How to Travel Across the United States on $50 a Day
On Jack’s Road: Kerouac and the American Road Trip
The Ultimate Guide to Packing Light On the Road
ROAM The American Road Trip Issue
The Road Trip Issue Spring is truly the best time to take a
road trip in the United States. The northern states are finally getting out
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from under snow and the southern states are still having pleasant temperatures. This is the best time to take a vacation on the road! It is time to pack your car/ camper/rv or whatever vehicle with the essentials and head out on a road trip across the United States (or as far as you want to).
We will walk you through all the
steps you will need to take in order to pack, spend as little as possible, and fully experience your road trip. Whether you’re planning a full U.S. road trip or a trip across state, we have your back — and your wallet. Happy travels,
ROAM
Pre - Flight
03 Letter from the Editor The editors thoughts on our winter issue;
Snow and Ski Vacations
04 Letters to the Editor Letters from our readers on our Winter issue 06 Review 5 Travel Items That Actually Save You Money
En Route
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How to Travel Across the United States on $50 a Day Nomatic Matt reveals how to road trip on a budget On Jack’s Road: Kerouac and the American Road Trip - Interview with Brendan Leonard Take a deeper look at why we dream to take a road
trip through America with Brendan Leonard and
his take on Jack Kerouac
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The Ultimate Guide to Packing Light on The Road The essential tips to know from an expert traveler
and road tripper on how to pack light
SPRING 2017 ISSUE 10
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The Return Trip
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5 Ways to Get Cheap Gas on a Road Trip
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The items we find are often forgotten, but important
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Our final thoughts on road trips
Last Minute Items
Gas is often the biggest expense on a road trip, so
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here are our five tips for how to save at the pumps
How to Eat Well While Traveling Our suggestions on how to save on food while
en route
Your New Driving Play-list The best tunes for the road
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Pricey Highways to Avoid
We’ll tell you which highways and bridges have
the most tolls and how to avoid them
Final Thoughts
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SPRING 2017 ISSUE 10
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Letter From The Editor
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As Spring slowly warms up New England my desire to travel
starts to come out of it’s winter hibernation. Don’t get me wrong, I love winter and snow, but sometimes the cold can keep me inside more than I’d like it to. Hopefully our last issue, Winter issue 09: Snow and Ski Vacations, inspired you all to go explore a snowy mountain or warm ski lodge on a budget. I know I got to spend my own ski weekend this winter using some of the tips on how to make a day of skiing not cost a fortune. Thanks to the website Liftopia I was able to find cheaper tickets and still get the full skiing experience.
I was really glad to hear all the positive feedback we got on
the Winter Issue. It’s great to hear about your successful travel stories and exciting mountain trips. We at roam love to hear that our magazine is making a difference for our readers. We truly believe in the things we write about and we’re glad to hear that you all do to. Thank you all for the lovely com-
Heidi Scammon
ments and we hope that you will enjoy the content to come. I
Editor
hope that you are all ready to take a road trip this coming Spring.
Heidi Scammon, our editor here at roam, is from Dover, New Hampshire.
She currently resides in the city of Boston, Massachusetts and shares our passion for travel. Her latest trip was to London, England and is planning
Now that it is finally Spring, I look out at the clear Boston
roads and think about getting out of the city myself. Sometimes
a road trip for this coming Summer. As one of roams founders, she strong-
there's nothing like a good trip full of driving to do a lot of good
ly endorses traveling on a budget and as much as you can.
thinking and relaxing. I know I always enjoy driving with some good friends, great music, and my sense of adventure. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have enjoyed putting it together for you.
Contributors
Happy travels always,
Jen Avery Blogger and Traveler Jen and her husband Ted travel the world as thrifty as possible and have a blog.
“Nomadic” Matt Writer Matt travels all over the United States as cheaply as possible and blogs about it.
Kevin at The Clymb Travel Website The group over at the Clymb are travel enthusiasts that love to write and talk about their own and others travels.
ROAM Heidi Scammon Editor in Chief
Jillian Pacheco Senior Designer
Matt Avery Writer
Holly Scammon Editorial Assistant
Tracy Turner Junior Designer
Robert Scammon PR Department
Dexter Morgan Editorial Contributor
Grace Potter Intern
Fred Ginger Production
Ian Bailey Creative Director
Alexa Cushing Photographer
Brady Styles Marketing
Philip Larson Art Director
Michael Restivo Writer
Place Media Inc. Distribution
Contact Info: 355 Washington Ave. Seattle, WA, 98101 P.O. Box 5522 (206) 566 8291 roam magazine is published quarterly distributed at locations throughout the United States. roam is printed on recycled paper.
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Letters to The Editor
Dear roam, This winter, my family and I took a great trip to the mountains for a weekend of skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. My mom was trying to plan this trip for a while on her own and kept running into the same expensive prices. So we had been putting off taking a trip like this because it was just adding up to be way too much money. I was really inspired after reading your article on how to book a ski lodge on the cheaper side. So I told my mom about all the really great tips I had read in this past issue and we paid about half as much as we expected for this trip and we still had a great time! I was wondering if you guys would consider doing an issue around the National Parks at some point? My family’s been really wanting to take a trip to the National Parks but we haven’t quite known how without spending a lot of money on lodging. Even help with how to camp in a National Park would be very helpful. Is Camping cheaper than the hotels and other types of lodging? Just any insight on a trip like that would be really great. Thanks for your help!
Debra Turner Colorado Hi roam, I always enjoy reading your magazines as a fellow travel enthusiast. This last magazine was a particularly good read for me because I live near some really great mountains and always try to go skiing for as little money as possible. I thought I was a pro at purchasing cheap ski tickets but there where some things that I hadn’t tried before that really helped me this past season. My buddy and I usually ski for a day because that’s all we can really afford. However this past season we skied for a whole weekend no problem, we just had to switch up the ways we purchased the tickets, where we stayed, and what we ate. I knew that ski lodges have high prices on food but I didn’t realized just how much I have spent Photograph by Theo on food there in the past. I also nevCarson on his ski trip to the er rent skis so I knew I was saving Yosemite Valley in California a bunch by doing that but I didn’t this past Winter 2016.
SPRING 2017 ISSUE 10
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think about where else I could really be saving. So the last issue really opened my eyes a bit. I always learn so much from your content. So thank you for those helpful articles and I’m very excited for your Spring issue! Also I’ve sent over some of my gopro images that I took this past winter of my buddy and me skiing the slopes in Northern California. Thought you may want to use them since you always have such nice photography in your magazine!
Theo Carson California Hey roam, Some really great articles in your Winter issue, they ended up being so helpful this winter. I used to ski a lot more when I was younger but it’s just been too expensive for me to go so I had sort of given up snowboarding. I felt really inspired by all your tips for saving money on a ski trip so I decided to finally try again! It was great, really reasonable prices when I used the websites you recommended. I even found really great rental prices! I forgot how much I love snowboarding. I even stayed at the mountain for a night and didn’t feel like I was breaking the bank. You guys are just so great at figuring out how to travel, explore, and have fun for cheap!
Holly Beth New Hampshire Dear roam, Probably my favorite issue so far! Your Winter issue combined my two favorite things: skiing and travel. The advise was all super helpful this past season, I really think I saved a ton at the slopes. My friends and I were able to find a pretty inexpensive lodge to stay at for a weekend too. Also I really enjoyed all the photography in your last issue. I try to take a lot of skiing photos with my gopro, so I got a lot of good inspiration. So thanks for all your great content!
Rhea Thompson Maine Dear roam, I’ve been at College this past winter so I’ve been trying to save money everywhere, and this includes traveling. My sisters and I always go on a couple trips to the mountains to snow-
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Additional photograph by Theo Carson in Yosemite Valley, CA. Winter 2016.
board in the Winter near our lake house. This mountain in particular, Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire, tends to be expensive but I was able to use a lot of the tips I read about in this issue. My sisters were even able to get on board with these saving tips. So I felt like I still had money to do other things this Winter too.
Lily Scammon New Hampshire Hi roam, This last issue on winter ski and snowboard trips was one of my favorite issues thus far. I don’t snowboard a lot but my boyfriend does. So I was able to surprise him for his birthday with a snowboarding weekend in the mountains in California. I took some advise from one of your earliest issues about how I could book cheaper plane tickets, and I was able to find really cheap airfare. I used the website to buy discounted lift tickets like you advised which was really a life saver. I knew I wanted to give him a big surprise for his birthday, I’m just glad I could do it without overspending. But it was a really great trip, we both really enjoyed it and in the end, I especially enjoyed having a little extra money in my pocket. So that was the first part of why this was my favorite issue. The second reason why I loved this issue was because of the article that talked about all the different activities someone could do while staying at a mountain resort. I really had no idea about a lot of the fun things mountain resorts have to offer, I only thought there was skiing, snowboarding, and just hanging out around a fire at the lodge. But after reading this article and learning about snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing, I decided that my boyfriend and I should try one of these activities while on the trip! So we both decided that snowmobiling would be really exciting and since we’d never done it before we looked up lessons and found some for not too bad of a price since I read your article. That ended up being a blast and now we have a new favorite winter activity! So thank you so much for the Winter 2017 issue, it was truly a great read.
Shelby Kennedy Washington
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| Review
Jen Avery’s road trip photography Photo: Caleb & Ariana Babcock
5 Travel Items That Actually Save You Money
The Platypus water bottle is perfect for traveling. It’s collapsible and easy to pack and use! Photo: Goat Mountain
Review by Jen Avery
Travel stores are basically a candy shop for wanderlusters.
(and reduce waste). We’ve been using the Platypus soft bottles
And no matter how cynical you may be towards all the too-
almost daily for the last year and a half — a worthy upgrade
clever travel gear before you, you’re likely to leave lusting over
from the cheap Dollar store ones that cracked and leaked.
an item or two (for me it’s always those hang-and-sleep ham-
mocks — could I really travel around in one of those?).
flat when empty. It also has a loop so it can be attached with a
clip onto a bag. The only downsides are that it’s tricky to clean
With the oodles of epic travel gear out there, the question
What’s awesome about the Platypus is that it folds completely
always lurks: which items are worth the purchase? Better yet,
(we swish with hot soapy water & rinse), and the tiny cap which
which gear will actually save you money while out on the road?
is easy to lose when it pops off.
Lucky (or not so) for us, we’ve got to be ultra selective about
what goes into both mine and Ted’s 28 - l iter bags. Whatever
bottle — simply fill with hot water, screw tightly, and wrap in
makes the cut either has to be functional or
Pro tip: You can re-purpose this into a portable hot water
a towel!
cut costs — or ideally, both. We’ve bought, used, tossed, and kept various gear in our years of
2. Portable Coffee/Tea Filter
travel. Here’s 5 must-pack items that we can
Costs saved: $1 - $ 4 USD per coffee (varies by region)
vouch for to travel cheaper on your next trip!
Purchase price: ~$15 USD Where to buy: Amazon, REI (U.S.), travel and outdoor stores
1. Reusable Water Bottle
If you love a good cup of java or tea every day, then you’ve
Costs saved: $1 - $3 USD per bottle (varies
identified a regular budget bleeder. We picked up this portable
by region)
MSR MugMate filter nearly two years ago now, and it paid
Purchase price: $8 - $12 USD (assorted
itself off after just a few brews. It has also eliminated instant
sizes & styles)
coffee from our life.
Where to buy: Amazon, REI (US)
Depending where you’re traveling, a reusable wa-
water, stir, and steep. Leave for 2-3 minutes (or longer for
ter bottle will pay itself off after just a few bottles
stronger taste), remove the filter & enjoy. The lid sits on top
To use, simply scoop in coffee grinds or tea leaves, add hot
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while brewing, then doubles as a coaster for the filter after you remove it.
Pro tip: only use coarse grinds as the mesh does allow some
fine particles at the bottom. The coffee is somewhat comparable to a French-press style which may be bolder if you’re used to drip coffee. 3. Compact Mug or Thermos Costs saved: $1 - $ 4 USD per coffee (varies by region) and even more on meals (see below) Purchase price: $5+ USD, varies by brand and type Where to buy: Mug — Amazon, travel/outdoor stores, Thermos — Amazon, travel/outdoor stores, department stores
A reusable mug or Thermos pacifies the urge for (pricey!) onthe-go hot drinks, and can multi-function as a food container as well. Beyond hot drinks, one can also store oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, soups, noodles, chilli can in a mug or thermos. This saves especially on breakfast when hotels skimp out on providing cups or bowls.
Pro tip: If traveling with 2+ people, aim for stackable mugs
to save on space. For travel mugs, get one that’s sturdy and leakproof (this one doesn’t leak even if upside down) and will keep food and drink hot or cold for several hours. 4. Collapsible Tupperware Costs saved: Upwards of $3USD per meal or snack Purchase price: $16+ USD (depends on brand) Where to buy: Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, travel
go items like salads, yogurts, and pastas if we have zero food on
and outdoor stores
hand. Compared to dining out at a fast-food chain, this is always
Tupperware is awesome. Collapsible tupperware is even
cheaper and healthier.
better. It makes packing meals and snacks a no-brainer,
with hardly any compromise on space.
portable cutlery, it can also help you create a habit of bringing
food with you more often. I can’t emphasize enough how
Pro tip: No need to buy overpriced individually wrapped
Jen Avery’s husband rifling through their trunk for a snack. Photo: Chris Brinlee Jr.
Now, if you’re mindful of the presence (and purpose!) of
snacks when you can pack your own instead. Grab a large bag
much this can save, even on a short trip!
or box of nuts, popcorn, pretzels, crackers, DIY trail mix, etc.
and throw into a container on the go.
ultimate minimalist cutlery that’s great for simple meals.
We’ve used the “Light My Fire” Spork for years now, the
For those preferring something bigger, a complete cutlery set 5. Reusable cutlery set or spork
is ideal, especially if you want to eat with more than one
Costs saved: Upwards of $5+ per meal (varies by region
utensil at a time.
and meal type)
Purchase price: ~$4 - $ 8 USD, varies by brand
every time; what things do you
Where to buy: Spork — Amazon, REI (U.S.), travel/outdoor
bring along to save some cash
stores, Cutlery set — Amazon, travel/outdoor stores
when you travel? Share a thrifty
Having cutlery on hand is a sneaky way to save. On road trips,
thought on my blog at http://
this means we can stroll into grocery stores and buy grab-and-
thrifty-nomads.com! T
These five things save me THRIFTYNOMADS.COM Check out Jen Avery and her husband Ted’s blog about cheap traveling. Follow their travels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
How to Travel Across the U.S. on Fifty Dollars a Day By Nomatic Matt The great American road trip is a rite of passage in the States. We Americans
have a unique fascination with the open road. It’s built into our cultural dna. In Jazz Age America, the car was a symbol of freedom — a chance to escape your small town and the watchful eyes of parents. As the highway system was developed in the 1950s, a wave of kids set out on the road to explore the country, giving new life to America’s car and road trip culture. Today, many still dream of getting in a car and driving into wide open spaces for months on end.
And I got to do just that — for four and a half months and 13,000 miles, I
traveled to all corners of this country.
In diversity and scale, the United States is magnificent. But this isn’t a
post about fawning over the U.S. (this article is). This article is about how you can travel around the U.S. on a budget because, as it turns out, this country is incredibly easy to travel on the cheap.
In this article, I’ll explain how much I spent and show you how you can
save money on your trip.
After 116 days traveling around the United States, I spent $6,262.67, or
$53.98 per day. While that is slightly higher than $50 a day, there were many parts of my budget I splurged on (see analysis next page) which skewed the number up. I think you could visit the country even cheaper if you don’t have my addiction to Starbucks or Sushi.
A couple of things that hurt my budget. My Starbucks addiction was
unnecessary and added to my costs. Moreover, as a lover of sushi, trying various restaurants throughout my road trip drastically raised my food costs. Sushi, after all, is not cheap. In general, I ate as if I wasn’t on a budget and rarely cooked.
This is why my food expenses were so high relative to everything else.
I would have definitely gone below $50 if I bothered to cook more often.
But, while I splurged in some places, three other things really helped me to keep expenses down: First, gas prices were low, averaging around $2.35 a gallon over the duration of my trip (Update 2016: They are even lower
Matt drove the entire United States on his road trip. Photo: Holly Beth
now!). Second, once you leave the big cities, prices for everything drop by nearly half.
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How to Travel Across the US on $50 a day
hird, I Couchsurfed and used
ing host. This saved my butt in big cities around the country. I
hotel points often to keep
was glad I had accrued so many hotel points before my trip.
accommodation costs down.
Be aware that most hotels in big cities charge parking fees if you
Overall, while I could have
have a car, and adjust your budget accordingly. (To learn how
done better, I didn’t do too bad
to get lots of how to get lots of hotel points, read this post.)
and am happy with how much
I spent. So as you can see, it
hostels in the United States, and most of them are overpriced.
doesn’t need to be expensive
A dorm room typically costs around $30 a night, which means
You may want to try staying in a Hostel. There aren’t many
to travel around the United States but how do you keep
you can obtain a similar private room on Airbnb at the same
those costs down? What are the tips and tricks?
price. If you are traveling with others, it’s often more economical to get a budget hotel than a bunch of dorm beds. However,
Here is how the numbers from my U.S. road trip break down:
How to Save Money on Your Trip
if you are traveling solo and want to meet others, the social
There are numerous ways to travel around the US on a budget.
benefits may outweigh the lack of value. There were just
Whether you want to do it cheaper than I did or splurge a bit
some times I didn’t want to be alone — I wanted to be around
more, there are always ways to cut your expenses and focus your
other travelers. Some hostels I loved: Sweat Peass (Asheville,
spending on what matters most to you. Here’s how to cut your
NC), South Beach Hostel(Miami), India House (New Orleans),
costs without cutting into your experiences!
Jazz Hostels (NYC), International House (San Diego), and
Accommodations
The Green Tortoise (San Francisco and Seattle). Camping is always an inexpensive option. Around all the
This will be your biggest fixed cost, and lowering it will do the
national parks are inexpensive campsites, so if you have a
most to lower your overall expenses. Luckily, you have plenty
camper or gear, my recommendation is to camp when visiting
Accommodations
of options:
the parks. Campsites are between $10-30 per night. Addit-
$1,036.36
ionally, you can find a TON of RV parks and campgrounds
Food
with locals. Using this website or similar ones is the best way to
around the national country via the company KOA for $20–
$3,258.23
lower accommodation costs, as you can’t get cheaper than free.
30 per night. Moreover, check out the sharing economy website,
More than that, it’s a wonderful way to meet locals and find off-
Camp in My Garden, where you can camp in people’s backyards
the-beaten-track stuff to do in the area you’re visiting. The site
for a small fee.
Drinks
$438.94
Couchsurfing is a service that allows you to stay for free
is a double win: you meet cool people and save money at the
Gas
same time!
Couchsurf as often as possible, use Airbnb or hotel points in
$696.98
Parking
cheap hotels listed above, Airbnb is a service that lets you stay
$253.00
in people’s homes and apartments. It’s far cozier than any
Starbucks
$75.26 Miscellaneous (movies, toothpaste, shampoo,
You can use Airbnb. A more comfortable alternative to the
My recommendations for keeping prices down: Try to
major cities, stay in hostels when you want a good social scene, and camp at the national parks.
hotel! You can find a lot of single rooms as well as shared spac-
Food
es for $30–40 per night. I used this option a lot on my road
Cook your own meals and avoid expensive meals and restau-
trip. The prices are affordable, you’re staying in a nice house,
rants as much as possible. If you are looking to find cheap
you have access to a kitchen, and you get to meet cool people.
food, use Yelp!, ask people on websites like Couchsurfing, or
inquire at the desks at hostels. Avoid Whole Foods. Avoid
When you can’t find a Couchsurf or Airbnb to use at the last
minute, there is a plethora of cheap roadside hotels such as
trying to eat sushi like me everywhere! Don’t feed your Star-
$170.00
Motel 6 and Super 8 to the rescue. Rooms start around $40 a
bucks addiction and cook often. Food in the United States
night, but including tax, they work out to be $60 on average.
is very affordable and there’s no travel hacking ninja techniques
Attractions
Rooms are basic and always look well worn. You’ll get a bed,
to help here. Simple cook, save, and be happy.
$269.40 Taxis
$41.00 Bus
$17.50 Subway
$6.00 Total: $6,262.67
bathroom, TV, tiny closet, and maybe a desk. They are nothing to write home about, but for a quiet place to sleep for a
Sightseeing
night, they do the trick. Tip: Even if you’re traveling with
There are three ways to lower your sightseeing costs:
someone, always say the room is for one person, as these hotels
For $80, you can purchase an annual National Parks
charge you more for two people.
pass that provides access to all 59 national parks (as well
as any other recreation areas administered by the National
Be sure to sign up for hotel credit cards before you go and
use those points when you travel. You can get upwards of
Park Service). At $15–20 a visit, seeing five during your trip
70,000 points as a sign-up bonus, which can translate into a
makes the pass a money saver. When you visit your first
week’s worth of accommodations. The points came in handy
park, simply buy the pass and you’re good to go. There’s
in places where I couldn’t find an Airbnb, hostel, or Couchsurf-
no need to order it in advance. The U.S. national park system
SPRING 2017 ISSUE 10
conferences, etc.)
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is amazing and really highlights the diversity of landscapes
ing address with the Post Office. For me this has been the
in the country. You can’t travel across the country without
easiest way to do it.
stopping at many of the national parks, especially as you get out
You’ll have to buy car insurance, which can greatly add to
west. Though there are a lot of options, I highly recommend
the costs of your trip.
Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Glacier, Redwood
Another option is to use a car relocation service. This is
National Park, Zion, and the Grand Tetons.
when you take someone’s car and drive it across the country.
You are usually paid, and gas is covered. The downside is you
City tourism cards are great and allow you to see a large
number of attractions (and often include free public transpor-
don’t often have a lot of leeway on timing, so you might not
tation) for one low price, usually $30–40. They provide free
have much time to stop and sightsee along the way. Car relo-
access to museums, reduced access to attractions, and restau-
cation options are also usually limited. Two companies worth
rant discounts. Be sure to look into them if you plan on doing
checking out are Transfercar and Hit the Road.
a lot of sightseeing, as they generally will save you money. They can be purchased at tourism information centers or online
Some Miscellaneous Things
before you go.
The highways are filled with junk food restaurants. I’m not
proud to say I ate at Subway a lot on my trip. Stock up on sand-
Often there are free museums and events going on. Inquire
at tourism centers, use Google, or ask hotel or hostel staff for
wiches at grocery stores to avoid having to choose between
information about free events and museums. Many museums
Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Subway.
offer occasional free or discounted admission throughout the
week. There are always tons of free activities in any city in the
lot of diverse landscapes, experience different cultures, and
United States.
A road trip across the United States is a fun way to see a
meet interesting people. The United States isn’t very expensive outside the big cities and you can easily travel extensively
Transportation
throughout the country on a budget by using the advice in this
Getting from point A to B in the U.S. isn’t always easy, as our
article. Don’t let the U.S. fool you —it’s one of the cheapest
infrastructure isn’t that robust. (I wish we had a national rail
Western destinations in the world! T
system!) Sadly, to really see the country, a car is a must. We have few non-car options outside the major cities, and besides organized tours, it’s hard to get around the countryside and to the national parks.
Hitchhiking. This isn’t something I did on my trip, as I had
a car, but it’s very doable (and relatively safe). Here’s a post by my friend Fred who hitchhiked across the United States explaining how to do so and come out alive — w ww.Fred Travel.com/travel-blogs.
Ridesharing is a good way to save. Taking on riders can
be a way to lower your costs. On my first trip across the U.S., I offered rides to people I met in hostels. On this trip, I had friends and readers join me along the way. You can post ads on Craigslist and Gumtree and at hostels to find riders. This not only makes the trip more enjoyable but lowers your gas costs. Or if you are a rider, you can use the same services to find rides to get you places.
You could get a car. You can buy cheap used cars from car
dealers or owners on Craigslist. There are lots of listings, and you can resell the car at the end of your trip to recoup some of your initial purchase cost. While this is easy in other countries, it’s hard to do in the United States, so remember a couple of key points:
You’ll need a U.S. address for
registration documents to get sent to. I would use a hostel or hotel address and then set up a forward-
(Right) Matt stopped in Las Vegas to take this photo. Photo: Wraggly
A road trip across the United States is a fun way to see a lot of diverse landscapes, experience different cultures, and meet interesting people.
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ON JACKÕS ROAD Kerouac and the American Road Trip Interview with Brendan Leonard Written by The Clymb Passages from Jack Kerouac’s “On The Road”
Brendan Leonard, on his road trip across America, stopped to kayak in the orange canyons of Lake Powell in Utah. Photo: Hilary Oliver
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| On Jack’s Road On JackÕs Road
Jack Kerouac was one of the most influential American authors of his time. He was part of the Beat Generation; a literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized throughout the 1950’s. The Beat Movement was largely about attempting to discover meaning in the face of a world that seemed (to many) to be increasingly meaningless. The Beats reacted to a modern civilization that devalued the individual pursuit of meaning and instead gave precedence to productivity, “progress”, and the reinforcement of tradition. Most of the Beat authors struggled for years to get published, and it is inspiring to learn how they managed to keep each other from giving up hope when it seemed their writings would never be understood. Their moment of fame began with a legendary poetry reading at the Six Gallery in San Francisco.
In “On the Road”, the characters’ spontaneous and outrageous journeys over thousands of miles can be seen as the literal manifestation of this inward search for meaning. Their willingness to pick up and hit the road, regardless of the current situation, symbolizes their prioritization of self-exploration,
their friendship begins three years
their almost spiritual loyalty to novel experience.
of restless journeys back and forth
across the country. With a combi-
Traditional responsibilities and limitations are disregarded in
Brendan Leonard: writer, author, and road tripper. Photo: Brendan Leonard
favor of the promise of new sights, new people, new perspectives.
nation of bus rides and adventurous hitchhiking escapades, Sal
goes to his much-dreamed-of west to join Dean and more
The novel itself is based closely upon actual people and
events in the life of Jack Kerouac. It is a story of the road-bound
friends in Denver, and then continues west by himself, working
adventures of Sal Paradise (Kerouac), Dean Moriarty (Neal
as a fieldworker in California for awhile, among other things.
Cassady), Carlo Marx (Ginsberg), Old Bull Lee (Burroughs), and
The next year, Dean comes east to Sal again, foiling Sal's stable
a host of other eccentric characters. The tale is a primarily lin-
life once more, and they drive west together, with more crazy
ear account of various roadtrips across and through the United
adventures on the way at Bull Lee's in New Orleans, ending in
States and Mexico.
San Francisco this time. The winter after that, Sal goes to Dean,
“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” Jack Kerouac, “On the Road”
and Dean settles in New York for awhile. In the spring, Sal goes
In the winter of 1947, the reckless
to Denver alone, but Dean soon joins him and they go south all
and joyous Dean Moriarty, fresh out
the way to Mexico City this time.
of another stint in jail and newly
married, comes to New York City
colorful characters, shifting landscapes, dramas, and personal
and meets Sal Paradise, a young
development. Dean, a big womanizer, will have three wives and
writer with an intellectual group
four children in the course of these three years. Perceptive
of friends, among them the poet
Sal, who at the beginning is weakened and depressed, gains
Carlo Marx. Dean fascinates Sal, and
in joy and confidence and finds love at the end. At first Sal is
Through all of this constant movement, there is an array of
SPRING 2017 ISSUE 10
and they blaze across the country together in friendly fashion, A Brief Summary of “On The Road”
ROAM
intrigued by Dean because Dean seems to have the active, impul-
A description of Brendan Leonard’s book, “The
sive passion that Sal lacks, but they turn out to have a lot more
New American Roadtrip Mixtape”
in common. The story is in the details.
When your life plan explodes, you ask yourself
the big questions: What do I really need in life?
Forty five years after his death, there are few writers who
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“I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future.” Jack Kerouac, “On the Road”
have had as much influence on American literary culture as
How can I make my life a work of art? Should I buy
Jack Kerouac. Generations of nomads, vagabonds, and dirtbags
a house? Have kids? What is a life? Following in
found themselves drawn to his works, romanticizing the open
Kerouac and Steinbeck's tire tracks, a 32-year-old, post-break-
roads of the American West. One of them is Brendan Leonard,
up Brendan Leonard hits the road in search of healing and
a writer, climber, and founder of the popular blog, semi-rad.
a new, post-economic-downturn American Dream. Sleeping in
A noted Kerouac fan who once gave a copy of “On The Road” to
the back of a beat-up station wagon, he seeks answers-and
woo a date, he set off on a journey of his own to search for
hopefully, the occasional shower-in the postcard-worthy places
answers in a trying time, which he documented in his first
of the American West. Part ballad to the romance of the road
book, “The New American Roadtrip Mixtape.”
and part heart-searching treatise on the American Dream, “The
Brendan Leonard driving the American West on his road trip. Photo: Brendan Leonard
ROAM
“What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? - it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.” Jack Kerouac, “On the Road”
New American Road Trip Mixtape” is Leonard's raw, often hilarious, barstool storytelling at its best.
Today, Brendan shares his thoughts on the influence that
Kerouac has on the modern road-trip, the authenticity of taking the same trip today, and the philosophies that Kerouac imparted on his travels. ROAM: What was Jack Kerouac’s goal in his travels?
LEONARD: I think his real goal was experiencing life, and my interpretation of a lot of his writing is that he wanted to see and experience as much as he could. Of course he saw a lot of America in his trips, but it was more about people, culture— and not just the art we think of when we think of the word “culture”—but the different cultures in America. The things you learn from spending time with people you might otherwise never spend time with if you didn’t happen to run into them in the middle of nowhere in Texas, or in a jazz club, or a party you happened to go to because you happened to be in town on the right night. Are roadtrippers, nomads, and dirtbags seen as counter - culture in today’s society? We have this sense nowadays that we need
to be fully employed for our entire lives, which means we’re relegated to only taking time off when we have paid vacation. I think that’s a mistake, and it makes Brendan Leonard spent a lot of time on his road trip in Zion National Park in Utah. Photo by National Geographic
us think that we have to spend basically every week of every year making money. If it’s a Monday, we’re either
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On JackÕs Road
“Because he had no place he could stay in without getting tired of it and because there was nowhere to go but everywhere,keep rolling under the stars...” Jack Kerouac “On the Road”
at work, or we’re taking a paid vacation
So they were not on a trip, at least one where they tried to pack
day (which means we’re still getting
everything into 10 paid days off.
paid). Most of us never have the figura-
They also both lived very hard and died very young, which
tive balls to ask a boss for unpaid time
of course isn’t something most of us want to emulate—but
off, because we can’t imagine that we’d
I think we can learn from their idea of what a road trip was:
allow ourselves to be “unproductive” for
it was just life, and an “unproductive” part of life, but an
a week — or be allowed by our employer.
incredible part.
What was Jack Kerouac and Neal Cas-
Why is the road trip such a revered part of American culture?
sady’s philosophy towards travel and
Our roads are perfect for that type of thinking you want to do
the road trip? Jack Kerouac and Neal
when you set out on a big road trip — interesting, but not so
Cassady were comfortable letting
athletic that you have to devote 100% of your brainpower to
the next whim take them where it may.
staying on the road, like they are in the mountains in Europe.
Did they ever have any money? Not
In the U.S., we’ve got mountain roads, but in between, we have
really. Did they do some things that most of us would never
long stretches where you can hold onto the steering wheel
want to do in order to keep their trip going? Definitely. Were
with one hand and gaze out the window at the scenery and let
they worried about getting back to their next job so they could
your thoughts drift a little. I don’t think you can do that in the
keep working their way up the corporate ladder? Definitely not.
narrow roads and hairpin turns of the Alps. Plus, the Western
On the Road with Jack Kerouac 1947 - 1 950
SPRING 2017 ISSUE 10
Jack Kerouac’s road trip routes from 1947 to 1950 that inspired Brendan Leonard on his own American road trip.
ROAM
United States has a historic reputation of being a place where
that same stretch of road and I’m thinking about work, or
you can find, or reinvent, yourself, and I think the West has some
checking my social media feeds on my phone, and I’ve totally
of the best road tripping terrain in the country. The idea of a
missed the moment because I’m just not there.
road trip is pretty romantic, not in the love story sense of the word, but in the “On The Road” sense of the word.
Has constant communication through social media changed
Does Kerouac and “On The Road” reflect a bygone era? Is trav-
road trip can be a beautiful, amazing thing. If you’re constantly
el in his time more romantic and authentic than to take the same
worried about how you’re going to communicate all the daily
trip in today’s world? No one’s going to take that same trip, or
happenings of your trip on Twitter and Instagram, well, you’re
write the same book “On the Road” was when it came out (and
probably going to have a much different experience.
the modern road trip? If you’re open to it and are present, a
still is). It was a revelation to many people, and you obviously can’t have that same revelation now. Our trips are also relative-
Reading and being inspired by “On The Road”, how did it affect
ly less adventurous — there are few spots in the United States
your journeys? I think Thomas McGuane put it best in an
where you can drive more than 100 miles without going by a gas
essay I quoted in my book, “The New American Road Trip Mix-
station, and we have cell phones for emergencies, and aaa.
tape”: “He trained us in the epic idea that …you didn’t neces-
Can you still take an authentic and romantic trip today? Of
sarily have to take it in Dipstick, Ohio, forever…Kerouac set me
course, authenticity to me is honesty, and if you’re honest
out there with my own key to the highway.” I think it impressed
about what you’re experiencing, your trip is authentic. And
upon me, when I was a teenager reading it for the first time, the
romance is all about being open to experience, and in the
romantic notion of finding answers out on the road.
moment. A lot of that gets sucked out the window because we’re not present when things are happening, and we’re not open
Brendan Leonard's book “The New American Road Trip
to them. I’ve had romantic moments where I’m driving down
Mixtape” can be found on his website and in stores. For more
the pch, a great song playing on my van stereo, and the sun
of Brendan's adventures, follow him on Twitter, Youtube, and
setting over the Pacific, and I know it’s a great memory hap-
Instagram. For more in depth knowledge about what Brendan
pening right now. But then I’ve had that same moment on
is up to, sign up for his newsletter. T
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Brendan Leonard on his Kerouac inspired road trip. Photo: LivingSeasonal.com