10 of the best road-trip novels
What's better than hitting the open road and going wherever the wind takes you? Well, not that much actually. But what's the second best thing? Living a road-trip vicariously through reading. Whether you're looking for some inspiration for your next journey, you’re currently on the road, or you’re just looking to get whisked away by a book, these novels are sure to deliver!
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10. On the Road, by Jack Kerouac
Okay, let's get the most obvious one out of the way. On the Road more or less invented (or at least reimagined) the notion of “the great American road trip.” This novel, based on true events, reads like jazz and gives an earnest look at the beat generation of the fifties.
9. The Wangs Vs. The World, by Jade Chang
Published in 2016, Jade Chang's debut novel follows a Chinese-immigrant family as they take a road trip across America. Recently ruined by the financial crisis, the Wangs find new meaning on the road in relation to the country they live in and the bonds they have as a family.
8. The Red Car, by Marcy Dermansky
When Leah's mentor passes away and leaves Leah her prized red sports car in her will, our main character is forced to go across the country to claim it. As she navigates this journey, she winds up questioning her life and coming to some important realizations thanks to the open road.
7. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
Not every road trip is about adventure for adventure's sake. In John Steinbeck's literary masterpiece, readers follow an Oklahoma family as they try to find work during the Great Depression. This heart-rending story takes an intimate look at one of the most difficult periods in the US, and the need for humans to go out and search for new hope.
6. Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden
This beautifully illustrated graphic novel follows two women on the run as they journey through West Texas with their mysterious cat. The dialogue is incredibly relatable, and the connection that the two form throughout the road trip is inspiring.
5. Lake Success, by Gary Shteyngart
The hilariously narcissistic character in Gary Shteyngart's Lake Success will keep you on the edge of your seat. When the main character, Barry, an extremely wealthy hedge-fund manager, faces turmoil in his family and his career, he decides to hop on the Greyhound in search of a new life.
4. Reservation Blues, by Sherman Alexie
This magical realist novel all starts when delta blues legend Robert Johnson appears on the reservation of Spokane Native American Thomas Builds and gives him an enchanted guitar. After receiving the gift, Thomas forms a band and embarks on a magical tour throughout the country.
3. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
This one might go down as the bleakest, most depressing road trip in the history of literature. Cormac McCarthy's The Road follows a father and son as they try to survive in post-apocalypse USA. All they have is each other and the road they follow in hope that it leads to a new beginning. No matter how difficult your road trip is, this one has you beat!
2. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson
There are few writers as unique as Hunter S. Thompson. Blurring the lines between fiction and reality in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson takes readers down the rabbit hole of a drug-addled road trip into the depths of Vegas. You don't have to be into illicit substances to enjoy this prose, and remember: Don't be like Hunter! Drive sober!
1. The Odyssey, Homer
Okay, so there technically are no paved roads or cars in The Odyssey, but the spirit of road tripping emanates from every page of this story as Odysseus travels the globe in search of adventure. If only he were alive today… he’d definitely be a van-lifer.