Road trips have long been a beloved American pastime, offering the perfect blend of adventure, freedom, and nostalgia. However, there’s something special about the road trips of the 1900s, before GPS, smartphones, and interstates dominated the scene. These early journeys were more about the thrill of the open road, quirky roadside attractions, and the simplicity of travel. The only entertainment you had was the people with you and whatever book you had at the time. In this collection of photos, we take a step back in time to revisit the golden age of road trips, when the journey was just as important as the destination. So buckle up as we hit the road and explore the moments that made travel in the 1900s truly special.
1. Road-tripping in the ’30s looked different.
Oregon or bust is how half of Nevada was originally populated. People would just settle down wherever they broke down.
2. The days before fast food.
Roadside picnics were the highlight of Early road trips.
3. Road Tripping in the early 1970s.
The guys have longer hair than the women.
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4. This meal looks better than any fast food option.
There’s nothing like warm milk and a box of crackers.
5. I hope those boxes are strapped tight to the roof.
Rumor has it they lost some of their stuff on this trip.
6. Cross-country road trips meant something else in 1920.
Chances are, if you made it across the country, you weren’t making it back in these cars.
7. Station wagon road trip, 1960.
Seat belts were optional.
8. A break in the trip to take a swim.
These women are on a cross-country road trip in 1950.
9. Family road trip to Mexico, 1970s.
That’s a lot of mouths to feed on the road.
10. An ’80s road trip to the continental divide.
Remember when tourists used to care about things like this?
11. The group on the left has had enough.
Start the trip with smiles and end it by throwing punches at your sibling.
12. Renting a Winnebago, 1979.
This family is on a trip to see a baseball game.
13. A road trip on a motorcycle sounds miserable.
These young boys went from Oklahoma to New York City on a bike.
14. Breakfast on the road in the early ’50s.
I wonder what he’s cooking up.
15. You have to take a break every few hours of driving.
Otherwise, you’ll end up in a fight or a divorce.
16. Do people take photos at state signs anymore?
I feel like this trend has lost popularity and is a thing of the past.
17. Is it still considered a road trip if you ride a horse?
This woman traveled over 500 miles on horseback.
18. In the ’80s, kids didn’t sit in car seats.
This kid was in the cover bed, playing with Hot Wheels for the whole ride.
19. Family road trip, 1980s.
Check out that old-school video camera that the guy on the left has.
20. Road trip to Pennsylvania.
Here, you can see entertainment before phones, a magazine, and a radio.
