Route 66 or the fall foliage trail are popular, but the U.S. highway network rewards travelers who just hit the road in search of the American driving dream. Especially if it's one of those slightly weird dreams.
It's a wide open road —
Route 66 or the fall foliage trail are popular, but the U.S. highway network rewards travelers who just hit the road in search of the American driving dream. Especially if it's one of those slightly weird dreams.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Some road trips go straight for the classics like Mount Rushmore. That's fine, if giant presidents' heads are your thing.
Carved in stone —
Some road trips go straight for the classics like Mount Rushmore. That's fine, if giant presidents' heads are your thing.
Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images
But who could resist the majesty of the world's largest bottle of ketchup. Or Catsup, as it's known in Collinsville, Illinois. Roadside proof that, where it counts, America is still number one.
Giant ketchup bottle —
But who could resist the majesty of the world's largest bottle of ketchup. Or Catsup, as it's known in Collinsville, Illinois. Roadside proof that, where it counts, America is still number one.
Robyn BECK/AFP/Getty Images
You've got to stretch your legs at some point. Why not do it in the shadow of a gigantic dinosaur in Cabazon, California?
Dinosaurs! —
You've got to stretch your legs at some point. Why not do it in the shadow of a gigantic dinosaur in Cabazon, California?
David McNew/Getty Images
So hot right now. The "World's Tallest Thermometer" was built near Death Valley in 1991 by local businessman Willis Herron and restored to its former glory by his wife in 2014. Its height, 134 meters, represents the highest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley -- 134 Fahrenheit.
World's Tallest Thermometer —
So hot right now. The "World's Tallest Thermometer" was built near Death Valley in 1991 by local businessman Willis Herron and restored to its former glory by his wife in 2014. Its height, 134 meters, represents the highest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley -- 134 Fahrenheit.
Courtesy World's Tallest Thermometer
Cars in the shape of Stonehenge = Carhenge. Alliance, Nebraska's motor monoliths are arguably more impressive than the real Stonehenge, although they may get fewer miles to the gallon.
Carhenge —
Cars in the shape of Stonehenge = Carhenge. Alliance, Nebraska's motor monoliths are arguably more impressive than the real Stonehenge, although they may get fewer miles to the gallon.
Courtesy Friends of Carhenge
Some sights of roadside America defy classification, the handiwork of eccentrics with a singular vision, land to spare and a knack for self-promotion.
Roadside T-Rex —
Some sights of roadside America defy classification, the handiwork of eccentrics with a singular vision, land to spare and a knack for self-promotion.
David McNew/Newsmakers/Getty Images
You're going to need sustenance, so plan carefully. There are actually stretches of highway in the U.S. without a drive-thru fast food outlet every 100 meters
Fuel up —
You're going to need sustenance, so plan carefully. There are actually stretches of highway in the U.S. without a drive-thru fast food outlet every 100 meters
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Sadly, Hertz and other rental outfits have stopped offering phonographs as standard across the range. These days you can listen to killer tunes via a connection to your smartphone and mediocre tunes via satellite radio. Or, better still, abandon yourself to the mercies of local radio stations.
Stay tuned —
Sadly, Hertz and other rental outfits have stopped offering phonographs as standard across the range. These days you can listen to killer tunes via a connection to your smartphone and mediocre tunes via satellite radio. Or, better still, abandon yourself to the mercies of local radio stations.
Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images
Your home from home. Certain branches of the Wal-Mart superstore permit RVs and other vehicles to make overnight stops in their parking lots.
Where to stay —
Your home from home. Certain branches of the Wal-Mart superstore permit RVs and other vehicles to make overnight stops in their parking lots.
Getty Images
Truck stops are even more amenable to overnight sleeping, with the added benefit of showers, hot food for sale, and the soothing lullaby of rumbling road freight.
Truck stops —
Truck stops are even more amenable to overnight sleeping, with the added benefit of showers, hot food for sale, and the soothing lullaby of rumbling road freight.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images