The prospect of a road trip spent driving across America is something that, for many, is an experience confined to the realms of fictional Hollywood blockbusters. The image immediately conjures up clichéd images of the ‘American Dream’, open-top convertibles, aviator shades and long, straight highways.
Moreover, the dominance of automobiles as the primary mode of transport in the USA accounts for a wide variety of cultural nuances associated with the image of a ‘road trip’. Whether it is an experimental, psychedelic adventure Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas style, or simply a return journey to Vegas for the stag weekend of a lifetime, like in The Hangover, the possibilities are endless.
For Europeans over the age of 21 who have obtained the right to rent an automobile on American soil, however, the concept of a road trip as the most economical way to soak up everything that the sprawling American landscape has to offer represents an extremely viable option.
Will Self cites the importance of psychogeography, explaining the notion that, to really soak up every aspect of a physical environment, it is imperative to walk the distance that one is willing to travel. Quite naturally, this is more applicable to certain parts of London, where it is realistically feasible to complete a journey on foot; however, when driving from east to west coast, driving is without a doubt the next best thing.
Whichever route one chooses to take when embarking on a road trip across America, the possibilities of sights to see, things to do and landmarks to observe are limitless. Cram in some shopping on New York’s 5th Avenue; take a drive around the beautiful countryside of New England; catch a Celtics game in Boston; or even take some English courses in Chicago – why not? Hit the west coast and get some cocktails in on Venice Beach, perhaps even followed by a trip to Hollywood to see what the celebrities are up to.
The façade of the ‘American Dream’ is therefore something that everyone should be sceptical of. However, across a landmass spanning over 2,000 miles from east to west and providing a home to more than 300 million people throughout mountain ranges, deserts, grassland and sprawling cityscapes, the USA really does have something to offer for everyone.
With so much to see and do at an extremely economically viable price, a road trip across America could be the experience of a lifetime.
