Crocker finished their journey in 63 days despite numerous setbacks.
In the 1930s, the famous Route 66 enabled cross-country travel in the United States. Others began to take vacations while others began to migrate westward. In the 1950s, the United States was the largest auto manufacturer in the world, and nearly 75 percent of American families owned a car, which became a symbol of American popular culture. The typical American middle-class vacation is now a road trip, leading to a growth in drive-in restaurants and roadside motels. In the 1960s, hippies transformed the road journey into a lifestyle by converting vans and buses into mobile homes.
The ’80s and ’90s saw a decline in road travel due to the rise of air travel, but road trips still have their own unique appeal today. The ‘Great American Road Trip’ represents the freedom and adventure that can only be found on the road!
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5 TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR ROAD TRIP TO ENSURE SATISFIED CAMPERS
Use a travel app
Why not utilise technology to help you plan your route, given that applications are ubiquitous in the present day?
Enhance your voyage
Check everything in advance, from the windscreen wipers to the registration documents; leave no stone untouched.
Plot a trajectory
Consider essential factors such as traffic flow, rest areas, and roadblocks/diversions.
Create a play schedule
According to the majority of travellers, the music you listen to can make or break your journey.
Promote your takeaway
Although refreshments are essential, you should also plan your meals and takeaway stops in advance.
NATIONAL ROAD TRIP DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | May 27 | Friday |
| 2023 | May 26 | Friday |
| 2024 | May 24 | Friday |
| 2025 | May 23 | Friday |
| 2026 | May 22 | Friday |
