How Driving Defines Us: The Future of American Road Trips
Photo Credit: Road trips are statistically on the rise in the United States, and they reflect much of the state of contemporary America. Outdoorsy.com
Skift Take
Road trips in the United States are statistically on the rise due to both economic and cultural factors. These vacations have incredible potential to reflect what's simmering beneath the surface of contemporary America.
The American road trip is about to change dramatically, at least for some people. Electric vehicles have already altered a few basic elements and autonomous cars could eventually make the experience unrecognizable. And yet regular old gas-fueled road trips are surging in popularity right now, for both economic and cultural reasons.
Over the last century, commercial aviation in the U.S. has gone from the so-called golden age, which was only golden for some, to a declining first class and a basic economy cattle car. The experience of train travel has similarly degraded, without the benefit of democratized prices.
But the affordable driving experience is on the rise, helped by new technologies and services. The last decade brought Waze, Spotify, Foursquare, and trip-booking sites like Roadtrippers, just acquired in February by TH2, a joint venture with two of the world’s largest RV companies.
As Americans look ahead to another summer season of getaways, a subset of the tourism
