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The Stoics, the Road, and the Meaning of Travel

The Stoics traveled widely while reminding us that we cannot escape ourselves by changing our surroundings. Their ideas offer a different way to think about travel, curiosity, and the meaning of the journey.

We tend to think of travel as an escape—to leave the familiar behind and experience something different. Yet the Stoics, who warned us that we cannot escape ourselves simply by changing our surroundings, traveled widely.

Why did they travel? And what might their journeys teach us about our own?

Casa Grande Ruins reminds us that travel can take us beyond seeing a place to reflecting on the lives, history, and lessons it holds. Casa Grande Ruins reminds us that travel can take us beyond seeing a place to reflecting on the lives, history, and lessons it holds. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The Stoic and the road

We take ourselves wherever we go

The Stoics were not opposed to travel. What they questioned was our reason for traveling.

Seneca warned against using travel as an escape from ourselves. We may change the scenery, cross a sea, or settle in another city but our thoughts and troubles come with us. Marcus Aurelius reminded himself that he could retreat into his own mind as easily as he could to the mountains or the seashore. Epictetus likewise urged us to pay attention to what is within rather than believing that changing what is outside will somehow make us whole.

There is wisdom in that.

We can spend a lifetime searching for the perfect place, believing that somewhere else will provide what is missing here. But the Stoics understood that no landscape, city, or journey can do that work for us.

Yet there is something curious about these teachings.

The Stoics themselves traveled.

The Painted Churches of Fayette County offer a glimpse into how different communities brought their cultures, traditions, and faith to a new place, reminding us how travel can broaden our understanding of different ways of life. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

A larger world

Travel can expand the mind

The Stoics did not simply talk about travel. They lived it.

Marcus Aurelius traveled through much of the Roman Empire including Syria and Asia Minor. Seneca spent time in southern Italy and Greece and, during his exile, lived for years on Corsica. Posidonius traveled extensively, living and working in places as different as Syria, Athens, Rome, and Rhodes. Athenodorus traveled throughout the Mediterranean before becoming a teacher to the young Octavian.

Their journeys exposed them to people, cultures, landscapes, and ideas far beyond those of their birthplace.

That matters.

We understand the world partly through comparison. Until we encounter a different way of living, eating, worshiping, building, working, or understanding the world, it is easy to assume that our way is simply the way things are.

Travel disrupts that assumption.

It enlarges the world we know—and when our understanding of the world becomes larger, so can our understanding of ourselves.

Looking beyond the familiar Alabama Gulf Coast reminds us that travel can challenge our assumptions and open us to places, people, and experiences we might otherwise overlook. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Learning to travel

Seeing a place requires more than passing through it

Nearly two thousand years after the Stoics, another traveler set out to understand a world different from his own.

In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville came to America. He wasn’t simply interested in seeing its famous places. He wanted to understand the country and the people who lived there. That required time on the road, conversations with ordinary people, observation, and a willingness to look beyond what was immediately familiar.

Tocqueville understood something that the Stoics had understood in a different way: travel can enlarge us when we are willing to pay attention.

He didn’t experience America from a distance. He moved through it.

That distinction matters.

There is a difference between visiting a place and experiencing it. One can be measured in destinations and photographs. The other takes curiosity, time, and attention.

More than a century and a half later, we have an extraordinary advantage Tocqueville never had. We can carry our home with us.

We call it an RV.

And perhaps the RV is one of the best vehicles ever created for meaningful travel—not because it takes us farther but because it gives us the freedom to experience what lies between where we begin and where we are going.

Discoveries along Scenic Byway 12 remind us that the journey itself can be as meaningful as the destination when we leave room for curiosity and the unexpected. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Travel with intention

The destination is only part of the journey

An RV gives us something Tocqueville could only dream of: the ability to make the journey itself part of the experience.

We can leave the interstate for a country road, stop in a town we’ve never heard of, stay another night because a place has captured our attention, or simply sit outside the RV and watch the world go by.

But having that freedom doesn’t mean we will use it.

It is easy to turn RV travel into another checklist—counting states, national parks, campgrounds, and miles while hurrying toward the next destination.

Meaning begins when we become intentional about how we travel.

That doesn’t mean every stop must be profound. It means slowing down enough to pay attention and remaining curious about what we encounter.

The question changes from Where are we going? to What might we discover along the way?

That small change can transform an RV trip from a journey between destinations into an experience worth remembering.

Connecting with the history of Charleston shows how travel can deepen our understanding of a place by encouraging us to look beyond what we see on the surface. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Connect with the place

Let the journey become more than scenery

A meaningful RV journey begins with curiosity about the places we enter.

Learn something about the town before moving on. Talk with the people who live there. Visit the local museum, walk its streets, eat its food, listen to its music. Learn why the landscape looks the way it does and what happened there before we arrived.

Nature offers the same opportunity. Instead of simply photographing a desert, forest or mountain, we can ask what makes it different, what lives there and how it came to be. A landscape becomes more interesting when we understand it.

The same is true of history. A historic building is more than an old structure when we know the stories that unfolded within it.

None of this requires a packed itinerary. Often, it requires just the opposite: enough time and curiosity to look beyond the surface.

The more we connect with a place, the less it becomes a stop on a map and the more it becomes part of our journey.

Leaving room for the unexpected can turn an ordinary moment, like a gull landing nearby, into a small discovery along the way. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Leave room for the unexpected

Some of the best moments cannot be planned

Some of the most meaningful moments in RV travel are the ones we never planned.

A road sign catches our attention and sends us down an unfamiliar road. We stop for lunch and strike up a conversation. A bird appears outside the RV. Evening light transforms an ordinary landscape. We discover a small town, trail, or view that wasn’t on the itinerary.

These moments are easy to miss when every day is scheduled.

Leaving room for the unexpected doesn’t mean abandoning plans. It means recognizing that not everything worthwhile can be planned. Sometimes the greatest value of an RV journey lies in what we didn’t set out to find.

And sometimes something even better happens.

We experience a moment of unexpected joy.

We can’t manufacture that feeling and what brings joy to one traveler may mean little to another. But when we travel with curiosity and openness, we create the possibility for it.

Perhaps that’s one of the great pleasures of the road: we never quite know what it has waiting for us.

Standing among the ancient dwellings of Mesa Verde can make the distant past feel surprisingly present, reminding us that travel can connect us with lives lived long before our own. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

When travel becomes awe

Some places leave us changed

There are moments when travel gives us something more than enjoyment.

We round a bend and suddenly see a landscape stretching beyond anything we expected. We stand beneath a night sky filled with stars. We watch thousands of birds move together across the sky. We encounter a place where history feels almost present.

For a moment, we aren’t simply looking at something beautiful. We are aware of something larger than ourselves.

That is awe.

It is one of the most powerful experiences travel can offer, but like joy, it cannot be scheduled. We can only put ourselves in places and states of mind where it might find us.

Perhaps this is where meaningful travel reaches its deepest expression. We have slowed down enough to notice, become curious enough to understand, and remained open enough to be moved.

We didn’t set out to find awe.

We simply traveled—and allowed the world to reveal itself.

RV travel can take us far from home, but the Stoics remind us that the most meaningful journey may be the one we discover within ourselves. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

What we bring home

The journey continues after we return

The Stoics were right: we cannot escape ourselves simply by changing our surroundings. Wherever we travel, we carry ourselves with us.

But perhaps they also remind us of something else. What we encounter can change the person who returns home.

Travel introduces us to people, places, histories, landscapes, and ideas beyond our familiar world. If we slow down enough to notice and remain open enough to learn, those experiences become more than memories. They become part of us.

That may be the real meaning of travel.

We travel outward but what we encounter along the way can change what we carry inward.

And perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts of RV travel: not simply that it takes us somewhere new but that it gives us the time and freedom to discover what the journey might have to teach us.

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Editor’s note

This article was originally published in October 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.

To maintain transparency and editorial independence, this website contains no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just firsthand RV travel experiences and practical information for fellow travelers.

Parke County, Indiana: The Bridges That Connect the Past and Present

Parke County, Indiana, is home to 31 covered bridges, each with a story connecting the county’s past with its present. Follow the quiet country roads from one bridge to another and discover the people, communities, craftsmanship, and history behind these remarkable structures.

There is something special about discovering a covered bridge on a quiet country road.

Weathered wood, a simple structure, and the road disappearing through its covered opening can make time seem to slow.

Parke County, Indiana, has 31 of them.

But these bridges are more than picturesque reminders of another era. They connected communities, farms and roads, and today they connect us with a part of Indiana’s past that might otherwise have disappeared.

This is their story—and the story of the roads and communities they continue to connect.

Weathered timber, a quiet road, and a reminder that some history is still part of the journey. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

A county connected by bridges

Bridges were once essential to everyday life

Long before covered bridges became a reason to visit Parke County, they were essential to getting around it. Rivers and streams crossed the roads connecting farms, villages and communities, and bridges made those journeys possible.

But why cover a bridge? The answer was largely practical. A roof protected the wooden structure and helped shield its timbers from rain, snow and sun, extending the life of the bridge. What began as a practical solution eventually created the distinctive structures we admire today.

As the county grew, farmers needed to move crops and equipment, families needed to reach neighboring communities, and travelers needed reliable crossings. These bridges were not built as tourist attractions or picturesque landmarks. They were working bridges, built because people needed to get somewhere.

That simple purpose makes them compelling today. Beneath their craftsmanship and history is a story about people connecting with one another.

For a moment, the road carries us through more than a bridge. It carries us into the past. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

31 covered bridges

Thirty-one bridges, thirty-one stories

Today, 31 covered bridges remain in Parke County. That is remarkable enough but the number becomes even more impressive when you learn that as many as 53 once stood here. What survives is a collection shaped not by design but by the needs of generations of people who crossed the county’s streams and creeks.

And the bridges are anything but identical. Portland Mills, built in 1856, is among the county’s oldest. It was later moved when its original location was threatened by the creation of Mansfield Lake. The State Sanatorium Bridge, built in 1913, had a very different purpose—it carried coal to the power plant of the Indiana State Tuberculosis Sanatorium.

Then there is Bridgeton. The original 1868 bridge was destroyed by arson in 2005 but the community rebuilt it the following year using the traditional design.

These are just three stories among 31. Each bridge is a piece of Parke County history and finding them means discovering those stories one road at a time.

Built in 1914, McAllister Covered Bridge carries more than a road across Little Raccoon Creek. It carries the craftsmanship and history of the people who built it. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The people who built the bridges

Every bridge carries a piece of its builder

It is easy to look at a covered bridge as an old structure and forget that someone had to build it.

McAllister Covered Bridge, completed in 1914, was built during the later years of Joseph A. Britton’s remarkable bridge-building career. Britton was 77 when the bridge was completed and by then his sons were doing much of the physical labor.

That detail changes how I see the bridge.

This wasn’t simply another structure erected over Little Raccoon Creek. It was the work of a family whose livelihood was tied to building bridges that connected farms, communities, and rural roads. The craftsmanship had been passed from father to sons, continuing a tradition that was already disappearing.

McAllister also tells another story—that of adaptation. Its original construction has been followed by repairs and steel reinforcement while a galvanized steel roof now protects the timber structure. The bridge has survived because people have continued to care for it.

Perhaps that is the common thread running through Parke County’s covered bridges.

They were built by people for people and they survive because later generations decided they were worth saving.

Neet Covered Bridge

One bridge, many stories

Built in 1904, the Neet Covered Bridge was the last covered bridge contracted by Joseph J. Daniels, one of Parke County’s best-known bridge builders. He was 78 years old.

The 126-foot bridge crosses Little Raccoon Creek, not far from McAllister. Its Burr Arch construction is impressive but the stories surrounding the bridge are what caught my attention.

The bridge took its name from nearby landowners. Joseph W. Neet owned 176 acres in the area and the bridge was later also known as the Dietrich Bridge after another family that owned property nearby.

There was once more activity around this quiet crossing. The Central Indiana Railroad passed nearby with its elevated bed crossing Bridgeton Road just north of the bridge and a railroad bridge spanning Little Raccoon Creek upstream.

Then there is a small piece of more recent history. In 1989, Rockville Boy Scout Troop 469 repainted the bridge, using four gallons of paint. Their names and the date were recorded on a note card inside.

Details like these remind us that historic places aren’t kept alive by history alone. They survive because people continue to care about them.

The roads between Parke County’s covered bridges are part of the adventure, winding through the countryside and revealing something new around the next bend. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The roads between the bridges

Finding the bridges is part of the adventure

The covered bridges of Parke County aren’t gathered in one place. They are scattered across the countryside, reached by roads that lead through farms, small communities, and wooded hills. Even the county’s bridge tours divide them into routes because there is too much ground to cover in a single outing.

That appealed to us. Rather than checking bridges off a list, we could leave the motorhome at the campground, take the toad and follow the roads from one crossing to another.

Along the way, the bridges became part of a larger landscape. A quiet farm road might lead to a bridge we hadn’t expected while another stretch offered a view that had nothing to do with bridges but was worth stopping to photograph.

That’s what makes exploring Parke County different from visiting a collection of historic structures in one location. You don’t simply see the bridges. You travel through the countryside that connects them.

The bridge may be old, but the road still carries travelers through the same countryside. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The Covered Bridge Festival

When the county celebrates its bridges

Each October, Parke County turns its covered bridges into the centerpiece of a countywide celebration. The Covered Bridge Festival, October 9–18, 2026, brings visitors into ten communities throughout the county, each offering its own character, attractions, and festival activities.

Bridgeton is one of the larger festival destinations with handmade crafts, fine art, unique products, food, and live entertainment. Its scenic historic district adds another layer with the working Bridgeton Mill and Covered Bridge, Collom’s General Store, the 1878 House, Case Log Cabin, and the historic school.

Billie Creek Village offers another glimpse into the past with three covered bridges, historic buildings, a General Store, and schoolhouse alongside festival shopping, crafts, and food.

In Bloomingdale, the historic Friends Meeting House, also known as the Quaker Church, becomes a gathering place for local crafters and homemade specialties including the community’s well-known apple butter.

Rosedale centers its festival activities at the Civic Center where visitors can find local crafts and food before exploring the nearby Roseville and Thorpe Ford covered bridges.

These are only four of the ten communities participating in the festival. Together, they turn the entire county into a celebration, encouraging visitors to travel from one community to another rather than remaining in a single festival setting.

That may be the best part for an RVer. The festival gives you a reason to explore the same roads, bridges, and countryside that make Parke County worth discovering in the first place.

Driving through McAllister Covered Bridge, we became part of a journey that travelers have been making for more than a century. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Why do we still stop?

Some places make us slow down

We pass thousands of bridges during our travels without giving most of them a second thought. They carry us across a creek or river and within seconds we’re on the other side.

So why do we stop for a covered bridge?

Perhaps it is because these bridges make the past visible. They haven’t been reduced to photographs in a history book or preserved behind glass. They still stand along the roads where people once traveled, surrounded by the farms, fields and communities they helped connect.

That is what struck me while exploring Parke County. The bridges aren’t separate from the landscape. They are part of it—and the roads leading to them are still carrying us through the same countryside.

Maybe that’s why we stop. For a moment, the bridge lets us see where we’ve been while reminding us that the road continues ahead.

These bridges still connect us, not only across the water, but with the people, places, and history that came before us. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Bridges that still connect us

Some journeys change what we see

We first came to Parke County looking for a place to explore. The roads led us to farms, Amish buggies, quiet countryside and, eventually, the covered bridges. What I didn’t expect was how those bridges would change the way I saw the county.

They aren’t simply historic structures scattered across Indiana. They are reminders that places have stories and that sometimes the best way to discover those stories is to slow down and follow the road.

The bridges still connect us—not just from one side of a creek to another but with the people, places, and history that came before us.

Enjoyed this article?

Share it with friends, fellow RVers, or your social network to inspire their next adventure.

Editor’s note

This article was originally published in September 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.

The Fifty-Route Manifesto: Rediscovering America One Slow Road at a Time

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, this guide invites travelers to leave the interstate behind and rediscover the nation one two-lane road at a time. Through fifty remarkable routes, The Fifty-Route Manifesto explores the landscapes, history, wildlife, cultures, and communities that reveal why the journey itself remains the greatest destination.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, this milestone invites us to look backward at the geography, communities, and histories that define the nation. Yet, modern travel often compels us to rush through these spaces at seventy miles per hour on sterile interstate corridors, blurring the very heart of the country into an unrecognizable smear. To truly discover America today, we have to pull off the highway.

Slowing down to a human pace turns a road trip into deep immersion. Across fifty unique routes, this collection traces the raw geology, rich wildlife flyways, diverse regional flavors, and deep cultural histories that define the continent from the ground up, proving the road is not a barrier to overcome—it is the destination.

Utah Scenic Byway 12 *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The rhythms of the two-lane

Leaving the interstate to find the pulse of small-town America

The classic two-lane highway demands a different state of mind. Without the sterile buffer of wide medians and bypasses, these roads drop you directly onto the main streets of living communities. U.S. Route 20 offers the ultimate expression of this endurance, stretching coast to coast through historic crossroads and working farmland. When you trade high-speed asphalt for older arteries, logging miles becomes secondary to local discovery.

This rhythm changes beautifully when you steer into the public lands of the West. Navigating Utah’s Scenic Byway 24 trades fast-paced traffic for a winding red-rock canyon corridor that follows the Fremont River straight into the heart of Capitol Reef National Park. Further south, Scenic Byway 12 provides a masterclass in slickrock geography, running along knife-edge ridges and through deep sandstone canyons that demand slow, deliberate navigation.

Half a continent away, this same unhurried pace defines Ohio’s Amish Country Byway where the road naturally slows to accommodate horse-drawn buggies rolling past pastures and small-town bakeries. Climbing into the high country, the San Juan Skyway in Colorado anchors this chapter, winding through historic mountain mining towns and requiring an unhurried pace to safely navigate the steep, unprotected drop-offs of the Million Dollar Highway. By aligning your speed with the local terrain, the pavement transforms from a commuter trench into a living window on regional heritage.

Unique routes:

1. U.S. Route 20: The great continuous two-lane cross-country artery.

2. Utah Scenic Byway 24: The red-rock canyon gateway to Capitol Reef.

3. Scenic Byway 12 (Utah): The dramatic slickrock ridge line highway.

4. Amish Country Byway (Ohio): The pastoral, slow-paced heritage loop.

5. San Juan Skyway (Colorado): The historic mountain mining towns and Million Dollar Highway cliffside crawl.

Creole Nature Trail, Louisiana *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Sanctuaries on the flyway

Tracking seasonal movements across critical coastal and inland corridors

For birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, certain highways function as front-row seats to the great seasonal migrations of North America. Routing your journey along these paths requires matching your travel calendar to the natural rhythms of the sky. Following the Texas Coast & Wildlife Trails carries you through a fragile network of coastal prairies, oak mottes, and tidal flats where hundreds of migratory bird species make landfall after crossing the Gulf.

Further east, the Creole Nature Trail loops through Louisiana’s remote coastal marshes, offering an intimate look at untamed wetlands teeming with alligators and waterfowl. On the Atlantic side, Florida’s Historic A1A hugs the barrier islands, offering a low-speed maritime bypass where pelicans coast alongside the dunes.

On the Pacific edge, the Pacific Coast Highway (California Highway 1) delivers dramatic ocean cliffs where gray whales migrate just offshore. Even inland waters offer these corridors, like Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive which traces Lake Superior’s rocky edge—a critical navigational landmark for raptors and songbirds pushing north. On these routes, the horizon belongs to the wild.

Unique routes:

6. Texas Coast & Wildlife Trails: The critical southern migratory birding corridor.

7. Creole Nature Trail (Louisiana): The rugged coastal marshland and alligator flyway.

8. Florida’s Historic A1A: The low-speed Atlantic maritime barrier island highway.

9. Pacific Coast Highway (California): The iconic ocean cliffside cruise.

10. North Shore Scenic Drive (Minnesota): The rocky Lake Superior shoreline migratory run.

Red Rock Scenic Byway, Arizona *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Landscapes in motion

Navigating the dramatic elevations and raw geology of the high country

When the road climbs into the high country, the geography forces a slow, focused style of driving. In the American Southwest, Arizona’s Red Rock Scenic Byway acts as a visual gateway to Sedona’s towering sandstone formations. This transitions into the rugged, partially unpaved terrain of the historic Apache Trail where tight canyon switchbacks hug old stagecoach paths through the desert wilderness.

Further north, the scale explodes. Montana’s Going-to-the-Sun Road slices directly through the glacial heart of Glacier National Park, crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. It requires absolute focus, much like Colorado’s Trail Ridge Road which tops out above 12,000 feet to offer a driving experience completely surrounded by alpine tundra. In the Pacific Northwest, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway frames the jaw-dropping depths of North America’s deepest river gorge, winding past the dramatic Wallowa Mountains.

In the East, mountain roads trade raw rock for dense, ancient forests. The Cherohala Skyway climbs above the clouds along the mountain crests of Tennessee and North Carolina, leading seamlessly into the Blue Ridge Parkway, the definitive Appalachian ridge line cruise. Rounding out the southern foothills, Alabama’s Coastal Connection drops down to trace the maritime dunes and delta ecosystems where the highlands finally meet the Gulf.

Unique routes:

11. Red Rock Scenic Byway (Arizona): The gateway to Sedona’s slickrock country.

12. Apache Trail (Arizona): The historic, winding desert canyon stagecoach route.

13. Going-to-the-Sun Road (Montana): The glacial alpine pass engineering marvel.

14. Trail Ridge Road (Colorado): The spectacular highway above the timberline.

15. Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (Oregon): The dramatic overlook loop above the continent’s deepest river gorge.

16. Cherohala Skyway (Tennessee/North Carolina): The high-altitude mountain crest drive.

17. Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia/North Carolina): The slow-paced, 469-mile Appalachian ridge line cruise.

18. Alabama’s Coastal Connection: The southern maritime dunes and mobile delta trail.

Highway 49 through Amador City, California *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Echoes in the blacktop

Tracing historic paths, musical heritage, and early trade corridors

Some roads are thick with ghosts. Driving them means retracing the literal footsteps of the pioneers, traders, and artists who shaped the continent’s cultural landscape. The Colonial Parkway in Virginia offers a beautifully preserved corridor of brick-arched bridges and cobblestone-style pavement, physically linking Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown to encapsulate the birth of the nation.

Further west, California’s Highway 49 winds through the Sierra Nevada foothills, connecting preserved 19th-century mining towns that boomed during the 1849 Gold Rush. In the South, the Natchez Trace Parkway preserves a 444-mile ancient commercial footpath, forbidding commercial trucks to maintain a slow, park-like sanctuary through the timberlands of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Further north, the Historic National Road (U.S. 40) carves a completely different historic line across the midsection of the country, serving as America’s first federally funded highway and the original 19th-century gateway for covered wagons pushing toward the western frontier.

Culture also bleeds into the pavement through music and heritage. The Gullah Geechee Corridor hugs the southeastern coast, protecting the deep, unbroken African culinary and linguistic traditions of the Lowcountry islands. In the mountains, Virginia’s The Crooked Road serves as a heritage loop for traditional bluegrass and mountain music. This pairs naturally with Kentucky’s Country Music Highway (U.S. 23), an eastern Appalachian corridor that has birthed more country music stars per capita than almost any other road in America.

Unique routes:

19. Colonial Parkway (Virginia): The beautifully preserved historic triangle passage.

20. California Highway 49: The historic Sierra Nevada Gold Rush trail.

21. Natchez Trace Parkway (Mississippi/Alabama/Tennessee): The ancient commercial footpath and timber trail.

22. The Historic National Road (U.S. 40): The original historic gateway to early western expansion.

23. Gullah Geechee Corridor (Southeast Coast): The historic coastal heritage trail of the Lowcountry.

24. The Crooked Road (Virginia): The mountain heritage loop of traditional old-time music.

25. Country Music Highway (U.S. 23, Kentucky): The eastern Appalachian heritage trail of legendary vocalists.

Black’s Barbeque on the Central Texas Barbecue Circuit in Lockhart *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The movable feast

Experiencing regional identity through distinct culinary circuits

Food provides an incredibly compelling reason to pull off the main highway. When you design a route around local smokehouses, bakeries, or family-owned kitchens, you experience geography through its flavors. Tracing the Central Texas Barbecue Circuit connects legendary smokehouses in towns like Lockhart and Taylor where the aroma of post oak smoke has defined the region for generations.

Further west, New Mexico’s highways function as a culinary map. The Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail links historic diners that perfect flame-roasted Hatch green chiles stacked over melted cheese. This pairs naturally with mornings spent navigating the state’s informal Breakfast Burrito Byway where the day begins wrapped in a fresh, chile-smothered tortilla.

Down in the bayous, Louisiana offers a completely different expression of heritage. Following the Cajun Boudin Trail carries you through Acadiana, linking independent meat markets where pork, rice, and spice blends are stuffed into legendary boudin casings. Tracing deeper into the wetlands along the Bayou Country Crawfish Trail takes travelers to family-owned boiling points where the harvest of the swamps is served up fresh from giant, steaming pots.

In the North, pastoral loops offer cooler alternatives. Vermont’s Cheese Trail winds through rolling pastures and artisan creameries while an autumn drive through New York’s Hudson Valley Orchard Loops navigates country lanes lined with farm stands. Rounding out the coast, Maine’s Lobster Shack Trail (Route 1) hugs the rocky shoreline, leading straight to tidal seafood shacks within sight of the Atlantic surf.

Unique routes:

26. Central Texas Barbecue Circuit: The legendary post-oak smokehouse trail.

27. Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail (New Mexico): The high-desert roasted chile diner route.

28. Breakfast Burrito Byway (New Mexico): The early-morning highway comfort run.

29. Cajun Boudin Trail (Louisiana): The savory butcher shop and filling station loop.

30. Bayou Country Crawfish Trail (Louisiana): The seasonal swamp-to-table seafood trail.

31. Vermont Cheese Trail: The artisan creamery loop.

32. Hudson Valley Orchard Loops (New York): The autumn harvest harvest lanes.

33. Kentucky Bourbon Trail: The historic bluegrass distillery route.

34. Maine Lobster Shack Trail (Route 1): The coastal seafood corridor.

Bayou Teche National Scenic Byway at Breaux Bridge, Louisiana *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The water’s edge

Tracing the great river valleys, lakeshores, and marine sounds

There is a distinct magic to asphalt that hugs the water where the rhythm of the road matches the flow of a current. The ultimate expression of this is the Great River Road, a network of highways following the Mississippi River for over 2,000 miles from its Minnesota headwaters down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Further north, the Lake Superior Circle Tour carries travelers through a rugged, international landscape of rocky cliffs and pine forests, wrapping completely around the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area. It shares an expansive maritime beauty with Michigan’s M-22, which traces the Lower Peninsula along Lake Michigan, cutting through the towering coastal dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Water routes shape our understanding of regional ecosystems on every coast. Oregon’s Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (U.S. 101) delivers dramatic ocean vistas where massive sea stacks rise from the surf while the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway (NC 12) strings together a fragile ribbon of barrier islands and coastal sounds.

In Louisiana, the Bayou Teche National Scenic Byway winds along a historic, moss-draped waterway for 125 miles, showcasing Cajun culture and historic plantation towns. Out west, the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway slices through dramatic waterfall canyons, leading north to Washington’s Cascade Loop which carries travelers over high alpine passes straight down to the saltwater shores of Puget Sound.

Unique routes:

35. Great River Road: The massive multi-state Mississippi River artery.

36. Lake Superior Circle Tour: The rugged freshwater perimeter drive.

37. M-22 (Michigan): The scenic coastal dune and orchard bypass.

38. Oregon’s U.S. 101 (Pacific Coast Scenic Byway): The rugged sea stack highway.

39. Outer Banks National Scenic Byway (North Carolina): The barrier island maritime ribbon.

40. Bayou Teche National Scenic Byway (Louisiana): The historic, moss-draped Acadian waterway road.

41. Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway (Oregon): The dramatic waterfall canyon drive.

42. Cascade Loop (Washington): The mountain-to-Puget Sound transition drive.

Historic Route 66 *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The transcontinental lines

Following the grand overland corridors that shaped the nation

To finish a portrait of American movement, we must honor the massive, cross-country spines that first taught us how to dream in horizons. The granddaddy of them all is Route 66, a nearly 2,400-mile concrete ribbon stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica. As the Mother Road gears up for its centenary, it remains the ultimate symbol of geographic freedom, connecting neon motels, vintage diners, and resilient small towns.

Further north, The Loneliest Road in America (U.S. 50) cuts across the vast desert basins of Nevada, offering a deeply quiet, meditative contrast to the neon glow of Route 66. It represents the quiet side of transcontinental travel, much like The Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30), America’s very first coast-to-coast paved road which transformed driving from a muddy adventure into a national pastime.

Whether you trace the high-altitude timberlines of the Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212) in Montana, navigate the remote prairie spaces of the Border to Border Highway (U.S. 85) from Canada to Mexico, or track the remote wilderness of the Great Northern (U.S. 2), these corridors prove the country is still best understood from the ground up. This extends from the historic Dixie Highway down to the stunning mountain-and-fjord views of the Seward Highway in Alaska. When you string these legendary paths together, you realize the open road isn’t just a way to see America—it is America.

Unique routes:

43. Route 66: The legendary Mother Road of mid-century nostalgia.

44. The Loneliest Road in America (U.S. 50, Nevada): The great desert basin isolation drive.

45. The Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30): America’s original transcontinental artery.

46. Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212, Montana/Wyoming): The high-alpine plateau pass.

47. U.S. Route 85 (The Border-to-Border Highway): The north-south plains endurance run.

48. The Great Northern (U.S. 2): The ultimate northern-tier cross-country route.

49. The Dixie Highway: The historic auto-trail connecting the Midwest to the Deep South.

50. Seward Highway (Alaska): The breathtaking fjord and mountain coastal run.

The horizon ahead

Realizing that the journey was always the destination

The true measure of an American road trip cannot be found in a GPS calculation or an odometer log. In a land this vast, the open road is less about the space you conquer and more about the spaces you allow to change you. When you commit to a slower pace, fifty routes stop being a checklist of miles to survive and instead become a living mosaic of communities, flyways, and histories waiting to be uncovered.

As the country moves forward, the invitation of the two-lane blacktop remains unchanged. It is a quiet call to pull off the high-speed corridors, roll down the windows, and let the specific flavors and raw geography of the land dictate your days. In the end, the finest routes are the ones where you stop chasing the horizon and start living in it—proving that the greatest discovery on the road is the simple, unhurried act of the journey itself.

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Editor’s note

This article was originally published in July 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.

Time in Motion: RV Travel and the Beauty of Spring

Spring is the season of awakening—buds unfurl, wildflowers bloom, and the days stretch longer with light and possibility. For those traveling by RV, it’s a chance to move slowly, savor every mile, and experience the world in full bloom.

Spring feels like the world waking up again. After the muted tones and quiet stillness of winter, color returns almost overnight. Fresh greens push through the landscape, wildflowers begin to bloom, and the air carries the soft sounds of birds that seemed absent just weeks before.

The days stretch a little longer with each passing week, inviting you outside. A light breeze drifts through budding trees, the sun feels warmer on your face, and the air still holds that cool refreshing edge that makes everything feel new again. Spring has a way of reminding us how beautiful the simple return of life and color can be.

Yet as Philip Larkin reminds us in his poem The Trees, the turning of the seasons carries a quieter, bittersweet truth beneath its beauty:

The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said;
The recent buds relax and spread,
Their greenness is a kind of grief

What Larkin suggests is subtle but profound. The fresh green of spring is not only a sign of renewal; it is also a reminder of time passing. Each returning season marks another year gone by. The grief he speaks of is not dramatic or loud but something inherent in the cycle itself—the quiet awareness that life moves forward whether we notice it or not.

It is a truth written in the rings of a tree. Winter is finished, the buds open, and the world begins again. Yet with every spring that arrives, we too have moved a little further along the path of time.

The beauty of spring *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Choosing how we spend our time

Focus on what matters most

This notion serves as a gentle nudge reminding us of the preciousness of every moment. It urges us not merely to exist but to truly live, to seize each season and extract its full potential.

Even though we cannot control time or slow its steady passage and even though the world around us moves with forces and events far beyond our influence, one thing remains within our reach: ourselves.

We may not govern the clock but we can decide how we spend the hours it gives us. We choose what deserves our attention, what moments we linger in, and what we allow to pass by unnoticed. We choose what we focus on, and just as importantly, what we let go.

In the end, time itself is beyond our command but how we live within it, who we share it with, and what we make of each passing day is still ours to shape.

This notion serves as a gentle nudge reminding us of the preciousness of every moment. It urges us not merely to exist but to truly live—to notice the season we’re in and draw from it everything it has to offer.

Embracing the RV lifestyle

Home, wherever the road takes you

For many travelers, this awareness naturally leads outdoors. The camping lifestyle, life on the road in an RV, and the philosophy of slow travel all grow from the same simple impulse: to make better use of the time we are given. Instead of rushing from one destination to the next, the journey becomes an opportunity to linger, observe, and absorb the small details that often go unnoticed. It’s the same mindset behind journeys like Lingering Along Bayou Teche: A Slow-Travel RV Adventure where the experience comes not from distance covered but from time spent in one place.

Spring, especially, invites this kind of living. A campsite beneath budding trees, the early call of birds in the morning air, an evening walk as the last light fades—these are not grand events but they are the very moments that give travel its meaning. Slowing down allows us to experience the season more fully, turning ordinary days into something quietly memorable.

If spring reminds us that time moves forward whether we notice it or not, it also offers a quiet invitation—to step outside, to travel a little differently, and to experience the season as it unfolds. For RV travelers and campers, spring may be the most rewarding time of the year to answer that invitation. The days are long enough to linger, the weather mild enough to enjoy the outdoors, and the landscapes are in a state of constant renewal. Every stop becomes more than a destination—it’s a chance to watch the season awaken, to breathe in the fresh air, and to slow down enough to notice the small, fleeting moments that often pass unnoticed.

Planning a spring RV escape

Let nature guide your itinerary

Spring offers the perfect canvas for travelers willing to slow down and immerse themselves in the season. Across the country, destinations unfold differently—from desert blooms in the Southwest to Washington’s Skagit Valley where journeys such as Slow Travel Through Skagit Valley reveal the beauty of lingering among farms, fields, and spring color.

Instead of rushing from one park to the next, the world invites you to move at nature’s pace letting each stop reveal its own quiet wonders. Here’s how to plan a spring RV trip that blends thoughtful travel with the joy of discovery:

Follow the wildflowers: From sunbaked deserts to rolling valleys, wildflowers begin their delicate march northward. A flexible itinerary lets you chase these fleeting bursts of color—stopping along quiet byways where poppies, lupines, and bluebells paint the landscape. Imagine pulling the RV over to sip morning coffee while golden sunlight spills across a field of blooms, the air fragrant with new growth.
Seek water and greenery: Spring awakens rivers, lakes, and forested campgrounds in a way that feels alive. Birds flit from branch to branch, reflections shimmer on still water, and breezes carry the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves. Choosing campsites near these pockets of life creates a front-row seat to the small miracles of the season from frogs calling at dusk to herons gliding along the shore.
Stay longer than usual: The slow-travel mindset thrives in spring. Rather than packing up each morning, linger for several nights or longer at a single location. Morning walks become rituals, farmers’ markets transform into sensory adventures, and scenic drives feel like an unfolding story rather than a checklist. The extra time allows moments to unfold naturally—sunlight through the trees, clouds drifting over a meadow, the quiet satisfaction of a day well spent.
Leave room for serendipity: Spring weather is capricious—sunlight may be interrupted by sudden showers or gusty winds—but this unpredictability is part of the charm. Building flexibility into your itinerary allows you to follow instinct, linger when a spot feels magical, or change course when another adventure calls. Sometimes, the unplanned detours lead to the most memorable experiences.

The beauty of lingering: Slow travel in spring

Stay longer, see deeper

While these stops, blooms, and campgrounds help you plan a trip, the real beauty of spring RV travel lies in the moments between destinations. It’s in the slow mornings with coffee steaming in the air, the quiet trails lined with new leaves, and the sunsets that seem to stretch just a little longer. These are the experiences that remind us why we travel slowly: to let time unfold instead of racing past it.

Imagine parking your RV beside a quiet river as the sun rises. Mist curls off the water, birds call to one another from nearby trees, and the air smells of damp earth and fresh leaves. Moments like these are why travelers linger in places like San Antonio: Slow Travel Along a Timeless River where the rhythm of the city’s historic river invites reflection and slow exploration.

Yet spring offers more than just scenery or perfect weather. There’s a subtler gift that often goes unnoticed—something that turns ordinary travel into an experience that lingers long after the trip ends.

This spring, consider traveling not just from place to place but with the season itself. Follow the thaw, the bloom, or the migration of birds. Let the rhythm of nature dictate your journey rather than a rigid itinerary. In doing so, you align your travel with life’s natural cycles, making each day feel both intentional and alive.

Reflections on time and journey

Moments matter more than miles

Time moves forward whether we chase it or not but spring reminds us that the journey can be savored. By traveling slowly, lingering in quiet places, and following the natural rhythm of the season every mile becomes more than distance—it becomes a collection of moments fully lived. Morning walks, riverside reflections, and sunsets that linger a little longer are reminders that life is made up of small, treasured experiences.

The slow-travel mindset isn’t just about moving less—it’s about seeing more, noticing what often goes unseen and letting each moment sink in. As Andrew Zimmern advises, “Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.” Following this approach, spring and RV travel become more than a trip—they become a way to experience time itself fully.

Ultimately, traveling slowly teaches us that how we move through time is as important as where we go. By lingering in the season, choosing experiences over speed, and noticing the small miracles along the way, we turn ordinary journeys into moments that stay with us long after the road ends. Spring, with all its renewal and beauty, is the perfect teacher for this lesson.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

From Airports to Open Roads: The Rise of Road Trip Travel in 2025

The shift from air travel to road trips in 2025 is a defining trend driven by budget constraints, a desire for flexibility, and a craving for authentic, local experiences

Flying has long been synonymous with travel. The TSA lines, the baggage carousels, the little beep the scanner makes as you present your ticket and take that walk down the airbridge. It’s mundane, sometimes even stressful but air travel is a foundational part of many vacations. At least, it was.

Air travel has lost its appeal this summer—and not because Americans are staying home. Quite the opposite is happening. Vacation demand is up in 2025 but with rising costs, economic uncertainty, and a desire for flexibility more travelers are skipping the tarmac.

According to new consumer data, Americans are planning more trips than last year but they’re doing it differently. Shorter trips, scaled-down budgets, and fewer international destinations are gaining popularity. Flying once a non-negotiable part of summer vacations is now being reconsidered in favor of a more cost-conscious alternative—a road trip.

The shift isn’t surprising. In a time of economic pressure road tripping is practical, affordable, and even enjoyable for many. This article unpacks the motivations behind this growing trend and what it means for travel in 2025.

Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Travelers are ditching flying in 2025

Travelers are ditching flying for road trips

Although experts predicted a terrible summer for air travel, data from the 2025 Deloitte Summer Travel Survey revealed a clear pivot. Americans are still vacationing but they’re choosing to drive rather than fly. Despite an increase in overall travel intent, many travelers are pulling back on airfares opting instead for the comfort, flexibility, and relative affordability of road trips.

Though money is a major factor for many driving allows for unplanned scenic stops, pet-friendly plans, and the ability to avoid unpredictable flight delays and rising ticket prices.

Road trips offer cost savings, the ability to make unplanned stops, and avoidance of flight delays with 53 percent of Americans planning to travel in 2025 but with a 13 percent growth in travel budgets compared to 21 percent initially planned. National parks like Yellowstone and Zion are seeing increased visitation (up 6-8 percent from May 2024 to May 2025) as they’re car-accessible and align with the trend toward domestic, budget-conscious travel.

Additionally, a RoadRunner Auto Transport survey of 1,000 U.S. travelers highlights that 45 percent are avoiding flights due to recent airline crashes and malfunctions with 39 percent citing road trips as a way to combat stress and burnout. Gen Z and Millennials are particularly flight-averse with 80 percent and 60 percent respectively opting for road travel. Travelers are also focusing on shorter routes (within 500 miles) and cost-saving measures like packing meals or splitting costs.

In 2025, RVs are a significant part of the shift away from air travel aligning with the broader trend of travelers opting for road trips due to cost, flexibility, and safety concerns. According to industry data, RV travel has surged as travelers seek affordable, self-contained, and customizable vacations.

RVs allow travelers to avoid crowded airports, flight delays (up 15 percent in 2024) and safety concerns tied to recent airline incidents (e.g., 45 percent of travelers citing crashes as a reason to avoid flying, per RoadRunner’s 2025 survey). RVs enable spontaneous itinerary changes appealing to 60 percent of Millennials who prioritize flexibility.

Especially after early April’s economic news dampened some travelers’ optimism. Many have chosen to rework their plans rather than cancel them with driving being the go-to solution.

What makes road trips especially appealing in 2025 is that they offer more control at a time when travelers are seeking stability. Unlike air travel which can involve long lines, changing schedules, and added costs road trips allow vacationers to stay in control of their time and spending.

RVing travel at Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Budgets are shrinking but travel plans aren’t

But the itch to hit the road doesn’t quit

While travelers seem more eager to pack their bags this summer, they’re doing it with smaller wallets. The same Deloitte data shows a dip in Americans’ perceived financial well-being which influenced a notable rollback in planned travel spending between late March and early April. In that short time span intended travel budget growth fell from 21 percent to just 13 percent.

Interestingly though, data showed that more Americans still plan to travel. But instead of canceling trips altogether they’re making strategic adjustments by staying closer to home, driving instead of flying, and trimming expenses like luxury accommodations or pricey activities. It’s a shift from lavish vacations to more mindful, cost-efficient escapes.

Camping at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Shifting travel behavior data trends

Data shows clear shifts in behavior

Average travel spend growth

2024: 21 percent planned
2025: 13 percent revised

Percent of Americans planning travel

2024: 48 percent
2025: 53 percent

Primary mode shift

2024: Flying
2025: Driving/road trips

Travelers are also leaning into the idea of “more trips, less spend.” Think multiple weekend getaways rather than one long, expensive international trip. This travel pattern not only fits tighter budgets but also suits the growing preference for flexibility and spontaneity.

Travelers are taking more frequent, shorter trips—most plan at least two leisure trips in 2025 with 12 per cent eyeing five or more. Domestic travel dominates with 90 percent of U.S. adults planning trips often road trips or “microcations.”

Driving in Holmes County, Ohio *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Experiences over destinations

Select destinations based on specific experiences they want to have

One of the most telling shifts in 2025 is how people are thinking about travel. Instead of splurging on exotic locations travelers are choosing meaningful experiences over flashy destinations. This shift is reflected in how people are spending less on high-cost activities while still prioritizing memorable getaways. This mindset can shape bucket lists by focusing less on famous locations and more on the stories, emotions, and learning that travel enables.

When planning travel consider asking: “What do I want to experience?” rather than “Where do I want to go?” You might discover that the most memorable journeys are not just about the places but about the transformative moments that happen there.

Think camping in scenic parks instead of high-end dining or state park cabins instead of luxury resorts. The desire to go somewhere is still strong but the criteria for where to go and how to get there have changed. This trend reflects a deeper post-pandemic mindset that travel is still important but it doesn’t have to be extravagant to be worth it.

Experience a historic reenactment at Saratoga National Historic Park, New York *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Travelers’ priorities in 2025

Shaped by personal well-being, meaningful experiences, and budget considerations

Simpler, flexible itineraries
Less focus on far-off destinations
Off-the-beaten-path and lesser-known destinations
More emphasis on unique, low-cost experiences
Relaxation and nature connection

Travel that supports mental wellness and time with loved ones

What travelers value most now is ease and enjoyment not necessarily prestige or distance. That means simpler itineraries, fewer complications, and experiences that allow for rest, connection, and discovery.

This trend is particularly noticeable among America’s national parks. While staffing may be down visitation statistics are up. Yellowstone, for example, saw a 6 percent increase in visitation between May 2024 and May 2025 (from 719,127 to 762,672). Similar trends have been seen across other famous national parks including Glacier National Park, Zion National Park, and Yosemite National Park all of which saw as much as an 8 percent increase in visitation this year.

This trend among national parks further emphasizes the shift in travel across the U.S. Destinations like national parks that are car-friendly are leading the charge in 2025 as travelers ditch flying in favor of road trips.

Hiking in Badlands National Park, South Dakota *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Fewer passports, more staycations

This trend is reshaping travel especially for RV enthusiasts

International travel is taking a backseat this summer and the reasons are unsurprising. Due to higher costs, global uncertainty, and a growing appreciation for domestic destinations more Americans are opting for regional escapes and road-accessible getaways instead of renewing passports or booking international flights.

The decline in international travel also aligns with weaker inbound numbers. There has been a visible trend in declining international arrivals to the U.S. beginning earlier this year. With fewer travelers crossing borders, it’s clear that the focus for 2025 is on exploring places close to home.

Explore state tourism sites or apps to find off-the-beaten-path attractions just hours from home. These destinations are often cheaper and less crowded than more popular spots.

Staycations and nearby adventures offer affordability and reduced stress. They also give travelers the chance to support local economies. This is a win-win as communities look to bounce back from uneven tourism recoveries in recent years.

Americans aren’t giving up summer vacations they’re just changing how they travel. Lavish tours and international flights are being swapped for road trips, shorter getaways, and more intentional experiences. The shift from flying to driving reflects a growing desire for control, affordability, and simplicity.

With tighter budgets and ongoing economic uncertainty, travelers are choosing comfort and flexibility over extravagance. The result? A summer that may be less flashy but more accessible and just as fulfilling! In 2025, the journey still matters; it just doesn’t require a boarding pass.

Worth Pondering…

The journey not the arrival matters.

—T. S. Eliot